Date: 15 Oct 2020
Plant of the Month: Hibiscus El Capitolio
Stevie's Pick: what's in bloom?
Our exotic plant grower Steven Gowdy will spotlight the most interesting plants he discovers and recommends today while working in TopTropicals greenhouses.
OMG! These plants are awesome. The flowers are stunning, ruffled,
brightly colored. These are very unique double flowers about 5"long, with ruffled
petals, followed by a sort of a stamen, than more ruffled petals... Wow.
These are the perfect plants - they can be grown in a container or in-ground, in
full sun. They are drought and disease resistant, ever-blooming, can be
pruned into a standard weeping tree, or pruned into a bush... It's a convenient,
dream plant! Prune frequently, because it blooms on new wood.
Hibiscus El Capitolio grows best in zones 9 through 11. In colder
climates leave it in a container outside in the summer months, but bring inside in
the winter months.
Remember - ever-blooming! You prune and they will flower all year long.
These are fabulous plants that will satisfy any first-time or experienced
gardener: you just can't go wrong El Capitolio! They will have you growing
happiness... That's true.
Stevie with Kristi and Jamie celebrating his Happy Birthday. Check out Stevie's painting "TopTropicals Theme"
Date: 10 Oct 2020
Healthy Plants: Q&A from Mr Booster
How to keep bugs away naturally?
Q: I started moving my tropical plant collection indoors as it's getting colder... And all of a sudden, I noticed bugs on leaves! I know for sure all my plants were bug-free when I kept the pots outside in my lanai. What happened? And how can I keep them clean and healthy without using any harsh chemicals? I have many edibles and herbs that I use in my cooking and prefer to stay away from insecticides. Any suggestions?
A: It is very common when healthy looking plants, once moved
indoors for the winter, get insect infestations. The main reason is change of
environment that puts a plant into stress and makes it susceptible to parasites
and diseases. Just think about what a plant is missing, a whole combination
of necessary conditions that provided a good life:
- Bring light -> light level reduced, so beneficial UV spectrum is gone
- Air circulation -> less wind = more bugs thriving
- Warm temperature -> from upper 80's in summer to 70's in your AC room
- Air humidity -> although humid air is believed to be causing some issues
(for example fungus), however, reducing humidity overall puts a plant into
stress and makes it more vulnerable.
Many gardener prefer to avoid chemicals, especially when it comes to treating edible plants and indoor collections. The solution to your problems is - Organic Solution!
SUNSHINE NoBug - Natural Plant Protector.
Shampoo for Plants - for both indoors and garden
SUNSHINE NoBug - is a natural solution to keep your plants healthy and
bug-free without harsh chemicals. It is great for organic gardening and
edibles, eco-safe and non-toxic for humans and pets.
It kills, repels and prevents: spider-mites, mealybugs, whiteflies, aphids
and many more. No wait time required - spray and play! And it smells like
jasmine, forget stinky insecticides!
How does it work? Just look at these ingredients: Kosher Glycerine, Organic
Coconut Oil, Organic Palm Oil, Oat Protein, Organic Soap, Horticultural Oil,
Jasmine Oil, Water. Yum! But bugs hate it - they suffocate in it! This is
why your plants will have NO BUGS with NoBug, that's it!
Directions are simple:
- Mix 100 ml (3-4 oz) with 1 qt (32 oz) of water, or 500 ml (16 oz) in 1
gal of water - for larger applications
- Spray foliage to drip point, including underneath leaves.
- Repeat the treatment in 7 days.
- As a preventive care, spray leaves once a month to keep insects away.
- You may use a paper towel saturated with this solution to wipe the leaves
and remove residue from insects.
- Store at room temperature.
This poor Pepper plant was tossed into garbage can by a neighbor... it looked hopeless, infested with mealybugs. We saved it with NoBug
Date: 10 Oct 2020
Trimming and treating Adeniums in winter
Q: My desert rose below dropped leaves after I replanted it in a bigger pot. I noticed that one of the branches that had been pruned is black at the tip. Please let me know if the section of the branch that turned black needs to be cut. I also wasn't sure how often to water it since the leaves have all dropped. None of the other dessert roses have dropped their leaves but they are all younger plants. Any advice would be much appreciated.
A: Your plant looks healthy and vigorous overall. Dropping leaves
after repotting, or shipping, especially at this time of the year, is normal
in Adeniums. They are deciduous and stay leafless from Fall to Spring.
Some individual specimens can go into dormancy sooner than others - all depends
on conditions: temperature, light, exposure, etc. and individual plant's
"clock".
The black spot on the cut branch may be a sign of a fungus as a result of
excess water.
You may carefully clean/rub it with a paper tower dipped in Hydrogen
Peroxide (pharmacy grade). Then rinse with fresh water.
Keep the plant warm and in a dry spot. Once leaves are dropped, it doesn't
need much water. Once a week watering is enough.
Date: 4 Oct 2020
What fig trees are good for Florida?
Q: My baby fig tree was sprayed by the lawn people with weed killer :( Any ideas? Also what figs do you have available to grow here in Florida?
A: Unfortunately once a plant is affected by a herbicide, there
is not much you can do about it.
If you don't rinse the chemical within a few seconds, it gets into the
plant internal system and nothing can be done to save the plant. The tree may
remain green for a few days up to a week, but then gradually dies back. If your
fig tree wasn't rinsed immediately after herbicide spray, it is probably too
late.
If you want to replace it with a new one, here is a few suggestions of our
favorite fig varieties which are great producers and grow well in Florida
heat:
Brown Turkey Fig - our favorite!
Black Mission Fig
Beers Black Fig
Texas Everbearing Fig
Magnolia Fig
LSU Purple Fig
Olympian Fig
Texas Blue Giant Fig
See full list of Fig Trees.
Make sure to get appropriate plant food for your fig tree so it develops faster for you and gets well-established before winter: 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.
Date: 4 Oct 2020
New video: Ground orchids.
All-summer colors for shady gardens
WATCH NEW VIDEO
Did you know orchids can be grown in the ground?
Orchids have a mystique that seems to set them apart from most other
flowers... they are elegant and almost unreal in their perfection... The symmetry
of the flowers has led to the orchid being a symbol of a perfect beauty.
But not every gardener has luck growing traditional orchids. Some complain
about their special maintenance:
"Mount them on a tree, do not overwater... and all that hassle just for
once-a-year flower?" Sounds familiar?
Terrestrial orchids (a.k.a. ground orchids) grow in regular garden soil
instead of in the air on tree branches. And they bloom almost year round!...
Ground orchids are available from our store.
Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by subscribing to our channel at YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video news of what is fruiting and blooming!
Remember to get plant food for your orchids and Ground
orchids!
In the photo: Sunshine-Home