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Tropical Plants - Australia

New Heliconia's

19 years ago

Does anyone know if any of the new heliconias released by the NT govt. for the cut flower industry are available to home gardeners? Thanks. Don

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Comments (12)

Ian_Wintle
19 years ago
Dont forget a lot of the ones grown in NT will not flower in SEQld.
Ian
silvercargo
Original Author
19 years ago
Ian, The heliconias I saw were seed varieties of common
psittacorums that flower quite well here. They were developed by the NT govt. Based on the parentage they may
flower here but I don't know. Perhaps someone may know .
Don
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Hola Maria, Last winter was very cold in Cordoba (Spain) too. Temperatures dropped and a lot of plants suffered and some of them died. I think, in any case, that it was not a normal winter and it has not influence in my choice of plants. In the protected area where I have the heliconias the temperature dropped to -1ÂºC/30ÂºF, with almost no water and with windy protection and the result is the next: H. "Pedro Ortiz": no damage and it is continuing growing now. H. rostrata: light damage it is continuing growing now. H. stricta Dwarf Jamaica: died, at least the aerial part. H. latispatha cv. Distans from rhizome: died, at least the aerial part H. latispatha cv. Red-Yellow Gyro: died, at least the aerial part H. latispatha Distans from seed: no damage and it is continuing growing now. I hate especially the situation with H. latispatha cv. Distans and Red-Yellow Gyro (from rhizome) because I have tried them two times and always they have died when the temperature were not too low. This year they died before the cold waves arrived when the minimal temperatures were 4ÂºC/39ÂºC. Their leaves began to curves and the aerial plant die very fast (the substrate was almost dry)). They have new growth in spring from the rhizome but it need two year to flowerï. In any case I will try againï. Hasta luego, Fernando
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Heliconias are very easy to grow especially Heliconia rostrata. They are very large plants which like hummidity and copious amounts of water. Could it be that your pots are too small and you are getting fertilizer burn or that they are staying too wet in your pots and you have root rot. Here in S.Florida(your climate is similar unless you are high up in the mountains) I grow Heliconia in the ground-they are far to large for pot culture IMO. If you look at the undersides of the leaves you can see spider mites if they are there-tiny little dark redish specks and they cause the top surface of the leaves to have a silvery appearance. You can blast them off with the hose or if a heavy infestation spray the undersides of the leaves with an insecticidal soap- this is completely harmless, except to the spider mites. Either method you will have to repeat several times. Unless you have had a very dry summer I don't think it is likely to be spider mites-they are only usually a problem in dry weather.The only insect pest I have really noticed on Heliconia is the mealy bug. I have found these in the roots and in the axils of the leaves where they are attached to the stems, but the plants are so vigorous they they are not much of a problem. I would take your plants out of the pots,wash off the soil and check for mealy bugs in the roots and leaf axils etc and cut of any rotten or dead roots and any rotten rhyzome. I would then plant them in the garden in either full sun or semi-sun in a spot where there is plenty of room, rich loamy well-draining soil where they will get plenty of water(the more sun the more water) and fertilize a couple of times a year(not till after they get growing, in your spring)-although I find they are such rampant growers that I don't bother to fertilize. The only problem for you now, at this time of year, is that they really prefer to be dug up,divided etc in the spring and you are now going into winter. However if they look like they are not happy perhaps it is better to do something! After 1 year you should have some big lush growths so if you have had adequate humidity and given them plenty of water I would suspect root problems possibly caused by your growing method. Heliconia rostrata can take quite a bit of cold so unless you are up in the mountains you should not have a problem. Hope this helps and good luck.
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Hello everybody, In Zone 9B--the uppermost portion I have had good luk with Rostrata & Rauliniana. However, I found the Raulinia more cold tolerant thatn the rostrata. My rostrata is blooming after looking miserable for a few months after that one light freeze we had. The stalks didn't freeze like the leaves did, so I got flowers. The Rauliniana had a little leaf damage and is growing so tall now--about 7 feet--that I predict blooms before September. One heliconia you shoudl try is Lingulata yellow fan, or, red-tip fan--they are compact,blooming at 4 feet tall, and don't seem to care much about light freezes as long as they are mulched well.Mine also bloom on the first years stalks and are blooming right now like crazy. Also, Heliconia sharonii--i have one type of this (I heard there are two and one is larger)is a small one growing to two feet tall and never fails to bloom on the same year's growth. It freezes down to the ground but alsways pops right back up it seems. Very dependable. Many helis can also be grown in large pots, just don;t overpot too soon and let them outgro each pot, repotting to the next size up, other wise they tend to rot--probably because of too mcch water in the container being held below the roots. Pedro Ortiz is also good--if you can wrap the stalks and keep them insulated during the weather below 35, you can get blooms the next year. The plant is pretty cold hardy. Another trick is to keep the cold sensitive ones potted the first year,protect over winter-- then, the second year plant them in the ground so you can get flowers out of these second year bloomers. Hope this helps. Brad
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CoralCoast_Tropicals
19 years ago
Don,

