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Posted: **Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:31 pm**

I just received this order from Hawaiian Botanicals in BC.

First, there's a Musella lasiocarpa (Golden Lotus Banana):

And there's also Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish Moss):

Both of these will be planted outside over the coming days!

I would definitely recommend Hawaiian Botanicals. Although their prices are a little high, their plants are pretty healthy!

Cameron.

Posted: **Fri Jul 15, 2011 4:40 pm**

Nice new additions, Cameron.
I'd be interested in how you keep your Tillandsia...I ended up taping it to the top of a piece of Mexican pottery where it lived for a couple of years, then died.
Saw some at the nursery that were glue-gunned to driftwood.

Will have a look at Hawaiian Botanicals site.

Looking forward to more of your updates.
Barb

Posted: **Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:11 pm**

Nice!
I'll try Tillandsia. Not too hard to find for sale down here.
I've given up on Musella (or is it now Ensete?) lasiocarpa. I can over winter it with a lot of effort,but it never flowers and does not grow well for me. Canna is much more rewarding in my climate. Looking forward to seeing yours thrive!
Erik

Posted: **Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:47 pm**

Thanks!

I think I remember some people in the Niagara region, Kentucky, Ohio, etc overwintering Spanish Moss outside. I plan on dividing the clump into 3: trying one part on a M. virginiana, one part on a pine tree, and bringing one part indoors!

As far as the Musella/Ensente/Constantly changing species of banana goes, it will be my first experience with bananas outdoors. We will see if it survives the winter

Posted: **Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:58 pm**

For me, it is much harder to over winter than Musa basjoo.
I never thought of Tilandsia outdoors in winter-- I just assumed it had to come in.

Posted: **Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:47 am**

Just a though Cameron but at this point in the season
maybe a large pot for the Lasiocarpa would do it...
this way you don't have to disturb it in a few months-

Either way,mine dug up easy and did just fine inside-
very easy to care for.

Posted: **Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:17 am**

Jim,
have you tried overwintering M/E lasiocarpa in ground? It seems nearly as hardy as Canna, so a possibility. --Erik

Posted: **Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:35 pm**

Thanks for the advice!

Posted: **Sun Jul 17, 2011 3:53 am**

Nice Cameron!

At the pet store I recieved an order of these where the box was 4x4 feet FULL of different types. The biggest weight 2 pounds, and was bigger then a football. As long as you keep them drier, theyll be ok. They decline super quick of you dont mist them (inside, ive never tried em outside)

Im going to have to agree with Jim when he suggests a pot for the Musella. ITll give it less stress, and a good root system for planting next year. Im assuming your going to try to over winter it, so the extra root growth over the winter should make it explode next year!!!! From what ive heard they do great in pots!

Eric - 25C this morning for ya? Not to bad concidering how hot its been there!

Posted: **Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:24 am**

TerdalFarm wrote:Jim,
have you tried overwintering M/E lasiocarpa in ground? It seems nearly as hardy as Canna, so a possibility. --Erik

No Eric

Trying to get mine to bloom but it has a
**** load of pups so maybe next year!

Posted: **Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:49 am**

Excellent!
I've only seen photos of blooms but they do look great. Here's hoping.

Posted: **Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:05 am**

Jim,
have you tried overwintering M/E lasiocarpa in ground? It seems nearly as hardy as Canna, so a possibility. --Erik

This year I overwinter musella lasiocarpa in the ground in Markham, On. We had -25 celsius.
I had no additional heat, just covered it with lots of leaves and an upside down huge flower pot (what I did I actually filled the flower pot with tree leaves, and then I turned it upside down on top of the plant). On top of that I added some more leaves in garbage bags and some rocks.
All the ml leaves died down to the ground, but it came back quite strong in the spring. Meanwhile with the same protection my musa basjooo died.

Tavi

Posted: **Mon Jul 18, 2011 12:38 pm**

Beautiful Banana Cameron!!

Posted: **Mon Jul 18, 2011 1:01 pm**

Tavi,
great report--like the detail.
Does your Ml ever flower?
Also, for comparison, do you overwinter Canna in the ground? --Erik

Posted: **Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:50 pm**

This is the third year I had the musella. First year in a pot and inside for the winter, second year in the ground and this year first year after the winter outside. It has a lot of pups but it never flowered (I think it needs a longer warm season for that).
this is a picture from last year:

and this is some info from bananas.org:

http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Musella_Lasiocarpa
I'm thinking of digging it out next winter and store it in the garage. This way I can separate some pups before I put it back in the ground.

Posted: **Tue Jul 19, 2011 6:04 am**

Wow that musella looks good!!!

Mabey leave it in the ground but dig up a few pups just in case??

Posted: **Tue Jul 19, 2011 2:23 pm**

Thanks, Zomble!

Tavi, that is very encouraging!! Thanks for the pic/info. What part of Markham are you from? I always enjoy visiting the old Unionville area

Posted: **Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:29 am**

very close to Unionville. send me a private msg if ever in the area, I'll give you a tour of my garden.

