I recently acquired two of these in bloom although the plant files indicate the blooming season is later in the year. I wonder if I should remove bloom stalks or do they rebloom on the same stalk. Any advice would be appreciated.
This message was edited Jul 13, 2006 9:51 PM
I purchased 2 of these last month and they both were in full bloom. One of them has died on me and the other one is still blooming and has lots of new blooms starting to form.
I would leave the blooms on, as it's been grown to bloom now and will continue to bloom all summer.
Donna
Podster, I bought one, put it in the ground and it rotted. Are you going to keep it in the pot? I would recommend it, afraid to try another, but they are unique looking.
Yes to the pot. Our soil is heavy when wet (if it ever should rain again) so I intend to keep in clay pots. We also freeze here and in pots I can protect them in winter.
I am continually amazed at what the commercial growers must do to make plants bloom before their normal bloom cycle or when they are too small. Actually on these, even the old bloom stalks are interesting foilage.
FG, did you pull yours up to look at the roots. Do you think it was too much moisture, humidity, what?
Donna, did you leave yours in pot or put in the ground? Why do you think you lost the one?
It clearly rotted, due to one of those torrentials that we get. If I get another I'll put it in a pot.
I put both of them in the ground. The one that died was right next to an ground sprinkler head, so it could have drowned, as my soil is pretty much clay like and probably held the water too long. The other one is in a different bed and it drains faster.
I didn't know that they didn't like very much water when I bought them, so I have learned an expensive lesson here.
Thanks all,
Donna
Glad to know they don't take much water. Watering is my downfall. At least if I loose them, they were not pricey, only $3 each. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Well, here I am again. I have kept these guys in separate pots. The one on the right has new growth and appears fine. No new bloom stalks but that's o.k..
The left plant appears to be wilting. I uprooted it to see. The plant had lots of roots, to the bottom of the pot. The soil was not too dry or too soggy, just right. The roots were showing no sign of rot. I repotted it in a larger pot and for now will leave the other alone.
I bought 3 of these and 1 died immediately and 1 wants to die. My favorite so far is holding steady. I have a friend who has them planted in her yard and they do just great. But hers are in lots of heat all summer, here it is cooler. I wish mine would perk up!
I need to figure these out for when I find an all black one, I am going to grab it and run. If I kill it, I will be bereft.
My favorite so far.
Aw Jeeze .. I gotta quit coming to Dave's. Everytime I see a new plant, I gotta have it. Kell, your paws can vacation here if you like for the winter.
X
I have got to figure out how to grow these, X. I can see how they could become a small obsession. I like so many of them.
I have only seen 1 black one and I tell you it was so special. I didn't get a good picture of it though. It was sitting at the cash register at a nursery showing off. You could look but could not have. So of course I just have to have one now.
