Governors plum, Madagascar Plum, Batoko palm - is a tropical or
subtropical small shrubby tree. It is cultivated in tropical regions as a hedge plant
and for its deep red acid fruits resembling small plums. The fruits are
about one inch wide and can be eaten fresh or made into preserves. They are sweet
and sour, with a texture and flavor similar to a plum. Fruits mature after
one to two months from flowering.
The tree is easy to grow, self-fertile and doesn't require much care,
not fussy about soil and very forgiving if you forget to water it.
Seeds germinate readily, but it takes a while until the seedling is
ready to be transplanted into a big pot or in the ground. If you plant them now,
by spring you have a chance to get the little tree ready to go!
Lighting for overwintering tropical plants indoors
Q: Days
are getting shorter and darker... I brought my tropical plants indoors for
overwintering (I live in Atlanta, GA). Could you give me some advice on what
lamps should I use for additional lighting of my plants?
A: Indoor
plants are very unlucky: they have to grow in "caves," and everybody knows
that plants don't grow in the caves. The luckiest plants win sunny windowsills,
but even there they dwell rather like in underbrush under tall trees, where
the sun illuminate them only early in the morning or in the evening, and its
light is diffused by foliage.
Usually domestic plants are in desperate lack of illumination not only
in winter, but also in summer. No light - no growth, no flowering. So, plants
need extra light to compensate the lack of illumination in the "room-cave"
conditions.
Before you will start any practical actions to help your plants, you
need first to decide whether you are going to set an additional illumination,
or provide full lamplight. In the case of just additional illumination, rather
inexpensive luminescent lamps will do, and you don't have to think about
their spectrum. Continue reading...
Improving cold hardiness before
winter: fertilizer and micro-elements
Q:
I live in New Jersey and it is getting cool here, with
temperatures in the upper 40s, but my tropical plant
collection is in a heated sunroom (still around 70s).
Should I continue fertilizing my plants? And if yes, my
second question about deciduous Sugar Apple tree. Should I
continue fertilizing it until it drops leaves?
A:
First of all, even though you live outside tropical
climate, your plants enjoy warm temperatures year round,
and can be treated like if they were in a Southern
garden.
Plant nutrients, both macro-elements (regular
fertilizer) and micro-elements (such as iron, manganese,
magnesium, copper, and other elements) play an important
role not only in overall plant health but also in plant
hardiness.
The rule of thumb is, even in warm climates we cut off
any fertilizer by the end of October. You still have
time for the last treatment this year (next will be in
March, or when your plants start showing new growth).
You may apply just a bit of slow-release granulated
fertilizer, or water-soluble by foliar spray, diluted
1/2 of label strength, to all evergreen species in your
collection.
The most important application before winter is
micro-elements and other plant boosters that will help
you plant collection survive winter months with a
shorter daylight and cooler temperatures. Now it is a
perfect time to make these simple steps:
1) Miscro-element applications, any one of: Superfood, Iron Supplement, Greenleaf.
2) Sunshine-T application: for
improving cold hardiness, plus immune system resistance
to insects and deceases.
3)
Sunshine-Honey application for all fruit trees to
encourage bigger and sweeter fruit next year.
Regarding your second question. Deciduous tropical
plants like Annonas, Adeniums, Plumerias, etc - do not
need regular fertilizer at this time, however, go ahead
and apply microelements Superfood complex, as well
as Sunshine-Honey, while
leaves are still green. These two will give a kick-start
to provide better flowering in spring, and production of
sweeter fruit later.
1. Prune. Last pruning before winter. Check the
trees and shrubs one more time. Cut away dead wood and
remove crossing limbs and branches.
2. Mulch. Continue to mulch to stop weeds and get
ready for winter. Keep mulch 1-2 inches away from the
stems. Evenings are starting to cool, so it is more
comfortable working in the garden.
3. Pest control. Check for mealy bugs and scales.
Remember that a garden with many kinds of plants has fewer
pests than gardens with lots of mass plantings. So keep up
with variety! Avoid pest magnets like Oleander, Oak,
Hibiscus which require constant spraying.
4. Propagation. You still can take cuttings but do
it as soon as possible. Days are getting shorter and less
sunlight signals thу plants to slow down their growth.
Cuttings will not root as quickly.
5. Seeds. Consider growing vegetables and
perennials from seeds. In mild cooler
conditions, seedlings have less stress and get a good
start.
Top Tropicals Powerpoint
Presentation by Anna Banana:
"Let's grow something different!"
Mark your
calendar: Anna Banana's Presentation "Let's grow
something different" Oct 16 @ 2 pm.
Learn more about rare tropicals and how to grow them in
non-tropical climate. Cold protection, water-wise, soil
improvement and much more.
Where: ALVA Garden Club
Meeting Location: The Alva Library Museum, 21420
Pearl Street, Alva, FL 33920
When: Tuesday, October 16th @ 2 pm.
Contact Phone Number for the Event: 239-728-3386
See more info about this event.
Season Colors from Kristi, TopTropicals Flower Queen
Q: I live
in New Jersey and I have a collection of potted tropical plants in my sun
room. Our Fall season comes in bright colors, do you have something with
colorful foliage for Fall?
