Allotments 4 All

Do you grow Alocasias ?   I have one in my cold porch ...thing is I would love to make a corner of my garden ...which is always wet and damp...look abit more like Hawaii .  ::)   Can someone tell me just how hardy/tough this plant is ? (or isn,t ?  )   :) Isabel

Had to look that up in RHS book! Then i went oooooh, elephant ear. Well, it grows like crazy in gardens down here in sunny B-mouth. I've never seen it indoors although it does say in me bible that some species are good houseplants. It says that it is : frost tender, grow outdoors in (here comes the RHS non-specific, have a go advice) moderately fertile (?!) humus-rich,moist but well drained soil!
8)

Some books say they are hardy but from my experience they will always rot unless dried out and kept frost free. I'm just bringing mine back to life now after their winter rest and they do tolerate being ripped out of the ground, leaves and roots cut off for storing dry. If planted in a wet and fertile spot they grow like crazy. The variety I have is Alocasia odora.

Thanks Emmy-   I am on the Lizard in Cornwall,  so it is quite mild here too  and humid .
    This little corner is very shaded  sheltered and damp , I thought ideal for a couple of  handsome Dicksonia antarcticas  and a big red cordyline .....I  am really getting into ferns too ...so lots of these ...but I thought to give a different leaf shape and add variety this Alocasia  would look brilliant. yes elephants ears ! Amazing !   ;D   
Thanks Eristic - It was in the porch which is cold  and it died back over winter and is looking terrible right now. But I am going to put it out into my Jurassic Corner. and let it romp. And I will take your advice and pull some of it up in the Autumn to over winter in the porch again .   

I think they rot in even the mildest parts of Britain like yours - or if they do pull through, they get less and less productive (probably because large parts of the tubers have succumbed). They grow best in moist, very fertile, but sunny soil, though cope with shade quite happily. Good even for pond margins.

How about a low growing large leaved bamboo like Indocalamus tessellatus to add to your hawaiian paradise?

I,m off to look it up !      :D    Thanks Leopoldo !       Rohaise    x

Oh!  Jungleseeds.co.uk  have just contacted me to advise we wait till June to bed out the more tender plants....the weather is warmer BOTH day and night and hopefully more humid too .    Hope I,m ok to give them a mention ...they have a good website and excellent service too .      :)   Now do they have this Indocalamus tessallatus whatsit ?
                                                                                   Rohaise       

how lucky you are to live on the Lizard Rohaise. I love Cornwall.  ;D

Rohaise - there are loads of places near you that will stock that bamboo, and lots of other beautiful large leaved things too. Try http://hardyexotics.co.uk - near Penzance I think. there are plenty more too - give me a shout if you need other nurseries.

OH! Leopoldo !   How could I forget this brilliant  brilliant nursery  !   :D   I have bought some amazing plants from them and the friendly service is second to none .  I always come away feeling inspired.  The plants just ooze health and happiness .  I bought a gorgeous Red Abbisinian Ensete  (banana with red leaves ) from here ,couple of years ago ...it is massive now ..very proud of it I am !      Rohaise

It is a fantastic place, I agree. I recommend their hardy Scheffleras - pricey, but lovely, lovely plants.