Gingers & hanging pots

Kem - Thanks for the very interesting post. (anyone may reply)

I too am a drama shade gardener, (at least I try to be Ha!). I have 3
Kaempferia (peacock gingers), that get broken shade under a huge oak tree
with lot's of light. I planted them in summer 1999 = got them from Kmart in
mini-gallon pots.

It seems like they are struggling to survive. Two are about 2 feet high, and
the other about one foot. I originally had 4, but one died. I see leaves
curling up on them, turning brown, and dieing. Would you know what the
problem is?

I water all my shade plants every 2 days in this heat. I sometimes suspect
that I am watering them too much. All of my shade plants are well mulched
with leaves. Should I fertilize the gingers? How often do you fertilize all
your shade plants? You can't tell me enough about the Gingers.

I also added color to my garden by using hanging pot variegated "philly",
vines that I let trail on the ground & root. They will freeze with a frost,
but will come back again in the spring. Sometimes they over winter, and the
leaves get huge and exciting = climbing anything they can.

I also have variegated hanging pots of Spider Plants, and some just sitting
on the ground that I let root. They lend lot's of color also. If the frost
kills them so be it. I do take the pot plants in for protection, if a 28-30
degree freeze is predicted though. My SG area is sort of protected from
wind, but not by heat.

--------------------

Anyone can have these hanging pots over their shade garden by stringing  #9
galvanized wire (cheaper), or cable, from tree to tree over your shade
garden. If you use a cable, you will need 2 cable clamps when attaching the
cable to the screw eyes. A 5/16 turn buckle somewhere in the middle of the
wire /cable for adjusting the slack out of the cable / wire would be
necessary. Don't put the turnbuckle on the very end, because eventually the
tree will grow over the screw eye, and that may interfere with the
adjustment of the turnbuckle.

NOTE: Don't just tie a wire to a tree, because it will embed itself in the
tree, and over time kill it if you are not careful.

If you use cable, two more cable clamps would be necessary to attach the
turnbuckle to the cable.Use a heavy metal screw eye, about 6-8" long or
more, to screw into the tree to attach the cable to (pre-drill a hole).
Install the cable 6' 6" or more high, so no one will bump into the cable
while walking. Don't screw the screw eye all the way into the tree, screw it
about 3-4" in, and let about 2 1/2" stick out. This will help prevent the
tree, over time, from growing over the screw eye.

Then make hanging pot wire extenders to put on the cable, with eye on one
end, hook on the other, to drop each individual pot to eye level, or what
ever level you prefer. A coat hanger, and a pair of pliers will make the
extenders. You can buy all of this at Home Depot, or a large hardware store.
It will last you forever and ever.

Cheers = Cajun Joe
----------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kemberly McLain" <Mclainakag@AOL.COM>
To: <shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2000 7:43 AM
Subject: Re: [SG] Palace Purple and a little more


In a message dated 7/22/00 6:22:57 AM Central Daylight Time, cajun4@HOME.COM
writes:

<< Tell me folks = How would you rate the "Palace Purple" Heuchera for over
all
 quality & beauty on a scale of 1-10? Is it in the top 10 of it's class?
  >>


Cajun:  In my shade garden I focus on foliage and the wonderful contrast and
"drama" it can add to my shade gardening.  Being so far down here the plant
doesn't seem to perform as well as for the folks that are gardening in zone
5
- 6 soooo, being a zone 9 gardener and it only being my first growing season
for this plant I would rate this plant a 4:

1 point for still being alive
1 point for the foliage color and leaf shape
1 point for it not being an aggressive spreader
1 point because I was feeling charitable this morning

This could change next year as the plant matures and the mound becomes
larger
in my overgrown garden.  Even though it is said that the blooms are
insignificant I still would like to see them - In the photos I've seen they
appear wispy and airy and should mine bloom for me next year I think it
would
make a beautiful contrast with some of my bold tropical foliage plants that
are near by.  If this plant decides it will not bloom for me and stays
small-ish, I will probably move it next year to the edge of the garden, snug
with the rock edging so that it will be better seen.  I'm not one to get rid
of plants or toss them in the trash (with the exception of the
Ruellia's)...I
simply find a new home in my garden that is better suited for the plant.

This year I finally found a new home and garden for my hosta's - I'm not
sure
if the mild winters played a role in the downfall of these guys or the heat
and drought of summer.  For the past two springs they have emerged from
their
"winter" sleep to grow a couple of leaves and the plants seem to struggle to
get that far.  They are now in the care of a gardening friend in northern
Mississippi.....she still gets the heat but the fall/winter seasons come
much
sooner for her than me - I hope they fair better for her than they did me.

I've since learned that I can get the same "bang" that a hosta would provide
with it's beautiful mounding foliage by planting the ginger known as
Kaempferia (peacock ginger) and for about the same amount of money.  These
have proven themselves in my garden and as long as they are provided with
moisture they seem to thrive in the heat and bloom continuously.

Well - I better stop, I'm way off the original subject of the Palace
Purple.....guess this coffee is stronger than I thought this morning.

Kemberly McLain
Katy, Texas  Zone 9
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