Tropicals & Tender Perennials: 'Phoenix' bird or paradise, 1 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
Phil, you're sounding more like an addicted gardener each time you post! Glad you're having fun with this. I've got so many favorites it's hard to put my finger on an MVP, but maybe my variegated 'Dr. Moy' gingers, for nice foliage, beautiful fragrant flowers and a very vigorous plant all told. (see pic) I'll send you a start if you'd like to try them. I have lots! They like a spot with about 1/2 day of sun, maybe an east side of the house spot?

I'd strongly advise against using the fertilizer in a bottle that you attach to the hose. Those are generally highly soluble fertilizers that will last only a few weeks, or even less if we get a heavy rain. It's ok for use on pots, but for the general garden it just doesn't feed constantly which is what your perennial plants and shrubs need. A good pelleted fert like Osmocote will last at least 3 months, and then if you repeat the application about the end of May that will carry everything through with strong growth until fall. It also doesn't send a lot of your expensive fertilizer washing away down the gutters and out into the Bay when it rains.

I had my prayers answered this week, as I was seriously thinking about putting an ad on Craig's List or somewhere for someone to help me with my spring cleanup around the yard. Last Monday a young fellow came by offering to "weed the garden for $20".. hhoo, Boy! I walked him around the whole yard, and told him I'd pay him a lot more than that because it has now taken the two of us 3 stints of 4 hours each to clean up my jungle. So I have space in a lot of beds that I didn't have a couple of weeks ago, and a ton of stuff I'm ready to plant. Long story short, I've held off the fertilizing just because I want to do it after I've planted everything. But yes, right now is a great time to put down fertilizer and give everything a kick-off!

Sprinkle the pelleted fert all the way out as far as the branches reach on your shrubs. That's generally how far out the plant's roots are, too. Scuffle it into the mulch so that it's not lying on top exposed to the sun and rain, too. The pellets release best if they're covered and in contact with the soil.

Your little bougies look great - yes, the one in more sun is definitely happier. Not much you can do about that. Keep a close eye on your jasmine!! It is just lovely but it will consume whole buildings over the course of a summer if you don't keep it in check. btw, when you're pruning it, wear clothes you don't care about because it leaks a white sap that stains your clothes brown. (no idea . . ) Wear gloves, too, the sap can be irritating!

The cannas look great. Don't forget they really like lots and lots of water, and are heavy feeders, too. Be generous with your fert there. Lowe's had some fabulous cannas in pots when I was there on the weekend, with beautifully striped and colored leaves. The flowers are great, but the leaves on some can be magnificent! (see pic 2 - burgundy brushed leaves and red flowers)

As for your Charlie Brown it looks like it's probably developed some good roots over the winter, so just give it TLC and I'll bet it will catch up. That's the hazard of starting things like those C.pulch's from seeds (did you collect the seeds down in the Caribbean? I forget) Anyway, if the bush that the seeds came from was a cross, (or hybrid type bred for a certain color or flower form) the seedlings can have variable forms and traits. It also may depend upon if the bush the seeds came from was cross-pollinated by another color or a 'wild' sport of the same plant. This is why seedlings vary in their traits unless you buy guaranteed seed from a reputable grower.

I'm saying that the seedlings might grow up wonderfully, or they might be something you don't really like. Be brutal and yank the plant out if you don't like it. (wait 'til it blooms) You can possibly start cuttings from the ones you do like to replace it. Some of those shrubby plants will start just from sticking a cutting in the ground and keeping it watered for a few weeks. A cutting will generally grow true to the parent plant.

Your gourmet salad-eating pup is so cute. My cat is not interested in the garden except as her private preserve.

Cheers Elaine