I'm coming to the experts for help. I planted red hot poker seeds in a container for the hummers over a year ago. Green stalks shot right up and continue to just sit. Is it normal to take so long for blooms to come? I'm willing to keep waiting, but the green stalks aren't as pretty as something else I could grow in there -- and the hummers aren't enjoying them either! Any advice? Should they stay or should they go? (I live in Tampa, FL.)

Hello Julie,

Usually it isn't til the 2nd year they will bloom. I bought 5 one year old plants from the nursery and they bloomed in my garden the 1st year. But since they took over my Canna section by way of their huge root system that develops, I got rid of all of them last month. as long as you give them plenty of space and you have the patience to wait til next year, you'll enjoy their blooms...

Susan Louise
from Branford CT/ live in Lincoln NE
Zone 5

Oooops! my bad...
Can you post a pic of the stalks? I can't imagine there isn't a "torch" for flowers/blooms at the top that is developing. Sorry I misread your post...that your plants are on their 2nd year.

Susan Louise
from Branford CT/ live in Lincoln NE
Zone 5

Hi, Susan Louise!

No torch, I'm afraid. Just stalk-like leaves that are bent over the sides of the container -- but they are green! That's what gives me hope. I have been thinking of putting them in the ground, but if they are aggressive or simply spreaders, then forget it. They are not pretty enough to take over my garden!

By the way, Susan Louise, weren't you the one who was taking calculus a while back? You don't mention school anymore. From your incredible pictures, the "school of gardening" may have taken over, eh? Just curious, I don't mean to be nosy.

Regarding this plant...I have another question?

My Red Hot Pokers bloomed this year (2nd yr), and now the bloom stalks are loaded with seeds. Does anyone know if the seeds "come true"? If they do I'll be posting them over on the seed forum once they mature.

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

Julie,

About school, I've taken a break for awhile. I don't want to get into every detail of the "why's"...but I've been burning the candle at both ends for most of my life. Before I met my husband I worked between 80-100 hours a week for over 10 years supporting myself. I met my husband while I was recovering from a depression which I got into and it took 6 months to recover with meds.
Got married, moved to NE...had an unblemished work history to get a job here (other than the 6 months from being unable to work due to exhaustion), I had a non stop work history since I was 10. I mentally include delivering newspapers from when I was 10-12...then babysitting for neighbors for my spending money from 12-16...then my 1st job was a waitress at a truckstop til I graduated high school in 1977. Went to college for almost 2 years becoming an X-Ray Tech...and I quit a month before I got my degree...dean's list and all. My internship was at Yale New Haven Hospital. It just wasn't what I wanted. I disappointed my whole family...Geeeesssh.
So I got a job in a local factory...a sub contractor for Pratt and Whitney, did such perfection with my duties assembling probes and harnesses for heating and cooling systems for airplane and helicoptor engines, that my supervisor offered me a heliarc welding oppurtunity...so I took it. I became a certified welder for Pratt & Whitney. I worked for that company for just shy of 20 years averaging 50-60 hrs a week with overtime which was required. I also got an extra full time job after working there 10 years as a material handler at night in a warehouse driving towmoters and moving skids onto the loading docks and in the trucks. so before my burnout...I worked both jobs for over 10 years. I did both jobs to support myself. I didn't want to get a roommate and give up my lifestyle of having my own place. For my health...I should have. when one is young, we feel invinceable...I know I did. Back then I thought...who needs sleep?
Anyway, moved to Nebraska and couldn't find work that paid at least $10 an hour...only $7.25!!! Even with my work history! So the 1st year worked at a sweat shop (no air conditioning!) for a year til i got a temp to perm job working for homeland security. worked both jobs for a year...yes, 2 jobs again! Why? I was too paranoid to give up the sweat shop job until I got the perm status at the other job. thank goodness my DH was understanding of that. And the 1st 3 years we were married, I worked as an extra helper at the main post office too during the holidays.
Why work the 3 jobs?
We needed the money at the time since we were just getting started. Both of my jobs here in NE paid less than one of my jobs back in CT!
Working so hard put me on the brink of exhaustion again. When I was nearing my end of working all of those hours, my step mother died from falling down our basement stairs. My health at that point took a nose dive...8 months later I got lung cancer, 11 months after that I had to have a hysterectomy because of a fibroid becoming the size of a grapefruit. the following year I had to have a bladder operation.
Over a year ago now, I quit the Homeland Security job. the stress working there was becoming unbearable...even for me. People kept leaving, they weren't hiring, so everyone was expected to do more and more and nobody got a raise in over 4 years!
DH suggested I quit and go back to school part time instead of just taking one class at a time which i was doing since 2004.
Anyway, for about 7 months i've been out of school. I've been in total burnout mode, but hope to be back in October. It's been a long hard road.
I fell in our driveway late February and have had a problem with one of my knees ever since. It continues to swell up from time to time. I'll be getting that checked soon. hopefully I won't need another operation.
Well, that's it. I think for many, that was way too much info some want to know about me. Hopefully those just stopped reading and just went to another thread. I didn't expect to share this much.
One last thing...
Why didn't I get a better paying job here? There is a big difference between CT and NE. CT companies mainly look for experience and they will pay $$$ for it. Here in NE they go the cheapest way possible. You should have seen all the jobs advertized here that individual's needed a batchlor's degree and would only get paid $8 an hour!!!
For me, it was like going from the 21st century to the 1900's...in real time!!!


Susan Louise
from Branford CT/ live in Lincoln NE
Zone 5

Susan Louise,

I know you addressed that to someone else, but I just wanted to say thank you for sharing because I got to know you better. You and I have a lot in common in some ways. I know one thing I learned in that post: you're a VERY strong woman.

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

Thank you Maryjane. I needed that boost today...
Then that means you're a strong woman too...

Susan Louise
from Branford CT/ live in Lincoln NE
Zone 5

Yowza! Susan Louise, I think we all knew from your garden that you don't do things half-way, but that was quite a confirmation!

Susan Louise, Mary Jane, if we joined forces, world domination would be a snap. You go, girls, we'll sleep when we're dead! Have a great day.

We'll sleep when we're dead..omg. Now I've GOT to go listen to that old Warren Zevon song!



Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

In case it was overlooked I'll ask this question one more time:

Does anyone know if the seeds "come true"? If they do I'll be posting them over on the seed forum once they mature.


Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

Maryjane,
I think they do come true but not positvely sure


Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Susan, I admire you for being able to share your good and bad times

How bad are the roots of Red Hot Pokers? I planted some right up next to the garage last summer. DH will kill me if they invade his space. I will move them if the roots have a posiblitly of going uder concreat.

birdlegs
zone 5
S.E. Lower MI.

Sandy I don't think you will have to worry about the roots invading the garafe. They aren't like the roots of a trumpet vine or most plants for that matter. They basically form larger clumps with these weird roots like very thick spaghetti. Someone described the roots very well but I can't remember who maybe Susan Louise

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39