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Heliconia stricta 'Jamaican Dwarf' - Jamaican Dwarf Heliconia


Heliconia stricta 'Jamaican Dwarf' - Jamaican Dwarf Heliconia (Heliconia stricta 'Jamaican Dwarf' - Jamaican Dwarf Heliconia)

My Jamaican Dwarf Heliconia has never bloomed in the 8 plus years that I've had it. Heliconia species are considered extremely heavy feeders...if they don't receive the nutrients they will not bloom. However, this plant seems to grow very quickly in its pot. Photo taken Oct. 19, 2010.



Comments on this photo

 

Maybe you need to stop feeding it Delonix. Just a thought - it works if my chillies are not producing a lot of flowers.

20 Oct, 2010

 

Meanie:

This plant doesn't get feed. This is the reason why it hasn't bloomed. Heliconias are considered "pigs". Their nitrogen requirements are extremely high. You literally can dump a 5lb. bag of sulfate of ammonia on it...and it will not burn!

I'm going to have to divide this plant into 4 plants. This way I can fertilize them better. A couple will go into the ground directly into steer manure or chicken manure.

20 Oct, 2010

 

So they need to be grown with Legumes then!!

20 Oct, 2010

 

Meanie:

Yes, however, even then, they need fertilizer! Heliconia is probably one of the heaviest feeders of any plant known.

20 Oct, 2010

 

Not greedy at all then!!

21 Oct, 2010

 

Meanie:

No...not much!

21 Oct, 2010

 

It's showing signs of either too much sodium or too little magnesium, too, Delonix.

23 Oct, 2010

 

Tugbrethil:

It's showing signs of hard water damage. The water here is horrible for many plants. It could probably use some magnesium sulfate...which would green it up a little. :>)

23 Oct, 2010

 

Same as the water here! Sometimes Epsom salts help, and sometimes not. Organic matter helps, too, but I'm probably preaching to the choir on that!

24 Oct, 2010

 

Tugbrethil:

Yes, if we had better water...the larger wealth of plants we could grow and without brown-tipping!

I use bags and bags of steer manure for my plants every year. Luckily, it's very inexpensive! :>)

24 Oct, 2010

 

Huzzah for the genus Bos!!

25 Oct, 2010

 

Tugbrethil:

You got that right! lol! :>)

25 Oct, 2010



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This photo is of species Heliconia stricta 'Jamaican Dwarf' - Jamaican Dwarf Heliconia.

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