Search found 845 matches

by Steph
Tue Apr 01, 2014 11:11 am
Forum: Palms (including Cycads and Cordyline)
Topic: What is the growth rate of a mature Chammy?
Replies: 19
Views: 6107

Re: What is the growth rate of a mature Chammy?

Steph, Do you mean the trunk height or overall? Were talking trunk height - Chamearops Humilis. This one was planted around 20 years ago. It already had about 2 feet of trunk. It now measures 4 feet of trunk. Sure, if you add the leaf height it is 7 feet tall. I am talking overall height, the leave...
by Steph
Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:31 am
Forum: Palms (including Cycads and Cordyline)
Topic: What is the growth rate of a mature Chammy?
Replies: 19
Views: 6107

Re: What is the growth rate of a mature Chammy?

Mine is 7 to 8 feet tall after 10 years.
by Steph
Sun Mar 30, 2014 12:49 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: No garden access in April - to unwrap or not???
Replies: 26
Views: 4324

Re: No garden access in April - to unwrap or not???

I'd recommend a huge handful of straw in the Dicksonia crowns. The emerging fronds can easily move it out the way if it's warm... But if there is frost the straw will be the perfect blanket. We had a fantastic hail storm last week, some of the biggest hailstones I've ever seen, and they lasted in t...
by Steph
Fri Mar 28, 2014 11:04 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Orchids
Replies: 25
Views: 3829

Re: Orchids

Your Cyms are beauties, I am inspired to repot mine - they certainly need something done to them.
by Steph
Fri Mar 28, 2014 11:33 am
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Orchids
Replies: 25
Views: 3829

Re: Orchids

Cymbidium orchids can be encouraged to flower if you keep them outside all summer, until the first frosts hit. It's nerve wracking but does the biz. Cheers, I'll read up on that one. I have a nearly frost-free sheltered corner, which might be all it takes... The downside is it doesn't get much sun....
by Steph
Fri Mar 28, 2014 9:26 am
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Orchids
Replies: 25
Views: 3829

Re: Orchids

Mike is better now but does not participate in any forums at the moment.

Cymbidium orchids can be encouraged to flower if you keep them outside all summer, until the first frosts hit.
It's nerve wracking but does the biz.
by Steph
Fri Mar 28, 2014 9:25 am
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Orchids
Replies: 25
Views: 3829

Re: Orchids

Mike is better now but does not participate in any forums at the moment.

Cymbidium orchids can be encouraged to flower if you keep them outside all summer, until the first frosts hit.
It's nerve wracking but does the biz.
by Steph
Thu Mar 27, 2014 4:19 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Orchids
Replies: 25
Views: 3829

Re: Orchids

The lady I know who gets hers to reflower, ignores it mostly but does give it a drip of tomato plant food occasionally.
She wouldn't know what orchid food was... its really quite humiliating.

And I admit to having one of the blue Phals...
by Steph
Thu Mar 27, 2014 1:10 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Orchids
Replies: 25
Views: 3829

Re: Orchids

No hope of them surviving a winter outside, I have rarely managed to get them to reflower but they do last a lot longer than a bunch of flowers! Some people have the knack and just keep them in flower for ever. I think 'co they are tissue cultured, forced under light & with hormones, the plants ...
by Steph
Mon Mar 24, 2014 5:04 pm
Forum: New Members Introduce yourself here ;-) (public)
Topic: Hello from (the other) County Louth
Replies: 9
Views: 2996

Re: Hello from (the other) County Louth

Steph, we do want to put some sort of citrus in. I had worried about it getting warm enough to ripen, but on the few sunny days we've had so far (post-restoration) the temps inside have soared, so I'm thinking it might work out after all. I think Strelitzia might be in with the Bouganvilla and Abut...
by Steph
Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:05 pm
Forum: New Members Introduce yourself here ;-) (public)
Topic: Hello from (the other) County Louth
Replies: 9
Views: 2996

Re: Hello from (the other) County Louth

Hello and welcome, the conservatory is to die for! What about citrus trees in pots make the conservatory double as your orangerie? I'd also suggest a needle palm in there, or use it to bring on smaller palms with a view to planting outside in the future. Streitzia would be good as well. The mind bog...
by Steph
Mon Mar 24, 2014 12:46 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: your arid beds
Replies: 19
Views: 3683

Re: your arid beds

That's like my beds, brick paving & gravel!

That cacti, the opuntia looks mean & ugly..
by Steph
Sun Mar 23, 2014 9:33 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: your arid beds
Replies: 19
Views: 3683

Re: your arid beds

Just give the plants the soil that is the contents of their pot. Its been quite an interesting experiment and the plants are thriving, lost one agave this year, too much rain! Makes space for an aloe polyphylla. One of the Parryi is pupping nicely. In fact anything arid these days that gets potted j...
by Steph
Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:54 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: your arid beds
Replies: 19
Views: 3683

Re: your arid beds

When we had our drive done, I had a trench up to 3' deep left for beds.
No soil went in, just gravel and the plants pit in have thrived, even weeds.
by Steph
Sat Mar 22, 2014 12:46 pm
Forum: HTUK Community Forum (public)
Topic: Keen Digger required - Essex
Replies: 6
Views: 1673

Re: Keen Digger required - Essex

Put a notice up outside your house, garden help wanted. Took two hours for someone to come forward for my neighbours, there will always be someone in need of cash to do labouring. I used the chap a few times as well, to dig out stuff which was too much for us. If you are paying cash they are keen......