Search found 187 matches

Go to advanced search

by KrisK
Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:28 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Heat wave update
Replies: 26
Views: 9208

Heat wave update

Here's a few midsummer photos. So far, we're way cooler than the last few years and I hope it lasts. Alpinia variegated. This has came back the last three winters with just a mulch cover. It dies to the ground, and will never bloom here, but who cares about flowers when you have foliage like that! <...
by KrisK
Wed Jun 05, 2013 6:58 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy - General
Topic: Backyard Musas flowering earlier this year! WooHoo!
Replies: 22
Views: 12963

Wow that's too cool! They've grown like mad - I can tell where you cut them back - and doubled their heighth! What do you feed them? We've had lotsa water but not much sun, not typical for us, but it's been a nice change. I think my basjoos have put on 3-4 leaves so I'm waaaay behind.
Congrats!
by KrisK
Thu May 02, 2013 6:29 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Are the Eruoplne Fan Palms Flowers Bisexily
Replies: 1
Views: 1354

They're usually monecious so you need both a male and a female palm. Ive heard euros can be diecious, but all of mine are only monecious. Mine are pushing spathes as well. One has three flower stalks open now.
by KrisK
Fri Mar 29, 2013 9:46 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: transplanting palms
Replies: 3
Views: 1714

If its not terrible big, you can dig far out enough to avoid damaging much of the roots. Erik and I dug what I would call a 15 or 20 gallon sabal last year. (Thanks Erik! ) I wouldn't wanna dig much bigger than that by hand. If you damage the roots of a sabal, you will need to remove some leaves. Th...
by KrisK
Sun Mar 24, 2013 3:57 pm
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Kniphofia nothiae & Red Hot Poker
Replies: 6
Views: 3110

I planted a K caulescens last fall from High Country Gardens. It was a 4 inch pot, lowest it saw was 12F a few nights. Looks pretty decent now, I hope it gets as nice as those in the links.
by KrisK
Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:43 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: What tubers are you going to plant soon?
Replies: 9
Views: 5807

I have started canna 'Stuttgart', hedychium densifloram 'assam orange', hedychium coronarium, hedychium 'dr moy', a curcurma 'home depot', bowl of beauty peony, Dolly Madison Lilly, and some others I don't remember. I have some eucomis 'oakhurst' and eucomis 'freckles' in the ground, from last year....
by KrisK
Wed Feb 13, 2013 6:59 am
Forum: Anything Yucca
Topic: Planting Depth for Red Yucca
Replies: 5
Views: 3488

Aaron's right, but I'll offer a little rhyme.

Plant it high, it won't die.
Plant it low, it won't grow.

I dunno who gets credit for it but its helped me out numerous times!
by KrisK
Tue Feb 12, 2013 2:40 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Butia in snow in Edmond Oklahoma
Replies: 11
Views: 4815

Interesting read. I'm afraid I'd get banned from the research team for Johnny sabal-seeding anywhere that looked viable! Curious that the author ranks Butia and S palmetto hardiness higher than C humilis, T fortunei, and W filifera. I'd like to see more pics of his palms for sure.
by KrisK
Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:57 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: sabal minor
Replies: 38
Views: 10986

They look great. Don't see a bent frond one, congrats!
by KrisK
Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:02 am
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Gardenias
Replies: 6
Views: 4336

I'm 7a, but we must've done something right the last few years, as we have had 8a minimums. My kleims is kind of range-y or leggy. It does have small daisy type single blooms, but blooms off and on from spring til fall, when it gets orange seed pods. If it dropped flowers I'd speculate too much/litt...
by KrisK
Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:00 pm
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Gardenias
Replies: 6
Views: 4336

I got a kleims hardy and a chuck hayes. They do fine outside for me. I'd cover if there were to be freezing rain forecast, but they take plain cold or snow just fine. I saw a couple new introductions last year. "Snow in summer" and "crown jewel". The crown jewel is a cross betwee...
by KrisK
Fri Jan 25, 2013 3:40 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: sabal minor
Replies: 38
Views: 10986

She has a lot of good sized, really neat palms. I hope they survive transplanting when she moves in the springtime. It'll be interesting seeing how they do, but I bet they do fine for the most part though.
by KrisK
Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:51 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: sabal minor
Replies: 38
Views: 10986

Mike, the mobile nursery is a guy that rounds up tropicals in Florida and brings them to us Okies for purchase. I dunno if he actually ships anything or just has his Florida sales and the stuff he brings here when the weather gets warm. Interestingly, alot of his plants are true tropicals ( bismarck...
by KrisK
Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:22 pm
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Red Plants
Replies: 21
Views: 9127

