A new law hopes to fix deforestation and teach young people about
environmental stewardship. Students in the Philippines now have a final requirement
in order to graduate from school: they must plant 10 trees. The new law,
which came into effect on May 15, 2019, will apply to graduates from elementary
and high schools, and college or university.
With 12 million kids graduating from elementary school, 5 million from
high school, and 500 thousand from university every year, that means 175
million trees will be planted annually! Over the course of a generation, that
will mean 525 billion trees, although Alejano has said that even if only 10
percent of the trees survived, that's still an impressive 525 million in a
generation!
It sounds like the Philippines has introduced a wonderful program that
other countries would do well to emulate. Anything that gives young people a
sense of connection and responsibility for the natural environment bodes well
for its future... Continue reading...
Q: I have a bare spot in my front garden, behind a low wall, in
part-sun. I'm hoping to find an evergreen, flowering ground cover that will
cover it quickly. Any ideas on finding something with the ability to eventually
also cascade over that wall? I live on Marco Island, Florida.
A:Barleria Repens - Small Bush Violet, is a tough, fast-growing evergreen
that blooms from late spring to autumn. Of the many Barleria we see in the
tropics, Pretty in Pink is one of the most striking! The name tells the whole
story: pretty and pink. A lot of gardeners enjoy using them as a ground
cover. They will quickly cover a large area - their stems root readily as the
plant crawls along. They are easily propagated by lifting the rooted runners or
using cuttings. They also reseed easily. Flowers are followed by seed pots
that explode open when dry, dispersing 4 seeds at a time! But perhaps best liked
by many gardeners, is their habit to cascade. It will be well suited for
covering the bare area in your garden and spilling over that wall beautifully.
When used as a ground cover, remember to pinch out young shoots to
encourage bushiness and prune the plant back hard after flowering to keep it
neat.
Barleria repens will also adapt to different situations in a garden if
you need them to. Although they usually form a rounded to spreading bushy
shrub, 2 ft high by 3 ft wide, they will climb when you give them support. They
are often allowed to lean into nearby trees and shrubs.
Hardy to 28F, Barleria repens is pest-free and fairly frost-tolerant.
They love sun and part shade, as well as well-drained soil and plenty of
organic material. Avoid planting it in deep shade as it will get leggy and
reluctant to flower.
They will thrive when fed with a slow release fertilizer at intervals
of 6-8 weeks, throughout the growing season.
There is another cultivar of this exact variety that has blue-purple
flowers, it is called Purple Prince! It couples perfectly with Pretty in Pink! :)
Q: Pretty much adore last newsletter. Haven't been buying because
our weather here in deep south Texas is so bad it is stunting and killing
even the Tamaulipan Scrub! Do you have a cure for that? :) I have every
expectation the new grafted Plumeria I purchased from you last year will bloom soon.
One of my favorite plants. Thanks again and keep up the good works.
A: Yes, there is a "cure" - using biostimulants that improve drought- and heat- resistance (SUNSHINE
boosters), plus the right plant selection. In fact, there is a large number of
tropical rare plants that can be successfully grown in hot climates like yours.
One of our partners lives in hot and dry Arizona area and has an amazing
tropical garden that includes many fruit trees (Mango, Persimmons, Pomegranates, Loquats, etc). Here you can see a few pics from his garden.
Your choice is absolutely right about plumerias. Other easy plants would be Desert roses - Adeniums, and Fancy Euphorbia millii - all these come in so many varieties of colors
and bloom throughout most of the year. Our special recommendations for you
would be also:
Q: I live in Mesa, Arizona. I am considering purchasing two of
you Triple Sec Mango trees. Can you please give me some information on this
variety and how to grow it successfully here in hot and arid
Arizona, if at all?
A:Triple Sec Mango is a new name for the superior variety Seacrest. The
aroma of this fruit resembles Triple Sec - an orange liqueur. It's a juicy,
mid-season variety that has good disease resistance.
Mango has pretty good heat and drought tolerance. It loves sun, but there
are a lot of factors to consider when growing Mango in your area.
Check your soil. Soil quality is always first and foremost: when you
live in an area of Arizona with
hardpan (extremely compacted desert soil) or caliche (layers of soil
cemented by calcium carbonate) you
will have to learn how to deal with such soil types. Amend the soil as
needed.
