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Palms & Problems & Solutions

Many thanks to Chas, Hugo, Rod and Barry for help with my friend's
difficulties with shifting big palms. 

I agree attacking'em with a blow-torch seemsed formidable, not to say
scary. It did to him, too! He didn't mention which book had suggested
this as A Good Idea nor did he go into detail about WHY it was
supposed to be A.G.I. At least he'll be relieved to know he probably
hasn't killed'em. Yet. I'll pass on the info. for when it comes to
actually moving and then to after-care.

A shift of subject to a problem of my own. I want to try to grow
Xeronema callistemon, Poor Knight's Lily, from P.K. Island off the
North Is of N.Z. My guru for growing Australasians in the UK says,
Don't: you've no chance of success. No doubt he's right (he usually
is) but it won't stop me trying. He says that in the UK the plant may
survive, just, but it won't thrive and the only recorded flowerings
have been either at Tresco in the Scillies or under glass (eg at Ness
Botanic Garden after the long hot summer of 96). Reason? Though our
milder west coast gardens may have virtually frost-free winters, they
don't as a general rule have summers long enough or hot enough to
induce free growth or subsequent flowering. 

First question: Is he right? Does anyone in the Deep (UK) South
(David?) have experience of these beauties which might suggest
slightly more optimistic conclusions? 

Second question: The Guru also says that X.c. isn't even grown
successfully (at least not often) on SOUTH Is, NZ, for just the same
reasons. Tim, Moira, tell me this isn't true?! And (subsidiary
question) do you know any company in NZ offering seed of the brute? 

Third question: I know X.c. is grown in California (for one, in the
Santa Cruz arboretum). Presumably in Oz, also? Does anyone on the list
actually grow it? If so, do they have suggestions to make about
optimum conditions, temperatures, etc?

Any info. which might help the besotted come to terms with his sudden
passion will be gratefully received...

Finally, from a problem to a (possible) solution. This is returning to
the past subject of UK difficulties with rooting grevillea cuttings.
(Non UK-ers can probably switch off at this point...)

A nurseryman friend who specialises in Aussie plants tells me he now
has 100% success with grevilleas - by using rock-wool as his potting
medium. What is it and why/how does it work? Good questions. Answer to
second question first. 

This goes back to our (relatively) cool damp climate. In such a
climate, traditional potting mixtures, however gritty, simply get too
damp to be successful as mediums/media to use with the more tricky
Australasians. Rock-wool, though, does the trick. What is it? 

Rock turned into wool, no less. Ie, rock which is melted at high
temps. then squirted through a small orifice: when it cools, it takes
the form of fine fibres. It's been used as an insulator for many years
but has only recently been available formed into plugs and sold
through  wholesalers to the horticultural trade. The plugs have the
additional advantage that cuttings rooted in them can be potted on
without root disturbance - the roots simply grow out through the plug
into the subsequent more orthodox potting medium. Apparently these
aren't yet available to amateurs but will be soon. If Jim Mann Taylor
reads this and is still having problems, maybe he can track down a
source. (I don't know if rock-wool is used either as an insulator or
as a rooting medium in the US or in Australia. Perhaps not - such
fortunate places having less need for it?!)
Tim Longville
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