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Author Topic: Aspidistra, cast iron plants  (Read 11204 times)

Alberto

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #15 on: January 21, 2008, 12:33:42 PM »
Chris.
No at all.

Alberto

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where summers are hot and dry and winters are cold and wet
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Carlo

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #16 on: January 22, 2008, 12:45:15 AM »
Nearly all those I've seen in flower (I do not grow any at the moment) had flowers at or nearly below ground level. You have to look to see them--and then you'll notice them more often...
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ChrisB

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #17 on: January 22, 2008, 03:23:57 PM »
Alberto - that's amazing.  When I split up my plant I shall try some outside in a pot first to see how they do.  My soil is vey dry, and there are precious few things that like dry shade, especially variegated ones, so if it works there, I will be very pleased, and if it keeps its foliage all year round, what a find it will be!
Chris Boulby
Northumberland, England

Alberto

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #18 on: January 22, 2008, 03:37:38 PM »
Chris, Aspidistra are not for dry places...not in summer!

Alberto

North of Italy
where summers are hot and dry and winters are cold and wet
http://picasaweb.google.com/albertogrossi60

ChrisB

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #19 on: January 22, 2008, 04:11:18 PM »
Hi Alberto,

Our summers are seldom as hot or as dry as yours though, usually some moisture in the ground.  In the house I only water them when they dry right out, and even then, only a little.
Chris Boulby
Northumberland, England

Alberto

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #20 on: January 22, 2008, 04:14:01 PM »
Chris, you are right. Here last summer we experienced 41°C with less than 50% humidity and no rain for 3 months :'(

Ciao
Alberto
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http://picasaweb.google.com/albertogrossi60

shelagh

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #21 on: January 23, 2008, 07:52:10 PM »
Just 2 comments to make about Aspidistra's, firstly I don't think you can kill them, we had one in a plastic pot and when 'it' decided it needed repotting it just burst/split it's old pot.  Secondly no-one has yet mentioned what pollinates them, I have an idea/memory lurking in the back of my mind that it is slugs.  Can anyone confirm this?
Shelagh, Bury, Lancs.

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ChrisB

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #22 on: January 23, 2008, 09:22:51 PM »
Someone else told me that yesterday, Shelagh, so its probably true. Makes sense given where it flowers, and may also be why the flowers are so leathery in texture.  Must watch for these flowers on mine that's for sure.
Chris Boulby
Northumberland, England

Hans J

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #23 on: January 23, 2008, 09:33:08 PM »
Hi ,

I have found this ( with help of google ) by Wikipedia :

"It has long been erroneously assumed that slugs and snails pollinate Aspidistra flowers. Research in Japan has shown that tiny terrestrial crustaceans called amphipods are responsible for pollinating Aspidistra elatior. Australian amphipods have also been shown to pollinate introduced Aspidistra sp. and collembolans may also be implicated. Fungus gnats have also been suggested as possible pollinators."

greetings
Hans

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Maggi Young

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #24 on: January 23, 2008, 09:45:55 PM »
amphipods = crustaceans such as sand fleas

collembolans = hexapods, like  springtails    ....... or so another trip to Wikipedia tells me!
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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Hans J

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #25 on: January 23, 2008, 09:50:30 PM »
 ;) Maggi ;

Do you agree with me :
If you have fruits on your Aspidistra so you must have a lot of this nice animals in your living room ???

Should this be the reason that some people grow this plants outside :o

.....only some minds  :P
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Maggi Young

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #26 on: January 23, 2008, 10:06:46 PM »
Hans, I am happy to tell you that while I had lots of flowers, I never had any fruits... so luckily I seem NOT to have such creatures in my home.... at least.... not that I know of! :o
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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ChrisB

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #27 on: January 23, 2008, 10:18:12 PM »
I've learned more about aspidistras this week than I ever thought possible.... what a place this is!
Chris Boulby
Northumberland, England

Hans J

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #28 on: January 23, 2008, 10:21:26 PM »
Maggi  ;D

that is the clear evidence  ::)

Ian should give you a lot of Toblerone .....
mmmh -but we never get any seeds :'( :'( :'(
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Maggi Young

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Re: Aspidistra, cast iron plants
« Reply #29 on: January 23, 2008, 10:35:34 PM »
Quote
I've learned more about aspidistras this week than I ever thought possible....

Chris, reading the Bulb Log over the next few weeks will give you that feeling about Erythronium!


Hans, surely Toblerone are grown from cultures, not seeds? ::)
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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