37 here this morning but no frost thank goodness. This is the coldest we have reached this year but we still have to get through those first 2 weeks in February. Brrrrrr I put a few begonias on a cart and I roll them in and out of the garage depending on the weather and the ones in ground are covered with frost cloth on the cold nights. So far everything looks good. I covered a couple of ti's with those styrofoam pots and that seems to be working well, I just pop them over the plants on the coldest nights. I almost threw those pots away because they get to looking so ratty after a year or so but now I am glad I kept them.
We all do have zone envy and it is not only for the warmer zones. Sometimes I even wish I could grow plants that like cooler climates like peonies. True gardeners are never satisfied, there is always another challenge out there.
I just checked and we are supposed to be in the 80's next week. Good grief.
Tropical Plants and Gardens #128
Alice, you are so right - I would love to grow the perennials I grew in Missouri: Peonies, Butterfly bush etal, but alas - they just melt away, never to be seen again. I miss Tulips, too. We can grow SOME Daffodils and Hyacinths, but for the most part, we can't grow 'required chill hours' bulbs.
So right about always finding another challenge, Alice. I swore I'd never grow orchids because you have to fuss over them so much. Here I am today with over 90 orchids and counting . . . a lovely bronze cymbidium followed me home from Trader Joe's yesterday. Most orchids are pretty easy to grow here, but cymbidiums like it cool and struggle to re-bloom after a hot summer. So I move them around to the coolest spots in the garden all summer - go figure! I've been packing my 'chids around and hiding them under the patio table on the cold nights this week, so zone envy or not, take it from me! We all mess with plants that are not easy for our zones.
I am lucky with the cold-hardy perennials. I planted a whole garden full of them at my daughter's in Salt Lake, and get to go visit them at least a couple of times a year. Tons of tulips, daffs, crocus, snowdrops, iris, peonies, coneflowers etc. Now she's talking about moving . . . oh boy! A whole new garden to mess with!
Where are you packing all those Orchids Elaine? Wasn't it about a month ago that you did not have any? Serious Sickness! It's like the Flu. Watch out everybody, it's spreading like the Plague! The Center for Tropical Control will be at Our doors soon enough!!!
LOL, the CTC!
There is a species tulip called Lady Jane that returns faithfully for me, I have her in pots stuck here and there all over the yard. This is a pic from a previous year. The flowers close up at night and all that shows are the pink buds, during the day you see both colors.
Oh, my - Alice, those are lovely!
There are a number of heat tolerant species tulips but this is the only one that has lasted over the years for me. They do multiply by bulblets but I have never had them re-seed as they do in some areas. Species tulips are smaller than the hybrids but they are sure nice to have in the warmer parts of the country. I have tried Lilac Wonder, Chrysantha and Cynthia but Lady Jane has been the winner for me.
http://www.johnscheepers.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Product&_category=Tulips:Species
awww those are pretty.. those orchids are infectious. watch out.
I think I like that Lady Jane tulip.
Yeah, I got the orchid fever, for sure. There's room in my yard for lots more. Some of them are pretty small . . .
I used to grow those Lady Jane tulips in my garden in Salt Lake. They are lovely.
Yea! I received a message from someone that has a pink Brazilian Plume flower. I'm a happy camper. They're just up the road too, so will be an easy trade off. ☺
Alice the tulips are so pretty, I've always love tulips.
Elaine I see new blossoms on the tomatoes again. I've never grown tomatillos before, they're covered with blossoms and a couple tomatillos. Your orchids are so pretty, I've been reading how the cooler nights even all the way to light frost are actually good for my D. nobile, which I found interesting, actually helps produce the most prolific blooming. I'll be showing you all some flowers real soon, I can tell they're pink now.
I'd love to go to Apopka to one of the orchid farms.
me too!
Deb, when you come down next time, we are taking an overnight trip to Plant City and around that area - to haul back some tropicals!!!!
I would get sensory overload in Apopka, Plant City and Lake Placid. I spent several days in Homestead once, tons of growers there too, and I looked dazed for days afterwards.
sounds good to me KayJones..
