I purchased around three dozen of these rhizomes from Thailand. Tried at first to root them in equal parts perlite peat moss and vermiculite. At first they all came up fine but started to decline shortly after. If too wet the roots would get root rot. If too dry the plant also declines. Did not seem like there was a happy medium. Tried putting them in full sun to differing amounts off shade. Also had no luck with this. Tried one in a very high humidity green house. Finally this had some results but it only delayed the inevitable and the plant also started declining. Down to my last rhizome and absolutely deseperate I decide "what the heck it cant get any worse" and I through it in the ground outside in one of my beds. The plant not only stabilized but is flushing out agressively and so far has done very well. The leaves have the right shape turgor and coloration. I have no illusions of this plant making it outdoors here in my area so eventually around mid December I will dig it out bring it inside and as soon as the last danger of frost has past, I will return it back outside to the same spot. It is semi shaded right now but I also tried a second rhizome in a more sunny spot in the same bed and it is growing as well although a bit more slowly. I have come to the very carefull conclusion that getting this heliconia to grow in a pot without experiencing root rot is virtually impossible irregaurdless of the mixture. You can start them in a pot but you quickly have to plant them out in a very sandy loam similar to what we have here in central florida. I have tried the same soil in a pot and it still doesnt work. There is something about pot culture that this plant absolutely hates so for those of you in climates where you must grow it in a pot I think you might be out of luck.

Gary, I have not seen it but will look at it. I have a feeling it may be like the "fake" but extremely realistic looking orchid tree they have at Fairchild. The expanding foam to hold on the corkbark works GREAT. It will also hold firmly pieces of driftwood and other wood. I used it to make my 55 gal "aquarium terrarium" and the foam was top notch for this purpose. You have to kind of cover any amount that "squishes out" with moss and plants but its easy to do. The Black Jungle site suggested "painting" the visible foam with black caulk but I tried that and it worked POORLY. Its a lot easier to glue some moss on there using the caulk or just tying or wiring it on under the plants. I actually bought something once with this kind of project in mind, I am planning to use it to let my Vanilla Vine run up top in the GH: I bought one of those large bore fenestrated pieces of tubing they use in septic drainage fields. Since it has holes in it, there will be good drainage for any water that gets inside. It can be sectioned and made into any form, and then you cover the same way, with the foam and pieces of mounting substrate.

Right now (and for the forseeable future!) lust is what I'll have to do. I've got what I consider a decent start at a tropical(esque) collection, but have to put it away for the winter. Eventually a greenhouse will let me enjoy my collection yearround. The self-imposed challenge that I will have to meet is doing what you have done. Not only have you assembled a fantastic collection of plants, you've created a realistic environment (habitat?) with width and depth and height! You may be restricted to a footprint of 1730 sq ft, but I think you've done a fantastic job using the SPACE. To me, that's what makes it so cool. Oh, and I know exactly what you mean about hurricanes!!! Keep your fingers crossed, we're almost out of the 2006 season.

Lisa, You could be right on the price of the Lemaii; my memory just isn't what it used to be. Since I'm in zone 9, I have to container grow all of my heliconia and put them in the greenhouse this time of year. Psittacorums have been particularly difficult to grow for me; I've had better luck over wintering Sexy Pink than the Psitts. That's why I've avoided "El Tigre" but everytime I see it for sale, the variegated attraction sets in. On the other hand, I've been growing Ae Ae in the ground for 5 years and only lost one (Hurricane Rita) which was scheduled to bloom the following summer (based on age and height). I do wrap the pseudostem when night time temps are predicted to get below 30 but it is more cold hardy than people think. Survived 24 two winters in a row. Steve