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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Dracena Spikes ( For Mrs.Ben)

I love questions....especially ones I know how to answer! lol The hard ones ...not so much. lol
For example...my son once wanted to know why it was dark in his mouth if he closed it. He wanted to know how I know for sure it was dark and if I had any proof! Yes...those are the questions burning in my mind....
Lets get to one I can easily answer...and since she is not face to face with me...she cannot put her hands on her hips and demand proof! lol


Mrs Ben wrote...(a LONG time ago):
"I've never been a big fan of Geraniums, but yours are absolutely beautiful!!!!! I have a question about a Dracaena (Spike plant) that I had in one of my outside containers. I have read that these babies can grow to the size of a small tree. My sister is telling me if I replant it in a flower bed, it will survive our cold/snowy winter. By any stretch of the imagination you know, I am NOT a Gardner, so any advice you can give me Glenda would sincerely be appreciated. (I can repot it if necessary as I do have space for it indoors.) THANKS so much. -Brenda"


Mrs Ben was told that she could keep the dracena spike that she has grown all summer long in a pot -over the winter. This is true. She was told that she could keep this plant through the long cold winter if she transplanted it into the garden!
Now as far as I know....(and I could be wrong...) it is far too cold to do that in Canada. That poor little plant would be frozen solid and would not have a chance! I have only seen the Dracena spikes grown as annuals here in Canada and therefore know that to me it means that it needs to winter inside.
Doing that will let this plant grow. It is a slow growing plant that will in time grow to a small tree...if you can wait that long!
I did try to keep one in a pot outdoors...for a few months, and then brought it in. I live in Alberta and that plant is officially deader than a doornail....so I don't think it will work to leave it outside in your area Mrs. Ben! We Canadian gals....we have such issues! lol

7 comments:

Sassy said...

I wish my geraniums would live longer...I never have luck with those...but am constantly amazed with your wealth of knowledge...

Justine said...

You are such a little garden guru!!!!!!

Justine :o )

Silvia said...

hi tootsie, i have a question ..
can you grow forsithias in a big pot?,i love that color yellow ...thanks and have a great day.....silvia

pammiejo said...

You are so right - they will be frozen solid - never to see sunlight again! It's an annual in Kansas, for sure! I have one that I have over-wintered inside for about 4 or 5 years and it is probably about 3 feet tall now. I keep peeling the lower branches off as they turn brown. So, it is beginning to look like a small tree. PAM

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

I agree that they would have to be in a warmer zone. I use them. but, like everything else I dump my pots every fall. Have a beautiful day! Hugs, Terrie

Lisa Loo said...

I hope to someday be a gardener that would benefit from that wisdom--but for now I loved your son's question. Kind of like the refridgerator one, huh?! One time my #2 daughter asked me who was Santa Claus' Mom--still working on that one.

Dirt Princess said...

In south Alabama (zone 8b)...we can keep geraniums all year long. I actually have 4 in pots that I have had for 3 years. They need to be divided...but they are still alive and kicking. I keep them outside, I don't bring them. I do have friends who have planted them and they have come back.