Hi all new member

[Jamesb]

Hi all

Like many others found this forum searching Google for some exotic plant information. I have been into exotic looking plants for 4-5yrs but slow to start so still a lot to try and even more to learn. Anyway great to be here, forum looks great with lots of interesting topics. Hopefully I can contribute something one day.

Thanks

[bev]

welcome james

cheers

lee

[Juggles]

Welcome Jamesb, This is a great forum, im new to the site and have had so much advice offered to me. Everyone is friendly and please dont worry about asking what you think are silly questions, I've asked a few. Im from Norfolk, and we've got some great specialist nurserys around this way.

[Dave Brown]

Hi James, and welcome

What are you growing at the moment

[Jamesb]

Hi

Thanks for the welcome everyone

Dave - I have collected quite a few plants (most of the common/popular ones) and also lost quite a few especially this winter! My most recent interest has been a few plants from Crug Farm that seem to be quite popular:

Schefflera Taiwaniana has made it through the winter no problem and I love this plant (before acquiring Crugs Scheffs I had S. Impressa from Hardy Exotics that has now been in the ground for 3 years and is fabulous, winter doesn't touch it!

Schefflera Hoi I pulled in the greenhouse as it looked pretty ropey pretty early on last winter. I have planted it out now 2 weeks ago and will leave it to its own devices, probably lose it next winter.

S. Macrophylla was completely defoliated this winter (seemed fine last one) but has appeared at the base.

S. Fantsipanensis looks ok probably in between the others just mentioned.

Apart from those I am growing the following amongst others in the shady area:

Curculigo Crassifolia, Dicksonia Antartica, Cyathea Australis, Blechnum Nudum, Blechnum Tabulare, Aralia elata 'variegata', Cordyline Australis, T. Rex, Paulownia tomentosa, Musa Basjoo, Fatsia Japonica Spiders web, Amorphophallus Konjac, Trilliums, Ariseamas, Arums.

In more sunny areas I have:

Agave x Nigra, A. Americana + variegata, A. Ferox, A. Montana, Dasylirion quadrangulatum, Yucca Rostrata, Y. Gloriosa, Y. Baccata, Y. elephantipes, Y. Aloifolia, Fascicularia bicolor, Puya Chilensis, Brugmansia, Musa Sikkimensis + Basjoo, Euphorbia Mellifera, phyllostachys vivax aureocaulis, Chusquea Gigantea, Fargesia Robusta, Sinobambusa 'Tootsik' Variegata, Trachycarpus Fortunei + Nova?, Hedychium Forrestii, H. Tara, Arundo Donax, Astelia silver spear, Eucalyptus Gunnii, E. Pauciflora, Cordyline Torbay Dazzler, C. Red star, Indigovera, Pittosporum Tenuifolium, Trochodendron aralioides, some small succulents and bedding Aeoniums etc.

I lost all my Cannas, Colocasias etc unfortunately by being a bit silly with them over winter and Canna virus.

Virtuallly all my plants are 'fairly' new and small so a long way to go yet and a lot still on the want list. I have also had the bad habit of racing to get the plants before doing all the landscaping but I can't help it I am addicted to them .

Regards

James

[Dave in Warrington]

Hi James and welcome.

Looking at the list of your plants, you've probably experience to share

[kata]

Welcome James!

What a lot you got

[Dave Brown]

Blimey James, your collection is bigger than mine mine are maybe a bit bigger each though

[AirKewl]

Welcome James from a fellow newbie

Hmmm! any of those destined for the re-cycle bin ...just askin'?

[kata]

Schefflera Taiwaniana has made it through the winter no problem a

I like the umbrella effect Wiki has for that plant. When you say it came through the winter, do you think it would make it in Lancashire James? Here, like everywhere else the winter last year was very bad, but we are under a cloud blanket a lot of the year, also we get much rain.

[Jamesb]

Hi AirKewl not just yet will let you know if that changes

Hi Kata - Well they seem to like cloud and rain so that bit sounds good! Would not have a clue on minimum temps but from the few species I have tried I would definately try this one or Schefflera Impressa as a good start.

Thanks