Date: 11 Feb 2021
Curious Gardenia graft
Q: I was told to send you pictures of my hybrid gardenia tree. About 6 months ago the new growth on the top of one side became crinkled. It doesn't get straightened out either. It seems like it just stays like that until it falls off. Any ideas?
A: Your plant is not sick at all. This is what happened...
Your gardenia is a grafted variety. Gardenia varieties (Gardenia jasminoides hybrids) are grafted on rootstock of Gardenia thunbergia (this species is nematode-resistant and used for rootstock especially in Florida).
The side branch that you call "crinkled" is actually the rootstock (Gardenia thunbergia) growing from UNDER the graft. Gardenia thunbergia has naturally "wavy" leaves.
If you follow this branch to its base, you will see where it starts - right below the graft. This happens very often.
You need to remove this branch altogether, from the point where it starts.
It sucks energy from the plant and eventually may take over the whole plant.
Photo above: Gardenia thunbergia
Date: 8 Feb 2021
I love growing for the planet!
A word from a happy gardener
"...Wow is all I can say, you all sent the most beautiful plants, I
never knew the Hawaiian Bell could have so many blooms. It arrived in Excellent shape
and I am so very thrilled to have this beautiful plant again. I am keeping
inside for a few days until a front goes thru, then it is going to be back in
mid 70s.
I give aged worm castings to my plants and recently discovered the plant food that the plant can uptake right away... And lastly, I
discovered a potting soil... Some of my plants went wild when I planted them in it.
Everything in it is tailored to not burn your plants. So nothing but the very
best for Top Tropical plants. Thank you all so much for this wonderful
plant, I will treasure and take good care of it. I have over 500 plants in pots,
because of gophers and nematodes. I love nature so do not want to kill the
gophers because the owls we have here depend on them and poisoning is a horrible
death. Much love, happiness and gratitude.
You can use pics - I love growing for the planet. I so love cats too, I
have 5 most of them Siamese. I found this pic of cats online, wow how did they
breed for a cat to have such big ears?
Much love and happiness, Donna..."
Date: 20 Dec 2020
PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: Abu, the Quiet Fighter
The Story of Abu, a brother of poor little Raja, is also challenging, but has a happy ending!
...Abu started out a quiet reserved little man. From the beginning you would find him in the
quarantine room snuggled under his thick blanket sleeping. Abu did not like to ask for help but was grateful when you gave it. We tried to help him use a toilet while his
leg was casted and getting into the letterbox was a challenge for him... However, he was too orthodox in his views to believe he needed help...
...Abu was the worse off of the two found kittens. Dr didn't sugar coat the
outlook. He gave him a thirty percent chance of walking again. The morning after the first medication, I woke up
like a kid on Christmas morning... Dressing quickly, I went to the kitten's room to see if there was any change... Abu was still laying down, not getting up on his
own. As I looked over his little body, I made my way to his swollen little wrist to see if there was any change...
CONTINUE READING >>
TopTropicals PeopleCat Club and Zoo
Thank you for supporting us in helping PeopleCat Community!
Make
your kind donation today and receive a surprise gift from us! Every little
bit helps. Thank you and God bless you and your pets!
Date: 29 Nov 2020
PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: Story of Raja, Part 2
Everybody was touched by the tragic story of Raja - the kitten Kristi rescued from the tough street
challanges and gave her a chance for Life...
Today we continue this story. And although it is a sad one, there will be a
happy ending, and there will be always lessons we learn from the experience
of taking care of our loved once.
Raja taught us to never let our disabilities define what we can and can't
do. She taught us that every live creature deserves to know what love, a warm
home, and a family means. She taught us resilience, determination and
perseverance. Sometimes goodbye is not always an end, but a possible new beginning
with new lessons learned...
CONTINUE READING >>
In the photo: Raja's Rainbow Cassia
TopTropicals PeopleCat Club and Zoo
Thank you for supporting us in helping PeopleCat Community!
Make
your kind donation today and receive a surprise gift from us! Every little
bit helps. Thank you and God bless you and your pets!
Date: 19 Nov 2020
Healthy Plants: Q&A from Mr Booster
Feeding Indoor Plants
Q: I am moving all my potted plants indoors as weather is cooling down. I still have Sunshine Boosters that I got from you in Summer. Do I need to continue fertilizing and how often, or should I wait until Spring?
A: Indoor plants add a vibrant warmth to your home, and can even
improve the air quality. But most importantly, indoor plants give you access
to year-round gardening.
While majority of house plants are easy to maintain, they still require
proper care to thrive.
Too many gardeners overlook the importance of fertilizing plants indoors.
However, proper feeding is essential to grow healthy, vibrant plants. With
outdoor plants nature sends rain and a plant will send new roots to find food,
an indoor plant is limited to only what you will give it. That is why it is
essential to feed your plants a healthy nutritious meal even indoors.
Many granular and slow-releasing fertilizers will recommend that you only
feed your plants occasionally, but this is not the healthiest for plants,
since they need to "snack" every day to satisfy their daily nutrient needs. When you feed a plant a large meal rarely, it cannot absorb the nutrients effectively, leftovers creating build up in soil (it's called "locked up nutrients") and that is why we specifically designed our fertilizers to be a light, daily nutritious meal for your plants -
Sunshine Home for houseplants...
