I don;t think that you have to do the cage thing. I just dump about 4" or so of mulch over the plant/roots.
Deb-I meant that I am lazy in that I don't try to build up the soil with amendments! lol But I am lazy in the winter protection area too....and also cleaning house!
Mulching every year really helps to build up the soil
Here are some heliconias-I will dig them up
OUCH! That one stung, tigerlily, I was so proud of my heliconias but they ate it hard with this drought...maybe I was able to rescue a small piece, but don't know yet
Yours look way cool
4" of mulch...sounds good, never can seem to get enough mulch around here with all the ersion, everything washes down
here's another one I'm not sure will make it (no way I'm gonna spell this right on the fly)-- beschorneria 'ding-dong' it's still so small I feel like I should bring it in
I have that one too! lol (can you tell I am sick or what) Mine is a lot bigger-but 2nd summer, so that is why. It went thru the 17 degrees we had last winter (a few times) like a champ-I didn't notice any freeze burn or anything. Want me to take a picture, I will if you want to see a larger one. It is in the really bad drought garden-for all I know it may be dead! lol I dont like looking at that garden
Oh Tigerlily, I am a lazy gardener and housekeeper also. LOL But it works in the garden, the more mulch I dump on top the better the soil becomes. The worms seem to seek the mulch, enriching the soil as they go. Not sure that works in the the house tho........... :-))))
I just hate to hear that you are still experiencing such a horrible drought. I am in Colorado this week and we hear a lot on the news here about the drought in this area. Naturally I left my irrigation system on to water my plants while I am gone and the weather at my home has been wet, big time. I had to email a neighbor pleading with them to go over and turn my sprinklers off. Sure wish I could have sent you some of that rain.
Interestingly, it is 2 zones warmer down where I live but it has been my experience that while I can safely leave Xanthosomas in the ground they do get smaller and smaller each year. Perhaps it is a fertilizer issue.
sure tigerlily, I'd love to see the pictures
hmmmmm...interesting ardesia...I can't wait to see how this one pans out
This message was edited Oct 4, 2007 9:19 PM
Tropicanna
you are crazy lol roflmbo
Tigerlily: I like to let the mulch do the work, too. ;>
And I'm with you Ardesia - if only there was a similar system for housework. What you said about the Xanth's getting smaller each year concerns me, tho. If my Lime Zinger gets any smaller next year I'll need a magnifying glass to see it!
Now considering digging it up. I have fertilized it, tho. Uh oh. Libra indecisiveness attack!
Deb
Deb...Another Libra! Can't you see both sides of the issue??!! :-)
Bev
And now I know why I like you Bev (and you too, Deb, though we've not met in person)--Libras are great, my best friend is one
I'm scared to risk my Zinger, I love that thing, but the Sagittofolia (sp???) is staying out, cause I have babies for the GH
Bev: Yes, I am a Libra in the worst way! LOL! I can see both sides of every issue! I'm sure you understand. ;->
I envy my best friend, who is a Sagitarian, and never hesitates, just jumps in! It's uncanny sometimes how people are so true to their sign.
Tropicanna: So..obviously...I'm still waffling about my Zinger. Will it come back bigger or smaller? Can't decide, can't decide....
Deb
How big is it now?...if it was smaller could you still live with it? Cause if you don't want it any smaller I'd dig it...but if it's big enough I'd leave it the way it is.
This message was edited Oct 6, 2007 10:52 PM
????????
Tropicanna: Sorry, I've been up at Pawleys Island for the past week. Just got back today.
The Zinger is only about a foot tall. I've decided to dig it. :)
Deb
I dug mine already, looks so pretty in the GH. I had a huge jeoquinii that I was going to try and leave, but then it kind of fell over, so I guess that one's next.
Bringing everything in is more complicated than I thought. I ended up with a bunch of mislabeled stuff...not as hardy as I needed, so the GH is more packed than I pictured
tcanna lol
i know what you mean hehehhehehehehehe
p.s. did you get my last dmail?
lol you need a BIGGER gh already hehehehehehe lol
I didn't but I just sent you one....lol. I definitely need a new GH with this tropical addiction I have going, my gosh, I'm just a glutton. I could give some of this stuff away but I don't want to.
you are to see what i am getting lol
but you would have to have another gh heheheheheehe
you must tell....lol
I'm gonna put one of those water tubs in the GH, at least that's the plan....if I can walk around it.....lol
check your dmail lol
Oh my goodness! You two sound as if you're in cahoots about something! Should the rest of us be on the lookout?? Warnings for your friends, ok?
LOL, hopefully I didn't miss the boat, but I may indeed warn you if I didn't :)
