What has 2009 growth been? Before and After Pics

[Dave Brown]

I know the summer we had depends largely on where in the UK you are, but all in all I'm quite pleased with the growth I got. This topic is to show the before and after the summer season.

I'll start the ball rolling with my Alocasia calidora "John, Kentgardener" clone.

Here it was in May 2009 having just been repotted into a 10 litre bucket with holes drilled in the base.

It was planted out in it's bucket,as the drain pipe runs under the spot and it would be difficult to dig out again. It has been fed with half strength Wilko wonder-gro, one scoop Miracle-gro lawn feed, per 7 litre watering can once a week and Maxicrop seaweed extract once a month. It was watered several times a week.
Here itis towards the end of August planted out

This is it after digging the pot out in October. It has grown some

[Nigel Fear]

That;s been growing like the clapperes Dave.
It's going to be hard for anyone to 'Top that'!

Or is it?

[themes]

That;s been growing like the clapperes Dave.
It's going to be hard for anyone to 'Top that'!

Or is it?

not necessarily..What brief are you using, what do you define as good growth? for example a small seedling may double in size in context to its size that may be 100 percent growth or more.

[Nigel Fear]

Point taken Mo.

[pete G]

I also have a John Kent gardener clone of Calidora, but mines sort of multible stemmed, so it not making the large leaves of yours Dave, even so they are big.

Just thought this might be interesting, my basjoo after minus 12 last January:-



And last week:-

[themes]

just a shame that winter is on its way just when everything is getting going...I feel the same way when I am looking at my gingers and Bananas

[dave2166]

trying not to be too depressed about the next 3 months, cold wet dark nights, gllomy, snow, frosts, fog ....

but will be doing lots of thinking, planning, buying seeds, planning the campaign of action for the spring...

in the mean time

i've been really pleased with the way the Hedychiums have come on this year

[bobbyd44]

some idea of my first year growth alot of cahnges now i know a little more.. plus theres still been more growth at least another foot and ahalf on the basjoo....

[themes]

its full already Bobby..Can't imagine how you can improve on that growth wise next year and how its all going to fit

[bobbyd44]

cheers themes just not quite sure its the look i am trying to get.. or if i can in that area!! i realise everything will be taller and larger next year!!fingers crossed.. just a few plants maybe heheeheheh.

[Dave Brown]

Next one for me is the Alocasia portadora. The one last year was killed by the long cold winter so I had to replace it. The plant came from Amulree back in early June

Here it was again in October

[themes]

its certainly looking a better colour, very healthy

[bobbyd44]

is that one staying out dave ??

[Dave Brown]

Mo, this has had the same Wilko Wonder-gro, Miracle-gro lawn feed (High Nitrogen) and Maxicrop seaweed extract that I gave the A.calidora at the start of the topic. It does green them up

Rob, I left the big one out last winter and it was the wrong winter to try . This one will be coming in this winter, but I have a couple of pups coming on as insurance so maybe I'll try again next year. A portadora is one of the tougher ones. They had one at Wisley last year and the leaves were approaching 2m so that is my goal.

[pete G]

Dave I like that one, it could almost be taken to be a philodendron if you just took a quick look.