Thanks Cathy and Rob, I'll be sure to cherish this one and wrap it up through winter.

I'd already bought a small one in the sales which can go in the GH overwinter and live in a pot for a few years, but moving this big-boy around just isn't an option, so in the ground it'll go!

Last question for the night I promise - it was a busy day! :lol: Dug this clump of Fargesia out today when buying some other plants. Looks to have been in a while as nice and dense, but not very tall (may have been trimmed, not sure). Any ideas which species it might be? Guessing at a murielae of so...

Yep, think you are both right - take as much as I can get to and lift. Just trying to picture what the rootball would look like below ground so I know how far to keep going down before starting to pry to get the whole thing to move. Really not sure about the tap root thing, but was definitely talkin...

Going to buy a couple of nice sized fortuneis, and need to know how best to dig them out to minimise damage/stress. The guy who grew them said that there was a 'tap root' between the two plants (not sure what he means by between exactly) and that if I cut through that when digging that it will be th...

Yes, the picture on the ad was a little deceptive. I was expecting more people to be after it, so was chuffed to get it ....... and some other bits too! 8) Seems the guy who owned them has cancer and has had to move out of his home and in with his children, so am glad I can take on his obviously wel...

Thanks all. Yes, Doncaster, perhaps the shorter leaves are down to being 'born' in the UK. Still, at least I can get it in the ground for the first time in its life and get it well fed - maybe the roots will be a bit warmer in the ground and persuade it to push out a little further? I'll get on with...

Thanks guys, yes there was something about the old leaves that didn't look quite bananary!

Just had a poke around, and yes there is a solid rhizome under the surface between the two visible 'clumps'.

Will be a nice surprise to let this one grow and see what develops.

Well, didn't get to spend my day out in the garden in the sunshine, but did make my way down to North London to pick up a monster Butia and a nice clump of Fargesia. 8) Butia came in the biggest pot I have ever laid my hands on, and just about when in the back of my car, to the cm! :roll: Apparently...

While picking up my new palm and bamboo today, the kind seller also gave me a 'clump' of what looks like some kind of banana. Stems have mushed up a little over the winter, but looks pretty viable still so sure it will come back in the summer. So ......... any guesses from what is there as to exactl...

Significant ground frost here last two days, cars white top to bottom in the morning, although thawing quickly with the morning sun. I have decided I am definitely in a frost hollow (despite being near the top of the sides of one bit of it!). :evil: Still, as long as the GH min stays above 5 degrees...

I did get one from Homebase (or B&Q) a couple of years back for that kind of money, but it was definitely nowhere near as big as the one I got! Popped back on the weekend and chose the biggest specimen they had. Super healthy, 5ft tall from bottom of pot, 50 cm trunk and 13cm girth at the base. ...

Are you sure they are moths? Firstly almost all moths only fly at night (there are a few exceptions), so unless you are out there with a torch they are more likely lacewings or something like that, and secondly I've never heard of any species that feed on ferns and I've been into lepidoptera since I...

Ice!!

Have never been without several Buddleias in my garden, love the yellow globe ones like globosa. Always get a late summer display of peacocks, red admirals, small tortoisehells and commas. I am also lucky enough to see hummingbird hawk moths in my garden every year - they love red valerian so have a...

Very nice! It's a wonder it doesn't suck that pond dry! :lol: Mine is already growing rapidly in the greenhouse, can't stop it now!! Wish I'd bought another one, as found them at a local GC for £10.99 in a 15L or more pot with really large foliage, but took the sensible route and only bought one! ic...