Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Cultivation => Cultivation Problems => Topic started by: Brendan Marnell on January 28, 2011, 09:44:08 AM
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I saw A. ovata growing happily from brickwork inside a well somewhere 20 years ago.
Does anybody grow it successfully outdoors and if so how do you do it? Does it really demand such protection & from what?
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I saw A. ovata growing happily from brickwork inside a well somewhere 20 years ago.
Does anybody grow it successfully outdoors and if so how do you do it? Does it really demand such protection & from what?
Hello Brendan
I bought one last year and planted it out in the garden and after this winter so far I didn't really expect this to survive. Some of the top growth has been damaged but at this stage it doesn't look terminal- famous last words. I will remove the damaged growth in April. Until then I hope that it will be OK as spring is a long way away I don't want to speak too soon :-X. Anyway as a precaution I took a cutting which I have kept under glass as an insurance ;).
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I have grown A ovate outdoors twice for some years but both times cold winters have killed them. I grow them against tree-trunks in the woodland and they do fine till they are killed by colder than -10C.
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My plants (2) are in a tunnel house which has knitted cloth on it rather than sheet plastic but a pot of cuttings is outside in a shady place. Of course it's mid summer here and they're probably looking so well because the weather has been damp for weeks. A friend grew it many years ago in the central North Island (one of the coldest parts of NZ) under large native conifers where it carpeted the ground but I don't know whether it flowered very much.
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Hi Brendan,
I have grown this for many years and despite two seriously cold and snow covered winters it still survives, in fact flourishes. Below are two photos from last summer after the freezing conditions of December 2009 and January 2010.
I have found that it grows best on a dead tree log or trunk, as it would do in nature. It travels along the log and dies away as the nutrients are used up.
I don't have a photo of it from today but have been tidying around it and it is still healthy. It is on the front edge of a raised bed which faces east.
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By jove, that is seriously impressive, Graham!
The late Col. and Mrs Anderson at Balruddery, near Dundee, used to grow this well outside, as well as Mitraria coccinea and some other goodies..... but your show is fantastic 8)
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You have been very helpful, each and all of you. Thank you for thinking about my question and sharing your experiences.
With your encouragement I'll persevere even if it emerges that I've lost 3 plants I bought late November because I failed to consider that they needed to be hardened off before being subjected to sudden plunges of temperature.
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Wow Graham a very nice patch.
I think in my wet shady conditions it would probably travel about and 'take off' if planted out and in any case i don't have the space, so i keep it in a hanging basket .Pics taken a few minutes ago.
As you can see part of the plant has died off ,yes -- i have been 'slack' in the repotting department ::) so your comments Graham are a timely reminder ......
Cheers dave.
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Thanks Maggi & Dave.
It took me several years of moving from one place to another to get it going properly, but it seems to like it where it is.
I wonder if it ever really flowers rather than the sparse flowers that it produces for me.
I am hunting for a log to stand upright and see if I can get it going vertically as well.
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If you were here Graham, I'd suggest a punga (tree fern trunk) which can be bought in good condition at garden centres or found in the bush in a getting-towards-rotting state and should be perfect for an asteranthera. Philesias love them too.
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If you were here Graham, I'd suggest a punga (tree fern trunk) which can be bought in good condition at garden centres or found in the bush in a getting-towards-rotting state and should be perfect for an asteranthera. Philesias love them too.
Lesley,
I too think a punga trunk would make an ideal home. They are very expensive over here. Unless this winter has killed one in the Edinburgh area and someone wants to donate it to me.
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There were a lot of dead ones around Aberdeen after last winter, Graham.... keep your eyes open, you may well find one.
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If you were here Graham, I'd suggest a punga (tree fern trunk) which can be bought in good condition at garden centres or found in the bush in a getting-towards-rotting state and should be perfect for an asteranthera. Philesias love them too.
Lesley,
I too think a punga trunk would make an ideal home. They are very expensive over here. Unless this winter has killed one in the Edinburgh area and someone wants to donate it to me.
Two dead tree ferns here. Graham that's a lovely asteranthera, never seen it before. See the more I see of your garden the more I can't wait to see it.
Angie :)
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So, will we be transporting a dead tree fern to Dunblane in the coach to deliver to Graham on the 19th February?
The Aberdeen Group is nothing if not versatile ;)
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So, will we be transporting a dead tree fern to Dunblane in the coach to deliver to Graham on the 19th February?
The Aberdeen Group is nothing if not versatile ;)
We aim to please ;D ;D ;D
Angie :)
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So, will we be transporting a dead tree fern to Dunblane in the coach to deliver to Graham on the 19th February?
The Aberdeen Group is nothing if not versatile ;)
We aim to please ;D ;D ;D
Angie :)
and anyway, the coach driver already knows we're crazy. :D
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So, will we be transporting a dead tree fern to Dunblane in the coach to deliver to Graham on the 19th February?