The best time to plant is spring or fall to give your Mango a chance to
get established before the really intense Summer heat starts. Alternatively,
protect the tree with a shade cloth. Tender, new growth will not stand a
chance unprotected, especially newly planted and/or young trees.
Mangoes are tropical and sensitive to frost and freeze damage. Young
trees especially will also need winter protection when temperatures go near or
below freezing. Always plant trees in a location where they will be protected
from cold wind. Consider staking your newly planted Mango trees for the
first year. It's never a bad idea to even stake during periods of high winds.
Make sure your planting site has very good drainage. Always use a good
quality mulch around your tree as it helps to trap moisture, keeping the
ground and the roots beneath it cool. Keep mulch a couple of inches from the
trunk of the tree. Avoid a location that gets full day sun. Morning sun,
afternoon shade is ideal. Give regular watering until the tree is established. Once
established, water only when the soil feels dry.
Fertilizer with a Mango-Food. A foliar spray of micronutrient solution is always
recommended during the active growing period. Use plant stimulants and microelements to improve cold hardiness and vigor.
Q: Would you please help me select the right jasmine? I want to
find a jasmine that smells like lily of the valley or honeysuckle or roses,
not the one that smells like gardenia. I'm in Missouri, zone 6, so I want a
jasmine for my deck for the summer, so I want it to bloom this season.
A: There are 3 major types of tropical flower fragrances - Sweet,
Fresh, and Fruity (including Lemony). Below are the most interesting
fragrant tropical flowers, excluding Gardenias (which are sweet type). These are all
same-year bloomers, so you can enjoy the fragrance this year assuming proper
care and bloom booster feeding.
* - The fastest growers that can be treated as annuals. Others can be
grown in a pot and brought inside for winter, and be enjoyed every year.
Q: Can you please tell me which zones are the best for growing
Angel Trumpets? When do they bloom and is there a specific fertilizer to use on
them?
Do you sell any variegated varieties?
A: If you are lucky enough to live in an area that doesn’t
freeze or only has light frosts, you can grow Brugmansia (common name Angel Trumpet) outside all year long. They are
only entirely hardy in USDA zones 9-12, but they remain very popular
throughout the United States. They do really well in coastal settings in the
Southwest. They are simply glorious in the coastal areas of South California. In the
southwestern states, as well as in the tropics, they bloom spectacularly
throughout the spring, summer, and autumn.
Angel Trumpets are very heavy feeders and they need huge amounts of
nitrogen. You can use a standard balanced slow-release fertilizer on Brugmansia,
but then you must apply it very generously. We've created a specialized
fertilizer just for them. Angel Trumpet Delight is a perfect Brugmansia food for frequent monthly
feed. It's a 30-day Smart-Release formula that works wonders for Angel
Trumpets. A a well-balanced combination of macro- and micro- nutrients with a slow
release action, it provides continuous feed, maintains vigor and disease
resistance. It also contains coated nitrogen, early release nutrients and extra
iron (water soluble and chelated) for quick green-up.
Angel Trumpets come in a dazzling array of colors: orange, yellow,
green, white, pink, red, emerald and even purple (closely related Datura). One of our favorites is the beautiful Variegated Orange Angel Trumpet, a new hybrid with variegated leaves
and a large single bloom that starts white and turns orange. Another amazing
variety is "Sun Explosion" - with a variegated orange flower.
Most folks are usually in awe of the enormous trumpet flowers when they
see it for the
very first time. They most definitely need to be planted where they can be
admired… near a deck, terrace, lanai or, entryway. The blossoms are
short-lived, but numerous, continuous, and truly show-stopping! And they smell so
good! This is a must have in any tropical garden. They can be grown either as a
bush or a small tree. They are easy peasy to grow and root extremely easily,
making them great as pass-along gifts for friends. They are sun-loving and
super fast-growing plants. Plenty of water and fertilizers keep them happy and
at their best. Did I mention they smell good too? ;)
Synergy of SUNSHINE, biostimulants, and macro-micro
Q: I've heard that plants grow better and bigger with SUNSHINE
boosters and when using Myco-Mix instead of regular soil mix. Do they work like
fertilizers? If I use a Myco-mix, do I still need a fertilizer?
A:SUNSHINE boosters are not fertilizers, they are natural plant hormones,
or biostimulants, as well as Myco-Mix which is a naturally occurring compound or microbes.
