We have had this Bunya bunya for at least 20 years. It has lived in the greenhouse from 1 foot tall and now it is 11 feet. It has been outside for the Summer and now we can't get it back into the greenhouse. It has a 12 or 14 foot peek. With this plant in it's pot, it wouldn't have lasted for the whole Winter without smashing into the glass. I didn't want to have that happen. So from now on it will live outside year round. we were contemplating cutting it in half but we did not want to ruin it. Bunya bunya and hubby Bunya bunya Bunya bunya Bunya bunya Bunya bunya Can you see how razor sharp the leaves are? We dreaded the day we had to take it out of the pot and plant it but it's all over now. We are wounded but we will make it.. We love this tree.
Barb... will it survive your winters outdoors since it's been pampered most of it's life in your greenhouse?
Our research says it will take it down 10 degrees. We could get to zero for short times but not most years. We will keep a bale of straw around the ground and up the trunk a little. We didn't know what else to do with it. A guy in NJ kept one in a pot above ground for tons of Winters with just mulch around the pot. He has the exact same kind of winters that we do here. Are you a little worried about what we have done with our little baby??
I worry about all of our babies. I was just wondering out loud. So... just to be nosey... if it's hardy for your area, why did you keep it in the greenhouse all these years?
cherylad, Because I am a nut. Years back, I knew I was going to retire in Pa. so I didn't want my plant to get too big or get undiggable so I couldn't bring it with me. I did that with allot of plants. Silly me. It's like I kept my Contorted Willow tree in the greenhouse in a pot for 20 years also. AND I never mind anyone being nosey.
Hi Barb,..yep like Cheryl said we all worry about our babies and gosh we do pamper them. I can understand you keeping it potted for so long,..it is hard to put them out in the elements,..however with plenty of mulch around the base and a tad upwards it will have plenty of protection,..lovely tree to be sure.
Yes, yes. I think we will use mulch as far up as the branches go and then hay. then we will tie straw around that and a looser layer of straw over that. If we do that we will surely be happy to see it in the Spring. Won't we? It took us forever to decide exactly where it was going to be planted. It's sort of in a protected area also.
Okay... now I'm not worried at all about your tree. Sounds like you've got it all sorted out (like there was ever any doubt).
Of course, we fulled that big hole 2 times with water before it went into the hole and I will water it today, just a little. I was worried at first but after thinking about it and knowing the location, I feel pretty good about it. It was smashed up to the glass of the green house last Winter. It sat just half was down the peek. Maybe now I will get to see it get 80 feet. 8)
