Date: 3 Jul 2018
Shipping plants during hot weather. Any temperature limitations?
Q: I want to order a plant that you have only one left in stock; however the weather is extremely hot in my area right now. Do you have any temperature limitations when you ship your plants?
A: We ship
plants year around and do our best to watch weather forecast at destination.
However the forecast may change to worse within a day or two while a plant
is in transit. To ensure your plants have a safe trip during extreme weather,
follow these steps:
- notify us if you want to wait until weather permitting so we hold
your shipment until further notice;
- make sure to track your package and be at home at time of delivery.
The only time when a plant can get temperature damage, from our experience, is
when the box is left on your doorstep while too hot (or too cold) outside.
- you may use your business as shipping address if no one is home
during regular business hours of delivery.
- unpack the box immediately and follow planting instructions. Keep
plant in shade until recovered; never plant directly from a box into the ground;
never plant into hot, full sun: protect a new plant with a shade cloth for a
few days until established, and water as needed.
- use SUNSHINE booster to help plants recover from shipping stress. It really works! For only $4.95 with FREE
shipping!
On the photo: Adenium
Date: 24 Jun 2018
Date: 24 Jun 2018
White Sapote from under graft
Q: My super sweet white sapote died back all the way to the roots but it's growing back from the roots and I'm wondering if that's just the rootstock growing back or if that's good fruiting wood that's going to make a nice healthy super sweet tree?
A: The "super sweet" White Sapote, or Casimiroa edulis, was probably variety Young Hands, Super Sweet White Sapote. It was grafted on seedling of White Sapote that has a pleasant somewhat-sweet flavor. The grafted variety you had is a little sweeter than that. So to answer your question, it is worth to give the tree a second chance as far as fruit quality is concerned, although it won't be the a grafted variety, if the new growth coming from under the graft point. The only problem is, non-grafted tree may take longer until it fruits. Grafted trees may fruit right away, seedlings may take a few years.
We suggest to use SUNSHINE-Sweet
Date: 24 Jun 2018
Winter Flowering Plants
Take advantage of the late season tropicals! Brighten up your winters with spectacular flowers and winter producing fruit trees!
Many Floridians move up North during hot summer months,
our snow-bird season usually starts late September and
ends by Mother's Day in May. Many of our local seasonal
customers planting those flowering and fruiting species
that they can fully enjoy while staying in Florida. Below
you will find a few specials that are in bloom right now.
Check out full list of winter bloomers and
late season plants, and download a PDF chart of the most
interesting tropical plants that will flower and fruit for
you in Fall, Winter and early Spring. Some of them are
ever-blooming, others are late- or early season.
Visit our Garden Center in Ft Myers FL
Date: 24 Jun 2018
Elephant Foot, Turtle Shell - back in stock!
Dioscorea
elephantipes.
Dioscorea is a curious plant
with tuber above ground level covered with layers of corky
bark, resembling a caudex. It is a slow growing, very
unusual succulent. Tuber contains saponins, originally
cooked and eaten as a famine food by the Hottentots.
Caudex that grows up to 6' in nature, resembling an
elephant's foot and looks as if it is segmented into
geometric patterns (smaller plants look like tortoises)
and looks dead but is actually a living tuber. A plant
with 18"caudex can be almost 100 years old! The plant
grows into a vine with attractive heart-shaped leaves and
small yellow flowers. Culture is relatively easy. The
vines may die back and regrow several times a year,
depending on the particular plant and your region. The
plant doesn't send down deep roots, so plant in a shallow
pot about 1" larger than the diameter than the caudex. Potting soil should be very
porous/loose so that there is easy drainage. Water
well around the edges. Keep in a warm area and wait for
the first shoots of the vine to appear. Water regularly
from that point on. The plant should not be kept damp as
with other tropical plants. Allow it to dry before
watering again. Many books will say that they are winter
growers, because they are native to the southern
hemisphere. In fact, they grow in all seasons! Let the
plant be your guide. You cannot force them to grow, and
over watering will simply cause them to rot.
Elephant Foot is a collectors item, but remarkably easy to
grow. It will be with you for years with no effort. It is
a wonderful conversation piece! See more info about Dioscorea
elephantipes.
We have limited stock, while supply lasts, hurry up!
*** 4-6"caudex *** 6-8" caudex *** 10-12"caudex *** Seeds. Don't forget special TopTropicals Adenium Soilless Mix