Tropical Planting Breaks the Rules. WInter planting in Florida

by Murray Corman (Garden of Delights)

Waiting for Arbor Day or the first day of spring to plant a tree is something of a missed opportunity for those of us who live in the virtually evergreen world of the tropics and subtropics. Wintertime does not just mean hard work for tropical gardeners. It is also a time to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Winter-blooming plants and the visitors they attract - birds, bats and butterflies - make the garden as enjoyable in winter as any other time of year.
What a welcome relief: January daytime temperatures in the 70s, dropping to the 60s at night. This is why I came to live in the subtropics of southern Florida. The balmy climate of South Florida represents one of the few places on the mainland United States where tropical plants thrive unprotected outdoors...

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Tropical gardener beginning-of-year checklist

Final pre-Spring check of whatever we had forgotten! For a gardener, the year ahead is a chance to do things you want, as a way to achieve the things you need to do. If your number one New Year's resolution is to garden more (a want-to item), you also will be exercising more (a need-to). Or if you plant a new edible garden (want, want, want), you will end up checking off "eat more leafy vegetables and fruits" from your to-do list!

12 steps to get ready for 2021 season:

1 - Spray fruit trees and houseplants with insecticide and micro-elements
2 - Continue spraying SUNSHINE-Epi to improve plant hardiness
3 - Protect tender plants during cold spells and especially from freeze
4 - Reduce watering during cooler months, keeping the root zone on a dry side
5 - To give your plants a kick start, fertilize with liquid SUNSHINE Boosters fertilizers - they are safe to be used year round
6 - Plant fruit trees: winter planting is beneficial to avoid heat stress for roots
7 - Plant Butterfly and Hummingbird Attractants
8 - Plant bulbs, vegetables and herbs. Use eco-safe, natural SUNSHINE boosters for all your edibles.
9 - Plan your summer garden and order seeds early
10 - Start tropical plants from seeds (indoors for cooler climates)
11 - Start ordering tropical plants and beneficial soil mix to get them established after shipping in pots
12 - Clean and oil garden tools

Plant of the Month:

Fragrant Dombeya Tree

Every tropical gardener wants to have a Dombeya (a.k.a. Tropical Hydrangea) in their collection - an easy to grow, fast growing winter bloomer. These plants don't require any special care, thrive in neglect in both sun or shade, and flower profusely during Fall-Winter months - what an awesome treat! Dombeyas are also wanted for their vigorous growth habit - they can cover unwanted view in no time, fill and empty corner in your yard, create a colorful tropical display, and attract lots of butterflies and bees. They are not afraid of water logging, in fact the more you water them, the faster they grow. The large tropical leaves are beautiful - soft, fuzzy, with shallow, maple-like lobes. This plant is tolerant to both light frost and periods of drought.
Most Dombeyas grow into round, dense bushes, but this one variety of is very special. Dombeya burgessiae from South Africa actually grows into a small (10-15 ft), pretty, upright tree that is covered with beautiful blossoms during winter. The flowers are creme color with raspberry centers, attracting lots of pollinators, and what is the most special - they are sweetly fragrant! What a beauty!

Surround yourself with aromatic cloud of Dombeya winter blooms!

Tropical Paintings by Olena Light

Talent Introduction

Exotic flowers, amazing tropical birds, cats and even portraits... all look alive by Olena Light

Check out Olena's page and her private collection of exclusive art that TopTropicals is honored to have especially for you, Tropical Garden connoisseurs, at introductory price. Hurry up, Olena is getting famous!..

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Dombeya seminole - Tropical Rose Hydrangea

Looking for an unforgettable winter bloomer? Look no further than Dombeya Seminole. This is truly one of the showiest landscape plants. This beautiful shrub or small tree stuns with large clusters of showy, bowl shaped, pink flowers in late fall, winter and spring. It has dense heart shaped leaves. It is also called the tropical hydrangea because the flowers are similar to the hydrangeas we all know and love from up North...

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