When you dig up your Alocasia Portora,chop off it's biggest leaves,because the wind gust up to 50miles an hour has shredded them to pieces,and find out the little leaves left on your plant is still do big to fit into your greenhouse!!!!!
Whats a gardener to do?
Here again the same problem with my Xanthosoma Sagittifolium.
Whoops that hurts the neck!!LOL
Tropicman, Well i guess you will do what i did = get a bigger greenhouse! But some times that does'nt help! So what's a tropical man to do ?????????? Jerry
This message was edited Oct 13, 2008 6:00 AM
I'd just love to have that problem ☺
Jerry,I guess we look for dwarf plants!!!LOL
FK, Living in Phoenix,you don't even need a greenhouse from the winter cold,it's summer year round there!!!!
Fish knees, same here, I wish I just had a SMALL greenhouse....
I have ran into this problem more than my fair share. I always suggest cutting the plants back really hard, most are really durable and can handle a good hacking. I for one am more fond of a move to a warmer state or country rather than a new greenhouse. Even with that in mind I found a great deal on a fully loaded greenhouse this week and bought it. It took two days to take it down and I will be on the third day tomorrow of putting it back up. I hope it will give me enough room at least for a little longer.
On a bit of a down note I would recommend the following.
I would suggest something to everyone cutting down tropicals. I heat my knifes in a fire before each cut on a different plant. I usually contain a small fire in a small grill I have 6 or more knifes being heated to save time. This is to prevent mosaic virus spreading. I had in the past used clorox but found it was not near as good as the heat treatment. I found a virused Banana this season the first I had seen on them. I have seen virus on Alocasias, Colocasias and of course Cannas. For people who have to take their plants in this is something that will spread like wild fire when you cut all your plants down with the same knife. I would like to say this is something rare and not everyone should worry but I would then be a liar. I have seen virused plants from all nursery types from mail order specialty nurseries to the big box nurseries and small time collectors. No plant is safe so I would suggest as much precaution as possible.ime collectors.
Thanks on the info,never thought about lighting a flame under my knife.
Been using alcohol,on my blade,so far been lucky I guess!
I would like a bigger greenhouse,but am out of land to put one on.
So I just stuff them full,which means less to heat!!!
Wife said ,it would be easier to just reduce my plant list and collection!!!!
Hmm don't see that happening!!!
I'd say a crawl space is in order TM
Dig down about 3' layer w/ straw.
Plus you know the next leaves will be smaller.....
I've been having good luck w/ just bare root wintering the big guys.
I just lay them lengthwise in the GH.... MAYBE twice a month I spray the roots.
Ric
Well I got them in there,and there putting on more leaves,I'll keep them growing if possible.
Ric do they continue to grow when bare root and laying down,or do the leaves die off?
The leaves will die off and you have to watch for them getting rotten.
So as they die I cut or peel them back. Think Cannonball Colocasia.
Then usually a single leaf will start.. but just sit there.... like a Spring Canna when the soil isn't warm enough.
I'm playing w/ this stuff we use at work.
http://www.instazorb.com/product_info.htm
I DON'T recommend it's use yet but it has possibilities.
(And DEFINITELY not for use around food crops!)
The way it absorbs liquids I thinking it may be great for using on bulb storage and stopping rot.
Ric
Never know until you try.
Says all natural,but I didn't see what the chemical make up on this stuff was.
Amorphous Aluminum Silicate is what it is Don.
For spills it's absolutely amazing.
Any liquid hits the floor (oil, coolant, paint thinner at our place) and you just sweep this stuff over it and the floor is bone dry. Then either vacumn or broom it up.
WAY better than the old sawdust or clay based (kitty litter) type products.
Yep we use the kitty litter stuff at work,only spills we have are usually hydraulic oil.
It's a pain in the but to sweep all of it up!
Chiming in late, here, but it's hard to have any sympathy for a guy with such incredible plants. Too jealous.
Ah! But I'm envy of where you live!!!
Now I'm jealous!!!LOL
Actually now back in DC, and trying to rent out Vieques www.houseinvieques.com shows you the place and some of the great plants down there.
I'd like to just pitch a tent on Sun bay,stay a spell!!!!