Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Tropical Plants and Gardens #120, 1 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
Hm, I think the key to your problem might be the "under a tree" part. The light situation sounds fine, but plants under trees in Florida have to compete with the tree roots for every bit of sustenance and water. Sadly, to get the nice shade that most plants like in our summers, you need to plant under trees. What kind of tree is it?

It's also been a really warm, dry spring. So sorry for the 20 questions here but . . . When you planted them, did you make a big hole, and amend the hole with compost or anything? That sandy soil doesn't hold water or nutrients worth a darn. Did you yank out all the little stringy tree roots around where the new plant would go? Did you use root stimulant fertilizer (something like Quick Start or Super Thrive) to water in the new plant? Did you put down some slow-release fertilizer to keep feeding the plants while they get established? How about some mulch to keep the roots cool, keep down weeds and help retain moisture? New plants need to be watered pretty much every day for the first couple of weeks until you see lots of healthy new growth, then tapering down to every second, then every third day. (but don't let them wilt) New growth indicates new roots, so I'd say your plants haven't made much progress getting established where they are.

Frankly, I've taken to sinking big nursery pots for a lot of plants that I grow under my big old oak trees. Especially things like the begonias and plants with delicate roots really don't compete all that well with the voracious tree roots. It's hard for a new little plant to get established there. So the sunken pots give the plants a good chance to get big and lusty before the tree roots get into the pot and start competing for fertilizer and water. Also potting soil holds a lot more water and nutrients than the usual sand that everybody gardens in here. Sinking the pot instead of just leaving it sitting on top insulates the plant's roots from the heat of summer air, too.

Get the biggest black plastic nursery pots you can find, (I like the 3 gallon size at least) and sink to the rims where you want to grow your Persian Shields. If you don't have any old pots sitting around, Lowe's and HD sell them for a couple of bucks. Fill with potting soil, add some pelleted timed-release fert (if the potting soil doesn't already have it) and water every day until you see them growing. Mulch over the rim of the pot so you can't see it.

The only plants that really do fine under trees without much help here are bromeliads. They don't have much root system, and take most of their moisture and food from the air. Some types of ground orchids can do ok, too.

This big old cane begonia is in a pot in the ground, and very happy about it.

This message was edited Jun 2, 2012 6:22 PM