STEELVIPER

WOW!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Heliconia-illust...em320047657454

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MediaHound

yep thats a beauty!

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

JoeS475

I was at the New York Botanical Gardens today and for the first time got to see just how much heliconia is like a banana, and how fantastic the blooms are. One heliconia angusta was only about 2' tall and blooming. I looked in a book there and it said they can bloom after just 4-7 leaves.

My question is how long to bloom? Is the plant a fast grower, cause it takes no time for a banana to get 4-7 leaves. Which type would be the fastest and/or smallest? It would be really nice to have a blooming tropical like that in a container in NJ.

I read this thread and got the info you guys posted, but let me know if there's any other advice to growing this plant in a northern climate. I only get 4 good months of growing outdoors!

Thanks in advance!

~Joe

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JoeS475

Speaking of which you HAVE to check out this variegated heliconia on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Variegated-Helic...QQcmdZViewItem

~Joe

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Steve L

Almost all of my heliconia are in containers. However, I do grow Heliconia Angusta Red Christmas in the ground. This heliconia is somewhat more cold tolerant than others but none can take a freeze. I erect a portable greenhouse over the mat of Angusta and have a small ceramic heater available if temps are predicted to drop below freezing. It's been in the ground for years.

To grow heliconia in your zone, you will need a greenhouse. They don't do well at all in the house during the winter. They require lots of sun and warm temps with high constant humidity. They absolutely do not go dormant like a banana or ginger. I also have a 10 x 14 permanent greenhouse where I move the heliconia in pots into for the winter with a gas heater and humidifier. I still lost 3 heliconia this past winter. Spider mites and mealy bugs were the culprit this time but I've also lost them in the past due to over watering. They are not easy to grow. I've attached pictures of my Angusta along with two of my favorites, Rostrata and Las Cruces.

Steve

Attached Images

	H. Red Angusta 3, 3-6-05.JPG (41.5 KB, 19 views)
	Heliconia Rostrata 1.JPG (40.8 KB, 23 views)
	Las Cruces.JPG (41.1 KB, 19 views)

STEELVIPER

I have to agree with steve. I have 3 varieties of heliconias. I live here is SoCal, and it was a tuff winter. All survived,but it took a lot of work. All container grown. The key to growing them is heat and humidity. The heat part is not a prob out here ,but the humidity can be. I can remedy that with misting or a hose down. They do not like dry cold days. But!! they can survive short periods of cold.Mine were exposed to high 30's for a few hrs and did well. But i had to wheel them in every night and some days where the temps were just to cold to let them out.All are growing like weeds now, since are highs are in the 80's and the lows are in the 50's. I agree with steve that in your area, a greenhouse is the way to go. But you can try.

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JoeS475

Thanks for the replies Steve and Mark! I definitely have to try at least... I like a challenge. While I don't have a greenhouse (yet), I have a new sunroom, and with misting might be ok. Plus in spring and fall I'm used to dragging large plants indoors every night lol.

Do they grow as fast as bananas, or are they slower like a bird of paradise?

Steve, great pictures, thanks!

~Joe

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MediaHound

Some of mine grow really fast and some are really slow!
It just depends...
I have an marginata x bihai 'Rauliniana' that's really fast, for example.
Here's a site with a photo of it:
http://www.montosogardens.com/helico...rauliniana.htm
Mine should bloom this year! I've been waiting since last year when I got the 1 rhizome, now the clump consists of about 15 plants.

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

MediaHound

Right now, I have some dwarf lobster claw blooms cut and in vases around the house. Those grow really well for me here, too.

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

STEELVIPER

Yeah my dwarf lobster claw is pushing out leaves like a banana. I expect it to bloom this year. They are a challenge for us not living in Florida. But i think all the hard work to keep them happy is so worth it.

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Steve L

JoeS,

For me, they don't grow as fast as bananas. More like gingers. If you decide to try heliconia, buy a plant, not a rhizome. A plant will give you a big head start. It took me two years to get Rostrata to bloom. Some I've never gotten to bloom; like Sexy Pink. If you decide to try one, send me a PM. I've killed a bunch trying to container grow them and I'll share with you my experience.

Steve

JoeS475

Thanks again for the help - I've asked my local nursery to get me prices on 5 gallon heliconias, and if they're reasonable I'll have them get a couple of established plants for me. I'll be sure to let you know if I need further advice...

Regards,

~Joe

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JoeS475

Well a few days ago my nursery gave me a call. They had ordered Heliconia Andromeda for me. The plant is not even 12" tall, but flowering already! Perfect for me who has issues with space for overwintering. There are many pseudostems in the pot, so I should hopefully get a few more flowers this summer.

Can I divide these in the same way as bananas? I'd like to separate them soon so I have more plants, and a better chance of overwintering in the fall.

Thanks!

~Joe

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Steve L

Joe,

I used to grow psittacorums, particularly Choconiana and Lady Di, and over winter them in my greenhouse. They were always some of the toughest heliconia to keep alive; at least for me. They can be easily divided. They grow fast and will bloom all summer.

Steve

MediaHound

Yep - just cut the rhizomes so each portion has stalk, rhizome, and root(s), and you should be all set. I was out there yesterday dividing some Heliconias

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

JoeS475

Thanks for the help!

~Joe

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JoeS475

Here it is:




Recently they had a 12' tall rostrata, but for $150 and zero % chance of survival over the winter I obviously had to leave it...

~Joe

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gomezinsj

Great Thread...Newbe here...anyone in northern ca growing Heliconia? Here is a list I am currently growing.

Heliconia Angusta (RED)
Heliconia Schiedeana
Heliconia Psitticorum cv. Andromeda
Heliconia Tortuosa

They are all in various sized pots and are plunged in the ground in the summer months and are grown amongst giant Bamboo along with some Ginger (Hydechium).

When winter comes believe it or not I use christmas lights interwined in the bamboo to keep the frost from killing the Helconia...the Andromeda and the Tortuosa I usually drape with freeze cloth if we are going to dip in the 30's...I used to remove them and place them in a cold frame...(makeshift greenhouse with incandescent lights for heat)

If you are in Nor Cal and have any success...send me an e-mail...I'd like to know what you are growing.

also I have yellow angusta growing indoors in a sun room...I use Cyfluthrin in an Aerosol form to combat any pests...I use a misting system and ultrasonic humidifiers for moisture...My green tree pythons love it.


Peace & "B" Wild

][))