Does anyone know if heliconia rhizomes can be dug up and stored (indoors) for the winter?
Over-Wintering Heliconias - Question
Steve, I don't think so...check with a southern nursery about wheather it will work. :-)
Good idea, Kyle. I'll do that.
By the way, the Birds look great.
Steve
Hi
When I lived in S.Florida I grew heliconias extensively.One year we had a freeze at Christmas time.All the foliage and flowers froze and died but the rhizomes were fine and came back stongly when the weather got warmer.I am talking about huge plants of many varieties.
Since you propagate heliconias by division of rhizomes with eyes and a bit of vegetative grow I would take some of the rhizomes into the house and plant them in pots and keep them small by prunning.I would also leave some in the ground mulch well and when the weather is going to get cold prune large leaves and cover the plant with burlap or blankets.What heliconias do you grow and what are their size?Hope this helps
You can also contact Fairchild Gardens in Miami and ask for David Bar-Zvi.He knows everything about heliconias and will help you.
Good luck
Nancy
Thanks, Nancy. Right now I have a Parokeet, Heliconia psittocorum, but I just traded for another one, Heliconia Psittacorum Choconiana. It'll be here soon.
My wife won't let me bring any in the house. I built a cold frame, with green house plastic. It's 4 feet high in the back, so I can put pots in there when a frost is coming.
It's OK to prune them short? Cut the flowers off? The stalks are about 6 feet tall right now.
Check them out.
Steve
Your flowers are very pretty! I don't want to sound like a know it all but the the psittacorums are runners so you would do well to divide the rhizomes when the pot gets full.I am sure they will do very well in the cold frame and remember even if there is damage to the foliage the rhizome will be fine.I would cut the flowers and put them in water before the start of the cold weather.You can take some of the leaves to make a nice arrangement.
There are so many clumping heliconias that are nicer to grow in my opinion.if you want to keep them in a pot try the smaller ones.A great book is Heliconia an identification guide by Fred Berry and W.John Kress published by the Smithsonian Institution Press.
Have fun
Nancy
Thanks, Nancy. I'm going to a plant sale tomorrow (Sunday) at the USF Botanical Gardens. There will be over 60 vendors there - I'm sure I can get advice.
Steve
I had several small heliconia plants planted in the ground. We had a freeze last Christmas; they didn't survive 26* even though it was only a few hours.
Over in Weslaco there is a nursery that has a huge patch of heliconias. His did much better than mine, but they are very old plants.
I've only been here one winter. We had a couple of nights of freezing temps last winter, and I'm sure it will happen again.
I'll pot some rhizomes, trade some, and keep some in the cold frame until spring.
I talked to the Mrs. about buying a small greenhouse, and she was OK with it. We have by-laws in the community I live in - one of them is no external structures on the property. I'll have to check with The Man to see if it's OK.
Imagine the possibilities with a greenhouse! My heart can't takethe excitement.
Steve