March 12th, 2019
Frangipani Culture part 2
Last week I had part 1 of the interview with the President of the Frangipani Society of Australia.
Anthony had so much to say it was necessary to split it over two weeks.
In this part, you’ll discover quite a few extra tips and growing frangi’s as they’re known by members, and how to get them to flower well.
Let’s find out. I'm talking with Anthony Grassi from the Frangipani Society of Australia.
LIVE: Anthony Grassi_13th February 2019
General Tips:
Frangi's can be transplanted in winter when they're dormant.
Reduce the canopy by 50% because you will have to reduce the root system prior to moving the tree.
Frangipani seeds last 5-6 years but some can last upwards of 10 years before planting.
Sow the Frangi seed in seed-raising mix and stand the seed up. The fat end goes in first.
In warm temperate districts, the frangipani will flower 2-3 years after sowing the seed. In the sub-tropics it may be as little as one year.
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Frangipani rubra flowers photo M. Cannon
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Colder climates will take around 5 years or more.
They now are a FB society so you can join their FB page, but if you join the society, you get to also join the financial members FB page as well as receive a lovely calendar, CD and tips on how to grow the best Frangipanis ever.
If you have any questions either for me or for Margaret, drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
March 7th, 2019
TALKING FLOWERS
Lisianthus: Eustoma grandiflorum (syn Lisianthus russelianus)
Praire Gentian is one of its common names.
How to grow
Seeds are as fine as dust particles, and the need light to germinate.
When you sprinkle this dust onto the seed raising mix, barely press them into the soil.
Then just cove them with a fine layer of vermiculite and mist with water from a spray bottle.
Preferred temperature range for germination is (21-24°C).
It takes 5 months from seed sowing to flowering.
Once plants are growing keep the soil most. Plants get stressed at temperatures over 29°C
Grows well in pots and prefer full sun.
Prairie Gentians are heat loving plants that flower best where nights are warm.
If you live in a climate with rainy, humid summers., then grow something else, because you'll have difficulty keeping these flowers going in your garden.
I'm talking with Mercedes Sarmini from www.flowersbymercedes.com.au about how best to keep the vase life of Lisianthus going.
Mercedes mentions tips about how to choose the best lissies from your florist or flower seller.
March 7th, 2019
Some plant names are meant to confuse but botanists persist in them remaining. The reasons are varied but it often is because of what family it’s in, where it came from and because once upon a time, a botanist declared that it looked like horses hooves, or a dolphin’s snout.
So here we have a great plant, the Ctenanthe but with a name that just isn’t that attractive.
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Ctenanthe Burle-Marxii
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It's pronounced: Ten- An-Thee
No, don't ring up Jeremy and ask for ke ten-an-thee.
I'm talking with Jeremy Critchley owner of the www.thegreengallery.com.au
Ctenanthe is sometimes called the ‘never-never’ plant, but nowhere can I find why?
It’s much hardier than it’s cousin Calathea that looks similar but with thinner leaves.
Both of these plant types like to be warm, so unless you live in the tropics or sub-tropics, it’s an indoor plant for you.
If you have any questions either for me Jeremy why not write in to realworldgardener@gmail.com
March 7th, 2019
All About Frangipanis Part 1
What’s new in Frangipanis?
Q. I have a leaf here that doesn’t look great?
The green in the centre has gone white and there’s white fluffy stuff, maybe scale? What do you think?
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Mite Damage on Frangipani leaves
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A: this is typical mite damage on the leaves seen an Frangipani and Camellias as well.
The treatment is Natrasoap spray to which you can also add Neem Oil.
I'm talking with Anthony Grassi from the Frangipani Society of Australia.
Q. It’s been so hot but my Frangi’s aren’t flowering what can be done and is it too late?
A. When Frangipani are still relatively small, often every second year is a resting year, so they don't flower. Especially if they're in a pot, flowers will be bi-annual.
It's only when the Frangipani is a mature tree, that you see yearly flowering because they have enough leaves to carry out the photosynthesis needed for lots of flowers.
The exception is when there is a micro-climate and the plants are pampered with high potash fertilisers.
Frangipani Society of Australia are now a FB society so you can join their FB page, but if you join as a financial member, you get to access another FB page as well as receive a lovely calendar, CD and tips on how to grow the best Frangipanis ever, plus seeds for you to grow some new varieties of Frangipanis.
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photo M. Cannon
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