Dwarf Baobab Flowers

What a gorgeous colour..I bet it's nice having different plants,Karen..:o)

Heehee! It'll be lovely when I get them actually planted, Bloomer! Between the biting ants and the rain! lol!
Plus, I've been presented with some bags of earth (sand) and some quite yellow 'shitty' manure (some kind of GIANT sheep droppings, apparently!) and I don't really know what ratio to mix it in!

Hey Ho! Trial and experience! lol! :))))

Very nice, do you know whet its Latin name is? :)

Is that the Latin name for Yellow shitty manure or the plant you are talking about Plantaholic? :)))

lolol! looks nice :)

Lol :-D)))

Heehee!! lol! :D

Kind of looks like coral, don't you think?

It's called Jatropha podagrica, P...any ideas re how much manure to put in the sand?? :)))

So far, I've mixed just a little in and put some on top to 'rain in' as it were...ANY suggestions gratefully accepted! :))))

No idea! yes looks corally :) its really pretty

I dkn what to do, cos fresh manure can be poisonous to plants, I think...

And, they don't really do gardens here, so I don't know who to ask!! :(

oh dear..you will be the talk of the town henny! :)))))

I know...they think I'm mad...! :)

All these things grow wild out of the 'pavements'...I must learn how to do cuttings!!! :))

heh :)

Maybe they won't want the giant sheep 'shitty' stuff then,Karen ! sound like they manage well on their own.:o)

Dont know what your manure is like but when gardening I always use manure as a mulch never mix it with the soil! :)

In the Philippines Karen, the compost was very poor. From memory it was like the husks of something ground down with what looked like dried out used tea.
I can't remember what it was made of. I have txt my brother to ask him for advice. I would suspect it will be something similar - given that the same kind of plants survive. I'll let you know, maybe if you know what the main ingredient(?) is it will be easier for you to ask
I would also agree that you don't want to make it too rich as the plants will survive in what looks like dust.

Thanks for your help folks! :)

The soil is mostly sand and the manure has quite a lot of what looks like straw with lumps of yellow dung (with the consistency of soft clay) and some kind of seed husks...I was wondering whether the sand would need some of the organic matter mixed into it...

It would be great if your brother could give me some pointers, Scottish... :)

He can't remember Karen, informed me that it was a sort of husk - but how did I expect him to remember when the only time he visited those places was with me :) He's an erse!!
I will ask SIL when I see her tomorrow, her parents had lots of pots growing around their little house. They are very poor so I would imagine that buying any sort of organic material would not be a priority.
I would be very sceptical about adding manure of any sort, you could do a little experiement one with and one without and keep your eye on things if the plants don't look right. A lot of bother tho!

Take pics and paste them on the walls!!!!!!!!! lol make your very own mural! :)

Great idea Pixi!!:)

Save a lot of hassle with soil etc! hah ;)

Lol! :)))

I got fed up looking at them in their flour sacks yesterday and followed Bloomer's advice...thanks Bloomer! :)

Then put some dung on the top - thanks Plantoholic! :)

So, we'll see what happens... Now I just need some advice on what to do with a huge bougainvillea which didn't travel well...........to chop or not to chop???

That my dear is the proverbial question!!!!!! :))))))) x

I'm just going to do it! As soon as the boys come to an agreement about which of them goes to get the secateurs.............! :))))))))))

eeek! ;)

Finally saw my SIL today - she said the compost over there is mainly coconut husks and rotted leaves from plants - not much help there then. If you were going to be there longer you could get your own started. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you Karen, but I see you have already done it.....

Hi Pixi and Scottish! Nothing easy here...Just took forty minutes to ask a question (including two connection failures). New modem supposed to be delivered today...But that could be AMT (African Maybe Time)... :(

Oh poor you! Hope you get things sorted out soon henny xxxxxxxx

4.30pm - no modem... :(((

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(((((((((((((((((( xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Feel like I've been ex-communicated! :(((((((((

Aw you poor thing () < hug xx

Thanks henny :)xxx

I'm missing everybody and sorry I can't join in! :(((
AMT right enough - maybe tomorrow now... :(

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you :)))))

Yipee! Got the modem...just need somebody who knows what they're doing to install all the not approved by microsoft drivers... :/

Jeeeez waht a carry on you're having! wish i could help :))))

Oh, Pixi...It has taken me exactly two weeks to discover that it takes a week to achieve what can be done in a day in France...and things are not quick there! lol! :/

Deary me! :(

Ken... :(

Barbie!

Love it! It looks like Jathropha curcas to me, not Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata). Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) is a super slow growing tree here in San Diego. I know it's native to Africa and grows to immense proportions and lives for thousands of years.

I think it's just its common name here, Delonix. It's called the 'bottle plant' in France because of the bulbous stem.

I've seen baobab trees in Botswana...they are indeed enormous! There's one in Kasane which was used as a jail! None here, tho', so far... :)

I was incorrect with the id on this plant...as I think it's a Jathropha podagrica. I used to grow a few species a while back...now, I just have Jathropha gossypifolia which pops up everywhere from seeds, luckily they're easy to pull up.

I bet the native baobab trees are a spectacular sight. I've read some of the native trees in Africa are estimated to be 5,000 years old! The largest one I've ever seen was in Foster's Botanical Gardens in Honolulu, Hawaii...it was planted in 1940. Here's my pics:

http://www.growsonyou.com/Delonix1/photos/Adansonia

Have had a look, Delonix...but am spoiled after seeing them in the bush, covered in birds at sunset! lol! ;)

I'm sure you're very spoiled! :>)

Unfortunately, these trees have not been growing in cultivation for thousands of years, like the native African ones. Hopefully one day, I'll get to see some in native habitat! :>)

I've heard that they're even better in Madagascar, but I haven't been there yet, either!...have to work on that... ;)

I had a notion to look into that last year K....but never followed up on it!

Northern Australia has Adansonia gregorii...they're just as spectacular.

I think I'd still prefer to visit Madagascar, Delonix. I went to Reunion Island, flying over Madagascar. It looks amazing...and it has fabulous vanilla and prawns! lol!

I would love to go to Madagascar, also! Many trees/plants from Madagascar grow well in southern California. Over the last 20 years there's been a HUGE influx of palms from Madagascar. The seeds are coming in the by the hundreds of thousands every year.

When in France, I can have lots of seeds sent from Reunion Island (La Reunion) as it is a department of France...only trouble is there are only a few plants which will survive the winters there...I don't have a glass-house or a conservatory :(

Plus, I'm in Nigeria for most of the year now...

Now, you just need to get the seeds sent to Nigeria where they will grow well. :>)

There's the rub, Delonix! Now I've got the climate...but I'm not allowed to import seeds... :(

I suppose it makes sense, given that non-native plants can upset the natural balance...