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

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
No worries, Phil, this is a plant I've been unable to kill. Short of running over them with a truck or some critter taking a liking to the taste of the rhizomes (very doubtful) I'd bet my boots on them. (hm, do I have any boots?)

They do like the weather a bit warmer than the Cannas. (my cannas have bloomed off and on all winter) Nights still getting pretty cool, they may take another few weeks to make their debut. Just keep them damp! These are summer/fall bloomers although mine have started blooming as early as June in the past. The one in the second pic was in bloom June 21st last year, but it's in a pot on the south side of the house, so gets warmer sooner.

Also the cannas are in full sun, but where you put the gingers is maybe a bit more shady? So, the ground isn't getting warmed up quite as much.

Mine in the main clump aren't making any new leaves yet, either. Still dormant. (see pic) I've left the stems from last fall on them since they were still green (due to the warm winter) but they're really scraggly looking now so I'm going to cut them all off this weekend, fertilize, add some compost to the bed and mulch. That will let the sun get to the soil and get them jumping up. If the winter weather had been colder, they would have died right back to the ground (and I would have cut them off long since).

We've been in mega-clean-up mode in my garden the last couple of weeks, and I just didn't get to them yet.

You got the Spring Fever, kiddo!

Cheers Elaine