At what point are you an addict?

I cannot control buying plants. My current collection consists of:

4 - African Violet (NOID)
2 - Easter Cactus
ZZ plant
Strawberry begonia
Passifora 'Clear Sky'
Passiflora 'Amethyst'
Black Bat Plant
2 - Cymbidium Orchids (NOID)
2- Spathoglottis Orchid
5 - Paph Orchids
3 - Cyclamen Persicum
2 - Fuschia
Hibiscus 'Mantego Wind'
Lantana 'Dallas Red' Standard
Splash Plant
Orange Bird of Paradise
Ficus benjamina
Gardenia jasminoides
Gardenia jasminoides Standard
Umbrella Plant Standard
Lantana 'Anne Marie'
Madagascar Jasmine
Winter Jasmine
Mandevilla
Plumeria Bridal Bouquet
Plumeria Rubra
Sweet Almond Bush
Crossandra 'Orange Marmalade'
Red Abyssinian Banana
Mixed Lithops

I also have a standard hibiscus and a braided that I have planted in the ground. I'm not sure if I am going to treat them as annuals or dig them up come fall and bring them inside with everything listed above.

I have absolutely no space for another plant, yet I continue to purchase. I still need a white bat plant, a red shrimp plant, clivia, adenium, oleander, and perhaps a few select bromeliads for my collection to be 'complete' (more like before I think of or see something else I want). What do you guys think of the collection? Lemme know if you guys would like to see pics of anything specific or just pictures of everything? Would you classify me as an addict?

I'm interested in what tropicals everybody else here has growing. Feel free to compose a list!

This message was edited May 24, 2011 9:19 PM

Glad to have you join us, Franco. We are all addicts, too. Love to see pictures of any/all your plants!

Come on over to the Tropical Gardens #101 thread to see lots of pictures of tropical and other plants we all have.

Do you have a greenhouse? A yard? Are all these plants in pots? In NJ, I'd imagine so, huh.

I'm thinking you need to move south, and get a house with a garden! But, as you can see, lots of addicts on this forum live in non-tropical climates, and still manage to feed their habits. In the grand scheme of things, there are a lot worse addictions. At least plants are a healthy habit, and not too expensive, if you start small. Learn to propagate from seed and cuttings, etc.

You're addicted when you start to ask yourself that question, but at that stage it's too late. You needed to nip it in the bud a lot earlier ;O)

Resistance is futile...next you'll be buying "just a small greenhouse" to help you house your plants ....then you discover you need a bigger greenhouse........

Of course, everyone here is an enabler, so you are sunk..................

I am so wanting a heliconia............now if I could just find a "cheap" one...........LOL

You're a major addict when you have so many you can't name them all. (me) And you go 'shopping' just to look (and buy) plants (me). Last one.....youre an addict when you go out of town and you look up all the neighboring nurseries in that town, in hopes of finding something you don't have.(me)

Everything I listed above is indeed in pots, and it all comes into the house for winter (my house ends up looking like a jungle). I have been pondering the idea of a greenhouse, but I think I should start saving my weekly paychecks for a car first. I have 250$ invested between the black bat plant, gardenia standard, lantana standard, and the 'Mantego Wind' Hibiscus which were all purchased within the last two weeks. I thought getting a job would teach me how to save money, but in the end it only enables me to buy a lot more plants and some of the more expensive plants I've been eyeballing.

Being only 17, my parents deem my hobbies (the plants obviously, and I also have/breed dwarf seahorses) to be quite expensive. Though I always tell them, at least you can see what I spend my money on - I'm sure you would rather me spend it on plants and fish than drugs or sex.

You're only 17 and have all THAT???? E-gads..............you're sunk. LOLOL I hate to tell you, it only gets worse. Ask me how I know this............:>)

Go to college, be a horticulturist, (or a marine biologist) move to Florida, (Louisiana, Texas, Hawaii) so you'll have tons of opportunities for jobs in the plant/marine industry. Better yet, go to school somewhere warm! Work in a nursery while you go to school. They'll give you a discount, maybe??

Feed your lifetime habit.

Franco, at 17 if you have great interests like fish and plants, you are SO far ahead of a lot of people your age who blindly head to college with no idea of what they want to do.

Bet the air in your house is the cleanest in NJ all winter, too.

As to your expensive tastes in plants, I'd advise you to buy smaller and grow them more. You are paying a lot for other people's work to make things like standards. You can do this yourself and have a lot of fun in the process. Once they're full grown and carefully trained like that they are a lot of work to keep them looking good, too.

eg. Here's a picture of my huge agapanthus plant that I started a few years ago from a gallon size pot that cost $7.95. You'd pay $150 in a nursery here for this.

LOL, enthusiasam is good and not necessarily addicton. NJ is more of an agricultural than horticultural state but you do have some of the best nurseries in the country. Have you talked to the folks in the Hort dept. at Rutgers or any other colleges? Out of state schools like NC State, UGA, and the FL schools all have outstanding Hort dept.s Follow your dreams.

