My little Tennessee buddy gave me this and I haven't killed it! Now a question: If it's going to be in the low 40's tonight I should bring this inside right?
Pink Princess
Low 40s shouldn't hurt it. Lower than that and I'd bring it in. I only have a few that I bring in for low 40's (P. squamiferum is one that starts to shed leaves below about 45 or 50). My Pink Princess is outside in somewhat sheltered areas (I have two).
(geez... edited because I'm a HORRIBLE proofreader!)
This message was edited Dec 14, 2004 7:18 PM
Calalily,
I agree with Carter low to mid 40's I wouldn't worry . I drape a old sheet over mine to protect them from any cold temps .If it get real low below 32 then I bring it in. I have a split leaf and a Xanadu , Selloum philodendron I leave outside all year long. Your princess philodendron is very pretty.
Good luck
Patti
This message was edited Dec 14, 2004 3:45 PM
Thanks guys, that pot is heavy and I was dreading having to find a spot in the house for it.
rose318 so you leave your xanadu out, huh? I left mine out a 3 years ago (actually planted in ground) and ended up with a nubby thing. thought I had lost it. It took up to now to grow back to about 1.5' x 1.5'. very very slow to come back. Meanwhile, my neighbors xanadu is a monster at 3' x 3' and she does NOTHING to it.
Dear Callalilly, I am in the process of testing plant hardiness with my handy dandy Radio Shack digital thermometer, Your Pink Princess (and all philos) will survive down to 33° for 6+ hours with no leaf damage. I was quite suprised! Just keep it guarded from wind chill. You have nothing to worry about you're in zone 10. I haven't had ANY plants die in those temps. You luckey devil!
Dear Vossner, I've heard tales of xanadu/selloum surviving zone 7 in areas where the ground doesn't freeze enough to kill the underground rhizome.
This message was edited Dec 14, 2004 10:53 PM
Carol, It's trying to act like zone 9 here today! I'm going to go out and bring it in, it's already 46 and it's not even midnight yet.
Good choice Calla.
I brought in a lot of stuff, too.
It's supposed to get to 32 down here tonight. Brrrrr
Poor plants... theya re so confused.. 2 days ago it was 83 in my yard!
lol
Stay warm,
MsC
It was here too, and tomorrow it's supposed to go back to 70 and stay warm. It will be back in the 80's by next week. I don't know whether to wear sweat pants or shorts to work some days!
LOL... It's hard to tell when to pack away the shorts and take out the sweaters.. so I just have a closet full of both... I swear I must change close 3 times a day this time of year. I like the idea of those pants that have half the legs zippered so the bottom legs can come off & on... they just lok a little silly on me cause I'm kinda short..lol
I've seen those pants with the zip off legs! Well, it only got to 42 last night so we didn't have a frost, but I had to turn the heat on cause it was brrrrrrrrr cold!
Thanks for calling me a "little" buddy in Tenn!
Your plant looks beautiful! They really do grow them bigger in Texas!
Mel
I was so worried that I would kill that one, but it's done really well here. Thanks for sharing Mel.
Vossner,
I leave my Selloum in the ground, and my Xanadu is in a 30 gallon pot. The Selloum has never died back or even wilted here. The Xanadu I did cover last night with a old bed sheet. They both did well last night. I was told by a master garderner that some part of Houston are actually zone 10. There is a difference in temp from North and South Houston as much as 4 to 7 degrees at times.
Patti
This message was edited Dec 15, 2004 7:32 AM
Patti, I agree with that. I've heard that Hwy. 59 is kind of a dividing line between 9a and 9b. We had a frost or two, but no freezes at all last year. We were supposed to freeze last night, too, but didn't (I peeked out and my brugs and philos looked just fine). My area seems to stay warmer (I live in the SW area over in Meyerland subd.).
Carter ,
I live here in SE Houston Clear lake area . Just two minutes from Nasa. They say it got to 34 here. I know north part of Houston usually get more rain than we do here in Se. I know at Bush airport is usually 5 degrees lower than here.
Where I lived in TN was like that. We lived on the side of a hill and when we would start down into the valley the temps would drop in winter, but we were always a bit cooler in summer. They would get frost and we wouldn't.
This area of the Valley has areas that vary. I think the resacas in our area help moderate the temps, plus we're closer to the Laguna Madre and the Gulf of Mexico(3 or 4 miles as a crow flies).
Do the leaves on the pink princess stay pink? What is its growth habit. It looks so pretty from here.
The leaves vary in shades of deep purple or maroon and splashes of white, pink and cream on the few "Pink Princess'" I have.
There's an older version that is similar called Strawberry Shake"
I think it has a little larger/broader leaves. The newer variety has a slimmer leaf form. I'm no expert, just what I've read .
MsC
I'm not sure if it's going to be a climber, too small to tell, lol.
Sounds just divine!!
'Pink Princess' is a climber, just a vveerrrrrryyy sssslllloooowwwwww one.
Yeah, you're right Carter....more like a Creeeeppper....lol.
It's so slow it's hard to believe that it's in the same family as some of our other Philos that just about take over.
Just out of curiousity...what do you guys use to fertilize your Philos with??
