Would anyone be interested in trading, I am looking for a few blue and also yellow Achimenes. I have some Black Gamecock Iris to trade. Thanks.
Achimenes
Well Jan and I are putting in two different large orders together we won't be getting them until Mid April. If you want in let us know we can ad you into the order if no one else had any to trade right now.
Allison
Thanks Allison, I appreciate that. I will go in with you on the order regardless of what I get from this thread. Where are you getting your orders from?
Vi
So,what are we buying today? :)
Well I dmailed VI to see if there are any Achimenes she would like I can add to our order !
Allison :))
** BUMP**
I am curious about these as I saw a few at Plant Delights open house that were hardy to my zone. How much light would these guys want outside, & are they hard to grow? I've ordered a few types already and sorry to hijack this, but Achimenes seem to be a little talked about gesneriad and, as a beginner I'm curious!!
Any wisdom much appreciated!
Jan and I ordered some coming in April from two different sellers were splitting. Lauray of Salisbery ( SP) she is in garden watch under "L" has a lot check her out I have bought plants from her before all doing great ! Look under Gesneriads for them and call her !
Do you grow them outside or inside, Allsion? DO they like lots of water? Fert? Sorry so many questions, but I've never grown them and have sev. varieties on their way
We grow them in shade gardens in ground with morning sun, and in hanging baskets.
They do well as houseplants too under inderect light or light stands with Av's
Here is two good link I fount.
http://www.brennansorchids.com/ach.html
and
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B541#lbl_culture
Thanks for the links Allison-very helpful! Can't wait till mine arrive now!
Achimenes are borderline here in the new zone 8 (formerly, and still officially, 7b) - I think some of them would make it if the microclime is right. Anyway, from what I've heard from people growing them outdoors in this area, they will not tolerate drying out so make sure they get enough water. Also, the rhizomes can mold and rot if too wet in the winter during the dormancy, so I would recommend harvesting some in the fall in case they do not make it through the winter.
Thanks, Keyring!
From what I can tell from PDN website, "purple King" and "harry Williams" are hardy to 7b. It seems that our winters have been wetter than summers recently. I also ordered a couple more types for my own curiousity. I'm new at this, and trying to push my zone, so luckily, I'm already making a habit of dividing things for hardiness trials (gingers for iinstance) in fall to keep a little bit inside for insurance.
Was thinking of starting a "Hardy Tropicals for 7b" topic in Tropicals-I've already tried in Carolina Gardening, with little response.--So I really do appreciate your input-thanks.
Achimene 'Purple King' is one of the oldest and most reliable Achimenes hybrids.
More info here from the Gesneriad Reference Web !
http://gesneriads.ca/genach.htm
You could always keep some in the ground first Winter to check. Their great in hanging baskets and can be grown as house plants too !
We grow them in the ground and hanging baskets for lots of beautiful colorful flowers !!
This seller tells how they have tested some for zones 7 and how some made it to zero degree weather.
http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Fall/page1.html
Though I think their price is costly good info.
We have ordered bulbs
Another link showing zone hardness for Achimenes
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/bulbs-summer/bulletin32/table2.html
Lots of different Achimenes say happier in 50 dgrees up
http://www.willowcreekgardens.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=585
Thought we do have some nights in 30's not many and so far have not seen frost in 10 years we have no problem keeping them in the ground.
Something you might want to play around with
Wow, a wealth of info there!
The only time I've seen Achimenes in real life was at the PDN open house-and those plants were huge (and about the only ones I was pondering being worth the $-after visiting in person, I'd never order from mail-most of their plants were quite small, 4" pots for 12 dollars up)
So I can't wait until they arrive to see the blooms in person!
PDN is known for making unusual plants available ro gardeners in the US. A few years after they start carrying a plant, you usually can find it elsewhere for less. They get mixed reviews as a result. They are also into pushing the zone, and they have done quite a bit of hardiness testing of sinningias too.
Achimenes are relative easy to propagate. They mostly make scaley rhizomes and each scale will make a new plant.
P.S. There are a bunch of tropical z6-8 gardeners in the tropicals forum.