Everybody has had good suggestions for "red" plants. I'd like to add the hardy hibiscus, namely Texas Red Star and Lord Baltimore. I have both and love them, and they are hardy down to zone 5-6 I believe. They do need staking each new growing season and thrive on heat + water but wow insta...
by KrisK
Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:42 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19995

Is it a huge pool or just a little Dobie...? <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/8273185165/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8273185165_7aaaf51d4a.jpg" width="373" height="500"...
by KrisK
Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:52 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19995

Yea I hear ya! Just thinking out loud lol! I saw the nanners you had they will look awesome in a big mass planting!
by KrisK
Fri Nov 23, 2012 12:36 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Joining the club - up go the boxes
Replies: 64
Views: 19995

Wow keep that white stuff up there! That's a neat scene you have there. I like that pergola on the water. You ought to under plant those windmills with sabal minors and variegated alpinia. You're already protecting the area... That stone bordering the boardwalk would look nice with yucca filamentosa...
by KrisK
Thu Nov 22, 2012 7:33 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Photos of other people's winter protection
Replies: 11
Views: 3958

Thanx Barb. Really is a timely subject. I like how some are as aesthetically pleasing as they are functional.

Jim I too like the idea of the palm supporting/being the protection frame. I also like the idea of 5F hardy Pindos (least that's what they look like)! Wonder where I can get one LOL?
by KrisK
Mon Nov 19, 2012 3:46 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Mexican Fam Palm in Southern Washington(Tri-Cities) Zone 7a
Replies: 93
Views: 30637

Ewww. They look heat-fried. Washys can get by on our winter with zero supplemental heat except for the coldest of nights. Just a wrap of R19 batting and a plastic cover will get you a long ways. You have to cut the leaves off but since they grow so fast it's replaced next season. I haven't got one i...
by KrisK
Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:01 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Mexican Fam Palm in Southern Washington(Tri-Cities) Zone 7a
Replies: 93
Views: 30637

Oh that's quite the protection! It must be colder there than I thought! Still, super impressive palm and protection scheme. Glad you posted them. It'll be time to wrap mine up before too long.
by KrisK
Thu Nov 15, 2012 8:03 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Mexican Fam Palm in Southern Washington(Tri-Cities) Zone 7a
Replies: 93
Views: 30637

Welcome!

The new Usda map has you at a 7a I think - I can't hardly tell. Either way, the washingtonia is pretty zone- defining. Looks like its suffered some damage when younger but pretty awesome nonetheless. There are some Filifera in Albuquerque that took negative temps in the 2010-11 winter and survived b...
by KrisK
Sun Oct 14, 2012 3:51 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Tough Love for one of the Brahea Armata twins
Replies: 14
Views: 7287

Great scale treatment pictorial, Barb. I'm too lazy to google, so ill just ask: where do you get the poison at? I haven't had a scale problem before but I've noticed that many do have infestations on their palms. Also, how does that Brahea tolerate root disturbance? From what I've read online, they ...
by KrisK
Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:17 am
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Backyard hoophouse
Replies: 20
Views: 11346

Boomer Sooner Barb! It does look like a conestoga wagon. Yes it's treated. Lowes Top Shelf lumber lol. That twisted junk - I had to dig through piles to find something halfway decent. The ply is also exterior grade B-C. I'll prolly tarpaper it and some siding and call it a day. It'll never be as aes...
by KrisK
Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:03 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: New Greenhouse
Replies: 39
Views: 25516

Top notch work!

Looks very professional, better than some commercial kits even. Can't wait to see it thru!
by KrisK
Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:59 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Backyard hoophouse
Replies: 20
Views: 11346

A little more progress <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/7984047335/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/7984047335_9d3f6ab9c5.jpg" width="373" height="500" alt="photo"...
by KrisK
Sat Sep 08, 2012 9:49 am
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Backyard hoophouse
Replies: 20
Views: 11346

Bacon kebabs LOL! Well it rained and cooled off a bit so I got a small bit done... <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26394087@N02/7956159460/" title="photo by ricerocket962001, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8302/7956159460_67a1e80e13.jpg" width=...
by KrisK
Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:27 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Backyard hoophouse
Replies: 20
Views: 11346

