Tropicals & Tender Perennials: 'Phoenix' bird or paradise, 1 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
Well, I must admit to a new addiction lately - orchids. I have a lot of filtered shade due to 3 huge oak trees around the house. I was pretty happy growing bromeliads and a few begonias in big pots for leaf interest and contrast. But my daughter has started sending me orchids as gifts, and I must admit to being pretty fascinated with the darn things even though they're sort of cold tender, and some are fussy. A local 'hobby' grower just along the street from me recently retired to a nursing home and his son is selling off his collection, so I've picked up some wonderful ones for $7 each, which is good for orchids, because they run in the $15 to $35 range often. One of the oaks has a big, low branch so I'm going to adorn it with a few 'chids and see what happens over the summer . . . stay tuned!

Anyway, apart from my usual veggies - the tomatoes and peppers came through winter this year and are still bearing - I've also got a bunch of new types of begonias to try. Got them as cuttings from DG members, so no big investment, and I also got a couple more from the kids for Christmas. So that should be fun to try.

As to your seeds, most of what you bought will probably do pretty well, except the sweet peas. They're something that you really need to start in the fall, so I'd just save those seeds until next October. They need cool temps to grow big enough to bloom. (I just love them, too, but have had marginal success with them) Also the lobelia is a slow starter with extremely fine seed, so I'm kind of doubtful that you'll get it to blooming size before the heat sets in. But if you watch the big box stores, they'll have lobelia transplants pretty soon, or probably in March. There are some types that stand the heat pretty well, I forget the names, but you'll recognize them. Something like "Heat Wave" I think. Plant them in the shade of your C.pulch's? They'll take the sun through maybe March, but after that will need shade to last. I kept some going in a pot last summer through part of July, they were right up against the patio door where the cool from the house leaking through the glass kept them cooler. (it's known as a 'micro-climate') If you're looking for a low-growing flowering plant like lobelia for edging there's a perennial called "Blue Daze" that is a much better bet.

I think you'll be blown away by how great the cannas do. They're a plant that make you look like a real pro. Just try to give them LOTS of water (they'll even grow IN water) and be generous with the slow-release fertilizer around the end of May to keep them blooming through the summer. After each stem finishes blooming you have to cut it off near the ground to make the plant put up the next bloom stem. It's tough at first to cut off the beautiful leaves, but after you see how fast they shoot up again, you won't mind. (this is about a monthly cycle, not too burdensome).

I'm lucky I have my daughter's garden in Salt Lake to grow the things my mother (from Canada) and grandmother (English) liked. I still do try to grow lavender every darn year, and most years it poops out on me.