Rachel's Journal

Rachel, that Phoenix canariensis in your greenhouse, did you over-winter it inside? I left one outside all winter. It is as dead as a dodo. Greenhouse looks great. I envy you the size of it. Well done.

Great about the Kiwi.

It was too big to bring in, Jacinta, so it stayed in the greenhouse, wrapped in fleece. The fronds aren't even burned. Maybe yours was smaller? I can't explain it.

My Sago Palm did not fare so well, despite being brought indoors. All the foliage died. I'm just hoping it will re-grow.

Mine was outside, planted in the ground in my bog garden. Yes it is much smaller than yours. I must have a really close look tomorrow to see if it is totally gone. My Sago Palm spent the winter in the greenhouse, no fleece, or any covering. And it is perfect.

I forgot to take my Kiwi in. Think IT'S gone too.

But that's just ridiculous! We had the same plants and ended up with different results? But maybe your palm wasn't a sago palm, Jacinta. I remember you saying there was no label when you bought it. I am very glad that came through for you as you brought it back from the Canaries and it is a real beauty.

Yea ridiculous alright. I did find the label eventually. It was stuck to the end of the pot. Cycal revoluta. I remember when I back from Lanzarote we got the same ones in to work. And I threw the last one in the skip last week. It was totally gone. I am very happy with its outcome, considering this one only cost me €4.99 abroad, and would have cost 14.99 here.

It is strange what lives and what doesnt. Those echiums will probably green up for you.

I have seen many echiums like that in my time but not once have I seen one come back to life :(

Well then they are the same, Jacinta. Very strange. Yours must just have been that bit bigger and sturdier.

That's bad news, Deborah, but I'm not surprised!

Hope it come back for you Rachel.

Don't give upon it Rachel. I left mine out in the Nature garden in 2008 winter and it flowered in 2009. The photo is in the July album. They self seed also. I was not as lucky this year and I protected them.

Rachel dont chuck them but to be honest I'd agree with Deborah that I've seen many like this and they have'nt came back (mostly my own) but you live in hope.  The old kiwi plants are tough and I had mine in the garage and I think it came thru fine and it was down to 0 degrees in there..

Thanks, everyone. I won't chuck out the echiums just yet. In comparison to the ones left in the garden, they look like Chelsea award winners so I'm reluctant to give up on them just yet, despite the most informed of advice.

My kiwi suffered -10 in the greenhouse, Bill. And it wasn't wrapped in any fleece! Obviously an over-sight!

Rachel, I just read that kiwi's can tolerate -25 degrees! 

Really - must look them up, Mairin. More of that and less of the other!