I bought a cute little “China Doll”
(Radermachera sinica)
plant today.
The leaves are shiny a delightful green and this
plant will annoy me to no end. I’ve probably
owned 10 so far.
They sell them as small houseplants. Story
has it that they will grow to 6 feet. (not under
my watch.).
They have a delightful
green and are wispy in the light.
They are sold in supermarkets this time of
year and I always make the effort.
It loves bright light. It needs strong screened
light all day. It hates drafts, needs 65-75 degrees,
hates to be moved and loves being root bound.
Hmm sounds like neglect to ME. I can do THAT.
And I did. I left it alone (for two years). Watered
once a week, feeding was every other week,
and we keep the house temp. at 68 all winter.
I put it on the porch in the summer. It will
drop some leaves, but at least it doesn’t die.
And when it drops leaves and a woody stem
remains I cut it off.
It’s in a nice spot, morning sun, mid day glow, and
afternoon screened light. It gets a breeze but not
a draft.
I’m very proud of neglecting this lovely plant.
It only took me years to figure it out but I
caught ON!
In a couple of weeks I’ll move her and her new sister
into the greenhouse. I hope little sis is able to adapt
to my wicked ways.
Posted by Darilyn on August 28, 2009 at 1:23 am
What a touch you have with orchids and your other beautiful plants..
It still amazes me to see orchids growing “wild” here. I had a friend that raised them in California and he fussed so with them and had them in a greenhouse. He would have been envious of your beauties.
Best regards,
Darilyn
Posted by LaineyBelle on October 7, 2009 at 2:13 am
If you plant your China Doll outside next to your house, you will have better luck with it. My is planted on the north side of my house and has grown to over 25 feet. It now blooms a very nice long trumpet flower. The base is well over 6 inches thick. I didn’t know they would grow outside until I went to our friends house and he had 3 of them growing outside. He has been trying to get rid of one for 10 years, but it keeps coming back!
My China doll is right next to a faucet that leaks when its turned on, so it gets water when I water the yard. It has lived thru mild winters, wet winters, a freezing winter, and now it has gone thur a real hot spell, of over 100 degrees, which is unusal for our area north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
So try abusing your plant outside and you may be suprised!