Most psittacorums will flower in Brisbane without any problems. When I lived there I had around 20 types of psittacorums alone and up to 120 different types of Heliconias all up.

I only have a couple of psittacorum types growing now due to the fact that they take up too much precious room that could otherwise be used growing the larger species and their cultivars.

Andrew.
silvercargo
Original Author
19 years ago
Andrew,
I have only just recently started growing some heliconias and don't really want to waste my time with
species that won't perform here on the Sunshine coast. I know you have Hot Rio Nights as one of your favourites. If you were going to plant say 10 species , what would you recommend? Also , do the clumps need digging up and re-planting every few years? I have an older clump of Claw 1 and last year it looked terrific but this year not so.
Thanks. Don
Ian_Wintle
19 years ago
Birdiana, Richmond Red, Papasania, Kawachi just to mention 4 that will grow well here.
Ian
Ian_Wintle
19 years ago
Forgot to mention that James from 'Cooloola Heliconias' will put you right on what varietys to plant. He has a web site as below
Ian

Here is a link that might be useful: Cooloola Heliconias
CoralCoast_Tropicals
19 years ago
Don,

Many types will grow there quite well but you will get mixed results with flowering. Some will flower well one year and not the next. It is hard to decide which ones are best but as for species and cultivars that will flower very well you can't go past

Heliconia caribaea x bihai KAWAUCHI
Heliconia caribaea x bihai JACQUINII
Heliconia bihai CLAW 2
Heliconia bihai CLAW 1 (Single flush of flowers in spring, CLAW 2 is better)
Heliconia caribaea x pendula HOT RIO NIGHTS
Heliconia lingulata (Flowers year round)
Heliconia Birdiana

HANGING FLOWERS
Heliconia pendula RED WAXY
Heliconia collinsiana
Heliconia rostrata

These are all reasonably large heliconias. I don't waste my time and space with many of the smaller varieties except for Heliconia angusta and a couple of the Heliconia strictas such as JAMAICAN DWARF and DIMPLES. Many of the strictas are poor performers in the subtropics and not worth the effort.

Ian mentioned RICHMOND RED. I don't know how long he has grown it but I find that it will flower 'reasonably' well but in some years it can be poor and in my opinion (for me anyway) with a large plant like that if it isn't covered in blooms it aint worth growing so I ripped my clump out.

Andrew.
ari_wh
19 years ago
Don,

I think I know which one heliconia you are referring to. I think I remembered one of the heliconia growers talked about it on our recent trip to Darwin. Does it have red flower? Not sure of the name though.

But, Ian & Andrew are right, there are nicer variety of heliconia out there. Although, the psittacorums do look nice in flower arrangement.

Regards, Ari :)
silvercargo
Original Author
19 years ago
Ari,
The NT govt.developed a number of varieties. Amongst them were types: Crackerjack, Flamenco, Rose red, Exotic,
and Red devil. Being in NT Ari, a simple trip to your local nursery will probably answer my query. They may only be available to NT cut flower producers. I will try the relevant govt.department soon.
Don
ari_wh
19 years ago
Well, if you are really interested, I know some cut flower producers. If you can't find it anywhere else, send me an e-mail.

Regards, Ari :)
Tropigal80
19 years ago
The New releases are only available to the cut flower industry. The growers are fairly protective of their heliconias so it may be a while before some rhizomes find their way out.
nqadrian
19 years ago
i have heard on the grape vine they want $150-200 per root,thats what i would call protective of new flowers.

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