growing heliconia and strelitzia UK indoors
 

hi
i'm new here but struggling with a couple of things.

1. got some strelitzia seeds (100) - followed all instructions planted them in individual seed trays in January (some in sand and some in perlite/soil - as opinion was mixed on best way). Have had them in propogator since and only one seedling has appeared. At about 1.5" tall i have repotted it in sunlight. nothing doing tho - except it's gone a little brown at the very tip.

2. brought a heliconia rhizome back from madeira (last august) - it has grown new shoots three times - but never beyond a foot high. and every time the leaf edges go brown then it dies back.

3. have one other heliconia from ebay - nothing happened yet. but roots still alive

4, finally, how long do heliconia tubers(seeds) take to germinate

any help on any of the above greatly appreciated

Martin

They are not the easiest of things. They also need to be very pot-bound in order to flower well. Keep it out of full sunlight - it will prefer half-shade, good even temperature and damp but not wet compost.

thanks very much