Q: I'm interested in loquat and read through the varieties you
offer but wanted your recommendation. I'm looking for a variety that is big,
sweet (not tart) with 1 seed. Of the varieties you offer... Which variety would
you recommend?
A: From our experience, the most popular Loquat variety is Christmas.
It is an early ripening type hence the name Christmas. Fruits are very large
for a loquat, they are bright yellow with a tangy apricot flavor.
Another good variety we recommend is Yehuda - it has a large fruit and very small seed
Also, variety Oliver for many years has been considered the best loquat for South
Florida. The fruiting season is March to May. It has medium to large fruit. The
fruit is very sweet with only one-two seeds.
Loquats are very cold hardy tropical fruit trees, easy to grow, drought
tolerant, fast growing. Fruit is great for eating fresh or making jam.
Encouraging blooms on the Hawaiian Sunset Bell Vine
Q: Please can you advise how to encourage the Stictocardia beraviensis the Hawaiian Sunset Bell
vine blooms? Mine is all beautiful leaves and full sun in Miami.
A: Providing full sun, Stictocardia blooms profusely. In your area, it
should be happy and thriving. However, keep in mind that these flowers can be seasonal (meaning, not ever-blooming). The good
news it, Hawaiian Sunset Bell usually blooms several times a year on and off. In our garden, we have a large plant growing in
the ground and covering a whole fence; we see flowers 3 times a year:
- Early Spring
- Summer (sporadically)
- Late Fall to early Winter
Make sure to provide proper fertilizer to encourage blooms. It is especially important if
you grow this plant in container (where nutrients are very limited). We suggest the following fertilizer for your
Stictocardia:
...I term my garden one of memories because almost every plant in it
have been given to me by some person that I cared for. The Sicilian jasmin came
from a nice lady who brought it from Sicilia in her purse, and she in turn
gave me a cutting from which I have propagated three more plants. The Mermaid
rose came from my father-in-law a rosarian, who "bootlegged" it, actually (in
his boot) in the trunk of his car as he drove from Texas where he lived.
Today that rose reaches up up the second story and covers the arch out
front...
I have made four stone arches in this Memory garden. One is the entrance
to the Chapel of All Good Spirits. It took me two years to build it from
stones I collected from many loved places...
Q: I received my avocado Wurtz tree yesterday. Per instructions I
have put the tree in a pot first. However I am having difficulty deciding
what to trim off. Yesterday I removed obvious damaged leaves. However as you
can see, the leaves are lighter in some areas and contain yellow and red in
some spots. What would you advise? Given this is a critical state as I do not
want to shock the tree after the trip, I would like to do everything possible
to protect it and ensure viability.
A: Your Avocado tree looks great and healthy overall. You've done excellent job planting it. Wurtz is a good, vigorous variety, while the tree is somewhat dwarf,
great for containers.
You are right, it is the best for the tree to leave it alone and do not
trim or remove leaves any more, until it starts showing new growth. Then it will
be obvious what needs to be trimmed. Reddish/orange color of young leaves is
normal. If any spots or dots - no need to remove those leaves yet. Wait
until the plant grows more leaves. It needs them for photosynthesis, in order to
become stronger.
SUNSHINE C-Cibus - Crop Nutrition Booster from Garden Series, or Combo
Total Feed Collection - all nutrients in just one bottle, for fruit trees and
edibles.
PeopleCats of the World. Cat of The Day: Sir Nicolas from Sankt Gilgen
We continue inviting PeopleCats of the World to our Blog. Today's story is about very Important Purrrson, director of a Hotel - Sir Nicolas, a Royal Tuxedo Cat.
Sir Nicolas in managing Kendler Hotel located in Sankt Gilgen, Austria. He
was interviewed by our columnist and editor Alex Butova - a big time traveler whose first writer's priorities during every trip are - botanical gardens and cats.
Sir Nicolas's lakefront Kendler Hotel located by the beautiful mountain Zwolferhorn. Accoring to what Sir Nicolas told Alex, besides beauties of the Alps, his city is famous with the fact that Mozart's mother was born here. But the most important feature that Sir Nicolas appreciates here is a small butcher's shop which is actually a part of the hotel's property.
Sir Nicolas and Alex spent good hour chatting about life, people, and nature. He showed her his business card - a leather collar with his full name, job position (hotel manager), address, and a phone number. He added (off the record) that he also owns (as a silent partner) the Guest House, the Club Restaurant, the Brewery, and - most definitely - the Butcher's shop. He says hi to TopTropicals cats and all the cat-and-plant lovers!
In the photo: Sir Nicolas and Alex
TopTropicals PeopleCat Club and Zoo
Thank you for supporting us in helping PeopleCat Community! Make
your kind donation today and receive a surprise gift from us! Every little
bit helps. Thank you and God bless you and your pets!
...Did you know that figs were among the very first plants grown in the
hot and arid Middle East? Fast growing and utterly delicious, they soon made
their way all over the Mediterranean, transported aboard ships and on the
backs of camels...
If you are a fig lover, you may be tempted to grow your own. Market-bought
figs are never as good and tasty as your own, homegrown figs. They just
simply do not keep well in supermarkets. Fast growing, undemanding and low
maintenance, figs will bear fruit in just two years, often bearing two crops in a
year. Another plus is that they are not bothered by too many pests and are
self-fertile. Apart from the delicious fruit, any fig tree will add beauty and
shade to a garden...
