Simba's Blog - Frosty Mornings & Sunny & Shady days

[Simba]

Thank you all for the generous feedback..

Took another Pododphyllum photo...


All three of mine are supposedly 'Spotty Dotty', but they all look so different, that I am not sure if I have a couple of different varieties growing here....

[Bob]

OK, drop the camera and get on with the island!
(only kidding)

The condition of your beds looks more like mid summer mate.
Most of mine looks like a dustbowl with the odd canna and ginger shoot sticking out.

Seeing your hand in the frame, those 'spotty dotty' leaves are bigger than I thought, (unless you have very small hands)
(adds to list)

Looking really good Simba.

[Simba]

OK, drop the camera and get on with the island!
(only kidding)

I'm not sure that's gonna be happening anymore.....seems that my ideas were a bit over ambitious for the space that I actually have available...

Seeing your hand in the frame, those 'spotty dotty' leaves are bigger than I thought, (unless you have very small hands)

Been told that I have hands like a gorilla's if thats any judgement of scale Bob...

[Bob]

Thats a shame Simba,

Your hands dont look very hairy to me.

Now Richard Keys............

[Simba]

Two very different types of trunked ferns, but both are now unfurling the green curly stuff....

Blechnum Nudum


Dicksonia Antarctica

[Tom2006]

Love them both! The Blechnum is soooo prehistoric! I take is the Dicksonia antarctica is your new one?

[Simba]

I know that you love your ferns Tom, take my advice and put a Blechnum Nudum at the top of your wanted list, they are such good looking little trunked ferns.
I guarantee you'll be head over heels with it...

And yes, the 6ft one from Seagrave is already opening up croziers and feels like many more to come.

Blechnum Chilense, seem to have stalled for now. Hopefully they'll get going again soon.

I will post a photo tomorrow of how I resurrected my fernery plans, and how I have replanted my Dicksonia antarctica and Lophosoria.

[Tom2006]

Will look out for it! Cooperi is next on my list

Someone very kindly sent me a small off cut of Lophosoria and its sending up a couple of croziers although they seem to be taking a while to open. Is this normal? I just used general compost in the pot, would you advise acidic compost? Can't wait to see your pictures!

[Simba]

Rightly or wrongly, I use 'Westlands Organic Farmyard Manure' mixed heavily around all my ferns and they seem to like it...so who am I to argue...

[Tom2006]

Sounds good to me!

[Simba]

BTW - did you see this offer Tom....
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... 26&t=11072

[Tom2006]

Yes mate...VERY tempted but have my heart set on a Cooperi, I LOVE the massive tall fronds.

[Simba]

Vales exotics seem to have plenty of Cyathea and Blechnums in their Tree Ferns section, Tom..
http://www.vale-exotics.co.uk/shop/index.php

[Tom2006]

Yes, been drooling over that link for a while now. Problem is they are vague about prices and if they are actually in stock. I've dropped them an email about the Cooperi.

[Simba]

Some Bamboo pix.
Although they are all looking pretty green and healthy, not much new culm activity as yet..

Phyllostachys Huangwenzhu #1


Phyllostachys Huangwenzhu #2


Phyllostachys Spectabilis

Not been planted out long. Hope for good things from this boo.

Fargesia 'Jiuzhaigou'


Fargesia Robusta 'Wolong'