It's lobster claw season

Steve L · 06-03-2013, 07:54 AM

This is one of my favorite heliconias to container grow. It's not too finicky and usually rewards you with blooms in the early summer. This is an especially good year as I have 10 stalks in flower or about to flower.

Steve

Arachnotron · 06-03-2013, 11:04 AM

Do you fertilize them? I have 3 Unknowns in pots that haven't flowered yet.

Steve L · 06-03-2013, 11:13 AM

Yes, once the temperatures warm up, I fertilize once a week. They are heavy feeders in warmer months. I use a water soluble balanced fertilizer. Every other week, I also fertilize with a water soluble high phosphorus fertilizer. The conventional thought is because the inflorescences are modified leaves, a "super bloom" type fertilizer should not trigger blooming but I find it helps, especially, as the plant reaches its normal bloom size. No scientific data; just observations over the years.

Steve

LilRaverBoi · 06-03-2013, 11:33 PM

Beautiful! I love rostrata.

Worm_Farmer · 06-04-2013, 10:39 AM

I have these flowering all over also! I feel in love with the bright red and yellow right away. Mine are not in pots so half of them are bent over and not very clusters like yours.

Steve L · 06-04-2013, 11:20 AM

I wish I could grow mine in the ground. We have that one cold front that frosts them every year. I stake mine up in the pot also because they are so succeptible to wind damage.

servatusprime · 06-05-2013, 12:15 PM

Wow I can't wait to get mine like that. I think all of mine in the blazing sun haven't been so happy. I moved several to partial shade and they are doing so much better. I'm really questioning if they truly can thrive in full sun at least in the south florida heat. Thanks for the fertizling tip. I'll have to try it.

Steve L · 06-05-2013, 01:46 PM

Yea, the claim this plant grows in full sun might work further north but it doesn't work for me on the Gulf Coast and it sure won't work for you in south Florida. I suggest morning sun until around noon, then afternoon sun after 4:00. Also, if you are container growing, and the pot is on concrete, this will have an impact on the plant. Too much bottom heat and reflected heat will make it stressed out. In its natural habitat, it grows in the open areas of a rain forest near streams and rivers so it never gets full sun.

Steve

06-03-2013, 07:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
Steve L Steve L's Photo Gallery Location: Lake Charles, La Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9 Name: Steve L Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 612 BananaBucks : 43,690 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 412 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	It's lobster claw season This is one of my favorite heliconias to container grow. It's not too finicky and usually rewards you with blooms in the early summer. This is an especially good year as I have 10 stalks in flower or about to flower. Steve

06-03-2013, 11:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
Arachnotron Location: Friendswood, TX Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Tristan Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 146 BananaBucks : 42,127 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 21 Times Was Thanked 245 Times in 65 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: It's lobster claw season Do you fertilize them? I have 3 Unknowns in pots that haven't flowered yet.

06-03-2013, 11:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
Steve L Steve L's Photo Gallery Location: Lake Charles, La Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9 Name: Steve L Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 612 BananaBucks : 43,690 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 412 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: It's lobster claw season Yes, once the temperatures warm up, I fertilize once a week. They are heavy feeders in warmer months. I use a water soluble balanced fertilizer. Every other week, I also fertilize with a water soluble high phosphorus fertilizer. The conventional thought is because the inflorescences are modified leaves, a "super bloom" type fertilizer should not trigger blooming but I find it helps, especially, as the plant reaches its normal bloom size. No scientific data; just observations over the years. Steve

06-03-2013, 11:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 113,877 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: It's lobster claw season Beautiful! I love rostrata. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

06-04-2013, 10:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
Worm_Farmer Worm_Farmer 's Photo Gallery Location: Palm Bay, FL Zone: 9b Name: Mike Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,533 BananaBucks : 44,034 Feedback: 14 / 100% Said "Thanks" 5,326 Times Was Thanked 1,830 Times in 679 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,866 Times	Re: It's lobster claw season I have these flowering all over also! I feel in love with the bright red and yellow right away. Mine are not in pots so half of them are bent over and not very clusters like yours.

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06-04-2013, 11:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
Steve L Steve L's Photo Gallery Location: Lake Charles, La Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9 Name: Steve L Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 612 BananaBucks : 43,690 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 412 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: It's lobster claw season I wish I could grow mine in the ground. We have that one cold front that frosts them every year. I stake mine up in the pot also because they are so succeptible to wind damage.

06-05-2013, 12:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
servatusprime Find me on the map! Zone: 10A Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 476 BananaBucks : 98,483 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 446 Times Was Thanked 912 Times in 262 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 24 Times	Re: It's lobster claw season Wow I can't wait to get mine like that. I think all of mine in the blazing sun haven't been so happy. I moved several to partial shade and they are doing so much better. I'm really questioning if they truly can thrive in full sun at least in the south florida heat. Thanks for the fertizling tip. I'll have to try it.

06-05-2013, 01:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
Steve L Steve L's Photo Gallery Location: Lake Charles, La Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9 Name: Steve L Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 612 BananaBucks : 43,690 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 412 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: It's lobster claw season Yea, the claim this plant grows in full sun might work further north but it doesn't work for me on the Gulf Coast and it sure won't work for you in south Florida. I suggest morning sun until around noon, then afternoon sun after 4:00. Also, if you are container growing, and the pot is on concrete, this will have an impact on the plant. Too much bottom heat and reflected heat will make it stressed out. In its natural habitat, it grows in the open areas of a rain forest near streams and rivers so it never gets full sun. Steve

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