Ardesia, I've never been able to find a definite answer as to how much "cold" this plant can take. I've read that Tony Avent tested this plant in his zone several years ago but was unable to find a follow up on his success or failure. You could ask him and if you do, let me know what he says. If you plan to keep it in a pot, then I would definitly repot to a larger size.
You may find this link interesting to read as well.
http://www.hort.net/lists/aroid-l/jan01/msg00055.html
Tropical Gardens and Plants #107
Very interesting, thanks Rachel. Our soil never freezes down here but it is cold and damp in the winter. It does not sound like an ideal situation for this plant, I'll bring it in. It mentions full sun but there seems to be such a difference in full sun in tropical places like South Florida, Hawaii and the Carolina sun. Plants that they can grow out in the sun would fry here. I will hedge my bets and keep it in filtered light.
Your welcome aredesia. I placed mine in more sun this year vs. last yr. and the leaves started to burn a bit so I agree, filtered or morning sun is best in my opinion too. Also, a key factor in over wintering it outside, while dormant, is how much moisture it would receive. Too much would more than likely cause the tuber to rot. Since the plant is getting more common to buy I'm sure there will be more people to test just how much cold/wet it can tolerate while dormant. Time will tell.
is the Syandrospadix vermitoxicus an anthurium?
I now have fresh seeds of Gulf Coast Lupin - if anyone wants some, dmail me your address and put 'Gulf Coast Lupin' in the subject line.
Edited to add a dg link for these, in the Plant Files:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/68376/
This message was edited Aug 6, 2011 6:17 PM
Edited to add information on growing this plant from seeds:
Re: [growingnative] Lupine Seeds
QUOTE:
"I have germinated Lupinus diffusus by planting them in pure clean
building sand and keeping it very wet until they are well sprouted. I
have found they alsodie very easily if they suffer root disturbance when
transplanted from the pot to the garden.
Since the diffusus species likes very sandy well drained soil conditions
(grows in sugar sand scrub), I found a very good way to transplant by
sprouting it in a plasticized half gallon milk container.
Do not allow to dry out once the germination begins with the first imbibition of water.
Then, since I do not have sandy scrub on my property, I built a
"sandhill" about 16 inches deep in my yard to plant it in so it would be
well drained.
I took the container and ran a knife around the bottom and set it in a
hole in the sandhill. Slipped the bottom out from under it and then
filled in the sand around it again.
Once filled in you can slip the container up and voila!, it's planted without root disturbance.
Your westianus MAY have similar likes and dislikes. Species within a
genus often do.
Good Luck,
Nonie Maines,
Fort Walton Beach, Fl.
This message was edited Aug 6, 2011 6:23 PM
HAY Kay! ;D uhm, mee?? LOL would they grow here?
It is a philodendron Debra but it looks more like and EE.
Rachel, I agree that the winter wet will be more harmful than the cold. Since there are so many of these all of a sudden I suspect they are tissue cultured.
Hi, Deb! Of course I will send you some. You will need to plant them in a sheltered area where it's as hot as Hades in full sun, and dry as a bleached-blonde's hair, in incredibly fine sand - these plants only grow in a few places in Florida, but if anyone can grow them from seed, it would be YOU!
Seedpods! Thanks, Rachel. If they do set some seed, and turn orange, I will definitely try to start some seedlings. Who can resist? I might have some baby S.vermitoxicus to trade.
Look at this poor little orphan Musa AeAe! It was at Tropiflora, and I was afraid to ask them how much they wanted for it. Maybe the family will buy it for me for Christmas. . ..
If I lived in Sarasota I would be so broke. LOL If I were you I would start hinting about that AeAe now, LOL.
Debra, although it's in the same family as Anthuriums, Philodendrons, Alocasias, Colocasias, etc. it is classified and is the only species in the genus Synandrospadix.
Ardesia, you may be right but the seeds seem to be very viable and I've been told and read it is pollinated by flies. Therefor, it's not uncommon for it to set seeds as the link stated that I applied. Mine set seeds last year and are starting this year as well.
Dyzzy, I could not resist and now have several seedlings of my own. I hope you get the AeAe but I bet it still had a hefty price tag on it. They are beautiful and I've never seen a cheap one.
My son has lost of sand, at the lake side sand pit, and I could try a few on the sandy slope up from the waters edge, as well as a pile of sand out in the dryer corner garden.
tonight I transplant two old fashioned lilac starts I rooted, and a white chinese lilac, to the south fence. I also PLANTED THREE CANNAS in a triangle clump on the south fence, and since we got a bit of rain three days in a row everything looks good, including our tomatoes. finally.
snow on the mpountain came back in the vege garden, same spot as last year. it is almost tree size, every flying bug in the world likes it, and is a joy to look at in the dark
south west patio corner at wilt thirty in the afternoon..
