Costus chartaceus - Christmas Costus

WhT lovely shape leaves it look healthy must like it there.

I'll see if it likes it in San Diego. It's an extremely tropical plant. I've only had it about one week.

I think it will Andy seems to be content even for a week.

I hope it will tolerate the water here. I had a very beautiful Costus barbatus (Spiral Ginger). It hated the hard water here in San Diego and eventually it died (It may have been the drought, also). I do see large ones growing outside in San Diego, though. Not sure what the secret is, though.

Here's a pic of my plant back in 2009.

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/125252-costus-barbatus-red-tower-ginger-spiral-ginger/tag/costus

Here's one in Balboa Park.

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/169330-costus-barbatus-spiral-ginger/tag/costus

I would say it was the drought Andy why your ginger died . I have plants here that don't like tap water Rhododendrons and Camelias but they don't die when I water them by tap water my water is hard it makes my hands horrible at times taste bitter and our city is suppose to have the best drinking water in the UK.

It most likely was the drought. The giant Jacaranda tree above it most likely took all the water.

If you had a giant Jaaranda tree right by it then yes of course it would take all the water from the ginger I was always taught by the men on the allotments never take a plot with a tree on it as it will take all the water from the vegtable plants also the goodness from the soil.

Yes, my front yard has three very large trees. A 30' tall Southern Magnolia, an 80' tall Norfolk Island Pine and the 50' Jacaranda tree. So, it's difficult to grow many plants well there.

Wow I am surprised you can see your house or get in to it.lol I would think it would be hard for many plants to be able to grow with so many big trees.

The front yard is very large. So, there's plenty of room. It's just the roots from the big trees are always looking for water in San Diego's dry climate.

It must be to take such large trees. Will the roots disturb your foundsations or are they not near your home.

The trees are far enough away from the house. But, of course, I don't know exactly where all the roots are.

Does it grow flowers?

Normally roots are as big as the top of the canopy of a tree .

Aleyna:

Yes, it is a flowering plant. I'll have to see if it flowers here. When it does I will post it. :>))

Yes, roots can sometime even be much larger than the tree's canopy.

Thank you Andy I ll check out the trees over hanging my garden now how big their roots go. I hope yours are not to much what the canopy is.

Great! Thanks.
Learned another expression today - "flowering plant",
hopefully I'll remember to use it.

Penny,

They most likely spread much further than the crown of the trees. The soil here is shallow and rocky.

Aleyna:

I'm glad I could help you with another expression. :>))

Most plants and trees flower; however, sometimes the flowers are not significant or showy.

C. chartaceus ha a really large, showy bract with flowers.

The Sycamore which is a giant can grow 50 per cent more so the roots must be under my house also the house at the back of me so 50 percent more than its crown/canopy I have found out by looking it up its the one that sheds so many seeds and the Robinia pseudoacacia Black Locust by my back door is evasive creates suckers from roots or if cut down hard to erradicate and also has falling seeds.

Yes, some trees have these massive root systems. I know most Ficus species have the biggest root-systems than most trees in the world. I know roots from several large Ficus species have roots that can be hundreds of feet from the tree canopy. This is why the large Ficus rubiginosa, elastica 'Decora', mysorensis, retusa, macrophylla are definitely not recommended by structures or homes.

That is a lot of root system for any tree roots hundreds of feet from the tree canopy I would nt dare plant one in fear of it uprooting the house is nt your Ficus right by your house by the Tulip tree.

Yes, it was never meant to be there. Ficus cyathistipula doesn't seem to have the huge roots like some other Ficus; however, I know it has a lot of roots. If it had been F. benghalensis, macrophylla or eleastica it would have been cut down a long time ago. Those trees have gigantic surface root that will definitely lift the house. I love those trees but they need to be planted on a huge lot or park.

Like how this one is planted at the University of San Diego. Very far away from buildings.

http://www.growsonyou.com/gardening/slideshow/garden-trees/212958?o=latest

Your lucky it was nt one of the other Fivus then Andy I would hate to think anbout the root system the others have.

I shall take a look thanks.

Yes, in a way. I still need to chop both Ficus cyathistipula trees back. The one in the back yard is getting out of hand, again! The one on the side of the house still needs a lot of chopping back, also.

You ve got some work ahead of you then. I would hate to think how big the one in your back uard is if its bigger than the one thsts at the side of hour house.

Do they produce figs as a while ago I looked them up and one was made into a standard it looked great.

Yes, lots of work and it's too hot to work outside. LOL!

The original tree in the back yard is big. I've cut it back constantly. It also produces a lot of golf-ball sized figs twice a year which is a huge chore to keep the clean.

Here' a pics of the one in the my back yard from 2011, it's bigger now. Although, I had a big branch overhanging the sidewalk removed last year.

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/225202-ficus-cyathistipula

I ll take a look thanks Andy.