The Aberdeen Group is nothing if not versatile ;)
We aim to please ;D ;D ;D
Angie :)
May I speculate, Graham, that a small bunch of Asteranthera behind the ear could transform one's profile into that of an Aberdeen Angus ... I'd try it myself but nobody cares who's in my shoes, shucks.
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So, will we be transporting a dead tree fern to Dunblane in the coach to deliver to Graham on the 19th February?
The Aberdeen Group is nothing if not versatile ;)
We aim to please ;D ;D ;D
Angie :)
May I speculate, Graham, that a small bunch of Asteranthera behind the ear could transform one's profile into that of an Aberdeen Angus ... I'd try it myself but nobody cares who's in my shoes, shucks.
Hmm. not quite sure what you are insinuating :-\
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So, will we be transporting a dead tree fern to Dunblane in the coach to deliver to Graham on the 19th February?
The Aberdeen Group is nothing if not versatile ;)
We aim to please ;D ;D ;D
Angie :)
and anyway, the coach driver already knows we're crazy. :D
Is he, and are you all crazy enough for a slight detour to drop it off at my house. It will only add an hour to your journey ;)
Angie
Perhaps it would be better if I offered you some rooted runners for you to try yourself!
Looking forward to the show and seeing you all once again :)
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We're crazy, not daft! :P
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We're crazy, not daft! :P
;D ;D ;D
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Hi Graham
Ok what are you meant to do with the dead tree fern :-\ is it to grown the plant over or is it for using like a mulch. A wee bite of your Asteranthera would be fantastic.
See you at Dunblane, can't wait need some plant retail therapy.
Angie :)
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Hi Graham
Ok what are you meant to do with the dead tree fern :-\ is it to grown the plant over or is it for using like a mulch. A wee bite of your Asteranthera would be fantastic.
See you at Dunblane, can't wait need some plant retail therapy.
Angie :)
Hi Angie,
If the tree fern is still in the ground then plant the Asteranthera at its base and it should grow up it. Or, as with mine, you can lie the trunk down and the plant will just cover the trunk horizontally.
See you in Dunblane.
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Hi Graham
I dug them out this winter but didn't throw them away. I am on of these people that don't like throwing things away I thought I could maybe use them for something, god knows what tho.
Angie :)
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Then use it flat as Graham says or heel it into the ground upright, stamping it down at the base to make it stable. This would also be the way to grow a Tasmanian plant whose name I can't remember at the moment (sorry). It has pink tubular flowers and climbs a tree trunk by inserting the tips of its stems behind any loose bark. I'd try it if I could get hold of it. Come on Marcus or Rob, give me a name here please.
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Prionotes cerinthoides?
cheers
fermi
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I think your plant is lovey Lesley. If I get a bit from Graham I shall try lying it down along a path. I like the look of Grahams plant in his previous picture and if I had read his post right I would have had the answer of what to do with my dead tree fern trees. ::) ;D
Angie :)
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Yes that's it. Thanks Fermi. Knew there was a reason why it made me think of Helen of Troy and little motor cars. (Priam and Prius.) ;D
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I was looking for the thread on Gesneriaceae but can't find it so this will do.
The seed pods on my Asteranthera aren't growing any larger so I think they're fully sized now but nor are they looking like ripening. They are still bright green, slightly streaked with brownish/black. On the other hand, they are no longer hard but a bit squashy when I pinch them lightly. I wonder therefore, would it be a good idea to pick them now and dry them off inside? Has anyone grown this from seed, or rather has anyone harvested seed before? There should be quite a lot so I'd like to send some to the lists as well as to the couple of people I've promised.
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Perhaps this is the place to ask a question. So far I have been unable to ask it on the AGS Online Discussion but hope to manage that soon.
It is, simply, has anyone harvested now or in the past, seed of Asteranthera ovata? I know some lovely plants are being grown in the UK and I hope someone can tell me what to expect from my 7 seed pods. They seem to be reasonably mature and are beginning to go squashy., i.e. they "give" when I squeeze them lightly but they are showing no signs of going brown or actually becoming ripe. I'm very tempted to pick one and open it but so far have resisted. I have promised some seed to a couple of people but would also like to send some to the exchanges but will they be ready before October?
Any suggestions in the light of members' experience will be appreciated.
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Lesley when i went to check my seed a few minutes ago a couple of the seed pods came away accidentally in my hand.
Couldn't help myself ::) so i opened one of them to find very small seed attached to a fleshy inner.....
Cheers Dave.
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Thanks Dave, that's just what I wanted to know. If I wait a little longer they'll fall off and open to reveal the seeds.
I've not seen seed on the exchange lists before so wondered if seed was a rare occurrance. Perhaps not all clones seed readily but of course my two plants were cutting grown, from yours. They took a heck of a time to root and a few cuttings I took back in Oct last year are only now rooted for sure.
