...Even in its native homeland, the species remains uncommon, and most
Australians have never even heard of it!.. Now, the Bat-Wing Coral tree is
likely my all-time favorite small growing flowering tree in existence. There
are not enough superlative adjectives I know to properly and adequately
describe it. Imagine closely packed long-lobed blue-green bat wings in groups of
three on long thin stems which actually rather flutter in a breeze...
Q: I purchased a Desert Rose and planted it in Adenium mix. I
keep it in full sun with once a week watering assuming this is a desert plant
that likes lots of sun. Some leaves turned yellow and now I am not sure should
I move it into shade or need to water more? Or maybe fertilize with
something?
A:Desert Rose - Adenium, unlike cacti and other succulents, prefers
filtered light. It can grow in full sun but leaves look healthier in light shade.
Watering must be very moderate, however don't let soil harden like a rock:
water again right after the soil gets dry. We suggest to use special Adenium Mix. Cactus mix may work well, as well as regular potting mix,
in which case it is recommended to add a bit of limestone (we simply put sea
shells on top of the pot - it looks very pretty!) - because adeniums prefer
slightly alkaline soil (while most of tropical plants like acidic soils). If
leaves turn yellow, this may be a sign of underwatering. Use water soluable fertilizer with high phosphate as foliage spray, and
only on healthy plants, according to label dosage. It helps both caudex growth
and flowering. Make sure to avoid fertilizer contact with a caudex.
The most wonderful, easily growing, giant flowering, fragrant, and
floriferous species of Selenicereus I have grown is an almost unknown species
called
Selenicerius hondurensis. While its climbing stems are rarely thicker than a
Sharpie marker, it's flowers measure 12 to 14 inches across (!), open as the
sun is setting, and produce a most incredible fragrance... very rich and
spreading thru the area. It smells like a combination of both white chocolate and
vanilla. S. hondurensis also develops the most richly colored flowers of the
Selenicerei, the outermost petals being a glowing orangey-gold. It's very
stunning and provocative! It flowers magnificently, several times during the
summer... Continue reading...
Q: I would like to buy some trees and vines for my garden but I
am not sure if it is a good time for planting. It's hot now in Florida. Should
I wait till it cools off? If I plant now, can I rely on sprinklers?
A: Summer is always a good time for establishing plants because
this is the time of the most vigorous growth. For the first 2-4 weeks, plants
should be watered daily with a garden hose as you can not rely on sprinkler
system yet. Mulch around plants generously - this will help:
- Maintain moisture
- Maintain soil temperature - protect roots from heat
- Reduce weeds and grasses
- Provide nutrients to the soil, and
- Reduce wind erosion from uncovered soils
Shipping plants during hot weather. Ship plants now or wait until it gets cooler
Q: Can you ship my plants now or should I wait until it gets
cooler? Daytime temperatures here are around 90F.
A: Top Tropicals ships year around. In transit, packages are
usually kept in a temperature controlled environment. In hot summer time, it is
still safe to order plants in mail, as long as the box is not left at your
doorstep in full sun.
Keep your eye at the weather forecast and if temperatures get to
extremes (over 95F daytime), we strongly advise that you be present to accept
delivery. As your package may be left on your doorstep by the carrier, this
prolonged exposure to heat may be harmful to the health of your plants.
If no one is available to accept delivery, we suggest that you contact
our customer service to postpone shipment until a later date or coordinate an
alternate delivery address, or simply use your work address for delivery - so
you can get your plants without delay. You may also use the delivery address
at FedEx pickup locations to avoid delays!
We monitor the weather at destination before shipping. When daytime
temperatures in your area are over 90F, your shipment may be delayed to ensure
plants have a safe trip and do not overheat in the delivery truck. See information on shipping process and terms.
Please contact us for more info on holding orders during hot weather.
Q: I live in New Cumberland, West Virginia. I love the smell of
Night-Blooming jasmine. Is it possible to grow it in the northern panhandle of
West Virginia? Do I have to plant it every year or do I keep it in a pot and
take it inside during the winter months?
A: Technically, Night Blooming Jasmine is not a true jasmine
(those plants belong to Oleaceae, or Olive family). Night Blooming Jasmine
belongs to the Solanaceae family, also known as the Nightshade or "Potato" family
of plants. Yes, this sweet fragrant flower called Jasmine for its perfume is
related to potatoes and tomatoes!
Night Blooming Jasmine - Cestrum nocturnum - is loved by many gardeners for its beautiful
fragrance at night. It is one of the most fragrant tropical evergreen shrubs
available. Cascading clusters of tiny, tubular pale yellow to white flowers open at
night and release a heavenly fragrance throughout the garden, especially on
warm summer evenings. The fragrance is much lighter during the day.
Night Blooming Jasmine is grown year-round in zones 9-11. It is at its
happiest in a sunny to a partially sunny spot in your garden in well-drained soil
but can be grown in cooler climates as a container or greenhouse plant.
You would absolutely be able to enjoy this plant during the warm months
in West Virginia, but it will most certainly not survive outside during the
winter. You will have to bring it inside. Take it outside again only once you
are confident there is no more possibility of frost. When grown indoors, be
sure to give it the sunniest, South facing window in your home. When grown in
a container, you will need to re-pot it every two to three years so it
doesn't become root-bound.
