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Re: Gunnera

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 6:28 am
by needmore
Really awesome plants JWH, wish I could grow them here.

Re: Gunnera

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 1:49 pm
by johnw
JWH - Meant to say re: split stems on Gunnera stems. We usually associate this with growth that is a little to fast and conditions a little too rich for said plant. Maybe you had a sudden heatwave just as it was bursting forth?

Re: Gunnera

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 6:47 pm
by JWH
Thank you Needmore.

Thanks Johnw, that makes alot of sense. The temps here in early spring were ususually mild. The split stalks thankfully didn't topple over or snap in half with a gust of wind, and no splits in the last several leaves that have come up.

Re: Gunnera

Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:35 pm
by johnw
I have never seen split stems on other plants ever snap or topple so obviously it doesn't affect their structure.

Re: Gunnera

Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 1:10 am
by JWH
This gunnera didn't tolerate the high heat (91f/33c) and low humidity (27%) today. looks like theres dead patches already forming on the leaves, and It's going to be even hotter with lower humidity for the next 2-3 days.

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Re: Gunnera

Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 1:55 am
by JWH
Afternoon sun, near record heat, and drought have been hard on this Gunnera Tinctoria. I think I need to move it to a better spot.

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This Tinctoria planted under my Bambusoides has done great all summer.

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The main crown on my Gunnera Manicata has stopped putting up new leaves, and is growing several smaller lateral crowns.

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Re: Gunnera

Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:44 pm
by JWH
The Gunneras have been put to bed for this year. A teepee made out of it's own leaves should be enough protection for now. More mulch will be added later in the winter, if needed.
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Re: Gunnera

Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 7:23 pm
by JWH
Gunneras are growing again.

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Re: Gunnera

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 5:56 am
by JWH
Lots of growth in the last six weeks!
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Flower spikes are just barely visible inside the crown.
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Re: Gunnera

Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 3:31 am
by stevelau1911
Gunnera Tinctoria is surviving, but doesn't look very impressive after the main plant was killed, but with enough rainfall, these 3 plants should at least return to their former size.
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Re: Gunnera

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 4:34 am
by stevelau1911
Here is my gunnera tinctoria from August 24 to Sept 7 showing how slow they can grow during the middle of summer. These plants tend to grow in the late spring, and then some more in the early fall especially when bulbs swell up, but don't like it during the summer even if it is well watered. I think it may need a greenhouse or drip irrigation to really thrive, but at least this plant survives for me.

before
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Re: Gunnera

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 12:41 pm
by johnw
Steve - It wants to be cool sdo a greenhouse would be a disaster. Rich, rich soil, moist to wet in summer soil, mountains of mulch with compost and manure were the secret to success here.

Re: Gunnera

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:10 pm
by stevelau1911
I think heat in conjunction with too much sun can cause the roots to fry since it seems to dehydrate them real easily. I keep mine currently in very shady places, and they seem to be thriving. I expect some nice size to come back next year. One of mine is actually pretty big right now. Here are some recent pictures of both of them.

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Smaller one
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Re: Gunnera

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:33 pm
by johnw
Here's a friend's Gunnera planted as a litre pot in Spring 2013. The siting is perfect with constant wet soggy ground, a bit more sun would have been better and made for a sturdier plant. They haven't applied manure, compost and other goodies, still the upsize is pretty good though won't continue if they don't start piling the organic matter to it.

Re: Gunnera

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 12:10 am
by stevelau1911
One thing I've found about other people's gunnera, and not my own is the ability of stems to get super long. Mine will develop pretty big dark leaves, however the stems will never gain much length. Is this just due to soil conditions?

Mine are in very organic, rich soil too.