A: For our
northern customers it's almost time for the changing of the seasons. It is a
very exciting and enjoyable time. The onset of fall means, less humidity,
cooler nights and the Fall foliage. Here in Florida we do not get the chance to
see the changing of the leaves, except maybe a few like Florida Maple Tree. So we use plants that mimic the season change, for
all year round color! These are a few examples of the plants with colorful
leaves that you may use for your Fall colors, plus remember - there is always a
big list of Fall and Winter Flowering Tropicals!
1) Easy planting. No sweat. Enjoy your gardening fun during
cooler weather!
2) Easy shipping. With cooler weather, there are less chances for
the mail order plants to get overheated in transit or at your doorstep in
case you miss the delivery. But don't wait too long, another few weeks and too
much cold will put another restriction for deliveries up North.
3) Easy establishing. Stress-free roots = stress-free plants =
happy gardeners. Cooler weather is always better for planting and quick
establishing.
4) Easy maintenance. Plant growth rate slows down during cool
period, so your garden maintenance will be minimal.
5) Winter bloomers will brighten your days! Look at these winter-flowering plants that create a spectacular show during
Fall-Winter in subtropical climates. If you grow them as houseplants, this is
your chance to have flowers in Winter!
6) House plants Many tropical species suitable for indoor cultivation are available year round, but when you
buy them in Fall - they are in their fullest and best shape after Summer
vigorous growth.
1. Plant a
tree... or a shrub, even just a small perennial will do. This plant will
make you feel good and accomplished for the whole year, until next Labor Day
(or even longer!). You will always see this fruit of your work and remember
your motivation, so things are not that bad with you!
2. Pull 66 weeds.
Needless to say, you have plenty of those in your yard at the moment.
Why 66? Just do it and see what happens. If you don't see any happy results,
pull another 66.
3. Fertilize
all plants in your garden or potted collection with slow release fertilizer and microelements. Remember, this is the last chance to give them food and
strength to survive, before winter. Starting October, all leftover fertilizer
goes to storage, even in tropical gardens.
4. Apply SUNSHINE
booster to protect your plants from cool temperature, help to go into
dormancy and rest without stress.
Remember, there are products for all your pre-winter needs: Sunshine-T for improving cold tolerance, Sunshine-BC for caudex and bonsai plants, Sunshine-H for houseplants, and general booster Sunshine-E to cover all occasions... 50 and 100 ml bottles available for large plant collections.
Sunshine-Honey should be applied on all fruit trees to ensure their next
year successful crop.
5. Add extra
mulch in those areas where it was washed off with summer rains or broke
down. One day of mulch work will provide 6 months of safe overwintering for
your plants.
6. Have a BBQ
or simply a nice meal with your friends or family. Enjoy your holiday
relaxation after hard work weekend and recharge your Happiness for many days to
come.
Q: How to
grow Baobab bonsai properly? How long does it take to shape a nice little
bonsai tree?
A: Baobab,
or Adansonia digitata, is a unique addition to a bonsai collection. Native
to Africa, it has an unusual structure and appearance. Some legends say that
the tree was cast down from the heavens and landed upside down, where it
began to grow. This story is no doubt a result of its appearance in the
winter, when the upper branches of the tree look more like roots than treetops.
The Baobab has some specific needs, but if you pay careful attention to its
requirements, this tree is not difficult to grow and makes an excellent
bonsai specimen.
Keep Baobab warm, it is sensitive to freeze.
Place Baobab in a bright, sunny window. Baobabs need at least six
hours of full sunlight per day, so a window with a western or southern exposure
is best. If your house doesn’t get enough light, supplement natural light
with artificial grow lights. See article Indoor lighting for
tropical plants.
Water Baobab regularly during the growing season whenever the soil
is dry. Never water the tree when it is dormant (dropped leaves).
Prune the branches of your Baobab bonsai as often as they need it to
give the tree the shape you desire, pruning or pinching off branches that
are growing at odd angles or are too long. Trim early in the spring before new
growth appears.
Repot the baobab bonsai every year in Spring. Remove it from pot and
trim the roots back by one-third of their length, completely removing any
that are damaged or dead. Place it in a container that is twice the size of the
root ball and fill the pot with a well-drained soil like Adenium Mix.
It is believed that it takes forever to form a nice shaped tree, up to a
few years. However if you provide warmth and bright light, branches grow
very quickly, and an experienced bonsai hobbyist can make a unique specimen
within 2-3 years. And then, the tree will stay with you for 5000 years - it can
be passed from generation to generation!
Swiss cheese plant is a jungle climbing relative of the philodendron
from Mexico and Guatemala. It is seen in gardens in tropical and subtropical
areas, growing well in partial sun or shade. The plant begins bearing fruit
after three years. The large deep green, cone-like fruit is actually an unripened
flower spike, covered with hexagonal scales that dry out and separate as the
fruit ripens from the base upwards, revealing the white pulp. It takes a
little longer than a year to mature to an edible stage. The fruit tastes kind of
like a cross between a sugar apple and a pineapple.Very perfuming smell and
taste! It's so amazing, can't figure the consistency, but totally a pineapple
sugar apple cross... But wash the black specks off before eating - they will
sting your tongue.
