heliconia

these were seedlings I planted last year,I think the seeds came from poppysue.I can't beleive they are blooming when they are this small......

Waaaahhhhhh! I hate you CC!

LOL! - congratulations on your bloom. I didn't bring mine inside and left them out to freeze. I'm glad someone is getting blooms. Post another pic when it opens up! I was surprised how easily they were to start. I sent the last of those seeds to Christina in Chile. I hope they do as well for her.

Biting my tongue!!!!LOL!!!!

I've got rhizones popping up everywhere, anyone? For trade?

MOlly

Hiya MollyMc,
I could stand a trade or two...email me PLEASE.:>)
MsCritterkeeper

Mine aren't looking very good. They got about 4 ft. tall this year, but after bringing them inside, the tops are dying totally back on them. I sure hope they come back from the roots.

Mine are popping from the roots.

Whew!! Maybe mine will be okay. The one in the garage looks better than the one in the basement. Maybe they are just basically dormant due to cooler than house temps.

Brugie on the larger types the top's get messy in the Winter.. (DO NOT CUT)(TOP) as the leaves die back trim them off and you should have flowers by March , the new pups are starting to replace the mother plant and should hide the old Mama by Spring With huge wonderful claws hanging from the ole Mother : )

Thanks John. I will follow your directions to the T.

Brugie, I think you have this one too... I just went out and took this photo.. I'm 6' foot tall and had to aim the cam a foot or two above my head to take this shot... It should grow and bloom much smaller in a pot but unlike the hanging claw type it blooms year round ...

Oh , hehehe .. CC yours is cute!! ; )

Oh gosh John, I sure hope they will be okay and bloom for me. I love this plant. I'm not giving them a lot of water because I didn't want the roots to rot since it is cool where they are spending the winter months. Is that what I should be doing?

PS. I'm just a tad bit jealous of you and CC having blooms. Beautiful!!

This message was edited Jan 24, 2004 9:12 PM

Brugie they would much like to grow year round and under 50f suffer... If you can not keep them above 50, then less water and food is right.. and they love humid air as we have a dry season in South FL in the Winter mine look pretty bad by the the next summer but snap right out of it as soon as the temps and air become better for them...

Okay, they are above 50 degrees and the one in the basement is under lights. Jim leaves the lights on in his shop to hopefully help the plants out there to keep from going totally dormant. It is about 60-65 out there. I'm sure as it warms up, it will help. Keeping my fingers crossed anyway. Thanks John.

John,the one you sent me is doing well,considering that its in the GH no extra lighting ,min 50 degrees....

I just can't beleive the seedlings bloomed......

CC , I think it's great! It looks to be one of the Psittacorum CV's ... They handle cold a bit better and bloom much faster !! and spread like crazy ! Besides growing something from seed is a reward all its own : )

Brugmania,

Are there any Heliconias I could grow outside in zone 8A? I really love them but have never had any luck growing the Psittacorum, our winters are too wet here in Cypress NW of Houston.

Thanks,

Daisy

Hiya flowerjunkie,
Here's an idea you might try????
Try planting them under the eaves (overhang) of your house.
I have the same problem with some of my begonias...so I hang them from a decorative hook on each side of the windows....it helps keep excess rain off them.I live close to Galveston so we are always getting wet from one direction or another.LOL
Hope it helps??

Ms.Critterkeeper

Daisy, In zone 8A I think it my be your nighttime lows and not the water that is the problem , They hate to be under 50 and as south FL hits the 40's and once in a blue moon the 30's some nights they just hold on here in the Winter...

MsCritterKeeper and Brugmania,

Thank you for the tips. I try to do the planting unde the eaves and on the south side of the house to see if they will get through next winter.

Thanks,

Daisy