Re: Sub-tropical help
- Subject: Re: Sub-tropical help
- From: T* &* M* R*
- Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 10:11:23 +1300
> Doxiadis/Malefakis wrote:
>
> Since we're all sort of off medit-plants these days, I might as well
> get my questions in:
Hi Cali
> 1. Brunfelsia nitida. I smuggled a small Logee plant to Greece in my
> carry-on last Spring. Since then it has quadrupled in size and been
> promoted to larger pots twice. It flowered in early October and
> smells heavenly. Question: can I risk letting it overwinter outdoors
> in a sheltered courtyard? My large and healthy gardenias have no
> trouble at all thriving in this same area. We only have a couple or
> so frosts on a normal winter, and they don't penetrate to this area.
If you have success with Gardinias I should say you would have no
trouble with wintering this Brunsfelsia outside as you describe..
> 2. Aglaia odorata and Cestrum diurnum. (Also transported here in my
> carry-on at the same time). Did very well all summer, thrived and
> flowered. Should I plant them in the ground now, or wait till Spring,
> or not at all? Cestrum nocturnum does very well in the ground here,
> but diurnum is unheard of.
Can't find any trace of Aglaia. nor of C diurnum. However if C nocturnum
does well I think you should be safe with any other species of Cestrum
as this is one of the least hardy.
As to planting out. I usually prefer myself to do it in spring when
vigorous root growth is likely to quickly marry the plant with the soil.
Even in a mild climate like yours I would not expect that there would be
much growth over winter and the plant would probabaly be just as happy
to stay in its pot for the present.
> 3.Tibouchina urvilleana 'Edwards'. Also from Logee, also transported
> here in the same manner, two Springs ago. It survived one winter
> outdoors but hasn't prospered...grown in size but losing its leaves to
> a drying-out from the periphery inwards. No flowers. I've had it in
> a shady spot through the summer heat. Is there anything I can do to
> help it ? or should I give up and leave it to its doom.
I think this may just be a plant in the wrong place. The trouble is it
likes sun, but coupled with a moist climate, which you certainly don't
have in summer I think. Keeping it in shade over summer may have saved
its life (just) but prevented it setting flower buds.
It is a real fussy primadonna I think. It likes the Wellington climate
well enough in general, but hates our prevailing winds which snap its
brittle branches and won't grow in my garden in the hills without winter
shelter. I have several times seen apparently succesful ones appear in
neighbouring gardens but they always disappear after the first winter.
10k away in Lower Hutt though with a slightly milder winter they do very
well.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand, SW Pacific. 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Time
