Phormium

Fairygirl · March 2023

The CD I had was also part of a bed that had a white Cytisus, and next to them in another bed was a white clematis. The broom got uprooted in rough weather a couple of years ago, so the bed is quite different. The clem [Miss. Bateman] also suffered a couple of years ago, along with another [Niobe] and I think it's a goner - no sign of it this year. Niobe is showing, as it did last year.
Such is the way of gardening.

I haven't yet decided whether I'll replace the phormium, but it's one I really liked. It'll be a helluva job getting it out though.

Plantminded · March 2023

May be Tricolor might work for you @Fairygirl, it’s worth a try. I’d really miss the presence of Phormiums in my garden, especially over winter.

Fairygirl · March 2023

I love them too @Plantminded -for that form over winter, as well as the rest of the year. It's really just been this particular spell of weather. I've had phormiums in every garden I've ever had and they've always managed, and we've had winters with far more frosts than this one, and much harsher, but it's just been that cycle of wet/freeze, coming after a milder than normal autumn too. Plants weren't getting their more normal period of gradually lowering temps heading into winter, and the snow has been rain/sleet instead as it's been milder. The temps were then plummeting very quickly, often below minus 10, causing that quick, deep freeze, which is always worse for fleshy foliage. Always something to challenge us

I like the dark ones, and then just cream/green variegation. I'll take a run to the nursery at some point as they always have plenty of varieties, and usually have C. Delight. Whether I get any others is another matter.

Lizzie27 · March 2023

@Fairygirl . I have a Phormium Cream Delight in a large frost proof terracotta pot which must have been planted about 10 years ago. I've never fed it and it only occasionally gets watered in very hot weather.

It completely fills the pot now and I'm wondering whether the roots might crack it soon which I'd rather not happen. It will be a devil of a job to get it out of the pot as I don't have the strength or energy any more. The pot's about 3ft tall x 2ft across.

Any ideas anyone please? I'd rather save the pot than the plant and I'm not too fussed whether it dies or not but it does do a great job of hiding a rather nasty undercroft door.
Weedkiller?

Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants · March 2023

@Lizzie27 Do you have any strong fit neighbours, friends or family?

Fairygirl · March 2023

I think that could be well nigh impossible @Lizzie27. I think you'd be waiting along time with weedkiller, and you'd still need to get it out. Cut all the foliage back to the base with sharp scissors instead - mind your eyes though. I tie the foliage with string to do it, rather than cutting it all back, as I'm usually keeping the plant.
I've removed them from containers in the past, and although the usual advice is to soak
thoroughly, I've found it easier to let them dry out [obviously much easier in summer] so that the soil pulls away a bit from the sides, and then saw round the edge with a pruning saw or similar. It sometimes needs a couple of goes to get it released. I then find I can tip the pot over and drop the plant out.
I've just done it with the remaining Y. Flag one. It was reasonably dry as it had been under the eaves of the house. You can tip it on it's side too, to help get it drier if doing it now.

You might still need someone to help you with it all though.

GardenerSuze · March 2023

I can recall Geoff Hamilton doing things the other way round. He had planted something in a pot that was vase shaped. It was pot bound so he smashed the pot to save the plant. Sorry not much help, I have never bought a vase shape pot for planting up as a result.

Phormium

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