Rachel's Journal

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The Giants

24 March 2010 11:15:32

plant from taro tuber & Bill's tetrapanax

I mentioned this morning how my Colocasia plants needed potting on and, before I knew it, hubby was out in the garden looking for pots and compost!

This is very unusual behaviour and I'm not sure what to put it down to. Perhaps it's because hubby feels an affinity with the taro tubers he bought me from the Chinese food shop last autumn and I grew them.

All three plants (from edible taro tubers bought in a food shop) now look exactly like my Colocasia 'Ruffles', which I paid good money for, and are the same size. One of the taros has red stems, like the Colocasia, and the other two have green stems but identical leaves and size.

When hubby was sorting that all out I cheekily added Tetrapanax 'Rex' to the potting-on list and provided a box of fish blood and bone to be added. The only glitch was when a scream from downstairs announced that hubby had accidentally potted one of the taros in the large pot destined for the Tetrapanax! Obviously an alarming discovery!?! But we can live with that.

Now to find saucers for underneath these large plants : (

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HeadGardener 24 March 2010 11:21:30

They all look good Rachel, as I'm in Dublin next week can you tell me where that Asian food shop is? Also looking at the Himalayian Gardens site what have you on your list at the moment? I have Xanthosoma, Colocacia macrorrhizos, Musa glaucum (maybe just in case the seeds dont take) Begonia josephii, Zingiber zurumbet and at least on Hedychium, and I'm being restrained!! Have'nt recieved financial clearance yet though :-)

Ladybird 24 March 2010 11:29:21

Rachel hubby is definitely building up some brownie points!!

Gismo1981 24 March 2010 11:47:19

Wonder if Paul will start to take the same interest ...................

I found cheap plastic saucers in Homebase a while ago, not sure if you have one in your area.

Rachel 24 March 2010 11:51:42

Will check with Norman, Bill. I was thinking of ...Amorphophallus bulbifer, Colocasia 'Black Magic', Tacca integrifolia, Lycoris radiata, Haemanthus multiflorus, Lilium tigrinum, Cautleya spicata. But I haven't really had a chance to think about it : )

Rachel 24 March 2010 12:30:49

Bill, he got it in the Chinese shop on Georges' Street. If you're facing town, it is on the right. He said if you don't find them there then try the Asia Market on Drury Street, which is actually just around the block from the Georges' Street shop. They were in a sack marked 'taro'. Hope you find them.

Dick 24 March 2010 13:07:06

Hello Rachel, The Irish Garden arrived to day. The first thing I looked for was your article. Very entertaining. There is always plenty of humour in it. Very much of what you are doing is like what I do at this time of year only I have no spouse to interfere. The containers which others throw out I use them for propagation of plants. Also my sisters, nieces and nephews store the pots and trays for me. There was a time when I considered such things difficult to get or a bit expensive but not now.

chilipepper 24 March 2010 13:29:02

Hello all, Bill there is a really good Asian shop on Mary street, myself and Maggie have used it for years!

Rachel 24 March 2010 14:15:21

Bill, Linda is oing to come in on an order with us : )

HeadGardener 24 March 2010 20:01:06

Thats great Rachel when are you looking to order? Thanks for direction and got normans email tell him thanks :-) Thanks Dave will check out the Mary St one first as I'm staying on near there.

Jacinta 24 March 2010 20:04:53

Amazing plants. I love the Tetrapanax. Wow.

Rachel 25 March 2010 00:01:11

You could have knocked me over with a feather, Ladybird!

Thanks, Gismo. Must check out where there's a Homebase...

Rachel 25 March 2010 00:03:43

Dick, I am very honoured that you, or anyone, would turn first to my article in the Irish Garden. I am glad you like them. I try to make it funny as it doesn't help in life to take oneself too seriously : )

Rachel 25 March 2010 00:04:41

Jacinta, I bet you'll have a Tetrapanax by the end of the year!!!

Jacinta 25 March 2010 20:41:29

Hope so, lol

Rachel 25 March 2010 21:36:07

Bill, missed your question there. We can hold off for a few days for you before ordering if you like. That special in the Irish Garden on gingers has got be thinking of getting a few more...

HeadGardener 25 March 2010 22:48:39

Rachel I'll probably make my mind up and email you before Saturday otherwise it will be Wednesday next week, and I'm probably going to have to plant 200 Thuja next week (even if they are small) so I'll be busy. Are you going to do the order Rachel? Was looking at that article myself, but I already have Hedychium Flavacens, greenii and coccinum 'Tara' and I might have babies off the first two this year but I'm not sure.