I have a habit of sticking bulbs here, there and everywhere and there are a few Calla Lilies and Iris popping up in containers as well as in flower beds. When I walked out on the pool deck early this morning this lone Iris bloom greeted me:
Tropical Garden # 94
I had four clumps of Phaius tankervilliae ("Nuns Orchids") that were hit hard the past two winters. I dug up the only survivor and planted in a container out on the deck. Foliage wise it still looks pretty pitiful, but it has buds!
Rita: That Cordyline Pink Joy is gorgeous! I really like the foliage on that one ... and your Philo superbum makes me want to get interested in Philodendron's again! I've never tried Aspidistra ("Cast Iron" plants) and have only seen the solid green type that my sister in N. Georgia grows in her garden. I've never thought much one way or the other about them but I'm a sucker for variegated foliage and that one in your photo is really awesome!
Awesome iris photo, you could have some fun with that and photoshop.
I wish I knew how to use photoshop.
Prita,
Just bought one of those Philos. Mcd's a few days ago on e-bay ... Mda 1515?
Something like that?... Killer Superbum also!... I want the Giganteum also!
C.Thai Giant slowed a little but never went into dormancy.
As far as the Aroids... always have a medium that drains well but remains damp. If that takes a raised bed, than so be it! I always use leaf mulch mixed into the soil; two year well composted! I start out fertilizing with 1/8 label directions, and never go higher than 1/2 label directions. I also do not start fertilizing until the 2nd full leaf is out after it is planted! (I want the roots to have a good foothold first) I ferilize evey time I water! When the weather starts to get really warm and dry; I start "the rain forest mist". I have a Firehose type sprayer and set it on the maximum distance it will fire. Point the hose straight up in the air and the drops of water are like a nice "shower" for the tops of the plants. As far as the bottoms, I just place the nozzle on "fog" and get a good coating underneath the leaves. (I also cut the ferilizing rate back to every 2nd or 3rd time I water;Aroids do not like temps in the 90"s) I will shower and fog like this in the eary AM, and the early evening. When we get in the mid nintys with hardly any rain I will water twice a day heavily, sometimes three times when my Orinoco bananas are over 20'
A great mulch is a key factor in height, size and health (the damp mulch provides a lot of humidity as well). I use the previous falls mulched leaves after rotting over the winter. (the shredded ones from the lawn-service guys). You do not want matted leaves as your mulch! Use about 3-4" worth of the leaf mulch in the Spring. Now you guys with the Water oaks, Pin oaks and the like, should use Pine straw? I don't know; it's been so long since I lived in Mobile, I could not really say with certainty...
The problem with your OK.Slvr. could be the soil is compacted around the roots check it out!
Send a picture of it, the rootball and the surrounding immediate area and we can check it out once you dig it up!
RachelLF,
That is good to know! I will have to read that article myself! I should stay more up to date on things like that but I never seem to make time for it.
Thanks for your help on this!
Rhipsalis cereuscula? I can never remember when it comes to Rhips.
Blooms of the above Rhip
A bowl full of Stars ... Cryptanthus ("Earth Stars"):
Kalanchoe/Bryophyllum growing along the edge of a wooded lot across the street:
Eriobotrya japonica ("Loquat") fruit are getting larger:
Little orchid Tolumnia Jairak Rainbow something or other:
I bought two of these Pelargoniums a couple of months ago and one is blooming again:
awww. those are all beautiful.
A bit out of focus but thought I'd share anyway ... a Dietes bicolor ("African Iris") that's just beginning to bloom:
Thanks Debra! Spring has finally arrived here in Florida! We have a bit of a cold snap coming Friday and Saturday but nothing serious thank goodness! I think we are supposed to have a few nights in the mid to upper 40's and I'm not moving my orchids or anything else back inside ... too much work and they've all survived a couple of hours at those temp's before so I'm sure they will be okay. Do you still have snow up your way?
Another bloomer today, and this one is a bit out of focus too ... I need a camera that sees better, LOL ... or maybe I should get off my butt and schedule a very needed eye exam, I'm only about 3 or 4 years past due for one. My correction is for distance and I have to wear contact lenses to drive but I swear I can see better without them!!
This is Lantana trifolia:
A Syngonium podophyllum, one of the Allusion series but I can't remember which ... maybe Neon Allusion?
Well, it's storming here ... we sure need the rain but I hate thunder and lightning! There's been a massive wildfire at the southern end of the county that's been burning all week ... last I heard it was at 18,000 acres and still not out, but finally contained. There haven't been any homes lost but I think of the wildlife lost or displaced from such awful fires.