For those who are lucky to live in frost-free areas, in ideal growing
conditions outside, it can easily reach 8 feet with a spread of 5 feet. It has
a lovely informal look that can soften a more manicured garden. Add organic
matter to the planting hole when you plant to enrich the soil around the root
ball. Water well in the summer, but allow them to dry out a bit between
watering in the winter. Plant this Jasmine near pools, porches, doors, windows,
and walkways where its lovely fragrance can be enjoyed. The shrub is also an
excellent plant for privacy hedges and screens. When grown as a hedge, plant 3
feet apart.
Trim lightly after a bloom cycle to shape and then do a hard pruning in
fall or spring to control the size of this plant. Fertilize 3 times a year -
in spring, summer, and autumn - with a good quality granular fertilizer.
Night-blooming jasmine is an excellent mosquito repellent. The powerful
scent of the flowers attracts moths and bats that feed on mosquitoes and
other small insects.
The flowers of the Night Blooming jasmine are widely used in India and
other countries of South Asia for perfumery, medicinal applications and in
religious ceremonies.
Q: Can you tell me how your Guava trees are propagated? Grown
from seed vs. air grafted, etc.? I'm interested especially in the Barbie
variety. In particular, I'd like to know how long it takes them to bear fruit - I
live in Southern California zone 10b, with good sunlight.
A: Guavas can be propagated by seed, air layers, or grafting.
Propagation method depends on the species.
Cattley guavas - Psidium littorale - are usually grown from seeds and start flowering
and producing as early as in 2-3 years from seed. Tropical guavas, Psidium guajava - especially named varieties, are propagated usually by
air layers, and the rarest varieties like Variegated Honey Moon are often grafted, although they will come true
from seed (it's just takes them longer to fruit). Both air-layered and grafted
plants start producing right away, usually on the same year of planting or
next year, depending on growing conditions.
Barbie Pink is a superior variety, very popular among fruit lovers. It
produces large aromatic fruit with a bright pink pulp and very few seeds. This
variety is air-layered; in our nursery, these plants start flowering and
setting fruit in 3 gal containers.
Plant this tree in full sun and provide regular watering, guavas don't
like to dry out. Use fertile soil, with at least 50% of compost, and add some
soil conditioning components for better drainage: bark, sand, perlite, etc.
Mulch well, just make sure to keep mulch 2-3" away from the trunk. Follow our
detailed planting instructions that come with every plant, and you are good
to go!
Q: I am concentrating on adding more fragrance to my garden. I've
had great success growing gardenias and I have many different varieties, but
their flowers are all white, and I would like to add some colors to my
garden too. Are there any gardenias available in different colors? I live in
Waipio Acres, Hawaii.
A: Meet the very rare and highly fragrant, tropical Gardenia tubifera Kula or Golden gardenia. Kula flowers change color as
they mature, which is a unique feature! Kula flowers start out as cream,
then change to yellow and finally to a beautiful gold. In addition to the
spectacular flowers, this gardenia also has beautiful, leathery, deep green
foliage.
This is a slow-growing and compact plant. Like all the other members in
the Gardenia family, the Golden gardenia will do best in an acidic,
well-drained, and fertile soil. It will appreciate a good deal of direct sunlight but
will be very happy if provided with midday and afternoon shade. As with with
gardenias, the more sunlight the more flowers.
It will eventually grow into a rounded shrub if left unpruned, but also
can be trained into a small tree, maintainable to a height of under 7-8
feet. Blooms will appear from spring onward. Prune after flowering, this will
encourage more flowers in a few months.
Gardeners living in colder areas, do not fret. Gardenias make perfect
container plants and can be grown indoors in colder climates. Just be sure to
provide high light when bringing them indoors.
The fragrance and changing colors of a Gardenia Kula is unforgettable.
They are most fragrant near sunset and during early evening hours. Plant them
near walks and patios where their lovely fragrance can be enjoyed. This
rare tropical Gardenia is sure to be a conversation piece in any garden.
Great collector's plant!
Q: I purchased from you three of these plants - Strophanthus bovinii and I wonder if you could help me. The plants are
out of control growing large limbs to the sides and I would like it to grow
more upright. Is this possible? Second, it does not flower. What type of
fertilizer should I use and how often? How about the watering schedule? I have
them in an eastern exposure but possibly they are not getting enough sun? Right
in front of them, there is a large tree outside the curb of my house. What
should I do about that?
A:Strophanthus bovinii - Wood shaving flower, is quite a unique plant
that is very rare in cultivation, this is why very little information is
available on its cultivation due to limited experience among gardeners. We have had
this plant in our garden for over 12 years and this is what we can advise.
In the nature (Madagascar) it supposedly grows into a large tree, however,
from our experience, it tends to be rather bushy, umbrella-like large shrub.
Yes, you can train it into a tree by trimming branches growing side-wise, and
by removing lower branches. The best time for pruning is early spring when
the tree starts new growth and re-leafs (it is semi-deciduous).
As far as flowering, the plant is very particular about blooming season,
with profuse flowering in Summer (here in SW Florida), however it may produce
more flowers sporadically throughout the year.
It thrives in full sun but will tolerate bright filtered light. If a large
tree is shading it too much, try to trim some limbs of that large tree to
allow more light. Water needs of Strophanthus bovinii are very moderate, so you
can rely on your sprinkler system or water once a week for established
plants.
You should use 2 types of fertilizers - slow release (once a month) and
water-soluble bloom booster (frequent applications are safe):
Pink N Good Daily Plant Food - Flower Booster
Tropical Allure - Smart-Release Booster
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:
