Plants back indoors

[lucky1]

It's a sad day when everything has to come indoors (especially since weather is improving).

Bottle palm and Dioon spinulosum are really sunburned but should recover in the warm house.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269774950/" title="DSC05003 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6179/626 ... 45a274.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05003"></a>

Dug up the Cordyline "red flag" to plant next spring.
They'll spend winter in the cold building, hopefully these will bloom in a year or two.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269774958/" title="DSC05006 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6058/626 ... 07ef11.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05006"></a>

Repotted CIDP and P. selloum, with 5-foot grapefruit at top right.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269774980/" title="DSC05008 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6101/626 ... 29dd2e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05008"></a>

Have never seen this ponytail put on red growth ?!? probably too dry all summer.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269774988/" title="DSC05009 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6220/626 ... 354334.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05009"></a>

Lotsa stuff.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269775002/" title="DSC05010 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/626 ... c0a556.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05010"></a>

2 year old Wodyetia (foxtail) seedlings are doing fine, little Brahea armata (cold-twin) in foreground didn't grow much this year.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269294637/" title="DSC05013 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/626 ... 93b3fd.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05013"></a>

Big old jade tree flanked by Bamboo Palm.
This bamboo palm (seifreizii, I think) is clumping, grows like crazy, and has male/female inflorescences on the same plant.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269294645/" title="DSC05015 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6117/626 ... 4f4b4c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05015"></a>

Easy to see how it got its name:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269294663/" title="DSC05018 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/626 ... 3d3ec6.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05018"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269294651/" title="DSC05016 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6114/626 ... 3082c0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05016"></a>

Dug up some of the Mexican feather grass to overwinter.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269294667/" title="DSC05020 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6163/626 ... 15e46c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05020"></a>

It's gotten mild again, this Gazania (spelling?) and Lavender are blooming a second time.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269860134/" title="DSC05021 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6112/626 ... eb3dbc.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05021"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269860150/" title="DSC05023 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/626 ... a8d69c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC05023"></a>

I haven't got much energy left to construct anything over these 2 Washy filifera and 3 Y.rostrata (the 2-headed rostrata is dying).
But covering them with garbage cans and a tarp won't be enough.
Might be easier to dig everything up again.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269860154/" title="DSC05027 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6052/626 ... 5f591f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05027"></a>

Oh, almost forgot the Triangles (one shown), Wollemia nobilis and oleander back in the family room:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269860198/" title="DSC05034 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6045/626 ... 975b54.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05034"></a>

And the big ole Trachy is pushing 3 very strong and tall spears:
The palm hut goes up around it in a few weeks.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6269860178/" title="DSC05029 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6238/626 ... ab905d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC05029"></a>

Here it is during John's visit 2 months ago.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6104946476/" title="139 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/610 ... 41650d.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="139"></a>

That's it...now all the spiders are back INDOORS. EEK!

Barb

[CTPalm]

Oh Barb how depressing, I've been debating taking stuff in too - for tonight a low of 39F maybe a light frost. Really only worried about the Bananas and Red Abyssinians. It's that maybe because it going to be warmer for at least the next week.

Paul

[lucky1]

39's not bad, maybe some old sheets wrapped around the bananas with bungee cords?

Yeah, that's the thing Paul.
A couple of evenings below freezing and tender plants can fry...then it gets nice again for two weeks (AAAARGH!)

I tried to buy some regular old fashioned (non LED) Christmas light strings today.
Seems B.C. has regulated some law that it's illegal to sell even the incandescent Christmas lights.
Only packages of replacement bulbs were available in 3 stores today.

They should stick to stuff they already know how to screw up...now they're messing with my ability to overwinter stuff outdoors!
Might have to buy some out of Alberta, where people can still make up their own minds.

Barb

[hardyjim]

I like having the plants in...most of the plants are cold hardy
so they will remain outside a while longer.

[lucky1]

most of the plants are cold hardy

Weatherman had threatened -4 for a couple of nights last week, didn't happen.
But just to be safe, had dragged everything indoors.
Took all bloody day to do that.

You're still nice and mild Jim.
Sure nicer than the early winters we've all had in other years.

You like having the plants in?
Don't you fight bugs all winter long, like I do?

What a dream it would be to have a huge proper palm house, heated of course...(somebody else paying the hydro).

Barb

[canadianplant]

wow barb, i thought i had a house jungle :S

That ponytail is fine. MIne has the same colouration, if a bit more purple. They were labeled as baucarnia stricta recurva when I ordered the seeds. Yours looks quite happy. They can take quite a bit of drought, and cold. Mine was exposed to freezing temps quite a few times, and it shows no ill effects.

Everything is awesome. Give me 2 more years, and ill have you beat

[TerdalFarm]

Great collection, Barb. How cold has it been so far? Just 30 F (-1 C) here so I have several potted plants still outside.

Maybe it is the photos, but it seems very bright indoors. I am sure they love that. Do you use extra lights for the indoor plants?

As for the Yucca rostrata and Washingtonia filifera, I suggest leaving them in place and protecting. I know little about Yucca but guess cover alone will be sufficient. The Washy will want those old-fashioned C9 Christmas lights. If you cannot get them up there, I'll buy some here and mail them to you.

[canadianplant]

Great collection, Barb. How cold has it been so far? Just 30 F (-1 C) here so I have several potted plants still outside.

Maybe it is the photos, but it seems very bright indoors. I am sure they love that. Do you use extra lights for the indoor plants?

As for the Yucca rostrata and Washingtonia filifera, I suggest leaving them in place and protecting. I know little about Yucca but guess cover alone will be sufficient. The Washy will want those old-fashioned C9 Christmas lights. If you cannot get them up there, I'll buy some here and mail them to you.

Good advice for the washy. The rostrata should be ok, unless you have super wet winters. I cant remember what side of the rain shadow barb is on....

BTW barb, this post almsot made me do a big RPS order.....

[lucky1]

Jesse,
Glad to hear the ponytail is OK with that red colouring.
It rarely gets watered even in summer.

Erik,

How cold has it been so far? Just 30 F (-1 C) here

Same for us, even though the weatherman has been threatening colder.
The first pic shows plants in the front hall (tile floor), which isn't as sunny as in front of the big LR windows, where they spent winters previously.
But have to keep plants off the livingroom's wood floor from now on.
Their new location might be too dark come January.

Thanks for the offer to send the lights, Erik...will get some sent from Calgary, AB (where they don't have these stoooopid "no incandescent" rules).
So I guess you've helped me decide what to do with the y.rostrata and w.filiferas

cant remember what side of the rain shadow barb is on

I'm on the shadow side...nothing would make it here without irrigation.
Zippo rain in that garden bed, yuccas are planted in dust. Even the u/g sprinklers miss the gravel bed in summer.

Oh man...off to plan more protection...
Barb

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Barb I`m not far from bringing in my potted palms and yuccas. Bananas are already in even though we have not had our first frost yet. I`m planting more next spring getting tired of moving things! Nice healthy plant pics!


John

[hardyjim]

Barb


Fungus gnats are a pain in winter/indoors for sure and I have
battles with WSM every winter.
I did get rid of the plants that were infesting my palms all summer,
so I am hoping at worst this is the last winter I may have this prob.


Someone on another forum suggested spraying plants with Wilt-pruf....
they said they believe it suffocates them(WSM) and freezes them in place.
They also mentioned that it really helps plants that don't like dry
air inside the house in winter.
I had thought about this a few years ago for that very reason but
it got lost on the pile of "things to try".

So,I will try that this year........if anyone trys this remember to spray
it away from anything you don't want stained.

[lucky1]

Thanks John, but the ones that are ugly are REALLY ugly and slow to replace sunburned leaves.

You hit the nail on the head...it's the moving stuff in and out that is getting tiresome.
Still heavy work with a dolly and new lighter mix soil in the pots.
I can only imagine how much work it is with your big potted plants...wow.

Jim, I had frankly forgotten about the fungus gnats all summer.
I'm leaving the 2 yr old Foxtail seedlings in the cold building this winter.
They had gnats really bad in the basement all winter.
H got pretty tired of blowing a gnat away from his face when he was having dinner.

Soft-bodied Scale was a problem that I saw all year, winter and summer.
But after giving 'em all a "480 treatment", anything that sucks on a leaf should be a goner.

Heard about Wilf-pruf spray for suffocating bugs too.
Follows the same principle as orchardists using dormant oil in late winter/early spring to suffocate overwintering bugs.
Between Neem Oil and the other crap that nurseries spray on plants to make them shiny, I've had to do some damage control on wood floors which are still sticky (after 5 washings!) in a couple of places.
The bloody stuff never goes away it seems.

But plants that overwinter in the warm house (vs the cold building) have to be on my tile floors now, where I can mist them with water daily.

I'm either too old to see spider mites/webs, or my plants don't have any.

Barb

[hardyjim]

Nice thing about the Wilt-pruf is that it does not putrefy and cause spear-pull like oil based products.

[TerdalFarm]

Thanks, all of you. Please keep the tips coming. I'm taking notes.

[hardyjim]

Barb


Have you seen these for fungus gnats???

I may try them this year if I have the usual gnat issues!

http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page ... 51555&ap=1

[TerdalFarm]

I bought a system like that last year but never used it (or saw need to). I'll pull it out for this winter if needed.

[lucky1]

Have you seen these for fungus gnats???

I may try them this year if I have the usual gnat issues!

http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page ... 51555&ap=1

Yup, used some yellow sticky traps (different brand) last year.
If I can find the pic of all the fungus gnats flying in circles (once their brethren were stuck), I'll post it.
Summary: more fungus gnats survived, than were caught by the traps.

I have yellow-siding on my house and know all about how that attracts insects.
You should see the south siding on a sunny mild warm day in February.
Literally a million flies buzzing around on the siding; presumably, came out of the lawn with the warmth.
I should put vaseline on the house!

Barb

[canadianplant]

MY plants dont seem to be too effected this year (so far). I have a fugus gnat problem every winter, same with spidermite (common and the ungodly red bastards), and sometimes scale. I only use safers soap, or a spray bottle with a drop of dish soap. You can apparently put a small amount of horticultural oil, olive oil or mineral oil in the mix, as well as garlic, chilli pepper, and crushed chilies. You just have to spray off that mix in a few hours, because the oil can block the pores on the leaf and suffocate the plant.

This year im spraying with warm water and a drop of dish detergent once a week. Im also going to use a small fan to move some air around, and discourage some pests.

Personally, I find the hard part, is remembering to water them all..