Hi da1,
Giant Rhubarb - Gunnera Manicata are awesome plants!
Typically plants grown in a pot will not grow to normal size. It will
be smaller than if you grew it in the ground. Even if the pot is very
large... the roots are going to be contained/restricted from spreading
out and down.
However if you intend on growing it indoors, if your space is limited,
and you would still like to grow one, grow it in a large pot, but this
will reduce the size the plant will attain.
If you wish to see it grow to normal size the best thing is to remove
the plant from the pot - dig a nice hole outside - and put it in the
ground. They grow rapidly to 2-3 feet tall. With giant leaves maybe
6 feet across.
They grow best in wet, deep, fertile soil in part or dappled shade,
protected from hot afternoon sun. One successful approach is to fill a
large planting hole with a mixture of loam and well-aged manure;
Gunneras are heavy feeders and require a continual supply of water,
however the crown must remain above water. Native to the cloud forests
of the Andes, so they like moderate temperatures, moderate humidity,
and moderate light.
If you do decide to replant in the ground please wait until Fall, but
ideally in the Spring.
If you only have one herbaceous plant in your garden, then it must be
this one. Protect crowns from frost in winter by placing the old
leaves over them and cover with straw where necessary, and they need
plenty of moisture and sun, but do NOT plant in water. Cover crown in
winter (use its own dead leaves if necessary).
*****
WorldPlants
http://www.worldplants.com/f.htm
Gunnera manicata Giant Gunnera. A very conspicuous plant for the
pondside or boggy spot. This is probably the Gunnera the majority of
people think of when the genus comes up in conversation down at the
tavern. Huge wrinkly leaves to 6 feet across on 5’ stems that sprout
from a pink, fuzzy, watermelon-sized crown. Erupting from these
massive leaves come the maroon, cone-shaped flowers, 5’’ across at the
base and 2-3’ tall. Very few temperate zone plants grow to such a
gigantic size. Cloud forests of Columbia.
*****
Plant Finder
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/358.shtml
Common Name: Gunnera
Genus: Gunnera
Species: manicata
Skill Level: Experienced
Exposure: Full sun, Partial shade
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Moist, Boggy
Height: 180cm
Spread: 220cm
Time to divide plants: March to May
Gunnera is one of the biggest and most spectacular, architectural,
herbaceous plants, commonly thought of as 'giant rhubarb'. The plants
need a lot of space because it is difficult to restrict their size.
They look best standing as specimen plants in a damp bog garden, or
beside a large pond where the reflections reveal the prickly
undersides of the leaves. The fat growth buds clustered in the crown
are prone to frost damage, so pile the dead leaves and stems into a
mound over the plants in autumn for winter protection - they make
quite a feature of their own.
*****
California Gardening Forum... See posts
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bog/msg041913285505.html
"Potted them up in 1 gal. pots and kept them in unheated greenhouse
all winter. I just planted out 3 about 2 weeks ago, behind my little
woodland pond under huge pinetrees w/ mid to late morning sun and
pm.shade, where they immediately started growing like crazy.They share
the bed w/ hydrangeas,columbines,hostas,ferns,heuchera,sibs.,callas
and other shade/moisture loving plants."
"Mine made it through the winter here in zone 5. I brought it inside,
potted and placed it in a pot of water in a cool room (55-65 degrees).
It is outside now. Not much bigger than I received it last spring, but
w/ 2 crowns instead of 1. It got hit by the late frost we had (28
degrees) in mid May, but is recovering fine. I just gave it some of
Milwalkee's best (milorganite) tucked just under the soil surface near
the outside of the pot, away from the crown, so I'll wait and see what
that does to it."
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/calif/msg0718294121831.html
"I'm in north Orange County (Cypress) and mine is planted near the
pond where it recieves shade from giant bird of paradise and bannanas.
It's been in the ground for about 3 years now and is still quite
small. My problem is I have sandy soil and I can't keep it wet enough
for this bog type of plant. Peter (Clematisman) has one and he's more
inland and his is quite large. His is still in the original container
but he keeps the pot in another container with a few inches of water
in it.
I intend to dig mine up and scoop out the dirt and then put in a
rubber liner (leftover from my pond). I'll make a few holes in the
liner to allow water leakage but I think this bog environment will be
much more conducive for the growth that I want."
*****
Photos at the following two links:
http://www.dur.ac.uk/botanic.garden/dubg/gunfls.html
http://www.mulu.co.uk/itemdisplay.php?itemid=96
*****
Google search:
Gunnera Manicata grow in pot, Gunnera Manicata ideal conditions,
Gunnera, Giant Rhubarb
Best regards,
tlspiegel |