Meet PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the day: Wesley's Independence
Wesley is the biggest cat at TopTropicals. He weighs almost 30 pounds.
He believes in good
nutrition and never sweats the small stuff.
In spite of being the Biggest Purrrson, Wesley is not exactly fearless...
Everyone knows that there are two things Wes is afraid of - a thunder, and...
a doorbell. When someone rings the doorbell, Wesley zooms into the nearest
closet faster than a lightning and stays there until dark. No more than one
visitor per day for him!
In the photo below: Wes is celebrating his
Independence - "It's better be safe than sorry!"
TopTropicals PeopleCat Club and Zoo
Thank you for supporting us in helping PeopleCat Community! Make
your kind donation today and receive a surprise gift from us! Every little
bit helps. Thank you and God bless you and your pets!
Q: We purchased a Royal Poinciana tree from TopTropicals not too long ago and we
gradually gave it more sun until finally we were able to plant it in direct sunlight
where it's been for a week or so. Rain has been sporadic lately so I'm giving
it a little bit of water every day. It seems to be doing fine. I do have a
question about whether the leaves are as green as they should be? I read
online that I should fertilize it with gardenia / ixoria fertilizer in March,
June, and October. I looked on homedepot.com but didn't really find anything that
goes by that name. Would fertilizer help? Can you suggest a fertilizer?
A: Your Poinciana tree looks pretty healthy and happy,
congratulations with a great job!
Traditional (old-school) fertilizer recommendations usually suggest feeding
a plant 2-3 times a year with a slow-release fertilizer. And although a
plant will benefit from any fertilizer application (extra food is always good),
however, for the best results, faster growth, sooner and more profuse
blooming, your should use complete plant nutrition products - liquid fertilizers (see
why liquid
fertilizers are better than dry).
Here is an example. Some people eat a big heavy meal once a day which we
all know, is not very healthy. Other people eat balanced food more frequently
but in smaller portions - this is always the best way to go.
From this point, plants prefer SNACKING - frequent feeding, but with less
concentrated, mild and balanced nutrients.
For your beautiful Poinciana tree (and other flowering plants), we suggest
the following nutrition program:
1) SUNSHINE Megaflor - Bloom Nutrition Booster - you may use this
fertilizer as frequent as with every watering, it won't burn the roots, and will
provide a complete nutrition for all plant needs throughout the year. You can
continue fertilizing with Megaflor even during winter time. Sunshine Megaflor
will help you to keep the plant healthy, vigorous, and resistant to stress and
diseases. It turns leaves green and makes the plant strong so it will start
flowering sooner for you.
Plant of the Month: Golden Dewdrop - Duranta erecta
Stevie's Pick: what's in bloom?
Our exotic plant grower Steven Gowdy is featuring the most
interesting plants he discovers and recommends today while working in TopTropicals
greenhouses.
Duranta - Golden Dewdrop - is simply stunning with cascading flowers in
abundance. Either it has lavender, blue, or solid white flowers, it is a
sight to behold. The popular name Golden Dewdrop is inspired by the clusters of
bright orange-yellow berries that follow the flowers, in such quantities that
they often cause the slender branches to droop gracefully.
Duranta erecta blooms off and on all year and can be pruned to size as a
bush or a standard tree. If let go, it can grow up to 20 feet tall and wide.
Durantas are excellent butterfly and hummingbird attractors. They will
complement your tropical garden or a stand alone in your Southern landscape.
Great for providing a color contrast in the landscape, they are especially
well-suited as a bright-colored background or screening. White
Golden Dewdrop has pure white flowers that appear in loose clusters, and
both berries and blossoms are often seen on a plant. This evergreen fast
growing shrub spreads and arches to 10 feet tall and wide and is great for live
hedges and covering fences and corners.
Variegated variety, also called Variegated Sky Flower, is grown for its summer flowers, and very showy
leaves that are dark green with bright white variegation and creamy-yellow
margins around the one inch long serrated leaves.. In the summer, cascading
clusters of blue tubular flowers appear followed by wonderfully contrasting
orange-yellow berries.
In mild climates, Durantas can be in flower nearly year round with flowers
and fruit appearing at the same time. It does best in full sun with frequent
deep watering and is pretty hardy, to about 20-25F. It is a good choice for
espaliers, as a small tree or large bush; all forms benefit from frequent
selective pruning. Prune back in late-winter to encourage a more compact shape
and strong flush of fresh spring foliage. Requires moderate watering in a
well-drained soil.
PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the day: Jim, Happy 16th Birthday!
A few days ago Jim celebrated his 16th birthday. He is our oldest Purrrson.
We are extending this opportunity to wish him to stay Happy, in Good Health
and Full Body - the way he always has been! And you know what is his secret
of healthy and wealthy life?
Eat well and don't sweat the small stuff!
Photo above: Jim in 2004 - eating well
2 photos above: Jim today - shaved and gray-haired, but still
eating well!
TopTropicals PeopleCat Club and Zoo
Thank you for supporting us in helping PeopleCat Community! Make
your kind donation today and receive a surprise gift from us! Every little
bit helps. Thank you and God bless you and your pets!