Another tip on getting better prices on your plants - cruise places like Costco, Home Depot and Lowe's for bargains. eg. yesterday I saw Phaelonopsis orchids at Costco for $9.95 that were selling at my favorite nursery for $25. Last December I got a rare 'Shooting Star' hydrangea at the grocery store for $10 (on sale after the holidays) that is now more than twice the size and blooming again.

Best of all, though. If you get to trading plants and cuttings with the DG members, you get raging deals on a huge assortment of plants almost free (postage only). I got the two Angel's Trumpet starts in the pic below from a DG member two weeks ago. I sent her some starts of my Gloriosa Lilies in exchange. They have doubled in size in the last week and will be small shrubs by the end of the summer.

So whenever you trim or prune anything, put the cuttings in water on a sunny windowsill and see if you get roots! Then you'll have new starts of your fabulous plants to trade by fall. (it's too hot a lot of places now to ship baby plants)

Thanks for all the kind words guys!

Anna_Z: I was afraid that was the case! I am sure i will be investing in a greenhouse or something soon. I'm completely out of room. At least I'm not alone, it's nice to meet other plant hoarding addicts like myself.

dyzzypyxxy and ardesia: I've been into fish and shortly later plants for a good 5 years now. Being young, I've killed my fair share of plants - but it's all live and learn I guess. I am stuck between the two hobbies as for which I wish to pursue through college. Though I still have a year to decide.

Anyway as soon as this rain lets up I plant to run outside and get some pictures to share with you all. I also just purchased an 4-6 foot tall red abyssinian banana for $40 at a local nursery (seemed like an awesome steal!). My only issue now is how the heck I'm going to get it home!

This message was edited May 15, 2011 5:48 PM

Franco,
I think that is wonderful! I notice a few things you listed above that you would like to have. Make a list here and I am sure if someone has it they would be willing to share. I have tons of plants and would love to send you some. Just list what you really like and I will see it I have it.

Just tried to divide this, orange clivia, I have a small baby I could send you.

That is stunning! I love the orange with yellow center.

The plantst I am after most right now is the clivia and a red shrimp plant. I just haven't been able to find a decent sized plants for a decent price. I'd gladly take your baby clivia, though I don't have much to trade at the moment. If there is anything specific on my list above, perhaps I can try to root a cutting for you? Or I can paypal you the postage.

Perhaps send me a D-mail?

On another note, I managed to get the banana home! Some of the leaves got torn, but it will be fine. Pictures to come later this evening or sometime tomorrow!


This message was edited May 15, 2011 6:39 PM

Your an addict, when ya just can't say no! My garden is always over stuffed. Ya know how it is, when you have to shift one section into another section just to do a little spring cleaning.

Great plant selection you have.

Rj

I know what you mean Rj.

Here is a shot of the new banana:

What kind of a Musa is it? Striking colors!

I believe it is Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' aka Red Abyssinian Banana.

Thanks

Franco, has your BOP bloomed for you yet, or isn't it big enough? Mine outgrew its 16 inch pot and I put it in a 20. I've had several blooms over the last 4 years........2 summers ago it had 4 at one time; 2 of them were on one stalk. Way cool........:>) My clivia is now in a 16 inch pot..........had 6 bloom stems when it was still in the greenhouse.

My BOP is still a small plant. Only a foot or two tall. I probably won't see blooms for a good 5 years. I've had a white BOP but it got SO huge I had to give it away. Once it reached the ceiling of my bedroom I had no place for it, and this was when I got the tiny orange to raise.

Franco do you really want me to list all of my plants ??? I think I probably wouldn't be able too. At this point I've lost count and just like you I keep adding to my collection.

Haha Roly! I know you must have over 500. Though you know I have been nagging for pictures of everything!! :D

I don't think that I have that many yet but someday I'll get there. Given that I got most of them in the past year or so and most of them are in pots. I need have my parents settle on buying a house and be able to plant everything in gardens !!!!

This message was edited May 15, 2011 7:50 PM

That red banana plant is really beautiful, Franco. Hope it doesn't outgrow your space before you get a greenhouse for it!

Re: your comment about plant mortality - well, we've all murdered our share of plants, I can guarantee you. Yes, it is live and learn.

The other rule of thumb is to get the 'right plant in the right place' i.e. get the light, soil, fert and water right for the plant and you will usually succeed.

Good thing you gave away your white BOP - here's one of my big old clumps in the back yard - 20ft. tall!

Franco I think it is awesome that you have a love for plants already. I wish one of my 5 would show that kind of interest. My kids say I love my plants more than them since I am always taking pictures of plants.