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Actually, thry're rather like Trillium berries in the way they fall and open. No wonder they do well for you Dave. Maybe there's hope for me yet :)
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Well today I took the first of the fruit mainly because it was looking a bit sad after snow and rain. It has seed in a sort of slightly sticky jelly and this is strongly and sweetly scented. I suspect that if left to its own devices, the seed pods may be eaten or even carted away by ants or other creepies which like the sweet sticky surrounds of Trillium and Cyclamen seeds so I'm pleased I've got it in time. Now to clean it and dry it enough for transport by envelope. Maybe I'll wash it in lukewarm water in a smal bowl and dry it on paper towels. So please to have some "in the bag" as it were.
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Best to label the paper towels very clearly, Lesley! ::) ;)
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I did do Maggi. "This is seed of Asteranthera ovata. DO NOT THROW IT OUT! Or DIE!"
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If you were here Graham, I'd suggest a punga (tree fern trunk) which can be bought in good condition at garden centres or found in the bush in a getting-towards-rotting state and should be perfect for an asteranthera. Philesias love them too
I have just taken Lesley's advice and rescued a trunk of Trachycarpus fortunei (Chusan palm) that was dumped in the Forrest, (couldn't find a Tree Fern) and planted it in a shady spot in the back garden. At the base on one side I have planted a Asteranthera ovata and on the other side a Philesia magellanica, what are my chances of success?
Trachycarpus fortunei trunk.
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I'd say they were pretty good Michael. Cool and damp and shady for both plants and they should flourish.
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I have just taken Lesley's advice and rescued a trunk of Trachycarpus fortunei (Chusan palm) that was dumped in the Forrest, (couldn't find a Tree Fern) and planted it in a shady spot in the back garden. At the base on one side I have planted a Asteranthera ovata and on the other side a Philesia magellanica, what are my chances of success?
Trachycarpus fortunei trunk.
How are your plants doing, Michael?
I found a photo online of Asteranthera ( labelled Philesia!!) happily growing up a tree trunk in Chile which give a good idea as to how it likes to live - no wonder it is tricky we can have so much difficulty with it ;)
[attachimg=1]
Photo details from http://www.forestryimages.org (http://www.forestryimages.org)
Description: Growing on stem of Nothofagus dombeyi, Parque nacional Vincente Perez Rosales, X Region, Chile
Image type: Field
Chile
Photographer Information
Name: William M. Ciesla
Organization: Forest Health Management International
Edit: later found same photo properly labelled!http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5175060#sthash.4lDCiwhO.dpuf
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I have just taken Lesley's advice and rescued a trunk of Trachycarpus fortunei (Chusan palm) that was dumped in the Forrest, (couldn't find a Tree Fern) and planted it in a shady spot in the back garden. At the base on one side I have planted a Asteranthera ovata and on the other side a Philesia magellanica, what are my chances of success?
Trachycarpus fortunei trunk.
Michael, I too think you will have a very good chance of success. I have tried both species twice and they have thrived but are then killed in a bad winter. Your climate is much better than mine.
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How are your plants doing, Michael?
DEAD. :-[
I have some rooted cuttings and will try again.
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Oh dear- bad news. Was it the warmer weather that killed them, do you think?
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That's sad Michael. I hope you can let us know WHY they died. The position sounded ideal.
With some trepidation I have planted my Asteranthera in the great outdoors, back in April just before I went on holiday and I arranged 4 clay pots upside-down around it, with a polystyrene tray sat on them, it held down by a large and heavy clay pot, all as frost protection as I'd previously had it only in my tunnel before we moved. There has been no damage, not only while I was away but also since I came home when we've had harder frosts. Then I remembered that Graham was growing it outdoors in Edinburgh and I saw it thriving outdoors at Angie's place near Aberdeen so thought I was probably silly to worry about whatever frost we may have. So far it's doing OK though not much new growth at this end-of-winter time but I really hope it flowers and then seeds outside as I still have to get some seed to Russia and a couple of other places.
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That's sad Michael. I hope you can let us know WHY they died. The position sounded ideal.
I spotted a few greenfly on it and sprayed it with a soap based environmentally friendly bug killer. DEAD IN A FEW DAYS.
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Soap will kill Shortia flowers in double quick time - I mention this to flag up the need for caution with even the more innocuous treatments.
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I found an old weathers piece of tree back in 2011 when we first started this thread and guided a couple of runners towards it. It has been slow but is now doing what I hoped it would. Looking forward to flowers up the trunk in the future.
I've never looked for seed but it must be quite a job as the flowers on mine are almost buried in the leaves. I might mark some of the flowers and see what is produced in a few weeks time.
Graham
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Graham, the seed pods at maturity are about 1cm across. They don't seem to "ripen" fully, not browning or drying but I have removed them when they soften somewhat. The very small black seeds are in a sort of jelly-like substance and are the very devil to clean and dry. The pods before collection are darkish green, striated with black and on very stiff, coiled stems. Not coiled like a cyclamen but just a single coil. When you feel or see this stem you know you have a good pod.
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Thanks Lesley, I will have a good look in a few weeks time to see if anything is developing.
Graham