Tropical Garden #83

And the banana came through unscathed, and still flowering.

There's always a new dawn following. This morning at my place.

Hello Everyone!


Tropicbreeze, the ferns growing in the palm gave me a good idea for the trunk of my queen palm which will be decapitated soon.
I wish that I could be there when those mangos start to ripen, I hope the parrots don't get to them first!!
That is a sad sight! Hopefully, you can call on a few of your mates to bring their chainsaws. Light up the Grill and have cleaning up party.

Rj, It's good to have you back!! Two years is a long time, a lot can change, hopefully in your favor.
Your Crotons have really grown.

papayas

GAGirl1066, I love those kind of surprises!! That is a very unusual flower, I hope that it does not smell too bad. I googled the name.

This was my surprise today, I had forgotten all about it.

LouC, I never would have guessed that you guys were that age! Tell Mike he is the new 50.


RachelLF, this is the planter that my GS made fo my Bday(don't laugh). I really do love it. I was supposed to paint it before planting in it, but thought the hoya will soon cover up the ugly bits. The only problem is that it is too heavy for me to move.

Joeswife, Happy Birthday to Joe!! It is very nice that he is helping you to get your plants in. Nice looking pentas.

Oh dear, tropicbreeze, I hope you get all the plants on those trees relocated safely. I am glad you were not hurt as well. Joe had to bring in the tall hibiscus tree, it kept falling down from the horrible wind here, I was going to clip it but he wouldn't let me, he scooted it under the window well eave downstairs to have some head room. the yellow bloom stem was severed, so it will die back and look bad for awhile. I found a bright purple beauty berry shrub I had forgotten I planted on the north fence, it was behind the four o clocks and the japanese morning glory vine. Had the neighbors dogs not torn those vines down from jumping up to see me, I would have never known about that new shrub. I need to get a pic of it. the color is fantastically neon LOL

In my efforts to "tidy" up the house, I found several boxes and bags of seeds I have collected this year, boy, I have GOT to quit doing that.. I found that flea powder sprinkled in the paper bags are great for killing bugs while the seed heads dry out. I went out tonight to look at things left out there, and was instantly engulfed in white flys. ugh. Where did they come from? I have NEVER had those things. How do I get rid of them? Will they hurt my tropicals?

OK, WHO put this in my GH? Come on now, fess up...

Who wants him?????

He'd be welcome at my place. This is one that spent a lot of time hanging down from my verandah night after night. Never saw it catch anything, but it certainly had a lot of patience.It's favourite spot was above the door but it was never worried by me going in and out.

Another one liked sitting on a garden tap. Only found out when trying to turn the tap on in the dark and ended up with a handful of snake instead of tap. It caught me out quite a few times like that. But I'd rather have them around than not.

I love snakes. I found a petrified garter down in the basement, poor thing. Snakes are great critter catchers. Okay, they are hanging now and seem to be happy, when can I expect a bloom? I can't believe these things were little cuttings two years ago. I have two hanging pots of them, one from two years ago, and one from last year.Tropicman gave me a few cuttings and they have taken off just like the first batch.

I have some of whatever that is. I put it in a big tub with the aloe vera and mother of thousands. Are you growing it without dirt?

GAgirl1066, sorry it wasn't me, I try to keep a good distance from them. I did have a garter in my pond and the little garden snakes, that is only because they are good for the garden.

Tropicbreeze, you are a brave man!!

Joeswife, the epiphyllum cutttings that I got from sunshinesw took 3 years before blooming. I am still waiting on the yellow to bloom. I can tell you that it is worth the wait!!

Oranges

Dwarf Mussaenda, white wing

wow. I have 4 oranges and 5-6 meyers lemons. The lime tree was covered with blooms and small starts...not a one of them made. What do you use for fertilizer?

My lime tree is not doing well. it lost its stuff after it bloomed and now just a small branch is left. It is going bye bye. down to 42 tonight. My sister and hubby and son got the most tender tropicals in, some are de-bugging out in the garage for the night. The hibiscus here are all inside and they have been blooming like crazy. Good thing, since I have to cut them back.
This stink bug has become my favorite pet out side. He kills and eats worms which I am impressed by..

what does everyone use to debug their plants before bringing them into the house?

My first Euphorbia milii bloom..thank you candela.

Tina, I drench the soil with a soap and water and neem oil mix. I spray with safer soap spray. I rinse smaller pots in the sink with hot soapy water. Right now the garage is holding the hurried up and brought in plants, they have all been treated, they will dry out there and then be moved in. I sprinkle sluggo on top and mix sand with vermiculite and powered up mosquito pellets and sprinkle the top of the pots with it. All the brugs and EEs get a HOT bath. I can't stand mites or critters during the winter flying around my house.
Meet Dottie and Cooter. Dottie has done a good job of learning to "sit" when I tell her too. Cooter just watches. Duke and I go out to see them and give them a treat when I am picking seeds along this fence. She has torn up all the vines, but it is so late I really don't care. Since the new baby has come into their lives, they don't get much attention. Almost all the plants are in, except the in ground ones. I did a search on all the plants left out, and it looks like the roots are hardy to at least 10 degrees on most of them, so 36 isn't going to "KILL" them. I am good with that.

