🌳 What is the best time to plant a tree?

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." - Chinese Proverb

📷 Koelreuteria paniculata - Golden Rain Tree, one of the most spectacular trees of subtopics that is actually very cold hardy and drought resistant.

• 🔰 Cascading clusters of bright yellow flowers in summer are followed by bright pink, papery, lantern-like seed pods that gracefully dangle through autumn.
• 🔰 Its elegant foliage and attractive form make it a captivating centerpiece in any garden or landscape.
• 🔰 Very fast growing, nice solution for a shade tree.
• 🔰 According to ancient Chinese manuscripts, the Golden Rain Tree is crucial for Dragons, as it is believed to be connected to their existence, guarding and complementing each other. Growing these plants is considered auspicious and is believed to safeguard the Dragon family.

2024 is a year of Dragon! 🐉

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🌸 What 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... But not every gardener has luck growing traditional orchids.

• ⚜️ Terrestrial orchids (a.k.a. ground orchids) grow in regular garden soil instead of in the air on tree branches!
• ⚜️ Ground orchids come in many colors and shapes.
• ⚜️ Ground orchids will be happy to bloom in sun or shade and are very easy to grow!

🎥 Watch YouTube: Ground Orchids

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🌿 When you need an easy plant for a shady spot, Calathea zebrina is a winner!

Calathea zebrina - Zebra Plant - is an absolute winner for your shade garden. It's very easy to establish, fast growing and always happy - as long as you water it💧

✅ Great plant for beginners, Zebra Plant won't disappoint you!

It's a large and vigorous Calathea, beautiful velvety leaves have dark green stripes, like Zebra stripes

The underside of the leaves is purple and not always visible right away because leaves grow horizontally.

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❤️ Do you forget to water houseplants? It's your perfect plant!

• 🍊 Chlorophytum orchidanteroides - Mandarin Plant - is one of the most popular and colorful house plants and a shade garden favorite.
• 🍊 It forms a gorgeous rosette of shiny, dark green pointed leaves with a glowing orange center. Sometimes the rich hues shift to pink or orange up the leaf's midrib, giving this plant a truly eye-catching look.
• 🍊 A colorful cousin of the familiar Spider Plant, it can be grown in pots, mixed containers, or as a specimen shrub in shady tropical landscapes, tolerating similar indoor conditions as a Spider Plant.
• 🍊 For the brightest colors, remove any basal sprouts that appear, so they don't crowd out the vivid growth.
• 🍊 This plant doesn't like full sun, and prefers its soil to dry slightly before watering, making it an easy-care and stunning choice for anyone looking to add a splash of color to their indoor collection.

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🌺 How to grow Mandevilla: Practical Guide to Growing Mandevilla Vine

• 🌺 Mandevilla is a tropical vine known for its vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom throughout the warm months. This fast-growing climber thrives in warm climates and adds a stunning display of color to gardens and patios.

🌺 Difference Between Mandevilla and Dipladenia


The names Mandevilla and Dipladenia are often used interchangeably, creating confusion. While they are closely related, there are key differences. Mandevilla is a vigorous woody vine with large, stiff leaves, ideal for trellises and fences. Dipladenia, on the other hand, has a more compact growth habit with smaller, smooth leaves. Dipladenia can be also trained on a trellis but also thrives in hanging baskets or as a compact specimen plant. As a bushier type of Mandevilla, its smaller, more compact varieties are excellent for mixed containers.

🌺 Growing in the Ground

💋Soil. Mandevilla prefers well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. A mix of garden soil, compost, and sand ensures good drainage and fertility. Both Mandevilla and Dipladenia require acidic soil. If your native soil contains limestone, consider growing them in containers with a peat-based potting mix to maintain a lower pH.

• 💋Light. Plant in a location with full sun to partial shade; at least 6 hours of direct sunlight promotes the best blooms.
Water Mandevilla regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. During hot months, water deeply a few times a week. Reduce watering in cooler seasons.
• 💋Feeding and Encouraging More Blooms: Feed Mandevilla with Sunshine Boosters Megaflor with every watering to encourage more blooms. Prune lightly after flowering to promote new growth and continuous flowering.

• 🌺 Most Interesting Varieties
Mandevilla flowers come in a wide range of colors, including shades of red, mauve, pink, white, and even yellow. For vibrant color and impact, consider these varieties:

💋Mandevilla ‘Alice du Pont’– A classic pink variety with large flowers and vigorous growth.

• 💋Mandevilla ‘Sun Parasol’ Series – Offers compact plants in deep red, pink, or white, great for containers or small spaces.
• 💋Mandevilla ‘Crimson Red’– Deep red blooms stand out against glossy green foliage.
• 💋Dipladenia ‘Stars and Stripes’ - features striking red-and-white striped blooms.
In Florida, Sun Parasol and Alice du Pont perform exceptionally well, thriving in the heat and humidity while providing season-long blooms.

• 🌺 Pests and Problems

Mandevilla is relatively pest-resistant but can attract aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. To manage pests:

• 💋Spray with a neem oil solution weekly if pests are present.
• 💋Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs to control aphids naturally.
• 💋Remove affected leaves and rinse plants with a strong stream of water.
• 💋Watch for fungal diseases in humid climates; ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering.

🌺 Growing Mandevilla in Pots and Winter Care

Mandevilla grows beautifully in containers, making it a great option for cooler climates where it can be brought indoors for winter.

• 💋Pot Growing Tips:

· Use a well-draining potting mix with added perlite for aeration.

• · Choose a pot at least 12-16 inches in diameter, with several drainage holes, for vigorous growth.
• · Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, avoiding waterlogged conditions.

💋Winter Care:

• · In regions with frost, move potted Mandevilla indoors to a bright, cool location (50-60°F).
• · Reduce watering and stop fertilizing during cooler season.
• · Prune lightly before bringing indoors to maintain shape and size.
• · Repotting: Repot every 2-3 years in early spring before active growth begins, refreshing the soil and upgrading to a slightly larger container if needed.

With the right care, Mandevilla provides stunning, long-lasting blooms and thrives in gardens or pots, making it a versatile and rewarding addition to any space.

📚 Learn more from previous post:

How to overwinter Mandevilla indoors

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