Aroid

lovely shape of leaf JJ

Those Nellie's get everywhere ! :)))

Mine was very slow to get going this year, leaves not at all "big"...last year its largest leaf was, from memory, about 17" across....I kid you not.....probably wore it it....lol

Thanks San, Sue, Nellie's RULE!
Oh boy...17" !!!! That's a whopper, now where's my tape measure? lol
Where have you got yours growing, ours are plonked in the stream in pots.
The name really fits the ticket doesn't it, It's such a useful plant too. The colour and shape of the leaf, the patternation is amazing and it tastes nice too. We cook the leaves like spinach and the tuber is lovely cooked in coconut milk. 8-)

I'll have to try this one JJ thanks!

Never thought of eating the leaves....knew you could eat the tuber. Mine are kept in the greenhouse....no where else to put them yet. I also have Black Magic and Illustris.

It's all good soul food Indy, fab with a good curry 8o))
Ablealice-The Black Magic's a stunner isn't it, close to black as black can be. Are they in the greenhouse all year, Haven't tried illustris yet, how do you get on with them?

Only been growing them a couple of years....the Black Magic and Illustris are new this year; our local GC was selling them at silly prices and I couldn't resist...lol....hope to try them in the garden next year after I take some cuttings (just in case!!).

I've just put Black Magic on my gallery if you want a peep x

A great looking plant....and you can eat it, its getting better all the time!!! are they all tender plants? and if so what do you do with them in the winter? please just getting into EXOTIC..............

They're eaten as a staple food all over the caribean and the tropics. You may have heard them be called Dasheen, Callaloo? They must be cooked and not eaten raw as they are toxic (as are potatoes) before cooking.

SO thats Dasheen is it , now I know what youre on about thanks never seen it in the flesh before!!

Yes Indy,
the Dasheen is the 'Tuber' which grows big in the tropics, peel it, chop it, boil it in coconut milk or water until soft like a boiled potato.
The Calaloo is the leaf (some also use the stalk),shred it like cabbage, boil it, or I like to simmer it with onions, tomatoes,fresh herbs, and spices.
My recipes are quicker than yours are Indy!
It's a 'Totally Usable' plant, no waste and their foliage is just stunning, get's my vote all round! 8-)))

I'm just practicing expanding things for my essays in Uni JJ !
Thanks for the info above ,I love learning new bits!

Are you going to Uni Indy? I'm not surprised, you have a razor sharp mind, what are you studying Caribean Cookery? 8o)

My mind
I find
is sharp in places
but there are lots
of little dull spots
like a rust specked knifes blades faces!

To get it keen,
I'll polish and sheen
grind it with carborundum
file it with knowledge
to a fine razor edge
and THEN will the mental fun come!

So see you soon
don't leave the room
be back before you know it
we'll have a chat then
when its sharpened again
lets hope that none here will rue it!

I'm studying Law
cause unlike before
I'm sick of the entire system
and for justice to see
how rules they should be
I'll have to grab hold and untwist'em!

I'm sick of the liars
words tangle like briars
and the cheaters and stealers among them
robbing the poor
as they queue at the door
to pick up a crumb if they drop one!

So wish me good luck
so I'll not get stuck
In the mazes they will lay before me
I'll use all my might
to come back and fight
with the dark in the powers that be!

WOW !!!
Let me get my breath for a while...

Breath JJ Breathe cmon you can pull through this...Breathe and OMMMM

LMAO 8o))))))) Stop it, my lips are still tingling from the last session !!!
P.S...and next time we're in labour can it be in private please, bit public here LOL

Labour, wouldnt even try to get them to breathe , i'm afraid...oh the other labour ..we were!!!!! what did we have I must have fainted! LOL!!!

LMSO 8-))) It was a rare hybrid Indy,
However, this is typical behaviour of the lesser known Indyvanagainicus studentii I'm afraid.....a similar species to Mostmenfaintinchildbirthium uselessium, prone to wilt and collapse at the first sign of stress.
Regular pruning helps to control this vigorous species as they are inclined to self seed and run out of control if not properly contained.
Germination can be erratic and unpredictable, but with a great deal of patience and constant watering with that specialist feed 'el vino plentious', (they're heavy feeders too) the reward can be a strong reliable specimen that will reward us with a lifetime of beauty and pleasure. ;-0

Glad someone knows the right way to grow a good example to full size, maturity and vigour!

Ohhhhh Yesssssssss, careful cultivation is the magic key. If you give these fascinating specimens three organic feeds, (and 'supper'!) and water with love EVERY day then you'll be rewarded with a good strong healthy crop of exceptional vigour and vitality. Full maturity however is rare but an endearing quality just the same! ;-)

SOOOO TRUE so true, maturity is just a wild ambition for them, a never realised dream! LOL! ;~)))

Precisely! Maturity is an enviable condition but I hear it's terminal, they tend to go droopy and turn to seed extremely quickly. Wild ambition is much more fun- I say keep dreaming!

Without the ambition theyd never get anything done!

You got that one right, that's when the boredom sets in......
We all need dreams, they keep us invigorated, coupled with ambition we can move mountains....even those great big Welsh ones!

Ian and carol are going to have a baby maybe check out the arrest blog!

I'm looking....

I'm not movin them again this lifetime , It looks pretty enough at the min....well that one could maybe do with goin left a bit....hmmmm!

Shame about Ian and Carol, let's hope their efforts will be rewarded soon.
The mountains are fine just as they are dear man, LOL, conserve your physical resources...you'll need all your energy for the bun fight! 8-)))