Allotments 4 All

I know I am forever posting pics of my Bird of Paradise, but it is still looking gorgeous.  Just love it!

It is beautiful, are they difficult to grow EJ?

Neglect is the key, and patience!  Many years from seed to flower, and they aren't that pricey to buy in flower, but not as much satisfaction.

Wow! Beauty.
Did you grow it from bird seed?

Still lovely EJ.  :) Am a tiny bit homesick now - My mum grows one in Aus  :-\

 ;D Ken  ;D

Always takes me back to palmy days in Honolulu. During the H-Bomb trials!

Never ever seen them in their natural environment, I can only imagine, and you know, sitting in the conservatory, when the sun has warmed the room up to tropcial temperatures, and I have a large gin and tonic, I could well be in Honolulu.

It is absolutely gorgeous (and I think that's your best pic of it yet) so why shouldn't you be a 'proud parent'!

I've never really liked them very much (I sometimes think they're a bit spooky-looking), but you're even making me think abouthaving a go!

Clare.

Hee - I know what you mean!

Mine is just coming out with its fifth set of petals (even though I thought four was the lot) and I am also sounding like the proverbial record to my poor non-gardening hubby!

It's never flowered before this year, and has taken since May 2001 to get to flowering size. I planted the seed two weeks after getting my allotment! It opened at the start of Feb and has got to be the best value houseplant I have - six weeks flowering from one flower and still going!

My congratulations on yours!

moonbells
http://www.moonbells.freeserve.co.uk/strelitzia/strelitzia.html

though I've just found the image links are broken for some reason so I'm just off to fix 'em...

Wow yours flowered quickly!  I had to wait years and years and years and years!!  Also, mine is taller, wonder what the difference is.  Anyhow, have loads of new seedlings from seed my Ava bought on ebay - black, yellow and the regina one.  Cor, fingers crossed I could be looking at flowers in a couple of years!!!!!    ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Quote from: EJ - Emma Jane on March 16, 2005, 16:43:44
Wow yours flowered quickly!  I had to wait years and years and years and years!!  Also, mine is taller, wonder what the difference is.  Anyhow, have loads of new seedlings from seed my Ava bought on ebay - black, yellow and the regina one.  Cor, fingers crossed I could be looking at flowers in a couple of years!!!!!    ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I guess it was luck, water, shady humid conditions and stress in the form of the red spider mite attack. The flower's exactly a metre tall to the bend in the stem, so yes the leaves aren't as tall as some I've seen growing outside. But they are also a lot broader. Most of the ones I've seen for sale have had very narrow leaves indeed, but have been in full sun and heat. I think mine grew broad because it's in a north-facing conservatory and it had to in order to get enough light.

Dunno what triggers flowering - just glad it did - I was clearing the C. out prior to expected wedding photos being taken the day after, and there was the spike... hadn't been in there for a few weeks due to rushing about like the proverbial fly on other matters.  :-)

Nice to see yours - I just love looking at the pics!
(And the first amaryllis scape of the year is about to open too, underneath, so I'm going to have a pink and orange clash any day!)

moonbells

Quote from: EJ - Emma Jane on March 14, 2005, 13:19:44
Neglect is the key, and patience!  Many years from seed to flower, and they aren't that pricey to buy in flower, but not as much satisfaction.

My mum bought some seed on holiday a couple of years ago. Took ages to germinate and spent a long time in the same pot with just a couple of leaves. The have now started growing and have been potted on. She now has 2 young plants about 3 - 4 inches tall and doing well. Currently living in the conservatory.

How long before they get to flowering size then EJ?

GC: keep them in a decent sized pot in the initial growth spurt, keep feeding them etc over the summer (water only in winter) and keep them warm at all times, especially winter. That seemed to work for me. Then hope they flower inside 5 years.

I just got some really weird seed off ebay (if the chap selling them ever replies to my request for how to pay him!). Strelitzia juncea - the one that has spikes instead of broad leaves. I was really after Mandela's Gold (used to be Kirstenbosch Gold) but someone pipped me and I was up the lottie at the time so didn't notice...

But S. juncea is even rarer so I shall be sowing those as soon as I get them. Think I get some normal ones too so shall plant all of those too :) and see how many I can get going - EJ you've inspired me... :)
moonbells

ooooo I have Juncea also, 6 of the little darlings!  Mine took years and years....I keep quoting number of years, but to be honest, can't be sure.  At least more than 15 years!

<bounce> received 3 Mandela's Gold seed today!
And ten freebie European fan palms (haven't a clue where they're going to go!)

Thanks to Ina for the website translation and EJ for inspiration...

moonbells (going to have a mass sowing of a silly number of seed sometime soon when the heated propagator has some space!)

This is amazing to look at, quite exotic and very beautiful.  It must cheer you up on dark rainy days.  Can well imagine you could think yourself on some island paradise drinking pina coladas when you sit in your Conservatory.  ;D busy_lizzie

My parents brought a seed or two back from the Canaries in the early 70s -seem to remember that took a good decade to flower. I'm not sure what happened to it, I've a feeling it went into the porch and, even though it was glassed in, it perished.

Wow! That is a gorgeous flower.  I'm tempted to have a go myself,it must be very satisfying and a real love affair. I loved your description of sitting in your conservatory imagining you could be in Honolulu EJ. Ooooh I feel another obsession coming on heehee!