Hardy Tropicals UK

i have always wanted one of the large gunneras but don't have the space .
i think i have just had a brainwave on where i could put a large-ish container for one this year.

i think at least a 50cm pot should fit where i have thought of.

if we take a 50cm tub as what i will be using and i will be putting it right against the house which is east facing ,so it is nearly a full shade position,

which would be best gunnera manicata or gunnera tinctoria?

i want the big one, manicata, but i was curious if having it in a pot could dwarf it
so infact the tinctoria would end up larger in the same pot (does that make sense?)

Mr List wrote: i want the big one, manicata, but i was curious if having it in a pot could dwarf it

I had manicata in an oak half barrel. Did ok, decent size leaves but was held back . Put it in the ground last year but not before putting a saw thru it . Now have 2 good size plants which did a lot better than had i kept them potted

how tall did it get in the container?

3 ft....not huge

I have one in a pot ready to go out this year.......have you just planted it out as a normal plant and just give lashing of water or have you done anything extra for the ground below it to hold the water ? Also, what have you done with yours for this winter ?

i might make a wooden container for it to maximize the root space for the place available.

is this a plant better off with wide and shallow or tall and deep ?

Mine is in a similar sized container and makes about 5 ft in the year with plenty of food and water. It did break the container last year so i had to split the plant.
Very nice plant to have though even in a container.

The Codfather wrote:I have one in a pot ready to go out this year.......have you just planted it out as a normal plant and just give lashing of water or have you done anything extra for the ground below it to hold the water ? Also, what have you done with yours for this winter ?

Gave the ground a good dig over, down about 3ft. Worked in some horse poo . Both divisions of the plant just get the old leaves folded back over the crowns and thats it.

Manicata in a pot, 3rd year, it needs a bigger pot now,i just keep forgetting

is that a 35 ltr pot deedee?

Mr List wrote:is that a 35 ltr pot deedee?

,
I think so Mr List, i must get a 50ltr this year, there are no drainage holes, i added water retaining gel and mat, I found this pic from last year and see its taller, gotta get the bigger pot

just remembered, i checked on it yesterday and its starting to shoot again, to overwinter, I fold the leaves over and cover with fleece and then white plastic over it..

Could you fit an oak half barrel in Mr List as Arlon said. This could be lined with some pond liner, they do like a nice damp situation

i think wooden half barrels are generally smaller than pots of the same diameter plus plastic hold moisture better.

really, ZERO drainage holes at all?

Mr List wrote:i think wooden half barrels are generally smaller than pots of the same diameter plus plastic hold moisture better.

really, ZERO drainage holes at all?

I think a half barrel will be expensive for something you wont see, Yeah, no drainage holes Mr List, these plants can be planted in ponds and streams...