Yes I learn something new everyday :))
Allison's pots
I told Mark last night that I got 'It' for his garden. He said, "Huh?" That was a fun conversation! He liked the pic of the plant.
IT will have to go in a pot here and be a houseplant in the winter, but that will be nice too. IT will also have to be put up high so the animals don't get hurt by IT's spines. I can't wait for IT to have babies!!
From what I read, these stay relatively small, about 1 1/2" high by 8" round. That sounds like a nice size for a pot...also sounds nice if you could let them spread their babies in your garden as a ground cover. I'm jealous of your FL weather!!
I know were lucky in Florida ! We have some other large Bromilaids and when they flower it's so cool and it last about 10 months. I was told by park's owner wife that the ones we have a rare and you can't find them anymore ? She collects them like I collect African violets and she really knows her stuff. She knew the name of it I forget. She asked me for a pup and we gave her a nice big one !
She said they were really healthy. we started out with on about 4 years ago now have about 6 plus gave her one. She gave us some smaller ones of another type . Our Coleus ( SP) grew all over them. But I could peek in today and wow they grew too. The way stuff is hubby does not want to dig them out would ruin too much. There's a good size Plumeria sticky out over the Coleus . and under there is some of my pink flower begonias so much fun . lol.
I am going to order the small one now and get the other next time. I am hoping they have babies ! I wonder how long it takes ? Lorry gave me a little one she shipped it in a lunch baggie no roots ( I think they can grow like air plants some of them ) The one she sent me is so cute with pretty reds / pink in it too !
I don't know the name. Lorry if you see this do you know the name ?
Oh, Allison, that all sounds so beautiful!! I wish I could have a garden like that here. It will do that in the summer, but it all dies in the winter. Please send pics when you can, I would love to see it.
I had a Plumeria that my in-laws sent me when they were on vacation in Hawaii. They live in CA, and I have zone envy when I visit or talk to them too. I was so surprised they even thought of me when they were on vacation! I got my Plumeria cutting growing great, then it died while I was overwintering it. boo hoo. I'll have to get another one.
I think that Bromeliads are all basically air plants. I think they get most of their nutrients from their leaves. I did a bunch of reading up on them about a month ago...I just have to get my brain to remember all the info. I know that when you water them you're supposed to let the soil get damp, but what you really water is the "cup" of the plant and you let the water sit there and change it every week. I have one Brome here, it's a common one, I got it at Lowe's....but it's still pretty! I think if the humidity is high enough, and there's enough shade, you can grow Bromes on trees w/ their roots exposed. That's how they grow in the rainforest. Their roots are almost like tendrils that a vine uses to climb. All of this info falls into the category of "if I remember correctly"!!! From what I read about the Earth Stars they like more moist soil. If I were you I would ask the lady in your neighborhood. She sounds like an expert. When the plant arrives I'd show it to her and ask her for any tips or hints she knows about...and I bet she'll be willing to do a another swap with you too!
Oh, one other thing I did read about these is that they are monocarpic. I had to look that word up in the GardenTerms. It means that they flower once and then die...but they put off tons of babies first. If you're familiar with the Yucca plant (Adam's Needle) it does the same thing. So, once you see pups forming if the center where the Mama plant was looks dead don't be surprised or think you did something wrong, that's what's supposed to happen and you're doing everything right!!
I was just thinking about my Yucca plants after I wrote that. I have tons of them from my MIL. That makes them special to me and my Hubby. One year we moved them all over the yard and the next year we got our first blooms since his Mom had been here. We were soooo excited! The next spring we were so anxious to check on the Yuccas that had bloomed the year before. As soon as the snow melted we were out there inspecting them...and they looked awful! We couldn't figure out why. Eventually they keeled over at soil level, looking like they rotted. I blamed the dogs, saying they had peed on them all winter and killed them! Poor doggies! I wasn't their fault at all, but I didn't know that. It was just the natural way of the plant. I'm so glad I found out, now I can quit blaming the dogs for something they didn't do!
Nature is really something.
repotting
LOL, you're right.... the weather has been driving me inside a few times recently, and I've been catching up on repotting!
Has anyone ordered from that link recently? I remember something about a favorite place for pots having trouble getting orders out or communicating -- or was that another vendor?
My perma-nest trays from Parks should be here soon! I called, and they were shipped out on the 22nd.
I wrote them and orders are coming thru fine ! You can order on line and pay Pay Pal you can also call them to place an order too !
Good to know!