John M
Orchid Addict
This plant is an old family heirloom. My Great Grandmother, Catherine Charleton went to Ireland in 1886 and she brought this plant home to England with her. She grew it all her life and when she died, it went to one of her daughters (my Great Aunt Isabel). When Aunt Isabel became a Nun, it was givven to her sister, Hilda. When Hilda died, now ex-Nun Isabel re-inherited it. When Isabel's health was ailing, my Grandmother (Gladys) and her daughter, Elizabeth (my Mother's sister and my Aunt), went to care for Isabel and eventually attend to her estate. At that time (1980-something), I requested that the plant be brought to Canada, to keep it in the family. My Aunt (Elizabeth), took the plant to the British ag department to be inspected and tested and get the proper export documents. My Aunt made arrangements with some cousins to send it on to me once the British ag deptartment was through with it. A few weeks later, I finally got 4 roots in the mail one freezing cold November day; but luckily, it did survive.
It has been through a lot with me as I've cared for it properly at times and neglected it at other times when I was sick. I had numerous, sorry looking pots of it this year. So, I spent a couple very pleasant days last spring, sitting outside under a tree, unpotting it and cleaning all the weed roots out. I also washed and divided the Shamrock roots in preparation for replanting. They were air dried and allowed to heal their wounds for a few days.
A bunch of them went into two very large, shallow pot saucers into which I drilled drainage holes. These saucers were mounted on round platforms that I bolted to the top of a piece of Lilac branch, which itself had been bolted to the bottom of the square cedar planter you see in the photos.
At first it looked odd because there was no green above the soil in the saucers. But, this plant grows fast in the heat and in no time, as I knew it would, it overflowed the sides and hid the saucers.....looking very much like a beautiful, flowering tree in the tub at my back door. It will bloom right through October and it will stay outside, remaining healthy and green right up until December. I've left pots of this plant outside so late in the past that when I brought them in, I had to dig them out from under 10" of snow! I have also tried planting some spare roots outside and leaving them for the whole winter; but, that didn't work. It must be hardy down to only about minus 10*C or so and it gets down into the minus 20's, or even sometimes, minus 30's here.
As long as there is enough light, it never stops blooming. As long as it's fed and watered, it always has lush, full foliage. It's a really lovely plant and having been part of the family for 129 years, it's a very special plant to have and enjoy.
It has been through a lot with me as I've cared for it properly at times and neglected it at other times when I was sick. I had numerous, sorry looking pots of it this year. So, I spent a couple very pleasant days last spring, sitting outside under a tree, unpotting it and cleaning all the weed roots out. I also washed and divided the Shamrock roots in preparation for replanting. They were air dried and allowed to heal their wounds for a few days.
A bunch of them went into two very large, shallow pot saucers into which I drilled drainage holes. These saucers were mounted on round platforms that I bolted to the top of a piece of Lilac branch, which itself had been bolted to the bottom of the square cedar planter you see in the photos.
At first it looked odd because there was no green above the soil in the saucers. But, this plant grows fast in the heat and in no time, as I knew it would, it overflowed the sides and hid the saucers.....looking very much like a beautiful, flowering tree in the tub at my back door. It will bloom right through October and it will stay outside, remaining healthy and green right up until December. I've left pots of this plant outside so late in the past that when I brought them in, I had to dig them out from under 10" of snow! I have also tried planting some spare roots outside and leaving them for the whole winter; but, that didn't work. It must be hardy down to only about minus 10*C or so and it gets down into the minus 20's, or even sometimes, minus 30's here.
As long as there is enough light, it never stops blooming. As long as it's fed and watered, it always has lush, full foliage. It's a really lovely plant and having been part of the family for 129 years, it's a very special plant to have and enjoy.
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