Hi All!!

LouC, in my garden, it was a bad fruit season. I had one papaya, a few guavas and what you see on that orange tree. There is always next year!!

I have been using Medina organic granular fertilizer for several years now, it has Kelp meal, poultry manure, molasses and Texas green sand. It does not burn the plants, I also foliar feed once weekly with miracle-gro.

back yard

Joeswife, after I read your post, I googled our weather where they were calling for temps in the upper 40s. It scared me into putting the plastic over my hoop houses, I am dog tired but relieved. My new worry is not cooking them when the temp. goes back into the 90s.


Tina_A, I am not as diligent a gardener as joeswife, my plants are in greenhoues, where I will usually spray everything with the neem hose end sprayer whenever I can find it. I will also use All seasons spray oil, it kills all stages of insects including eggs, which is available at Northhaven Gardens. I have a few houseplants that stay in the house..

This message was edited Oct 4, 2010 6:08 PM

SobeGardener, I hope that candela does not miss viewing her bloom. It is a very pretty plant.
I was fortunate to find a thornless Euphorbia this spring, the flowers are small, but overall a very unusual plant.

Big head

New plant
Wrightia Asian Snow Bush

I am in awe of your expertise, Rita.

me too!

Forgot to show off my beauty berry shrub that was just a stick..

I'm gonna send Prita all my Brugs so she can give them a stern talking too !

Here's the little Kangaroo fern I found growing in my String of Hearts. It's grown quite a bit. And there appears to be another little one in there I'll dig it out when it get's a bit bigger. Still cannot imagine where it came from.

I've been lurking, been busy so have just been checking in.

Debra,
Can you give the recipe for you soap/water neem oil drench ? Our rainfall is still well below average, and it's been cooler than ususal for this time of year. Pretty much have a spot to stash everything in the greenhouse for a few days so I can scrub and put of a few extra shelves, then LOL, move it all back in !

this is a pic from last year. Hope I don't have to have so much in there this year, there won't be room for the other stuff I've gotten !
Passiflora membranacea is running down the shadey side now, it will have to share the GH with the Red Jade vine which will be going in there soon on the sunny side. Actually I may leave the P. membranacea out for a while now that it is cooler. It's one of the few that likes light shade.

Rachel, the "Cissus" sister's are rooted and growing, I can't wait for them to look like yours !


This message was edited Oct 5, 2010 5:02 AM

MJ,
You have plenty of room......this is crowded.... and it will probably be more so this year. I also have two other small GH and my garage, and my back deck (12x36) enclosed with plastic that I keep my plants in....not to mentioned all the ones I stuff inside the house in every nook and crannie.

BTW, I like that GH, where did you get it? I actually found one 40x 100 (thought that one would be big enough,LOL) but I can't get ahold of the women selling it. My biggest obstacle would be in moving it. But I would really like to have it. I have been moving things in, got all my orchids and begonias in..now working of ferns and other tender tropicals...been 48 last two mornings..arrrgghhh.

RIta, that thornless euphorbia is beautiful, I love those shiny leaves and I too want one of those green and white crotons, I've never seen one like that.

This poor dichorisandra was frequently munched by the deer this past summery, I never thought it would bloom.

This message was edited Oct 5, 2010 5:32 AM

Hodey!!

Thanks y'all, I have tried what others recommend and stick to what works for me.
I have never been bugless, no matter what I have tried. It is a constant battle with bugs but I refuse to let them win!!

Joeswife, I could kick myself for not getting me a beauty berry shrub, it would be a nice color change for my back garden. I wonder if the birds are attracted to the berries.

bird food

mjsponies, that is a cute little fern, and your GH seems to be vey big and sturdy!! We would love to see it after you have brought everything in for he winter.

GAgirl1066, I would love to browse your GH, you have lots of cool plants there. I bet there are a few that you have forgotten that you have bought!! lol

ardesia, thanks, I know where to find another thornless ephorbia.

Thanks for showing us that beautiful ginger bloom, I have one but the tips all turn brown and fall off. I will have to move it where it gets a little more sun.

Hello Every one thanks for showing your pictures and prita I do have some seed pods on the hibiscus plant you can always let me know if you want some I will gladly send you some when they are ready. You can let me know,

James

Rita, what is the plant with the red berries?
James, that coleus is awesome!