Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistras)
I absolutely love the look of Aspidistras, but man, do I hate the trimming out of dead/brown leaves. I have 5 clumps of these plants encircling the bigger trees in my front yard and it took me 4 days, squatting on a little stool, to trim out all the dead and partially dying leaves. But they do look a lot nicer now. My back issues last year prevented me doing much in the yard, but since they did a little procedure on my back, I'm able to get to such tasks once again. If you're curious, the plant in the pot is a 'Rock 'n Roll' Peruvian Lily I just potted yesterday. Hope it will bloom for me next year (blooms are like clusters of small red day lilies), It's still in transplant shock though, and should perk back up in a day. 
Last edited: 04 April 2017 01:50:14
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Last edited: 04 April 2017 01:53:39
Hi Peggy. My aspidistras live inside and as they have a sentimental connection I daren't risk them outside here. I love your Alstroemeria - as I know the Peruvian lily. Such striking leaves that I bet it looks gorgeous in flower.
Gee, I didn't even know they could live inside, Ladybird. Ya learn something everyday. I'm new to Alstroemeria. This one is called "Rock 'n Roll". Just planted it a week ago. I have to see, as the summer nears, just how much dappled sun it will get there. I may even have to move the pot to a morning sun spot. Few plants will survive our scorching afternoon heat. I had it in the sun on my front veranda for a week and it wilted badly in our Texas heat, so it may have to stay in the dappled shady spot it's in. This may mean it will never bloom, but quite frankly, I bought it for the foliage and not the red blooms. Told my husband "If it never blooms, I don't care; if it does, that'll be a plus".
Would love to put it directly in the ground, but I hear they are aggressively invasive and will take over the bed and your lawn if not potted. One guy said its roots/tubers traversed underneath his driveway to the other side! On one forum I was reading this past week, the commenters were cursing the day they stuck it in the ground and could NOT dig it up to save their lives! So I'm approaching this plant with considerable trepidation.
Last edited: 04 April 2017 17:02:04
I tell you what Peggy, with looks like that I'd risk it and just keep an eagle eye out for any tiny new shoots in the wrong place. I think if you keep on top of them they can be controlled.
Maybe one day, if and when it outgrows this huge pot, I'll take a chance on it in the ground.