What's Looking Exotic In October 2013

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by Kristen, Oct 1, 2013.

  1. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    • Jenny namaste

      Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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      The flower on the Stepelia ( left side ) had one petal open yesterday morningfor quite sometime. I kept watching - hoping to see the other petals " ping " open.The sun came out as I turned to get some things out of the cupboard. When I next looked - all the other petals had sprung open. I missed it by a few seconds...:doh:
      P1030699.JPG
       
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      • longk

        longk Total Gardener

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        Love it!
         
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        • Spruce

          Spruce Glad to be back .....

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          Jens that looks fab and the pot suits it as well new one on me
           
        • strongylodon

          strongylodon Old Member

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        • Jenny namaste

          Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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          It's such a great shame that it pongs to high heaven - a putrid odour - not nice too early in the morning on an empty stomach !!
          Jenny
           
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          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            Ahh, but then you do have all those lovely blue bottles as a consolation;)
             
          • Jenny namaste

            Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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            :eeew::sofa::oops::nonofinger::help:
            Off limits in my kitchen Pete !!
             
          • PeterS

            PeterS Total Gardener

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            [​IMG]
            Asarina scandens is past its best now but has been lovely all summer. As compared to the Cobaea scandens, next to it, that hasn't flowered at all. I thought that one was easy.

            [​IMG]
            Justicia carnea. I love this one. A gale three weeks ago broke half the plant off, along with its developing buds.

            [​IMG]
            But it was an ill wind ..... It prompted me to take some cuttings from the broken branch and, even though its the wrong time of year for Justicia cuttings, 4 of the 6 have thrived. However they all want to flower as well.

            [​IMG]
            And finally Calathea picturata. You often see this in garden centres as a foliage plant with its big leaves. It also has flowers, that are not that impressive - I think the white flowers have gone now leaving just the bracts. But what roused my interest was that only last night I discovered it was a member of the ginger family. Suddenly the flowers reminded me of some of the Costus - but not as colourful. You never hear of Costus - has anyone tried to grow it or is it just not hot enough in the UK?

            Edit
            [​IMG]
            Here is a picture of Costus barbartus - from the web.
             
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            • longk

              longk Total Gardener

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              Asarina scandens is just one of those plants isn't it! Growing it is easy and poses no challenge whatsoever, but it is still a thoroughly rewarding plant to grow! If it does have a fault, it is that it self seeds like boogery:biggrin:
               
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              • Kristen

                Kristen Under gardener

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                I've got Costus Speciosus Variegatus on my Wants List. It makes a lovely circle of its leaf worl :)

                I've got a Costus Barbatus here (which Sal asked me to get in the Jungle Garden closing down sale). I love the look of its corkscrew growth, not one I've come across before.
                 
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  Thanks for that @PeterS and @longk

                  I'm tempted to grow it next year, does it need support or do you let it scramble through other plants? I'm assuming by your comment Keith that it is easy from seed, will it make a decent size in the first year?
                   
                • longk

                  longk Total Gardener

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                  Trellis or other plants as it's a twiner.

                  Very easy and fast.

                  Ooooooh yes! Three or four seedlings planted together did this in a season.....................
                  [​IMG]
                   
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                  • longk

                    longk Total Gardener

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                    Bomarea hirtella continues to bloom in October out in the garden..................
                    DSC_1539.jpg

                    And Abutilon x hybridum......................
                    DSC_1544.jpg

                    Fused blooms on the pot grown I.niamniamensis. Probably time to think about moving it under cover?
                    DSC_1537.jpg
                     
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                    • PeterS

                      PeterS Total Gardener

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                      Kristen - do let us know how you get on with your Costus. I see that there a few sites selling seeds, including Jungle Seeds with 4 varieties. And there is Costus speciosa seeds on e-bay, where the vendor says that it will take down to -15C. So perhaps they don't need as much heat as I thought. I am very tempted.
                      LongK, I look forward to Asarina self seeding. As a social climber, I welcome having a better class of weed in my garden than my neighbours.
                       
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