Rita, I am in the ssame situation as you except my garden was no where near how beautiful yours is. I hoping to start some seeds this fall to help with the loss and want to share whatever I can get to grow.
I'm putting all of my potted plants in bins with about 2-3 inches of water since we are now in water restictions. I have to figure out how to keep the ground around my house from cracking so bad too. Just keep thinging rain and that La Nina doesn't happen again.
Wilt thirty, LOL. My plants are not the only thing that suffer that time of day. :-)
Rachel, about the TC, I just meant there seem to be so many in the market all of a sudden and in many plants that means TC.
TIna, we'll all keep doing that "mac a RAIN a" dance for you.
Watering restrictions, oh yeah! We have very strict permanent regs as to when we can water here, since Florida is virtually a desert for 8 months of the year, and our population doubles in the dry season (fall, winter, spring).
Also, our water is terribly expensive. Would you believe I have resorted to collecting gray water? Our bath and shower water gets pumped (with a little electric bilge pump we keep for our boats) outside to a special rain barrel and used to water all my potted treasures, plus new plants in the ground. The little bit of soap doesn't seem to hurt at all.
This time of year, we do usually get enough rain to keep all the rain barrels full, but I'll tellya, in June I sure was hauling a lot of water around here!
I direct the condensate water from our AC's in the summer. We have two units and the pipes drip constantly so I attached more PVC and directed the discharge where i needed it most.
I bet your plants love that soapy water. Isn't that how our forefathers and mothers kept pests at bay, by tossing the dish and bath water in the garden?
Maybe we should all start collecting water-storing plants like this guy! Base on this was the size of a truck tire!
Rachel, Alice I am getting ready to pot up my new S.vermitoxicus and wondered if you could advise me as to what kind of potting mix to use?
I'm going to sink the pot into the shady border under the oak tree but don't want it to have to compete with the tree roots etc. I can sift some of the leafy compost from the bed to put into the pot if that would work? or Orchid mix?
dyzzy, my gosh is that a desert rose? Really???? *faint* such a small pot for such a big tree!
Achimines rhizomes - does anyone have colors to trade OTHER THAN red or purple?
Actually, Debra, it's 'Dorstenia gigas' which is pretty rare and found in nature on an island in the Indian Ocean. I think this one is a mother plant that they (Tropiflora) take starts from, to sell. It's 'way too big and heavy to move! It looks pretty similar to the Desert Rose, but no thorns, and the leaves are hairy, and a darker green.
They did have some good size Desert roses, too, but nothing like as big as the one at Selby that I posted a while back.
That is awsome... gee it sure is huge..
KayJones, what I can do is ask in my other forums for you on the Achimines rhizomes .. I am waiting for mine to show up.. along with the clivia seeds I planted.. they should peek thru anytime now..
Oh, thank you, my Friend! I'm putting your Gulf Lupin seeds in the mail tomorrow. I have posted the seeding instructions above.
wow that base is huge! i have something similar to the one with the white flowers called a madagascar palm?
finally my white butterfly ginger is flowering
a zebra butterfly i think.
hibiscus
starfruit are just about ripe
molly trying to help
this croton is so pink.
Kay, I have Peach and Blue Achimenes...but probably not enough to trade till spring.
Peach/Coral
ohhhh purty!
I love that Molly, she is a keeper.
Candela, your flowers are beautiful, and Molly is so cute. My white gingers are just making buds now, too.
Mj, those Achimenes are lovely! I've been thinking of trying them, and one of my favorite catalogs - McLure & Zimmerman - had them last spring in white, pink, peach and blue as well as purple and red.
They weren't expensive, so Kay, if you can't find what you want to trade, they are available.
Do you grow them in hanging baskets? Sun or shade?
Thanks, Dyzz, but mine are close to your colors of Achimenes - I'm wanting white, light pink, yellow, orange and multi-colored ones.
dyzzy,
I grow Achimenes in baskets, pots and in the purple ones in the ground also . The ones in the ground I just cover with leaf mulch. Most dappled sun/shade...sometimes a bit more morning sun depending on the time of year and angle of the sun. They will go dormant in winter if grown outside ( l let all mine go dormant ) just set pots aside in a protected area.
Here's a picture of the purple basket
Well I finally found a Brug lady here she only has a few but she carries other tropicals I am in heaven. Here is a Banana that I got from her and I transplanted it into this big pot hope it grows well for me.
If it's a lady who sells to others like us, please post her contact information!!!
where are you at now James? I forgot.