One last picture before I shut down my computer. Before mowing a few days ago I collected tons of seedpods from the Oleander trees. Some seeds were already escaping to the wind. I sowed a few ... I've had them germinate and sprout in the past but I usually lose interest and forget about them and they perish. :(
Have a good evening everyone!
Oleander Seedpods:
Plantladylin,
I really like that Dietes Bicolor "African Iris"
me too...
Like a Timex, it keeps going and going..
We are having Babies here in Kansas
Some really beautiful pictures
Lynn, I agree with Homer. Love the Dietes Bicolor. I really like the Syngonium podophyllum Allusion
Here are a few more of the plants I picked up at the end of the York FS, they were display plants, too. Sold at a dollar a pot. I will be potting them up today.
The Dietes bicolor isn't a favorite of mine. When I bought the two plants years ago I thought I was purchasing D. grandiflora: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/237839/ which I think is prettier. My friend has lots of the D. grandiflora in her yard and I keep meaning to get seeds but haven't done it yet!
Debra: Congrats on those Kalanchoe babies! Aren't they just the cutest little things? Is the Alocasia I see the one I sent you? You are a great plant mom, everything looks so happy and healthy! That Thumbergia alata is wild isn't it! Years ago when I had a greenhouse I planted seeds and it was so pretty. When I had my DH dismantle the GH years later I dumped the pots out in a corner of the backyard by the fence and T. alata would go to seed every year. Those plants wound around and through the chain link fence and climbed a nearby tree ... it was a pretty sight and reseeded for quite a few years. I should plant some more seeds!
HollyAnn: Nice ferns for $1 per pot!!
I grabbed 2 white rabbit's foot ferns yesterday, at Lowes, for a buck apiece!!!
I love going to Lowes and HD when we are in Fl. Such great plants for me. Up here I either can't find the ones so easily picked up down there or they are much smaller plants for much more $$. I potted up my ferns this morning. They look so nice in their new pots.
I think we should all post on the sticky WHAT WE HAVE and WHAT WE WANT. If we will look at each other's lists, we could see what each of us would like, and if we can get it in a mailable size (quart or gallon), we could dmail each other and say "hey, I found a plant on your wish list, the cost is $??? - and postage would be $??? - want me to grab one for you. Then we could say yea or nay, mail the dollars and get some elusive plants - our own 'mail order' process!
I know most areas have unique plants for a good deal that I would like to get. What do all of you think?
HollyAnn: What part of Florida do you find good plants at HD and Lowes?? I haven't had luck at any of our Home Depot or Lowes carrying much other than Ivy, Ivy, Ivy!!! I swear, I thought I was dreaming when I saw 20+ baskets of ivy at HD last week and they want $14.98 for them! Our local garden centers used to carry a lot of the Exotic Angel plants in both hanging baskets as well as the little 2" plastic pots, but not so much anymore. I'm hoping maybe later in the season they will stock more house plants. Maybe I need to try stores in other parts of the state.
Well I always find something interesting when I go to my FIL's in NewPort Richey just above Tampa. But my idea of interesting might be different than yours as what might be common plants for your area are very different than my area. Last time I was there I picked up a Paddle Kalanchoe, Portulaca molokiniensis, African Milk Bush I also brought back a Monstruosed Hedge Cactus from my FIL's yard. Basic things like Bougies are quite expensive here and I can get a gal pot for the same price as I would pay for a 4 inch pot in my area. I also brought home a couple of Persian Shield plants as I couldn't find them in our area at all last year. Here is a pic of my haul last summer.
Sounds like a winner to me Kay!
Homer, post your lists at the top of the tropicals forum, in the thread labeled 'sticky'. I hope others think this is a good idea!
I do,( think it is a good idea) it is just so hard for me to list all the I wants LOL. Plus, When ever I go to Lowes, their stuff is nothing like what anyone is looking for. I did lust after a huge bright neon Ti plant tho, for 7 dollars. Didn't buy it, got some orchid mix instead.
I have alot to share, but no one wants what I have *sigh*
Are you sure you don't want some Chi Chi? LOL Or, tropical milkweed? These are begging to be sent out..
Kay, I hope your chalice vine I sent looks like the one on the right, and not like the one on the left.. if it does, please let me know..
It looks like the one on the left! LOL
Our box stores all have the Ti you are talking about (I think) for about $10, but our strong 25 mph winds tattered all of them and they don't look so hot now.
