Good point about the guarantee from Lowes; Home Depot has the same thing.
Death to my Garden!!! :(
Most of his plants were hybrids, rare tropicals, and very expensive. He would drive form Red Oak all the way to Florida in 2 days just to purchase a particular plant, or to Houston for a special amorphallus bulb. It is very sad for him, being so young and optimistic, about getting the perfect hybrid and about gardening.
It was funny walking out in my garden and finding little baggies on my EE blooms. I knew that truetropical was there, and enjoy his enthusiasm.
I hope that this year brings him bigger and better plants.
Same here bigger and better - and the ones that make it just might be able to be sold for more intime once people know they are a little more cold hardy.
Watch and keep an eye out you never know but that some will come right back out of this.
As is well known, I am not an expert, however, I leave all the EE's and musa in ground every year. I am only a few miles from Red Oak. Right now mine are all mostly brown above ground. I have learned that they are root hardy. Not only do they come back but are bigger and better every year. I also have duranta and hibiscus that live through the worst. I leave lots of what are considered tropical house plants in ground and they also survive as well as three varieties of ginger. Should say I did this the first time out of ignorance, when it worked I was more than thrilled. One of those being Peace Lily. Came back big and bad and bloomed it's heart out. I some three different kinds of EE. Don't know one from another other than one is monstrous leaves. The first 2 feet above ground is still green and not protected at all. I have high hopes for your treasures. Don't throw anything out.
Christi
Yep they just might pull through - at least some of them will.
I'm so truly sorry to hear this! just like everyone else has said...give it a chance. our plants are such a wonderful gift, and it's so hard to see them when they aren't at their best. but give them time, they'll be back!
GRRRRRRRRR! How exciting to get a greenhouse, but then to have that happen!? Makes you want to tear it down and chuck it all in, huh? That would probably be my initial reaction. I hope you and your plants are recovering/sustaining... I'm heart-broken, for you. I hope everything comes back, bigger and better. It's awful, but I always look for a silver lining..sometimes it's just the education. School of hard knocks... I have many degrees from there, myself. I doubt I have anything as exotic as your plants, but I'm happy to share if there's something I can send once you've re-grouped. My heart goes out to you. (Gordon, I'll be calling on you IF I'm ever so fortunate to own one)
This is my super leaf EE as of today. This is the third winter and it multiplies and comes back like gang busters. I live probably less than 10 miles from you.
The leaves on top of the musa have turned brown and are hanging. As you can see the trunk is still green with no protection whatever. It, too comes back as soon as the ground warms up. Trying to encourage you as I don't even have a greenhouse and everything recovers very well. Only difference is I don't get bananas. This is just a little of what I have "underground" at this time. It is a tropical beauty in the spring. Hoja Santa dies completely to the ground and is breathtaking when it comes back.
Well, that is most definitely the wrong picture. Will try again.
This message was edited Jan 24, 2008 4:29 PM
thanks everyone. I have finished bringing everything in and getting them stored up in my garage for winter ( thanks to some help from P-Rita). Now it's just a waiting game to see what will pull through. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on there progress. Wow. what a lesson. I will deffinatly have a more full proof plant next winter! For all who are waiting for spring... Cheers!!!
try once more . This is the banana.
Christi, that is so sweet of you. True, That's the spirit. I'm glad P-Rita could help. Cheers to you! (some of my "tropicals") I know it was over 100 degrees when I took this pic. I'm sure I was complaining of the heat.... (note to self: stop complaining so much and grasp some positive from things you have no control over) Gorgeous canna, too!
AuntB, your yard is beautiful. I sooo love to look at others gardens. Always amazing to see what is being grown in places where "they say" it won't.
hey AuntB what kind of amorphophallus is that in the picture????
DH! Nice to "see" you. They are konjacks, they were a bit slow on getting foliage last year. Do you have amorphs? Did you get your greenhouse assembled?
lol nice to "see" you too AuntB! no i was looking at them on plantdelights fantasizing.... i do that when i'm bored!
"H" (the g-pa that calls me TL) is coming to help me with it... i did the foundation monday, but it has just been so darn cold i can barely work (i know... i'm a whimp).... today i finally planted some things and moved others tht were in the garage or in another plant's future spot. such as the coontie, cherokee bean, bamboo, cordyline 'negra', hibiscus r-s, and a thing of bamboo.... also took down all dead foiage and twigs of perennials.... tomorrow hopefully i'll get to work on the GH