Alice .. I get that way in the botanical gardens.. dazed for dayz.. ';D
Ha, I don't even need to go that far, it happens to me when I go to Lowe's - two more orchids followed me home today off the death rack!
One's just a nice perky little Phal that came in the square glass vase, (why? ! ) but the other is a treasure, a Brassavola 'Yellow Bird' like the one I have already in the second pic. They are wonderful, easy bloomers and not fussy at all. Both $7.
Okay, I'm going to Lowe's today. ☺
I worked in the garden all day yesterday, was so nice out. I have so many little seedlings coming up everywhere, some I have no idea what they are, but they're not weeds...will have to wait and see. There is lots new growth coming out on some leggy plants and I want so much to chop them back now....trying to wait...but is very hard. And looks like the next cold front not coming on down...so I'm doing a happy dance.
I can't believe you found those beautiful orchids on the death rack. Our lowe's waits until they are really dead before putting anything there.
Ours too...they are usually wilted and shriveled up or sun scorched. But the ones a hour from me always has good stuff..most of the time.
New for me today, my Passiflora Quadrangularis has flowers open! I think they look like sea creatures.
beautiful, Elaine.. I have tried and tried to grow those from seed to no avail.. today I planted up two water bottle planters of Sesbaunia seeds from Kay Jones, and three from Pride of Barados from Elaine. Can't wait to see who gets up first LOL
I think you're right!
Good morning, my gardening Friends!
Elaine, will you root me some cuttings of your Passiflora Quadrangularis, pretty please?
I had a huge one and it died suddenly - it was sitting where the sprinklers hit it every day - maybe it got over-watered - if I get another, I'll be more attentive to the amount of water it gets.
Sure thing. I already have one that I rooted last summer, but it is too big to send you. Will get a smaller one going and send it as soon as I'm sure it's rooted. They aren't known for being long-lived so your big one was most likely just finished its life cycle.
My huge P. Purple Possum that gives me so much fruit has died, too. My garden helper cleared it off the back fence yesterday and the trunk was completely rotten. This isn't unexpected because they grow so huge, so fast. My last one did the same thing. Grew huge, bore fruit for about 3 years then expired. I am planting another one this spring. Yay! An excuse to go out to Crowley's Nursery - it's a theme park for gardeners out there.
Deb, I have not had seeds from this one - it's never set fruit - but haven't had success with seeding the other types either. My P. Lady Margaret sends out suckers that pop up from time to time, and they transplant well. I've given away a few, and I know the one I gave my neighbor is going strong. I've rooted cuttings successfully, too.
well, try a small one for me, plz? Joe told me he is not going to put in a vegetable garden this year as we are not looing at a summer of rain, so he said I can do with that area what I want. It is all full sun, so thought the bananas would grow ok there, any ideas? KayJones, I sure hope you know how happy I am to see this scene this am.. it got up to over 70 tday, everything is waking up.. the rain passed us by again.. So far, I see no reason to carry all these things up the stairs and thru the house and out the back door.. hmm..
Good morning! Deb, I'm happy that YOU'RE happy!!!
Sure, if I'm starting one, may as well start a few. May have to wait a month, though. I'm pretty sure the other one that rooted was started in the spring last year. After the bloom period when it starts to grow again is the time to start cuttings.
Deb, you do know that this vine needs to get huge before it sees fit to bloom? It will be twice around the ceiling of your basement before you'll see flowers . . . mine was 25ft. up into the bamboo before I saw its first flower . . 'way 'way up there. You're sure you want to try this?
We're into the third year for this plant of mine, but the first I've seen any number of flowers. Last year it had two.
Speaking of quads, my Clero. quadriloculare is getting ready to bloom.
Shooting Star Clerodendron, aptly named see how the buds "shoot" out from the cluster before they open? Well, they're shooting, but not yet stars . . .
Oh, the one you sent me (I think that's what you sent) isn't big enough to bloom yet, but it will grow this year - I can't wait!
Yay, I'm glad it has survived. When it starts growing you'd better jump back! They grow big, fast!
I can't wait!!!