Posted: **Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:17 am**

Sounds good

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:49 pm**

Some new plants arrived over the past couple of days!

In this shot, there are 2 Phyllostachys bissetii, 2 Pseudosasa japonica, 1 Fargesia murielae, and 1 Fuschia magellanica:

Here are 3 Pleioblastus pygmaeus var. distichus, and 2 T. fortunei (I'll be selling 1 to help offset the costs of the plants

):

Closer shot of the T. fortunei. Unlike my young ones planted outside, these ones actually have a bit of trunk!

:

Here's a Musa basjoo, and 2 Aucuba japonica "Gold Spots":

I'll be planting these outside this weekend, along with my Musella lasiocarpa!

Cameron.

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:57 pm**

Wonderful additions!
Be sure to take some landscape shots when you plant them. I want to see them from a distance so I can picture how they all look together.

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:05 pm**

Thanks!

I've got an empty area beside my deck, so I'm planning on putting a few there, see below: x = Pleioblastus, o = Phyllostachys

_________
X O X O X

I've also got a shady area for the Fargesia and Aucuba, F = Fargesia, A = Aucuba

_____
A F A

I'll be fitting the rest in empty spaces around my yard, I'll post pics!

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:06 pm**

Hey nice purchases Cameron.

Those 2 Trachy could use some epsom salts and a week (or more) in the shade after potting to bring up the green colour.

Was this your purchase from BC?
Nice stock wherever they came from.

Barb

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:09 pm**

Pseudosasa didnt make it here. hope the best for it there!. The Fargesia shouldnt have a problem there. Nice palms too!

Show some pics when they are all planted.

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:10 pm**

Thanks Barb!
Yeah, these plants were from BC too

Canadianplant, I'm a little nervous about the Pseudosasa here too! They're supposed to be a 7a plant, so they will hopefully make it if they're sited well!

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:23 pm**

I think they are top hardy to -16C. That isnt to far from your low. I would either pot em up for the winter, or if you plant them, make sure you bend the canes to the ground, and cover it with a tarp, and or leaves. You shouldnt have a problem with it when its small. The japanese army used to make their arrows out of the culms, which is the sole reason I bought it LOL.

Posted: **Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:35 pm**

That's awesome!

Posted: **Sat Aug 06, 2011 3:57 am**

your gonna need a farm soon! Great stuff.

Posted: **Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:26 am**

Cam- From a cold perspective, Pseudosasa is generally a washout. SOrry to have to tell you that. That said, I do know of 2 plants in Niagara region that are OK. They brown out every year (they may have made it through the zone 7b/8a winter in the early 2000's with mostly green foliage), even when zone 7 temps are hit. The catch is getting it through the first 2 winters, if you can do that it can be a very good die back perennial!

Other stuff looks good, nice purchases! If you get the chance head to Don's place in the hydrostone, he has the best grove of Phyllostachys aureosulcata that I've seen in NS!

Let us know how the Aucuba does there, I don't know if anyone (John W. maybe?) in the province is growing it.

Posted: **Sat Aug 06, 2011 9:39 am**

Cameronn,

I see you are in Canada. Although Trachicarpus f is hardy is it likey they will be hardy enough where you are. Thinking here of your winter.

If you will protect them, how will you do that?

I just bought one and want another from same supplier but holding back in case my town will be worse than last winter -13, this winter.

Them of yours look real nice and healthy Cameron, good luck this winter.

Posted: **Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:17 pm**

Thanks, Tim!

Paul, thanks for the advice! I know that the Pseudosasa is going to be borderline here, and I am going to be siting/protecting it accordingly. I don't think I've ever met "Don"

I did meet John W. back in May, I'll have to give him a call sometime.

Zomble, thanks! As far as the protection goes, I know that I'm going to have to give this palm significant protection, since I'll be planting it in an exposed area on my front lawn. I am planning on buying some large pieces of styrofoam, and constructing a "box" around the palm. Although I am willing to go pretty far in protecting it, my goal is to not have to provide any extra heat (i.e. xmas lights, heat pads, etc) to any of my plants

This thread shows how I protect my palm seedlings, which are planted in a more sheltered area of my backyard: viewtopic.php?t=2631 . Good luck with your new purchase!

Posted: **Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:29 pm**

A picture with musella, plumeria in flower and ensete maurelii in the back

I was looking everywhere for maurelli, I even bought some seeds from the internet with zero pct germination. Then I found them at home depot. It's in a pot behind the musella and the diameter is triple since I bought it. It's an amazing plant, one leaf per week

Posted: **Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:21 pm**

The other day I realized that I had forgotten to update this post after I planted everything!

Aucubas and Fargesia:

One of the P. japonicas:

The Pleioblastus (one of them is hidden) and Phyllostachys:

I didn't take a pic of the F. magellanica, but it has grown significantly and flowered since planting. The T. fortunei is going in a pot.

Cameron.

Posted: **Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:46 am**

Cameron

The bamboo looks great!

Posted: **Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:59 am**

Sry my comp went for a crap for a sec...

