Re: Odontonema strictum
- Subject: Re: Odontonema strictum
- From: m*@wanadoo.es
- Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 10:27:04 +0100
David, thanks for your reply.
I thought the firespike should have started flowering at the end of
Summer as we had 8 weeks of nearly constant day time temps of 35C. I
took some cuttings last year so I have some potted up so I will see how
they thrive with a little shelter. I was hoping to plant them out in my
new garden at east side of house by the entrance, I am looking for long
lasting, hot vibrant colours i.e Tecomaria capensis. Shrubs and ground
cover - any ideas?. Irrigation system in place.
Hasta luego, Maria
----- Original Message -----
From: "david feix" <davidfeix@yahoo.com>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: 23 January 2004 21:36
Subject: Re: Odontonema strictum
> Ola Maria,
> I think that your Odontonema stricta is just waiting
> for some warmer weather to arrive. I only grow O.
> calystachya, which grows quite luxuriously here in
> winter if protected from frost and wind, but is very
> shy about blooming as compared to locations in Los
> Angeles or Florida, where it is in full glorious bloom
> all winter where it stays warmer. I would suggest
> that since the O. stricta will also bloom in summer,
> that you not worry about it. If you do want the
> winter bloom as well, then try it as a container plant
> where you can move it to a warmer/wind protected spot
> when the colder weather descends.
>
> I am not as good with the Pseuderanthemums, as they
> are also usually more heat loving to do well outdoors
> here in the San Francisco Bay Area. I do have a
> Pseuderanthemum grandifolium from Strybing Arboretum,
> that is more showy for the huge leaves than the late
> fall bloom, and typically starts to bloom early enough
> that the cold weather doesn't greatly affect it.
> (Although this winter's 3 days of frost back in early
> January was enough to make it decide to be deciduous).
>
> Most Pseuderanthemums also prefer warm winters above
> 5C, 10C is more to their liking, protection from
> drought and too much full sun, and rich soils. It
> might also do better as an indoor/outdoor plant over
> the winter, or tenting it with plastic to keep it
> warmer on those cold nights. They generally respond
> well to fertilizer once the temps warm up in spring,
> and being cut back to force new growth. You might
> also be tempted to try Eranthemum pulchellum, which
> will bloom all winter in coastal southern California,
> but is a shy bloomer similar to Odontonema calystachya
> for me here in Berkeley, (or maybe it is just the lack
> of enough winter sun, as it seems to be fully hardy in
> my winter conditions.)
>
>
> --- marianoo@wanadoo.es wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > What are the cultivation requirements for this
> > plant. My plant is on
> > top of a bank, good drainage, fed/watered fairly
> > well (I think), shade
> > in the afternoon. It has been badly knocked back by
> > wind/wet this
> > winter and perhaps cold last winter. Still
> > surviving but not
> > flourishing- it is giving a very unimpressive
> > flowering display at the
> > moment. My lows so far about 5 C.
> >
> > Pseuderanthemum ID please: Similar type shrub to
> > above, upright, heart
> > shaped leaves up to 6" - panicles of flowers are
> > small, whitish with
> > purple markings ??
> > Any ideas and cultivation tips.
> >
> > Thanks, Maria
> > Balmy day in Costa Blanca, no rain for 6 weeks -
> > winter yet to arrive
> >
>
>
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