I think this would be appropriate here.
The HHA Creed
(This is the ‘Horticultural Helper’s Anonymous’ (HHA) Creed)

1. I WANT IT.
2. I WANT IT ALL.
3. I WANT IT NOW.
4. IF IT WILL NOT GROW IN MY ZONE OR IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE; I WANT IT MOST OF ALL.
5. I AM PERFECTLY WILLING TO FOREGO ANY NECESSITIES OF LIFE, SUCH AS FOOD FOR MY CHILDREN, IN ORDER TO HAVE IT.
6. I RECOGNIZE MY HORTICULTURAL DEPENDANCY.
7. I RECOGNIZE YOUR HORTICULTURAL DEPENDANCY.
8. I WILL WILLINGLY AID AND ABET YOUR DEPENDANCY, AS YOU WILL MINE.
9. THIS MAKES US INFINITELY HAPPY.
10. ANY MONEY NOT SPENT BY WAY OF COMPARISON-SHOPPING EQUALS ‘FOUND’ MONEY AND THEREFORE IS NOT COUNTED AS SPENDING.
11. MORE IS MORE!
12. REGARDLESS OF MY PREVIOUS DESIRE FOR, PLANNING FOR, OR NEED OF, ANY PLANT, IF ANY OTHERS HAVE IT, I MUST HAVE ONE, TOO.
13. IF I HAVE PLANTED MOST PLANTS I HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED, I MUST IMMEDIATELY PURCHASE ADDITIONAL PLANTS.
14. WE BELIEVE IN OWNING ALL PLANTS, IN SOWING ALL SEEDS, AND OWNING ALL BOOKS AND CATALOGS.
15.
AT THIS POINT IT IS CUSTOMARY TO RECITE ONE’S MAIN CREDIT CARD FROM MEMORY ONLY, PLEASE.

I suffer from number 4..............I was totally convinced that I *could* grow a giant gunnera here in the tundra zone.........never mind they are indiginous to the Pacific Northwest..........since I have a greenhouse, ya, I CAN do that. Ahem..............ok, so I was wrong, greenhouse or not. *sigh*.........I have had to be content with alocasia that are "only" about 5 to 6 feet tall.

lol..i guess its not a horrible addiction.. :)
i have mostly bananas, EE and gingers..
im probably going to start adding passion flowers soon..
here in utah i have to overwinter my plants.. so the basement.. and
cool area of back room is my storage..
i told myself to stop buying EE's .. and any more nanners..
im always an ebay browser.. saw a banana i dont have .so of course im going to
be adding a new one..LOL
also found a FANTASTIC gal in mississippi that grows out here EE in garden..not greenhouse
plants i have from her.. WOW they are huge.and dont stunt..and just take off..
so of course. theres more to my collection..
its all good..isnt it... :)

Yeah.... It's all good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oldest DS and his wife gave me a $50.00 gift certificate for The Bruce Company in Madison...........we will be there today.........oh, gee, do you spose I can find *something*????? It will be tough, but I'll make a valiant effort. Especially since a tropical shipment came in when we were there about 3 weeks ago. LOL

You go ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

At the point when your collection goes from less than a dozen to about a hundred in less than two months... Happened to me this year with Gesneriads.

Based on the replies to this thread, I am most certainly not alone. I've added lithops to my collection today! I've had them in the past but managed to rot them. The neat little things (and the $3 price tag) enticed me to try again. Now, after i find myself another black bat plant and two white bats, I think I may work on expanding my african violet collection ...

Hey Franco; saw a nice bat plant on e-bay a few days ago FYI!

Logee's has bat plants with a hefty price tag and I remember one vendor having seed. For the life of me, I can't think of their name...

As for Gesneriads (except for AVs): I can help you with your addiction... LOL

Lithops and the other little gems in the family, I never was very successful with. I had a Frithia pulchra (or whatever its current name might be...) for years and a Trichodiadema that survived everything from freezing to 115 degrees. Another one that never failed to please was a Faucaria. Haven't grown any Aizoaceae in over 20 years and this I know for sure: I'm NOT about to start trying again...

This message was edited May 24, 2011 9:33 PM

Reading with interest about all those addicts out there. Can an Aussie from down under join in ?
I am not and addict. I am not an addict. definitely not.
I am a """COLLECTOR"""" ". LOL... this is what I tell hubby anyway.
I have 400 epis,
220 bearded iris,
100 schlumbergeras,
95 bromeliads,
only 10 tillandsias,
50 various orchids,
50 brugmansias ,
0ver 100 liliums,
about 1 1/4 acres of various other plants.
Hmmmmm, I seem to have accumulated some clivias too , about 35.
If it green and grows , I must have it.
I do all this on a pension so you can imagine the frustration when I see a plant I havent got, that I simply must have and finances are very low.
I congratulate such a young person as Franco in being a plant person.
I guess it does start young as I remember following my father around when only a toddler. Being allowed to plant something and nurture it.
Now if you lived a bit closer, Franco, I could really help with you with that addiction, oops , collection. ... lol..
Happy gardening to you all.
Not an addict , Jean.

Only 10 tillandsias?????? :-)

I didn't even know that there WERE 400 epi varieties. LOLOL

Jean, I know how to help with your 'collection' and your budget restrictions! You need to touch base with other Aussies who are on this list! There is at least one fellow in (I think) Queensland who posts regularly to our Tropical Gardens thread.

We 'collectors' in the US and Canada trade plants by mail, or send postage money for a plant start. In this way we exchange and expand our private botanical gardens without such a hefty price as buying from nurseries.

Can you post some pictures of your collections? We all want to see your most prized plants!

Here's a brug, one of two I received as cuttings from a DG member in April, on it's second bloom cycle. The other one is 'way bigger!