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What to do with Altissimo
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Posted by fairy_vic VIC Aust (My Page) on Wed, Aug 10, 05 at 0:46
| I brought home an own-root altissimo from a garage sale two years ago, and now it is a six foot high plant with more shoots coming up from the roots. It has only flowered twice so far. Obviously very healthy, it's in the wrong place in a bed of HT bushes and has to be moved, but where to. In order to flower, I understand the branches must be horizontal, not vertical. The driveway would be ideal, with a warm brick house wall, but it would have to be in the largest container that I've got, about two ft square. Would that be OK, or would a crowded position on a paling fence, still facing north, be better? I have another Altissimo, shop bought, that also has to be moved out of a slightly shady spot that it hates, so they must need full sun all day. Thankyou for any help you can give as I love the flowers when they show. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What to do with Altissimo
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- Posted by Lynne1 Victoria Oz (My Page) on
Wed, Aug 10, 05 at 4:14
| HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU... hAPPY BIRTHDAY! They take a little time to settle in here, and mine is in partial shade, but flowers repeats, but not continually. I have found it more a pillar type, although mine is on a graft. I will be striking some on own roots soon. Driveway sounds good, I have plenty of room, so no pots. A potty person would answer that one lol. It is a lovely red and the flowers are huge, only not as prolific as some. |
RE: What to do with Altissimo
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| Thankyou Lynne - the celebrations are held over until the weekend as the entire crew except me has the flu type bug so I've not even been able to garden as its like a blasted heath outside, and anyway I'm running a nursing station for my sickie and uttering sympathy to my other sickies on the phone.. Not wanting to sound like a complete ignoramus, how does one grow a pillar rose - does it need a wire support or what - never grown one, but the Altissimo could stay in the rose garden if I can contain it. The books say 3m of climber. You're right - it is a lovely rose. Thanks for your help. |
RE: What to do with Altissimo
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- Posted by sebd VIC Aust (My Page) on
Wed, Aug 10, 05 at 6:51
I have Altissimo on a paling fence and it is doing well facing North. Yes I crowd them in too! I have not done any training of branches as most seem to go upright with the flowers at the top. The flowers last well in the vase. It seems to have a quick repeat with as much sun as you can give it so I would try to assess the maximum sun factor as a priority when deciding where to move it. Pillar roses are just small climbers but the roses flower all the way up from the base of the plant eg. climbing Pinkie. I use the black plastic interlock tie to attach the canes to the fence and can readjust or bring more canes in as they grow. You could make or buy a frame to support it or use your fencelines.
Good luck. |
RE: What to do with Altissimo
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- Posted by varmi WA Aust (My Page) on
Wed, Aug 10, 05 at 9:44
| Hi Fairy, the growth can be rather stiff but I've managed to bend a few to the horizontal position. However, I do find that the flowers face up at the top of the branches...very upright and so have adjusted the way I treat it by making sure I have various short branches from below near the base to the top which is about 6 foot high. This is so that I can look at the flowers, seems a shame to lose sight of them. Mine is in a difficult position. Gets lots of sun but right next to a thinned out small pine. I plan to eventually kill off the pine and use it as a support. Soil is a bit dry and thin, probably not the best but I'm winning the battle. What a glorious sight when in bloom. If you can, try position it so that you can view it with the sun behind to catch the blood red blooms...they glow beautifully!! Mine is near the front letterbox and glows at anyone who cares to look our way in the evening. |
RE: What to do with Altissimo
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| Thankyou Sebd and Varmi - looks like it goes on the paling fence facing north, lots of sun, but the soil is poor so plenty of added goodies. I like the idea of Altissimo at the front gate, but the front fence and gate are still in the planning stage so the paling fence will do both of them until the front fence finally arrives - at the moment those who let the dogs out accidentally have the pleasure of racing them to the shopping centre where all lost dogs congregate, so roll on front fence and one of the Altissimos can go there. Thankyou very much for your advice. |
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