Barb I had to google "solar pool blanket"! You forget that I live in the sunbelt - or at least I think I do. We try to keep our pools either cooled down, or tarped for winter storage. There's pretty much no in between "pool warming" needed here. Neat idea though - maybe help out ...
by KrisK
Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:33 am
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: What kind of plastics can you use to cover Agave
Replies: 2
Views: 3567

I use the translucent 4 or 6 mil stuff from lowes. I only use it for a few months at a time, so it's lasted me several seasons of protection. I don't think I'd use any less than 4mil thickness.
by KrisK
Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:11 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Backyard hoophouse
Replies: 20
Views: 11346

Erik, that's a good question, one that I wish I had an answer to! Ive always wanted a greenhouse to putter around in during winter. Plus I'll use it for an early start for warm season foods. Im planning on this winter to be a "proofing" trial of sorts for it, seeing what temperature differ...
by KrisK
Tue Sep 04, 2012 2:03 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Backyard hoophouse
Replies: 20
Views: 11346

Thanks, Jim. Yes it will have a bar across the top and one on either side for strength. Plus temporary internal supports when snow is anticipated. How much difference does the bubble wrap make, in your opinion?
by KrisK
Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:09 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Backyard hoophouse
Replies: 20
Views: 11346

Thanks for the interest. The hoophouse is kinda my Frankenstein culmination of ones I've seen online. Hopefully it will hold up AND perform! Yes Lou has kind of become our favorite palm. Not a day goes by without a visual inspection! Well I got the end walls framed out and the exterior plywood cut l...
by KrisK
Tue Aug 28, 2012 2:51 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Backyard hoophouse
Replies: 20
Views: 11346

Thanks guys. Igor, yours looks very professionally done. Nice and large for plenty of plants. That's a bigtime temperature difference - inside to outside. Do you supplementally heat? I'm going to read about the bubble wrap. Sounds like something I could put up for winter and easily take down for spr...
by KrisK
Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:37 am
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Backyard hoophouse
Replies: 20
Views: 11346

Backyard hoophouse

Well, here's my newest addition. It's 12x16, about 7' tall at the peak. Plan on having roll-up sides and endwall vents. Maybe use shade cloth in the summer to cut down on heat/light. Definately a work in progress but I hope to have it up by winter. I'm curious about double walls - does it make that ...
by KrisK
Thu Aug 23, 2012 8:07 pm
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: New Greenhouse
Replies: 39
Views: 25516

Looks good I bet that stove will run you out! I'm also building one, but mines more of a hoophouse like your other one. I'm gonna use water barrels this winter and see how low it goes. Some of the big greenhouses here don't heat all winter, and have potted cold hardy palms/ tropicals survive. I know...
by KrisK
Wed Jul 25, 2012 1:41 pm
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Small update of my Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario garden
Replies: 12
Views: 4503

Your stuff looks great, considering the drought. My plants, since we're going on year 2 of hell on earth summers, look pretty rough. I hope you get some relief soon. I would let that zebrina pup grow til fall and sever it before frost. When you do it, make sure you angle your spade so as to get some...
by KrisK
Mon Jul 23, 2012 7:07 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: New Chamaerops Humilis var. Cerifera! (and other stuff)
Replies: 10
Views: 4568

Oh you're good to go then, that's awesome you live in a mild climate. I dunno how it'll do without summer heat - sabals just won't grow here til it hits 80, and that cerifera may be the same. Unfortunately mild summers don't occur in Oklahoma so I'm not sure how yours will do in cooler climes. I bet...
by KrisK
Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:18 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: New Chamaerops Humilis var. Cerifera! (and other stuff)
Replies: 10
Views: 4568

Plant that dude! The cerifera is reportedly hardier than the green version. Mines going on 2 years in the ground with winter protection, and maybe just a tad larger than yours. I guess you could sever the suckers almost completely from the main stem, let them heal/root a few weeks and then completel...
by KrisK
Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:09 am
Forum: Greenhouse & Outside Protection
Topic: Wiring the palm garden
Replies: 11
Views: 9352

Me too Erik. Too bad we can't bottle this heat up, and use it thru winter!
by KrisK
Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:07 am
Forum: Cold Hardy Palms
Topic: Sabal minor (Not Growing?)
Replies: 28
Views: 14864

Agree, looks too wet. I'd let it dry out some. It may sulk awhile before it grows. Is the spear tight?
by KrisK
Thu Jun 07, 2012 12:36 pm
Forum: Other Plants of Interest
Topic: Missouri Botanical Gardens
Replies: 4
Views: 2416

Looks like a cool place to visit.
I'm diggin the Dale Chihuly art too.

Go to advanced search