Are we supposed to fertilize them? I guess mine get what ever falls close to them when I toss the timed release granules around! I use either palm, avacado or azalea food because they all are supposed to lower the pH in the soil. They seem to like it.
Fertilze? Hmm... I know that word is familiar, but can't seem to place it... ;)
I rarely fertilize anything. I start out in the spring fairly well and regularly at once a week, but with 1,000+ plants (probably 90% potted), I generally give up after about 3 or 4 weeks. Then it goes to once month for about - well, a month. After that, it's if they are lucky or until spring. And I generally use a all-purpose of varying strengths depending on the plant. I'd use a medium or regular strength (or less) mix for the philos. Not that I've read that, I just tend to err on the weak side with them.
I guess fertilizing them is a personal choice??
I have tried several different types of fertilizer and it really doesn't seem to make much difference. Except that I have burned a few leaves when using certain kinds and that was partly why I ask.
I was curious if anyone else had experienced the same problem.
I use the time released granules too, I just wondered if they really were working...lol It seems the small cutting I have in the house grew much faster than the one that was outside...I find that interesting.
I've had a small one in the house and it has not grown much since I got it. I re-potted it the other day and watered it in with gnatrol just in case. Looks good, just slow.
Carter, your fertilize plan sounds like mine! I start out with good intentions but fall behind after a few months. I will plan on fertilizing when I water, then when I'm halfway thru watering I remember the fertilize so I say "well, I'll do it next time."
MsC, wonder if the one in the house is growing better because the temps are more steady? and they are out of the wind.
Carter we were posting at the same time and I missed your post..
Too funny..it sounds like my fertilizer plan here...everything is in pots and the first part of spring everything gets great care... by the time May & June are here it's too hot to care if they even get watered..lol
Calalily , You might be right , but we don't get quiet as much wind here as you do and now that I think about it...it is probable the constant light over the kitchen window....the bigger one that's about 3 ft tall is on the patio and doesn't get much light at all.
Maybe it needs to come in for the winter with some extra light???
Hmmm maybe the bird room needs a pretty pink princess in there????
Brugie, I've been using Bayer Mosquito Preventer granules in all my potted plants and even all the African Violets, too, for gnat control.
I had bought a plant in that was infested with them and had a whole colony set up in no time...I just sprinkle about a 1/2 tsp on the top of the soil and water it in... in about 24-48 hrs..POOF no more gants...and it last guessing about 3 months or more. I tried it because I couldn't find "Gnatrol" brand anywhere locally and just didn't want to wait for shipping time. It has the same BT in it, too. I was soo glad to get rid of those lil rascals.....it was about half the price of Gnatrol too.:)
(I'm a cheap- skate at heart)
MsC
I didn't even know Bayer made a granule! Thanks for the info.
I wonder how it would work with seedling trays...
that would be interesting to know, the mosquito granules tip. Update on my xanadu: it went down to 28 degrees on the 14th, and everyting I covered seems unscathed, p. selloum included. now the xanadu is another story. the upper leaves turned like a copper color. mine are planted inground. I don't want to lose these!
Another plant that looked beaten up was my variegated red penta. is this a perennial?
calla & carter: bananas, of course, are shot. I acquired 1 abyssian this fall, presently about 4' tall and 4" trunk. Typically i just whack all bananas (basjoo and zebrina) at this time and they come back in spring. I can't stand to look at dead leaves. Since abyssian does not pup, should I just leave the dead tree or is it ok to whack?
Then my brazilian pavonia which is supposed to be decidous is alive and well, for the 3rd year in a row! I guess there is something about those microclimates. But yall, i'm just sw of houston., off H59.
i forgot to make a comment about fertilization programs. Hum, very similar to mine... however, one of my 2005 NY resolutions will be to religiously fert. my plumies and two new brugs.
CrestedChick, I use it on my African Violet leaf cuttings and it works great.I even sprinkle a little extra on the mats I have them watering on and so far so good.
I started this several months ago and I'm glad to say I haven't seen many bugs of any kind in the house.
One note: You may see the granules look a little "molded" after a while....I just remove them from seedlings and fluff the top soil around the plant...
I got mine at a Lowes store locally a 1 lb bottle was around $6 and it only takes a very little amount to do the trick.
MsC
I'm going to order some of the granules then. Thanks.
Vossner, I don't know too much about bananas, but I'd say if your abyssian doens't pup, then you'd probably be better off just leaving it alone. The leaves my be shot (you can trim those off), but the trunk could still be ok. I'd maybe try wrapping it with a sheet or something to insulate it overnight next time we get a freeze (or as close to one as we really get...).
Myself, I'm going to try leaving my dead leaves on and using them as a sort of insulation. Looks a little, by it's only for another month...
You aren't supposed to take the dead leaves off of a banana or cut the trunk down till the danger of freezing is over, so I agree with Carter, leave it alone till all danger of freezing/frost is over.
Susie, tell the folks the truth! You do not need to fertlize your plants because of all that bug doo that falls over you.
Vossner, I am so sorry. I hate it when my plants get destroyed by the weather. I hope they recover!
Ah Kell, still don't believe the bug poo story? I thought everyone knew that's how nitrogen got in rainwater!