*sigh* my passions that I have are vining everywhere as usual, no blooms yet and this is year three.. course they were only a foot tall when I got them, and I climbed up a ladder to the top of Tropicman's roof to see his Passion vine Ruby Glow.
Good morning, everyone - trash truck woke me up, so here I am!
Deb, are you still kicking? I haven't heard from you in FOREVER!
Your Passifloras WILL bloom - when they are ready!!!
Elaine I like that passi, very unusual. I read somewhere to not put fertilizer on passifloras, or you'll just get green and no flowers. I have the purple and red crimson, and lady Margaret. The red one the caterpillars don't like, so it is taking over everything right now...usually frozen back. Guess I'll be cutting it back this year...that is a first. I tried to keep it on a trellis, but it is sneaky and escaped into my crape myrtle tree. Right now it looks good since the tree is bare.
I went to Lowe's and the checked the clearance rack for orchids, they had a few but they were pretty bad off and they still were 10 bucks, so I passed. I must have missed the good ones.
Sherri, I think that's probably right. I give mine a shot of fert in the spring, let them grow lots of new leaves to replace the ones the caterpillers ate, then no more all year. Once they've eaten up all the fert, that's when the flowers start. Late spring.
This purple-flowered one is particularly cold-tender, so unless you have a BIG greenhouse, you probably don't want to try it. It only survives in my garden because it cowers under a huge stand of bamboo.
Tomatoes the same way. Only fertilize after first tomatoes appear.(if you did not know)
Lowes WILL bargain - ask for the dept. manager, take him the plant and make him an offer. They also sell whole racks for $10-20. You just have to ASK THE department MANAGER. The workers have no power to make deals, but the manager wants to get RID of markdown plants and most are willing to work with you!
Recently, I looked on the Orchid rack at Lowe's and found declining tropical lady slipper Orchids ( Phragmipediums) - talked to the manager and got a couple for THREE DOLLARS each - they were marked $24.99!
It depends on the manager...we had one like yours, Kay and then they transferred him. I was always getting the green cart full for $10.00, orchids included. BUT then a different one came and he won't deal...says its already 50 % off. You must have got our good one...send him back!!
Hope everyone escaped the bad weather. We have 3 dead trees that were blown down, unfortunely one fell on our wood fence. UGH! The worst was that the wind ripped all my plastic off of my GH. BUT I have some guys coming today to start on a new GH house. They are going to build it...so we shall see. I HOPE it turns out good. I really wanted another polycarbonate one, but they are just too expensive. I just have to find somewhere to put the plants that was in that GH.
Better hurry, Paula. It's gonna get cold tonight. Sorry to hear you had wind damage.
Wow, Phrags for $3 is a huge bargain! You hardly ever see them even at the specialty growers.
I've been "mean" to nursery managers before and said "well you can give me a good deal on it now, or you can watch it die and throw it away later". They usually figure it out.
I wonder if it doesn't have to do with the district. Paula and I are probably in the same region and our managers would rather toss stuff than take a discount. Then there are the Bonnie plants, they actually buy the leftovers back, at a discount I am sure, no matter what the condition. No sense in working to keep them in good condition, the stores can't lose. The independent growers hate that.
Hasn't this wind been fierce Paula? Great clumps of Spanish Moss have been flying around, it looks so strange, sort of like something you would see in a cartoon. The temp is supposed to drop to 32 tomorrow night. Brrrr, but if this wind keeps up there will be no chance of frost. Sorry about your GH, have you checked the prices at Costco? A friend got a great one there.
Hey Alice,
The wind has been awful...very chilly today..had a jacket on most all day (been outside). I don't know where there is a Costco near me...I would assume probably Jacksonville or Valdosta, both at least an hour away.
Anyhoo, the boys did show up today with my lumber and they have started on the frame. Its going to be 16x 36 with 8 ft walls and probably 10 ft ceiling. NOW...IF it will turn out like I have it pictured in my mind, it will be great. Only time will tell...lol. He said they will probably be finished with it Tuesday (if nothing takes them away). Once they get it framed all the way, everything else should go good. MAYBE, now I can start to grow some things and sell them to fund my 'addiction'.