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"Janet Baraclough" <janet.and.john [at] zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:31303030393032394474F32577 [at] zetnet.co.uk...
>
> I've just acquired a potful of gunnera magellanica, the very small
> one, from a village plant sale. Reading around, it prefers "damp soil" .
> Can anyone who grows it tell me, if this means "feet in water" (like
> Gunnera manicata enjoys) or merely "not bone dry"? Any tips?
>
> Janet.
>
> --
> Isle of Arran Open Gardens weekend 21,22,23 July 2006
> 5 UKP three-day adult ticket (funds go to island charities) buys entry
> to 26 private gardens

I have two patches of this plant. One is growing in damp soil and the other
in very wet (almost boggy soil ). The latter seems to do better in terms of
spreading.
In reality it probably does not matter too much as long as the soil is not
bone dry as you aren't expecting giant leaves.
With your head welded to the ground, looking up at the leaves, you can
nearly convince yourself this is the big brother :-)

On Wed, 24 May 2006 23:58:29 +0100, Janet Baraclough wrote
(in article <31303030393032394474F32577 [at] zetnet.co.uk>):

>
> I've just acquired a potful of gunnera magellanica, the very small
> one, from a village plant sale. Reading around, it prefers "damp soil" .
> Can anyone who grows it tell me, if this means "feet in water" (like
> Gunnera manicata enjoys) or merely "not bone dry"? Any tips?
>

If it's any help, Ray says marshy conditions are ideal. But definitely not
drying out.


--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
email address on web site

Janet Baraclough <janet.and.john [at] zetnet.co.uk> writes
>
> I've just acquired a potful of gunnera magellanica, the very small
>one, from a village plant sale. Reading around, it prefers "damp soil" .
>Can anyone who grows it tell me, if this means "feet in water" (like
>Gunnera manicata enjoys) or merely "not bone dry"? Any tips?

It seems to like moist not sodden - if it's too wet it will rot off. It
also seems to be not very hardy.

I started off with a pan full (from seed) which I then split into 2,
managed to waterlog one and killed it off. Carried on with the other,
split it again, kept one outside, one inside, the one outside died off
over the winter.

I've now lost the other because I had it in the cooler outside
compartment of the greenhouse rather than the main part which i keep
above 40deg.

Had it about 5 years, didn't manage to get it to flower.
--
Kay

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