The fargesia shouldnt have any problem at all. For this winter, I would just bury it in leaves, and leave it be. Your winters arent harsh enough to do any massive damage IMO.

The Phyllostachys..... Personally, I would bend it to the ground, bury it in a foot of leaves, and tarp it. You want some good root growth and survival for next year. IIR, your PHyllostachys is rated to - 25C? Id protect it like I said the first year, JUST to make sure. I know your winter temps can rebound, so any day thats sunny and above freezing, I would untarp it until night fall, so the thing doesnt bake.

The other bamboo, Im unfamiliar with. If i remember, its a ground cover, and hardy to -25C as well. ID leave it all winter, and mow it down in very early spring before crocus come up. If yoru paranoid, a layer of leaves will work wonders!!

Id also dig up that musella for this winter and keep it inside to let the baby grow.

Posted: **Sat Sep 24, 2011 11:54 am**

Nice!

Good luck with them...

Barb

Posted: **Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:39 pm**

Canadianplant, here's some protection methods I was thinking of:

Fargesia: A lot of mulch
Phyllostachys bissetii: A lot of mulch
Pseudosasa japonica: A lot of mulch, leaves and a recycling bag
Pleioblastus pygmaeus var. distichus: A lot of mulch
Aucuba: A lot of mulch
Fuchsia: A lot of mulch, some leaves
Musa & Musella: Already in pots, so I will bring them inside
T. fortunei: Potted and brought inside

Thanks, Barb!

Posted: **Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:55 pm**

Cameron_z6a_N.S. wrote:Canadianplant, here's some protection methods I was thinking of:

Fargesia: A lot of mulch It probably wont need to much, just enough to keep the roots a bit warmer. Thats just my opinion though
Phyllostachys bissetii: A lot of mulch Bend that baby right to the ground. Trust me, you wont hurt it, Bury it in leaves, about a foot and throw a tarp on it. Thats the best way ive found to fully protect it aside from lights/heat tape etc. You wont need that stuff, the leaves and tarp will work lol
Pseudosasa japonica: A lot of mulch, leaves and a recycling bag This is the least hardy bamboo you have. Its rated anywhere between -17C and -30C (the latter im guessing is root hardiness?). Protect it like I suggested the bisetti, and hope for the best!
Pleioblastus pygmaeus var. distichus: A lot of mulch Your best bet, its tough from what I hear!
Aucuba: A lot of mulch *for this and the next one - Shrubs is this years challenge for me. I just used leaves on my Azalea last year, and it worked quite well.
Fuchsia: A lot of mulch, some leaves
Musa & Musella: Already in pots, so I will bring them inside Excellent! Mist them every day, and give them as much sun as you possibly can[B/]
T. fortunei: Potted and brought inside

Thanks, Barb!

Glad to see an update dude! Good luck, ill be thinkin of this too very very soon. We had a few light frosts, enough to wipe out the pumpkins, but everything else is good and or dug up.

Posted: **Sat Sep 24, 2011 8:27 pm**

Thanks for the info!

Posted: **Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:53 am**

canadianplant wrote:
Cameron_z6a_N.S. wrote:Canadianplant, here's some protection methods I was thinking of:

Fargesia: A lot of mulch It probably wont need to much, just enough to keep the roots a bit warmer. Thats just my opinion though Never mulched mine - was OK down to minus 25. Dead after flowering. Some seedlings appeared this year
Phyllostachys bissetii: A lot of mulch Bend that baby right to the ground. Trust me, you wont hurt it, Bury it in leaves, about a foot and throw a tarp on it. Thats the best way ive found to fully protect it aside from lights/heat tape etc. You wont need that stuff, the leaves and tarp will work lol Just pin it to the ground before the main cold blast (I do it in the beginning of December), some leaves and a tarp until the beginning of April. Works just fine!
Pseudosasa japonica: A lot of mulch, leaves and a recycling bag This is the least hardy bamboo you have. Its rated anywhere between -17C and -30C (the latter im guessing is root hardiness?). Protect it like I suggested the bisetti, and hope for the best! Never deal with that one.
Pleioblastus pygmaeus var. distichus: A lot of mulch Your best bet, its tough from what I hear! Never bother at all - it's supposed to be a weed...
Aucuba: A lot of mulch *for this and the next one - Shrubs is this years challenge for me. I just used leaves on my Azalea last year, and it worked quite well. Mine is 1.5 meter tall. Has been growing since 1995. Has seen down to minus 30. I protect it the same way as Ph.bissetii. Pin, leaves and tarp. Works fine.
Fuchsia: A lot of mulch, some leaves. Never mulched mine. Root hardy. Rooting some cuttings every winter just in case. Hard to kill in your climate!
Musa & Musella: Already in pots, so I will bring them inside Excellent! Mist them every day, and give them as much sun as you possibly can[B/]
T. fortunei: Potted and brought inside

Thanks, Barb!

Glad to see an update dude! Good luck, ill be thinkin of this too very very soon. We had a few light frosts, enough to wipe out the pumpkins, but everything else is good and or dug up.

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