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#1
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aspidistra
Dear All,
I have a 30 year aspadistra. It did not have a happy year last year what with heat and insect attack. It has put up no new leave this year. Any suggestions on how I can save it. Would splitting be useful and how would I do this. Thanks Neil |
#2
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aspidistra
On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:09:45 +0100, "Neil Smith"
wrote: Dear All, I have a 30 year aspadistra. It did not have a happy year last year what with heat and insect attack. It has put up no new leave this year. Any suggestions on how I can save it. Would splitting be useful and how would I do this. Thanks Neil Mine (only about 15 years old!) has been looking sad recently, in the same place it's been in for ages. I decided to repot it, with some good compost and am now crossing my fingers. I did notice some new shoots around the edge so maybe some new leaves will come. It might be worth you doing the same thing, if it has been in the same pot and compost for some years. Pam in Bristol |
#3
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aspidistra
"Neil Smith" wrote I have a 30 year aspadistra. It did not have a happy year last year what with heat and insect attack. It has put up no new leave this year. Any suggestions on how I can save it. Would splitting be useful and how would I do this. We have one, well it's more than one now, that has been in Sue's family for probably 150 years. I find if they are repotted into JI No.3 or even a multipurpose they burst into life. Most of our one is now outside in our garden where it is doing well planted in semi shade underneath trees, been outside for some years now. Yet another large clump is in a neighbours garden in a similar position. -- Regards Bob Hobden 17mls W. of London.UK |
#4
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aspidistra
Bob Hobden wrote:
We have one, well it's more than one now, that has been in Sue's family for probably 150 years. I find if they are repotted into JI No.3 or even a multipurpose they burst into life. Most of our one is now outside in our garden where it is doing well planted in semi shade underneath trees, been outside for some years now. Yet another large clump is in a neighbours garden in a similar position. For a 'pot plant', Aspidistra elatior makes a remarkably good garden plant as well. I have a clump that must be 40 years old and has followed me around since I was in my teens. It can tolerate a fair degree of prolonged cold if grown in shade or semi-shade and grows far better outside the confines of pots filled with degenerated, years-old potting compost. In half decent garden soil it flourishes with a degree of luxuriance rarely exhibited by those dusty, tired old things indoors and can look quite magnificent if planted in association with ferns such as the hardier maiden-hairs. The only drawback is that the older leaves provide a perfect launchpad for snails while they await the arrival of new leaves, which are then attacked with great enthusiasm. If Aspidistra is to remain indoors, the old compost should be gently shaken from the roots and replaced with fresh every 3 - 4 years. The root system is not extensive nor particularly delicate so you can shake in the new compost with relative ease. A loam based compost such as John Innes no 2 or 3, lightened with additional perlite or coarse horticultural sand (incorporate about 10% by volume) is best. Multi-purpose composts deteriorate very badly after several months and are less than useless for long-lived plants. While it is true that Aspidistras appear to grow in almost any old rubbish, that does not mean you should abuse such tolerance. Give them decent treatment and monthly applications of a well balanced liquid fertiliser and they will produce plenty of large, glossy leaves every year. |
#5
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aspidistra
The plant fills a very large pot. How do you slpit it? There us no sign of
new growth. Thanks for your advice "Neil Smith" wrote in message ... Dear All, I have a 30 year aspadistra. It did not have a happy year last year what with heat and insect attack. It has put up no new leave this year. Any suggestions on how I can save it. Would splitting be useful and how would I do this. Thanks Neil |
#6
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aspidistra
Neil Smith wrote:
The plant fills a very large pot. How do you slpit it? There us no sign of new growth. Very, *very* easy Neil. Your plant consists of a network of thick, rhizomes (horizontal, underground stems) from which the leaves arise along their length. Just slice down through the plant, making sure that each portion has plenty of rhizomes and roots. Pot them up and that's it. If you wanted a lot of plants, you could shake all of the old compost away and cut the rhizomes up into section with one or two leaves each. Pot them up and in a couple of years you can start selling them. |
#7
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aspidistra
On Sat, 30 Jun 2007 12:43:35 +0100, "Neil Smith"
wrote: The plant fills a very large pot. How do you slpit it? There us no sign of new growth. I would take it out of the big pot and cut the root-ball into 2, 4 pieces etc, cutting as much between leaves as you can. You can cut it with an old bread knife or similar. Give the pieces more room in new pots and new soil and there soon will be new growth. Have you ever seen it flower? Pam in Bristol |
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