Lin....
have you ever been to the Farmer's Market on Wed down at the fairgrounds.....you can get some amazing deals there. There's a whole row of plant sellers. We got a Lipstick plant there last Wed. for $8.00...loaded with blooms. Pic doesn't even show the whole plant. There were other things I wanted too, but didn't get as I've been majorly budgeting...went there for veggies...and they were gorgeous and so much better prices than the grocery stores. Fresh Asparagus bunches that were almost 2 lbs for $1.00, fresh Red/Yellow/Orange Bell Peppers, HUGE, 2 for $1.00, qt. basket of fresh strawberries for $1.00, Candy Corn on the Cob, 4 ears for $1.00...we bought all that and some other veggies too.
We finally finished the fencing......ugggg my arm and hand hurt from all the hammering, Over 500 feet replaced.
And Oh JOY....we may have a frost tomorrow morning. I've just planted a bunch of Salvia's and moved a bunch of plants back outside. Now we're going to have to cover, or put back in the barn for the night. I knew I should have left them closer to the barn, but it's been so nice and everything is wanting to grow ! And the Hummers are back, and I've seen Giant Swallowtail BF's, Tiger's, Pipvine and Sulphers already. If these guys are here already then the Monarchs won't be far behind. My Milkweed plants are up but not very big yet. The Monarchs ate me out of Milkweed last year, I probably should have started some seeds. Guess I better get on that.
I've haven't had a chance to take pictures but Spicy justica is blooming, Variegated shrimp . Cross Vine is dripping with buds and blooms, Abulition Bella yellow loads of buds, and Salvias are budding up big time. And the White and Blue Sky vines are jumping out of the ground. Much earlier this year than last...I guess I better cover them tonight...really don't want them to get nipped back I know several folks that want cuttings of it ;-)
ok..outside with me
Kay, I think that is a wonderful idea. I have thought of the same thing. We (you and I and some others) have things, especially tropicals, that others may not have excess too. You even have access to some things I don't.
I have got to update my want list.
Mj, I was one of those that want the white sky vine, and I would like some of your abutilon bella yellow also. I have abutilon red and apricot, if you would like to trade.
They had some fabulous plants at Amelia Island last weekend, I bought a carload. Its amazing what just an hours drive can get you.
Dave: Hope you are okay. I've been watching the news for the past two hours and saw that all of Hawaii is under Tsunami warnings due to the catastrophic Earthquake that hit Japan. Very scary, and even more so since it's still night time in your part of the world. Japan had a lot of destruction from the quake, many explosions and fires burning and a 23' tsunami wave moving over one area. Hawaii is expected to have a 6' wall of water ... but what many don't understand is it's not like a regular beach wave that comes in and gently recedes ... a tsunami wave is a wall of water that pushes inland for miles causing a lot of destruction. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone Japan and the area's of the Pacific expecting outfall from the quake.
Stay safe!
Kona got the worst waves. Walls of water over 11 foot high hit the coast. A few houses were lost and some campgrounds were washed away. Marinas and boats were wrecked and sunk. Not sure if everyone is accounted for and safe yet.
Unknown is what may have happened in Micronesia. Some of the atolls there may have been completely engulfed by the waves.
Hello All, I had to take a little time off to get a wellness checkup that made me me sick for two days, lol. It was a pleasure reading everyone's posts!
plantladylin, thanks, I love that your nun's orchid is sending out spikes. There is hope for mine yet, showing one leaf.
Those are crisp, clear, beautiful photos of your plants. Philos are awesome, you will never be bored with them and there will always be that new, more exciting, "got to have", plant. (I know that Rachel will agree)
This is not my prettiest Philo.Giganteum but my oldest notice the roots latching on to the trunk of the Alocasia.
Homer1958, Thanks for your reply! I am a self taught gardener and am ignorant of the correct terminology, so please bear with me.
The older of my C Thi Giant did not go dormant the first year that I had it, but the leaves were a little smaller the second year and It went completely dormant. It is now begining to show a little green. I bought two, in hope of getting the same size foliage that I got the first year.
I did use a lot of cow manure compost, shredded live oak leaves and sand, tilled in to make a raised bed about 1ft high.
The Aroid garden is partially covered in shade cloth in the summer. The Texas sun will scorch everything. I have to position the cloth as to where the plants are located in the garden. There was no thought given to plant needs when I started and I would just plant them where they looked good. I am in the process of of re-arranging with a plan.
I was wondering If I could substitute a mister for your firehouse type sprayer.
The 25ft banana plant is quite impressive, I doubt that mine will ever get that high, having to cut them back every Fall. I get fruit every once in a while but am usually sad because I know that I will lose that plant. The Saba will get very tall but the Siam Rubys are my the prettiest plants.
This is my puny A Oknawah Silver, I will dig and re-pot if you think it will help.
