Flowering now September 2007

[mark smyth]

While clearing my room for new carpet I found a photo from way back. Maybe the early 90s when I first got into gardening. One of my first projects was a grass bed under planted with 100s of Frit. meleagris. It was during my raving days when I used to go to London for the big events legal and illegal. One Sunday when I got home the whole thing was cleared and gravel put down.

[mark smyth]

Something strange is going on here at No. 43. The first Ranunculus ficaria leaves are up

[derekb]

My favourite climber,
Lapageria rosea

[derekb]

Not sure if indoor plants are allowed but have had this Phalaenopsis for 3 years and this is the 4th lot of flowers it came from Mcbeans the local Orchid nursery they had just come back from Chelsea with it,when you think of all the blooms the price is not to bad.

[mark smyth]

Derek I think you arent pruning the flowering stem correctly. Phaleonopsis could/should be flower all year round. If you look down the stem from the first flower there will be a small node and down the stem there many be four or five. There are dormant buds there. One the flowers start to drop you have to be brutal and cut back the stem when there are only two left. Cut the flower stem to just above the upper node. In about six weeks another flower spike will emerge. It too will have dormant bubs along the stem. You've had it long enough to be able to keep it alive but here's another suggestion. During the summer, late May until September, keep the plant on an east or west windowsil. During the winter move it to a south windowsil.

[derekb]

Mark I was told by Mcbeans never do that more than twice it weakens the plant to much
Derek

[johanneshoeller]

No flowering plant, but the result of heavy rain in my garden.
Cypripedium calceolus

[mark smyth]

Derek I've found it to weaken the plants

Hans that an amazing clump. One day mine might be like that

[Maggi Young]

Hans, what a wonderful root system on your Cyprepedium.

Re Phaleonopsis pruning: What I do with mine is this: I allow the stems to flower naturally, and when all the flowers on one stem have finished, after a few days I cut the stem back to a nice fat dormant bud, this might only be an inch or so down from the tip or may be six inches down...I am guided by the plant...in varying times, a new shoot emerges and before you know it, you have more flowers. I have one plant which is my superstar performer... it has only been without an open flower for three weeks in the last four or five years. ( can't remember whether I got it in 2002 or 2003) To make it even more of a superstar, it was only £3 when I bought it, it was in the reduced section of the garden centre because its flowers where getting a bit past it!
 Other plants take longer to make new shoots from the old stems and longer to open their flowers, but 'Superstar' seems to do everything at high speed. Her flowers last for many weeks, just as they are supposed to...and she is truly a wonderful houseplant.

[Gerdk]

Some flowers (and fruits) from today (after heavy showers tonight)

1. Sternbergia lutea in the morning
2. the same in sunshine
3. Cyclamen colchicum outside (nearly over)
4. Helianthus divaricatus
5. Disporum lanuginosum
6. Arisaema amurensis

Gerd

[Joakim B]

Hans that is an impressive root system  

Here in Portugal there is an interesting late summer. I have chosen to water the flower beds and forgot the water on and then I got a very possitive response from this bulb.
It is quick it takes only 4-5 days from peeking through the bulb untill it flowers. It grows 10 cm per day (4inches) and I think it may be an Amalylis not the ones for Christmas, that is not an amarylis, but the "true one". I am happy to be corrected or confirmed.   I almost think it is from Africa (Cape) (or any other "semidesert" place) with that response to water. The serie is almost representing days but it was taken the same day for different plants except for bud and flower that had 1 day inbetween and was on the same plant. The pink on the flower is a bit more pink in real life.

I also have a Camelia with one flower and that to me is a bit odd. I have not seen any other and there is a few camelias arround to look at. It might have been one bud that did not flower this spring as it should I do not know. I have heard of (and seen) magnolia and rhododendron getting a second flowering but not Camelias.

Kind regards from a warm and sunny Portugal
Joakim

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Always struggling to get some (late) summer colour in the rock garden :

1 Lampranthus multiradiatus
2 same close up
3 gazania and delosperma aberdenensis - always guarantees colour !
4) Lewisia tweedyi that's got it's calendar mixed up

[mark smyth]

Joakim I would say Amaryllis also

Gerd is your Helianthus invasive?

[John Forrest]

Altroemeria Princess Paola is a super subject for a patio pot. It has been in full flower all summer and is still going strong despite not being repotted or fed (note the busy lizzie seedling from last years bedders). Does anybody know what species it has been hybridised from? I have grown many of the dwarf species but they are much less accommodating and almost all of them have died.
Eucomis autumnalis is also doing well given the same spartan treatment. E. bicolor I showed earlier is still in flower but I hadn't noticed it producing flowers on the top like this before.

[Maggi Young]

Your royal Alstroemeria is a real smasher, John. I have no idea what the parentage is.. I shall certainly look out for the variety. Not often the upper classes thrive on neglect, is it?

Do you often get your bedding b. lizzies seeding?
Will check our Eucomis tomorrow... they are only just opening up fully.