Date: 6 Oct 2021
Top Tropicals Top House Plants
Photo above: Clerodendrum indoor garden of Ludmila Ezhova, St Petersburg, Russia.
Enjoy the Tropics Year round!
Bring them inside...
Q: I just discovered your amazing website and spent hours browsing your beautiful tropical plants! I wish I could have them all! But it's getting cold here (I live in Chicago area), too late? Can you recommend something of a small size, colorful, that I can easily overwinter indoors? Thanks for bringing this beauty into our lives!
A: Don't get discouraged even in colder climates. Yes, you can grow tropical plants indoors! Remember that all traditional houseplants are in fact tropical plants that grow in tropics in a wild habitat. Humans didn't invent them as indoor plants, they originally collected them from the rain forests and jungles! Most of tropical plants, including trees and fruit trees, can be grown in containers and even indoors. It's just a matter of space limitations and amount of time you are willing to spend caring of your exotic babies. Many gardeners up North are very successful with their tropical plant collections.
Below are a few suggestions of compact growing, easy species for your
indoor collection. Enjoy the Tropics Year round!
See more plants well-suitable for indoor culture and our specials at the end of this newsletter.
Photo above: small tropical indoor garden of Julia Nikolayeva
Date: 6 Oct 2021
Cold hardy Aronia and its Superfruit:
a Magic gift from the Native Americans
by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
...A very cold hardy fruiting plant (USDA hardiness zone 3-9), Chokeberry has been cultivated for ages as both ornamental and food plant. Enjoy them in an array of foods as they are rich in vitamins. Masses of fragrant, white flowers bloom in spring; gorgeous red fall colors and extra large berries follow the glossy summer foliage. Persistent, purplish black berries are high in nutrients and can be used for pies and jellies. This is one of the true super fruits, high in antioxidants with huge health benefits. This fruit is widely used in Eastern Europe in holistic medicine for lowering blood pressure. Fruit should be consumed with caution as excessive amount can cause significant and immediate blood pressure drop...
CONTINUE READING >>
Date: 26 Sep 2021
Edible Landscape: fruit bearing hedge
Photo above: Biquinho Pepper (2 months old plant)
Q: My mom had to remove a hedge for some renovations and after being heartbroken about losing my little bird haven, I've decided to plan on a fruit bearing hedge that offers some privacy and places for the little fledgling to wait for food. Any suggestions? I was thinking blueberries or citrus but open to any ideas.
A: Below are a few suggestions for a fruit bearing hedge planted with fast-growing, tropical species. They will contribute to a nice edible landscape for both your family and the birds - they will be very happy!
Larger size hedge (small trees), grows full-size within 1
season:
- Loquats
- Dwarf Mulberries (very cold hardy too) such as Dwarf Everbearing
Medium size hedge (shrubs or vines), 2-3 seasons to grow full
size:
-
Black Surinam Cherry Lolita
- Blackberries and raspberries
Low hedge (4-5 ft tall, 1 season, fast growing):
-
Biquinho Pepper
- Wiri
Wiri Pepper
Citrus is probably not a good idea, not bird's favorite, and blueberries require a special acidic soil here in Florida, so they will need extra maintenance, special soil, and heavy mulching.
Surinam Cherry Lolita, 2 year old plant
Date: 26 Sep 2021
A Native Virgin - Sweetbay Vanilla Magnolia
(Magnolia virginiana)
by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
...Fossilized specimens one of Magnolias have been found dating to 20
million years ago. Magnolia virginiana as a true American pioneer - it was the
first magnolia to be scientifically described, and is the type species of the
genus Magnolia; as Magnolia is also the type genus of all flowering plants
(magnoliophytes), this species in a sense typifies all flowering plants...
...The flowers carry a very strong vanilla scent that can sometimes be
noticed several hundred yards away! Fresh off the tree, the flavor of leaves is
unique and fun to use. If you have a Florida Sweet Bay, your cooking will have
flavors folks outside Florida can never hope to duplicate. It likes moist
soils, so if you have a wet spot on your land - plant this tree. The lifespan
of individual trees has been estimated at 130 years! No bugs, no pests!..
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Date: 17 Sep 2021
Mango Talk: How to prune mango trees for best shape and production
by Ed Jones, the Booster Guy
...Why should you prune your mango trees? There are a few reasons.
First, a good foundation is the key to strong growth and a shapely tree.
Second, if you get your mango tree started off on the right foot with a
strong foundation, it becomes much easier to keep it shaped nicely.
And third - it will be forced to produce more branches allowing for more
places for fruit production...
...We received our Mango tree in late February of 2020 as a relatively
small plant in 3 gal pot...
...The opening photo was taken just last week and you can see that as she
grows, her shape is very nice...
...She is now about 7' tall and just as wide. She has a great foundation
and a lot of branches. We also have less grass to mow. She also got her very
own marker painted on a brick:
...We have also enlarged the circle of mulched area under the tree to allow it to be able to get nutrients from it's SUNSHINE Boosters Mango Tango without having to compete with the grass. This is one mistake that I see frequently in my neighborhood with all trees...
