I finally got rid of the original christmas cactus my mother gave to me ...
My auntie had a monstrous Christmas cactus. It's the typical sort of plant that people cherished, because it was one the few things that could easily be grown indoors, and got bigger and bigger. I used to work in an office and had the privilege of looking after a whopping cheese plant.
Conservatory owners sometimes have big plants. I'd fancy growing bananas or coconuts.
Id like to grow lemons if I had the room. It was quite sad throwing the cactus away it was still in the same pot although compost was refreshed over the years I remember it in the house always. But with all the cuttings its back to original size and flowered as usual last Christmas.
I think the idea could be fun, but although I have over 400 potted plants, they are - for the vast majority at any rate - outside. I know there is someone else on these boards who has an oak tree in a pot, but cannot find the discussion thread when we spoke about it - but as it is outdoors it is excluded anyway.
You do see huge plants in places such as airports and shopping entres, which are, I assume looked after professionally - I guess these would be excluded as well? Driving through Belgium it is noticeable there that the days of the big houseplant is alive and well, maybe in other countries too? I see them less often here.
Are you looking at plants in peoples homes, using conservatory plants? This could exclude people with just the sort of plant in which I think you are interested. Will keep an eye on this thread and see where it goes.
I think the days of the giant aspidiatra, and sanservia (mother in laws tongue) are virtaully past. Probably people on the whole do not have the room for them in smaller homes, besides which central heating put paid to many of them over the years.
I was reading a post somewhere and it was mentioned that only people of a certain age still grow these plants - just hoping pic is ok ! Had to do a lot of re-sizing. Well , here's Archie - 25 years old and still thriving. He has 50 plus leaves and he's about 3ft tall so this is for everyone who doesn't know what an Aspidistra looks like - meet Archie ! Just for the record - I am of that certain age !!!
So now I know what an aspidistra looks like! It's an attractive plant. I have some cannas, a teeny bit similar perhaps.
The Forces Aid charity shop in Yarm Road, Darlington, co. Durham has an aspidistra on display which has a notice claiming that is must be almost 100 years old. (it is not for sale!)
According to the notice, it was brought home from France at the end of the First World War by a returning soldier, and has been passed down through 3 generations of his family. Apparently the last owner emigrated to Australia recently, and as the plant could not be imported, it was donated to the shop.
I know very little about plants, but it certainly looks fit and healthy to me.
oom. It was quite sad throwing the cactus away it was still in the same pot although compost was refreshed over the years I remember it in the house always. But with all the cutt
Posts
My auntie had a monstrous Christmas cactus. It's the typical sort of plant that people cherished, because it was one the few things that could easily be grown indoors, and got bigger and bigger. I used to work in an office and had the privilege of looking after a whopping cheese plant.
Conservatory owners sometimes have big plants. I'd fancy growing bananas or coconuts.
Id like to grow lemons if I had the room. It was quite sad throwing the cactus away it was still in the same pot although compost was refreshed over the years I remember it in the house always. But with all the cuttings its back to original size and flowered as usual last Christmas.
On another thread, started yesterday...
I've never seen a curry leaf tree, but from pictures it looks like a Sumac (Rhus typhina) tree.
That thread is here: http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/talkback/talkback-10-exotic-house-plants/4644.html
I remember Christine Walkden saying she had a Christmas Cactus that was 4 ft across, but she's a professional gardener.
There's a pub called The Swan in Fincham in Norfolk which has a very large Money Tree in a pot near the ladies loo.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I think the idea could be fun, but although I have over 400 potted plants, they are - for the vast majority at any rate - outside. I know there is someone else on these boards who has an oak tree in a pot, but cannot find the discussion thread when we spoke about it - but as it is outdoors it is excluded anyway.
You do see huge plants in places such as airports and shopping entres, which are, I assume looked after professionally - I guess these would be excluded as well? Driving through Belgium it is noticeable there that the days of the big houseplant is alive and well, maybe in other countries too? I see them less often here.
Are you looking at plants in peoples homes, using conservatory plants? This could exclude people with just the sort of plant in which I think you are interested. Will keep an eye on this thread and see where it goes.
I think the days of the giant aspidiatra, and sanservia (mother in laws tongue) are virtaully past. Probably people on the whole do not have the room for them in smaller homes, besides which central heating put paid to many of them over the years.
Hi Bookertoo just found this post - if you care to have a look at my latest post you'll find a rather large Aspidistra on it !
This one:
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/plants/biggest-aspidistra-/4672.html
So now I know what an aspidistra looks like! It's an attractive plant. I have some cannas, a teeny bit similar perhaps.
The Forces Aid charity shop in Yarm Road, Darlington, co. Durham has an aspidistra on display which has a notice claiming that is must be almost 100 years old. (it is not for sale!)
According to the notice, it was brought home from France at the end of the First World War by a returning soldier, and has been passed down through 3 generations of his family. Apparently the last owner emigrated to Australia recently, and as the plant could not be imported, it was donated to the shop.
I know very little about plants, but it certainly looks fit and healthy to me.
John Greaves