WHAT'S LOOKING EXOTIC IN 2017

Fascicularia?
You have got me wondering now, I just googled it and the pics look very similar to a plant I have which I thought was Ochagavia rosea.

 

Alstroemeria isabella "Fred Meyer" is finally in bloom. It is probably due for potting up as they are known to be shy to bloom if pot bound............
Alstroemeria isabella "Fred Meyer" by longk48, on Flickr

 

That's lovely and dainty LongK. Without the name, I would have sworn that was a Bomarea.

 

There has been a fair bit of confusion over this one. At one time it was Bomarea boliviensis. A few links..............
Bomarea boliviensis

Pacific Bulb Society | Alstroemeria

Alstroemeria isabellina 'Fred Meyer'

 

Cereus???? of some kind
Night blooming so an early morning pic.

 

Dipladenia ( Mandeville )



I don't know if this counts as exotic but I think it is......

Gerbera

 

I think Dipladenia is really lovely. Do you manage to overwinter it OK?

I have lost mine several times over the winter - I am now sure it was from overwatering.

 

Hi Peter, it's kept on my kitchen window
( unheated unless you count the heat from the oven) facing South .

As for watering , I think watered it twice from December through to March and that was just a dribble.

It's in a smallish ( 6" ) pot and the longest branches are now around 8' long.

 

I am sure that's the secret. I was told by a Dipladenia nurseryman to give them no more than a cupful of water a month over the winter. I have also read recently on a house plant site that most houseplants are killed by overwatering.

 

Since moving here I had several -7/8cs, somethingI never experienced in Weymouth.

 

I meant to put this up last week but forgot.

Lithops, they are actually slightly scented.

 

I my think Caesalpinia has survived a couple of minus 12Cs on the house wall in those cold winters back in 09, and 10.

 

Justicia carnea. This flowered earlier this year, but had never flowered a second time for me. This time I removed the dead flower heads very promptly and have been rewarded by quite a few new buds. I have a theory that if you leave the old heads on for too long (on any plant) chemical messages are sent back down the plant which prevent a second flowering. Any views?


Dahlia imperialis. Traditionally this is not supposed to start flowering till very late in the year -like October. However mine has flowered earlier in previous years as well. The tuber was overwintered in a garage and planted out pretty late.


Globba schomberkii. I think this is rather sweet. Its new to me as I only bought the tubers earlier this year from Himalayan Gardens in Scotland. Its a relative of the gingers.

 

Tillandsia usneoides has one more flower!