Aloes

[chickadeedeedee]

mickthecactus said:

.....

Shame. Maybe one day we'll all get a chance to meet.

(H'm, an outing to Chickadeedeedee land..........)

Oh Mr. Cactus! Not a shame, really! I am quite boring in reality. Perhaps a bit more interesting in cyber space, but in real life...

;D

[mickthecactus]

chickadeedeedee said:

mickthecactus said:

.....

Shame. Maybe one day we'll all get a chance to meet.

(H'm, an outing to Chickadeedeedee land..........)

Oh Mr. Cactus! Not a shame, really! I am quite boring in reality. Perhaps a bit more interesting in cyber space, but in real life...

;D

Now of course I don't believe that one bit........

[Sweetleaf]

chickadeedeedee said:

mickthecactus said:

.....

Shame. Maybe one day we'll all get a chance to meet.

(H'm, an outing to Chickadeedeedee land..........)

Oh Mr. Cactus! Not a shame, really! I am quite boring in reality. Perhaps a bit more interesting in cyber space, but in real life...
That is so patently untrue, you are being humourous, yes?

;D

That is so patently untrue, you are being humourous, yes?

[bogmyrtle]

I've noticed that my aloe variegata is about to flower! A house plant that likes me & I haven't killed yet - hang the flags out! Will take a photograph when it is in full bloom!

[mickthecactus]

bogmyrtle said:

I've noticed that my aloe variegata is about to flower! A house plant that likes me & I haven't killed yet - hang the flags out! Will take a photograph when it is in full bloom!

Well done Myrt!

I have to say that many of my Aloes, Haworthias and Gasterias are showing flower buds (they are all related) so they must have had a decent winter.

[mickthecactus]

Woo-hoo!

A new Aloe arrived in the post yesterday . Aloe parallellifolia - a native of Madagascar. Cost me £6.50 though.

But thre's worse - I'm going to treat myself to Aloe haemanthifolia - 42 Euros including postage.........

[4pygmies]

I can't find a picture on google Mick! 42 euros doesn't sound much to me......

[mickthecactus]

4pygmies said:

I can't find a picture on google Mick! 42 euros doesn't sound much to me......

There's a few in google images but they don't do it justice.

It is a pretty rare aloe.

42 Euros is about £30 but a lot of that is postage.

[madonplants]

4pygmies said:

I can't find a picture on google Mick! 42 euros doesn't sound much to me......

Looks nice, Mick! What size plant will you get?

www.calhortsociety.org/flower-show/flower-show-2007/show-photos-2007/source/flowershow-2007-10.htm

Keith

[4pygmies]

That's right purty. What a gorgeous little plant - I don't blame you Mick. How much is 42 euros then? (I don't get out much)

[mickthecactus]

4pygmies said:

That's right purty. What a gorgeous little plant - I don't blame you Mick. How much is 42 euros then? (I don't get out much)

Terrific picture Keith, thanks.

See above for costing 4P.

[madonplants]

4pygmies said:

That's right purty. What a gorgeous little plant - I don't blame you Mick. How much is 42 euros then? (I don't get out much)

Divide by 1.34!

Keith

[bogmyrtle]

Ok Mick, photographs as promised - not very good though! Will do better with hubby's camera next time!

[Sweetleaf]

mickthecactus said:

4pygmies said:

I can't find a picture on google Mick! 42 euros doesn't sound much to me......

There's a few in google images but they don't do it justice.

It is a pretty rare aloe.

42 Euros is about £30 but a lot of that is postage.

Will you be able to propagate from it Mick? Its very beautiful. £30 is expensive but if you can make more........

[mickthecactus]

Because of the poo weather my Easter plans changed and I spent some time in the greenhouse and worked through and repotted all but the 2 biggest Aloes. They are all starting to look pretty good and as soon as I can post some pics I will.

Aloe plicatilis is really lovely and deseves a special pot so it's off to the GC next weekend.

Aloe haemanthifolia is potted up but it's an odd one because it doesn't like heat and doesn't like to be dry. I have it potted up into Orchid compost with added cat litter to keep it very open. Once we get out of the frost problems it will go out in the garden for the summer along with Aloe Polyphylla which needs similar conditions.

[madonplants]

mickthecactus said:

Because of the poo weather my Easter plans changed and I spent some time in the greenhouse and worked through and repotted all but the 2 biggest Aloes. They are all starting to look pretty good and as soon as I can post some pics I will.

Aloe plicatilis is really lovely and deseves a special pot so it's off to the GC next weekend.

Aloe haemanthifolia is potted up but it's an odd one because it doesn't like heat and doesn't like to be dry. I have it potted up into Orchid compost with added cat litter to keep it very open. Once we get out of the frost problems it will go out in the garden for the summer along with Aloe Polyphylla which needs similar conditions.

Cat litter! Is that normal practice? I know it's unused stuff, obviously, but isn't there something more gardeny to use?

Keith

[mickthecactus]

No, it's Tesco premium lightweight cat litter which are small clay granules.

Brilliant for rooting cuttings.

[Sweetleaf]

mickthecactus said:

No, it's Tesco premium lightweight cat litter which are small clay granules.

Brilliant for rooting cuttings.

I can vouch for that too, its very good for rooting cuttings! I had my doubts obviously, but I took Micks word for it, and was pleasantly surprised. ;D

[mickthecactus]

Have you sown Aloe polyphylla yet SL?

Other seeds should arrive today.

[4pygmies]

I had a look at your plants from Kew this morning Mick, prompted by your asking me about the Aloe plicatilis and they are all doing well but the Aloe plicatilis seems to have doubled in size! Are they quite fast growing, Mick? Or am I just imagining things..? I swear it is twice as big now..... When should I repot it please?

[mickthecactus]

May 25, 2008 7:51:15 GMT 1 @4pygmies said:

I had a look at your plants from Kew this morning Mick, prompted by your asking me about the Aloe plicatilis and they are all doing well but the Aloe plicatilis seems to have doubled in size! Are they quite fast growing, Mick? Or am I just imagining things..? I swear it is twice as big now..... When should I repot it please?

You can repot any time in the year, the difference is leave it dry in the winter but just leave for a week after repotting in summer before you water again. Look at the bottom of the pot and see if any roots are showing. I really doubt that it needs repotting yet. I only potted it up about 2 months ago,

[bogmyrtle]

My variegata has two little babies!

I still haven't chopped the old one off yet though and repotted it - one of those jobs I will get round to.

[mickthecactus]

They can wait Myrtle.

[4pygmies]

Tree Aloe - £14.99 from my local nursery - is that a good price please Mick? It's pretty well grown, over 18". I googled and got several different aloes but I think this is it:

S*d it! I can't get the link to work

There was one called Bastard Quiver Tree under the name too......

[mickthecactus]

I think it's Aloe pillansii then.

Price is about right for that size.