Hi,
I just bought this plant from Kartuz. I can't seem to find much info on it. Does any one have any experience with it? thanks in advance for your help.
blakea gracilis
I've been very unsuccessful with it--it's one of the plants that has hit its limit in my "three strikes and you're out" policy (once I've killed something 3 times, I'm not allowed to buy it anymore...death by gopher and other natural phenomena do not count). And it always died fairly quickly too, I've had other things that kind of struggle along for a while, but this one's usually dead within a month or two (I don't blame Kartuz though, I've bought plenty of other stuff from there that has done just fine)
I'm not sure quite why I've had trouble with it, it's always died during the summer not the winter and where Kartuz is in SoCal I think they have about the same summer highs as we do here and they shouldn't have much more humidity, so for the life of me I can't figure out why this plant doesn't like me. Actually it's not just it, I have had trouble with a lot of other things in that family too, there are a few that grow really well for me, but I've had several plants in that family hit the three strikes limit (I have a much higher than normal "strikeout rate" with that family than I do with any other group of plants I can think of) I tried it with varying degrees of morning sun and it hasn't seemed happy with any of them, but definitely afternoon sun will do it in so I'd make sure you can provide some shade for it during the heat of the day. And I watered it regularly but did let it dry out a bit in between waterings. I can't remember the exact symptoms as it died (although with 3 of them you'd think I would remember it better!) but I do remember that it reminded me of some other plants that are native to more humid climates that haven't been happy here. But since Kartuz obviously grows it successfully it surprised me that it wasn't OK with my lack of humidity.
Had to look that one up. Seeing where that plant originates http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/MEMBGNewsletter/Volume1number4/Plantnovelties.html http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1112.pdf could it be that Kartuz provides additional humidity for it?
You might be right, I'm not sure that the extra humidity is provided on purpose, but I visited there in person when I was in San Diego a couple years ago, and he's got a series of greenhouses where most of the more tropical plants are, and I suspect he's probably got a mist system for summer cooling and that would of course raise the humidity as well.
All I know is if YOU can't grow it...I'm not even thinking about it! ^_^
You've got a really different climate--I worry a little bit for lovestropics in AZ since the humidity there is probably even less than here plus the summers are hotter, but it might be perfectly happy in Virginia humidity! Plus I've killed plenty of plants...if you decided not to plant anything that I've killed, you wouldn't have much in your garden! LOL
Why yes - HHH (Hazy, Hot and Humid) that's all you hear for summer forecasts here...never thought of it as being a GOOD thing...but the jasmines certainly love it!!
you are right ecrane3. My humidity level is low. Currently it is on a patio with other plants. I will post progress on how it is doing. Thank you ecrane3 and chantell for helping me.
Can you set it in a dish w/pebbles and water to increase the humidity around it, Usha? (OT - did you get my dmail yesterday? ^_^)
I hope you are successful with it and can give me some tips--this is one that I would really love to try again (and if you provide me with some good tips on how to take care of it, then I might let myself make an exception to my 3 strikes rule!)
Hi Chantell,
I did get your dmail yesterday. I have not had a chance to check on my cuttings to see which ones have rooted. Will mail you back either today or tomorrow.
Hi Ecrane3,
I will keep you posted.
Ahh! It's an epiphyte! Make sure you let it dry out well between waterings.
I've had two strikes on this one and don't think I'll try for a third. Got too many "toys" to give this one the attention it needs. Tho the flower is particularly beautiful. Think I, too got mine from Kartuz. My second one actually bloomed when it was quite small. Seen it growing in a botanical garden in Costa Rica. Their plant was 12 to 15 feet tall, in the shade in a damp spot (some standing water around). Think this will be a difficult one for Scottsdale. It likes it coolish and very humid.
Mine died very peacefully.
Sorry, lovetropics. That it survived anytime at all in Scottsdale is a tribute to your green thumb.
Hi Manchac,
I have discovered that I have several brown thumbs!!(funnier if you see me in person--I am indian).
I have had mine for about three years and seems pretty happy. I also got mine from Kartuz. I specifically got it because they said it was fragrant. So I was excited when it finally bloomed. (It took about a year) But sadly enough I could not detect any fragrance! It still is a neat little plant but I wanted it for the fragrance.
I kept it in a pot for the first few years and earlier this year I planted it in the ground. It is in light shade.
I wish I could be of more help.
I have never tried to propagate it. Maybe I should give it a try.
Ariel
Hi Ariel,
you are very helpful to me. I also bought it because of it's fragrance. If it is not that fragrant, I won't try to buy it again.
Ariel--have you tried smelling it at different times of day/evening? There are a lot of plants that are mainly fragrant in the evenings. I've never kept mine alive long enough for them to bloom so I don't know if that's the case here, but it's worth giving it a sniff at a few different times before you give up on it.
ecrane,
I know I smelled during different times of the day, but I do not recall smelling it in the evening. The plant blooms in late spring for me so it will be a while for me to be able to give it another smell test.