Sunday 21 October 2012

Beautiful but deadly

Today I took some time off to go and visit a friends greenhouse. He has a range of plants, but his big thing are the dyckias and he has built up quite a collection.  This is the main bench


The plants are amazing


 

Out of all the spiky plants dyckias have some of the most lethal spines, I wouldn't like to have to pull out individual pots from that lot.  But when you look at individual plants they are beautiful.


There were one or two dyckias scattered around on the other benches as well. Every now and then there are agaves and aloes mixed in. 


It's good to see the aloes in full flower and with lots of new plants forming on the old flower spikes as well.  Anyone growing the new aloe miniatures that are so popular, remember do not cut off your flower stalks!

That is a greenhouse I could cope with and the plants aren't bad either.

8 comments:

  1. Just in case your friend doesn't already know about it I think he would enjoy this blog: http://dyckiabrazil.blogspot.com/

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    1. Yes we know that blog. The guy posts on Xeric world forum and always has amazing photos of his plants.

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  2. Wait what? They grow new plants on the old flower spike? Does that work for Aloe snowflake?

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    1. Yes aloe snowflake will probably produce a new plant or two if you leave the flower spikes long enough. They form from the leaf nodes of the small leaves on the lower part of the stalk. They are slow though.

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  3. Huh, interesting about the plantlets on the flower spikes. I've not seen that here. They dry up fast from our hotter climate.

    Some gorgeous Dyckias there!

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    1. It is about keeping the stems green and you can tell very quickly if they are going to produce plants or dry up.

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  4. I'm envious of your friends greenhouse space! Dyckias are wonderful in the gardens of others but I've never really found a place in mine for them. Aloes and agaves, on the other hand, have sneeked in all over the place.

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    1. It has got me thinking about the size of greenhouse I will need. I am the same as you, Dyckias haven't made it into the garden, I have one that small one in a pot and wouldn't mind one r two choice new forms, but they will be kept well out the way.

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