Randy4ut

I have had this heliconia for 2 years now, and really like the overall vigor of this plant. To bad it is not hardy for me as I would love to have it out in my garden. It is however, a great potted plant and blooms for me throughout the fall and into winter in my den. Just wanted to share a few pics of it with you folks...

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Kylie2x

Randy that thing is huge! It sure would look beautiful out in your garden but I bet it helps soothe the Winter blahs when it flowers inside...
Kylie

Steve L

Looks like Heliconia Psittacorum "Andromeda" and a mighty fine one at that, Randy. Psittacorums are not the easiest heliconia to overwinter. I don't even try anymore as they have become so common in nurseries in the Gulf South during the summer months. They are one of the few heliconia that bloom in one year but for me, become spider magnets during the over wintering period in my greenhouse. Way to go.

Steve

pharazon

Wow, what a stunning plant! I've been trying to decide on a heliconia to try indoors to add some interest to the dull winter inside, and I think I may give this one a shot.

I'm curious as to how much light it recieves in the winter.

Randy4ut

Thanks Steve, coming from you that means so much!!! I want you to know that the ones I have from you are doing well and about ready to go into the greenhouse soon. The Heliconia schiedeana is really starting to take off during the last month or so and will be protected and left out to see how it fares in one of my winters.
As far as the 'Andromeda' it does well like I said inside, but I did have a case of spiders a little last winter, but a quick spray in the garage took care of them and it did fine the rest of the time. Again, thanks so much for the compliment...

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Randy4ut

Dave,
Thanks for the compliment. This is about the best heliconia for indoor pot growing. Like SteveL said, it will bloom in the first year and that is a BIG plus. As far as how much light, I had it about 6' away from a set of French doors facing south, so they did receive a good deal of sunlight. I would recommend this if you are wanting to try a heliconia inside.

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Steve L

Randy, glad the other helis are doing well for you. I reread my post and I meant to say spider mites, not spiders. In any event, since they have become more available down here, I buy a few at the beginning of the summer; them let them croak during the winter. That leaves more room in the greenhouse for the larger heliconia I'm growing. They're pretty cheap now, $7.95 for a blooming 1 gallon.

saltydad

Ok, Randy, I really can't afford to keep reading these posts. Now you all have forced me to go to eBay and buy this plant (actually 3) for $11 plus shipping. Sounds like a good deal, and I looked at HD and Lowe's, here...nada.

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"If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal."
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Lilith

Yes these are great annuals here too. The psittacorums and choconiana can be had here for less that $5 sometimes.

I picked up a new variety this year...its called "Especiale". Its the orange choconiana with a red keel.

I was lucky enough to recently obtain the variegated Heliconia lemai in a trade. It has resprouted and put out 2 leaves that are variegated and really cool.

I am looking for the variegated "El Tigre" if anyone has any to trade.

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11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

Randy4ut

Wish they were that abundant around here, Lilith, but then again, it wouldn't be that special, huh!?!?! Glad you can find them a dime a dozen where you live. Must be some easy growing for you where you live, huh? But then again, everything is alot easier to grow where you live and is not nearly the challenge as it is up in the northern latitudes!

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Lilith

Like I said, Randy, they are ANNUALS here too. For the most part anyhow. They sometimes come back from a hard freeze, but usually not.

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

Randy4ut

Like I said, Lilith, you cannot find them here and I have to keep mine growing and bringing indoors for the past two years. Wish I could have something like this as an annual, but it does make it more rewarding when I can keep something that is not common, alive in my artic zone. MORE CHALLENGING!!!!

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Lilith

I would think your Home Depot and Lowes would have them sitting about. Or Walmart, Target, K Mart? Our Walmart gets the weirdest stuff that you'd never expect them to get. I think their garden manager is a zonally denied ex- South Floridian. They get Alpinia purpuratas, big Heliconia rostratas, Bottle Palms (the ones that croak at 38F), Spindle palms (only slightly more hardy than their cousin, the Bottle Palm)...I have seen some unusual stuff at the local Walmart in the past few years.

Once I found a 10 gallon pot of Heliconia latispatha "Orange Gyro" at Home Depot for $9.99 in the "Misc Tropical Foliage" section. That would have been about a $125-150 plant down South.

Home Depot had gorgeous White Taccas (Bat Plants) last season (and the season before) for $29.99 each in 3 gallon containers, in bloom...no one bought them and they sat there til they died of not being watered. If they would have cut them to half or 1/3 price I would have snapped up a few, but then I already have a huge stand of White Tacca.

Lowes had the Brighamia insignis (a really rare endangered Hawaiian plant) for $19.99 a couple years ago, no one knew what they were. They sat there and sat there (except for the one I bought)

They always have Musa lasioscarpa and Ensete maurellii. The Ensete go fast but the lasioscarpa sit there and no one buys them.

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

dablo93

very nice randy!
I had a heliconia peachy pink but our summers are too cold to let them grow outside.

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Bananaman88

Randy,

My psittacorum (from Kylie) did great last year and bloomed after I'd brought it inside for the winter. This year it hasn't done as well. Maybe it needs more fertilizer. Yours looks great!

saltydad

Randy- Would you suggest I plant all 3 shoots/corms/? together in one pot when they arrive?

__________________
Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men"

"Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon





"If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal."
John F. Kennedy, September, 1960


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austinl01

Wow, I love the flower! It kind of reminds me of a Birds of Paradise bloom. Too bad it's not hardy.

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Arkansas River Valley

Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F
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Randy4ut

Howard,
The plant in my pic came from a small plant I received in the summer of '06 and I have taken divisions out of it. The pot itself is a 20" pot. So, if I were you, I would plant them individually in their own pot, because it won't take long for them to fill it...
Best of luck with them...

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Randy4ut

It is ashame it is not hardy, but you may want to see if you can try a Heliconia schiedeana, as it is one of the hardiest heliconias out there. I received one last spring and it has been out in the garden all summer. I finally took a small division of it and potted it up to overwinter inside and am leaving the rest out to protect and see how it overwinters outside. From my understanding it will make it through 9a with minimal damage and 8b winter will knock it back to the ground. Also, it is suppose to bloom from second year growth, so I will probably never see it in my garden blooming, but who knows. With enough protection, it may fare better than I expect. You never know unless you give it a try, right???

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Lilith

I've had Schiediana planted out in the yard for about 7 years and it doesn't bloom if it freezes back. It only bloomed when it was protected inside the greenhouse. Its like rostrata and many other heliconias, needs 2 year canes to bloom. Its small growing enough to keep containerized.

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--