Biostimulants are becoming increasingly attractive to folks interested in sustainable
agriculture, and very popular for plant growth or pest resistance. A plant
biostimulant is not a fertilizer because it provides no nutritional value to the plants. But,
it can promote greater nutrient and water use efficiency, increase
resistance to pests and diseases, reduce abiotic stresses, and in turn, lead to plant
growth and health.
To answer your question, you can not replace regular fertilizers (NPK)
and micro-elements with plant boosters and stimulants. However, fertilizers
and microelements will work more efficiently when used in combination with
biostimulants. Together they create a synergy, so plants use the most of
fertilizer's potential, and will grow a lot better, faster, and healthier.
4 components for the best growing results
1. SUNSHINE boosters. They are a must during the juvenile stage of plant
development - seedlings and cuttings. They are especially important for
recovery of weak or stressed plants (boosting their immune system).
2. SuperFood microelements
3. NPK fertilizers. Select from water-soluble and smart-release types and
make sure do not exceed the recommended concentration. Lower dose and more
frequent use is always better for a plant.
4. Specialized soilless mixes: Myco-Mix (with biostimulant Mycorrhiza) for exclusive growing projects
and special/unique plants, Professional potting mix for potted plants, and Propagation mix for seeds and cuttings.
Q: I’m a beginner gardener and looking for something easy to
grow that will add a lot of color to my garden fast.
A: Try growing Canna lilies. They are a favorite of many
gardeners as they are so easy to grow and always provide a reliable, beautiful show
of flowers. In fact, Cannas are one of those plants that are spectacular even
if they never bloomed. The leaves are tropical-looking, banana-like and huge!
They range in a wide variety of shades and colors, always accentuating the
large showy flowers on top.
One of our favorite cannas right now is Canna Cleopatra - very striking and most unique. Large yellow flowers
speckled with red spots, or red flowers and even flowers with a little bit of
both. Foliage is exotic and very beautiful, often dark green,
dark chocolate or a combination of both. This is a canna that will
definitely illuminate
your garden!
Caring for Cannas
Cannas like a lot of water, full sun and high heat. They are also heavy
feeders and prefer soils that are well drained, organically rich and moist.
The leaves will quickly tell you when the plant is hungry. Feed your cannas
weekly with a water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer Broad Leaf Plus, and they will quickly respond with
beautiful, lush growth. Deadhead often to encourage continued flowering.
Cannas are winter hardy in US hardiness zones 7 and warmer. If you live in
colder areas, the rhizomes need to be lifted in the fall, and stored indoors in a
dark, warm spot until spring arrives. Be sure to divide clumps every three or
four years. Give them lots of room as they grow into large plants, forming
spreading colonies up to 7 feet high and 4 feet wide. Show them off in mass
plantings, in large containers or in mixed flower borders. Lure in hummingbirds
with these beauties!
Q: I recently purchased a Mangifera indica - Coconut Cream Mango from you and would like to know if it is possible
to keep this in a large pot rather than putting it in the ground. If so, I
have a few questions:
How large would you expect this variety to get?
What are the ideal growing conditions? Full sun, partial sun,
etc...?
What is the ideal soil?
Any specific watering directions for ideal growth?
A: Coconut Cream mango tree has a moderate growth. We've planted
one in our garden 4 years ago and it is still under 10 ft tall. This variety
should be well suitable for container culture.
1. Keep the branches trimmed after fruiting is over. Mango trees can be
grown in 15 to 25 gal containers and can be trimmed under 7-8 ft high.
All mango trees need full sun, the more sun the better.
Mango needs very well draining soil, ideally with lots of bark and
perlite. We recommend our professional soilless mix or a similar formula.
Mango trees hate wet feet, and prefer to stay on a dry side: make
sure soil in a pot doesn't stay wet; allow it to dry a little between the
waterings.
Remember to apply Mango Food fertilizer during warm season for vigorous growth and heavy
crop!
Q: Do all persimmons take roughly 6 years to fruit if grown from
seed?
A: Persimmons, like most of the cultivated fruit trees, are
recommended to be grafted to ensure a certain variety, although they may also come
true to seed. And unfortunately, you are right - it will take a few years
(depending on growing conditions) until the seedling will start fruiting. So
your best bet to get a quality fruit right away is to obtain a grafted plant.
You may check out persimmons (tropical and subtropical) that we carry in stock. If you
are interested in any of the varieties that are currently sold out, just add
your email to wishlist by clicking on link Notify me when available and you
will be notified as soon as we have it back in stock.
