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.
Alyogyne: Blue Hibiscus with
prismatic effect of peacock feathers...
By Mark Hooten, the Garden Whiz.
Certain plant families contain many members which I
consider outstanding and requiring much admiration. One of
these families is the Malvaceae, known as the "Hibiscus
(or Mallow) Family". This group contains many members
whose ease of growth and visual impact is undeniable.
Among those which really stand out is a group of species
from far-off Western Australia called Alyogyne. They are
especially special! Continue reading...
Ethnic names are: Kamias, Belimbing Asam, Belimbing
Buloh, Bimbiri. This rare exotic fruit is very popular
in Thailand, Malaya and Singapore. In India, where it is
usually found in gardens, the bilimbi has gone wild in
the warmest regions of the country. Outside native
habitat, Bilimbi is hard to find plant, very few growers
produce them, although it is not so hard in cultivation.
The bilimbi is closely allied to the carambola but quite
different in appearance, manner of fruiting, flavor and
uses. The only strictly English names are "cucumber
tree" and "tree sorrel". "Bilimbi" is the common name in
India and has become widely used. Many people are more
familiar with the close ralative - Averrhoa carambola - Star
Fruit, which foliage looks very similar to bilimbi. The
bilimbi leaves and taste of fruit are quite similar to
those of the
Phyllanthus acidus - Otaheite Gooseberry),
although these plants are not related.
Continue reading...
1. There are approximately 20,000 different species of
butterflies, the largest of which is the Queen Alexandra
Birdwing with a wingspan of 11 inches.
2. Female butterflies can lay over 1000 eggs during their
short lifetime.
3. Butterflies lay their eggs on host plants which usually
hatch within a few days, then turning into caterpillars.
The caterpillar will then eat until it sheds it's skin
several times, called instars, finally emerging from the
chrysalis as a beautiful butterfly.
4. Butterflies are born to breed, their goal being to mate
and begin the cycle again. Most live only a few days
except the Monarch which can live up to six months.
5. Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico every fall and
remain there until spring when they make the return
migration.
6. Due to the continuing destruction of the rain forests,
where the largest population of butterflies are found,
their numbers are dwindling. We encourage you to plant a
butterfly garden!!
Remember:
- A sunny, less windy location is best, however, Zebras
love to float in the shade of bushes and trees.
- The more host and nectar plants you have, the more
butterflies will be attracted to your garden.
- Butterflies "puddle". They like a wet sandy area where
they congregate and sip minerals and nutrients from the
wet sand and water.
- Rocks to rest and enjoy their beautiful garden, and
don't forget a bench or hammock for yourself.
FREE
butterfly garden guide from Anna Banana
For our local Florida customers, it is a perfect time now
to start a garden with plants for butterflies that will
appear first thing in Spring. Establish these plants now
for the Spring blooms that will attract the Beauty into
your garden!
Stop by our Garden Center to check out our Butterfly Plants display, or
simply call Anna Banana for a free consultation on
Butterfly Garden at 239-771-8081.
Hurry up while butterfly plants are on 4-day sale!
Introducing a new member of Top Tropicals Team: Duck
Dobi. Full name is Adobe (Acrobat or Photoshop - he is
both active and colorful perrrson).
A customer brought us this little guy who was lost on
the street, probably left behind when his Mama took her
babies across the road. (Why did the Duck have to cross
the road after all?)
So Kristi adopted Dobi. He has been doing great for the
last couple of days, decided that Kristi is his Mom so
he is following her everywhere. TopTropicals cats are
excited but staying away knowing better: don't mess with
Mama Kristi!
Those of you who know little secrets how to raise little
ducklings please drop us a line! Dobi is our
first experience in raising something different than
plants or cats!
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.
From
Mark, the Garden Whiz. Since working in the
horticultural field for nearly 50 years, at either
nurseries or botanical gardens both in Florida and
southern California, I have come into contact with a LOT
of very cool plants. So many of them in-fact, that it's
becoming increasingly difficult to run across new ones
that really make me take special notice. Since being at
Top Tropicals for a while now, there are a few species I
had not met before which really stand out. Among them are
a couple of kinds of Portlandia. Continue reading...
