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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2011 23:31:34 GMT -5
Local stores will have white, pink, peach, dwarf, frilled, died, and glittered poinsettias, but I think a taller, red one would be nice.
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Post by atash on Nov 4, 2011 23:45:48 GMT -5
Gosh, I still see lots of those--though I know what you mean, they're starting to be replaced with fancier varieties.
Look for relatively cheap sources around Christmastime, and those will tend to be the plain red ones.
From about Laredo south in Texas, the locals plant them outdoors, and have been doing that a long time--I remember them calling them "Christmas roses" (I don't remember what time of year they bloom, though--not necessarily Christmas that close to the tropics!!). They would definitely have the old-fashioned types.
How much frost do you get? I remember you posting the Bauhinia leaves, so I'm guessing it's pretty warm. You might want to protect it from frost until it gets established.
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Post by steev on Nov 5, 2011 0:28:00 GMT -5
There's one in the yard next door, here in Oakland; it's been there at least 30 years.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2011 12:53:21 GMT -5
Gosh, I still see lots of those--though I know what you mean, they're starting to be replaced with fancier varieties. This is especially true, inside of chain stores, in southern California. I usually see fancier varities and nothing else. Look for relatively cheap sources around Christmastime, and those will tend to be the plain red ones. Yes, Mexican stores are proving to be good source of plant material. I've gotten dragonfruit seeds, sour xoconostle cactus fruit seeds, and a 76lb pumpkin. I hope to find older yams, which may be sprouting slips. How much frost do you get? I remember you posting the Bauhinia leaves, so I'm guessing it's pretty warm. You might want to protect it from frost until it gets established. We usually get a few light snows, every year. Mud puddles will freeze solid, on open ground, but only for a few hours. What you're saying about protecting the plants is true. It gets cold enough to kill an established banana tree, but only to the ground. New ones will come up, from the rhizomes. Baby, tropical plants won't make it, unless sheltered against a south-facing wall. I have found that water, dripping from the eves has been sufficient to keep younger plants from freezing completely. A ghost chili has survived through a couple of our winters, this way. Look for relatively cheap sources around Christmastime, and those will tend to be the plain red ones. Yes, Mexican stores are proving to be good source of plant material. I've gotten dragonfruit seeds, sour xoconostle cactus fruit seeds, and a 76lb pumpkin. I hope to find older yams, which may be sprouting slips. From about Laredo south in Texas, the locals plant them outdoors, and have been doing that a long time--I remember them calling them "Christmas roses" (I don't remember what time of year they bloom, though--not necessarily Christmas that close to the tropics!!). They would definitely have the old-fashioned types. There's one in the yard next door, here in Oakland; it's been there at least 30 years. In warmer parts of California, they can be grown indefinitely and will get very big. I saw a photo of one overwhelming a house, like the hydrangeas do, back east. Intead of the cape-cod look, it was was southwestern, stuccoed, with Spanish roofing tiles. If you're welcome to handful of cuttings, please let me know how I might reciprocate. |
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Post by catherinenm on Nov 7, 2011 23:00:43 GMT -5
Yes, my grandmother had a poinsettia hedge next to her house in San Diego 40 years ago. I remember her going out with scissors and a candle to cut poinsettia flowers for the Christmas dinner table one year (the candle was to sear the cut stem). The whole hedge was red the week we were there.
Catherine
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2011 16:22:32 GMT -5
At a local dollar store, I found a tiny plant, which will soon outgrow it's 3" pot.
I understand that they can be grafted, for different effects, but am not sure how to judge whether it's a dwarf.
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