Most of my time recently has been spent at the office. I've not been getting up early enough to water, but the gentle cool temperatures buy me time-- I can spot water as needed by water can and give everyone a bath this coming weekend.
I can grow begonias on my terrace in winter. It's drier, cooler, the sun is gentler. Happy days are these.
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| The new 'Caribbean King' has a nice spot to acclimate to the new environment of a terrace behind the Vietnamese gardenia which is blooming. What's not to love about green velvet? |
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| Side shoots coming off of main rhizome of Caribbean Corsair- one of my favorites |
Nice collection of begonias. I have a suggestion for plant additions to your terrace. The first is the giant flower potato tree (Solanum macranthum). It grows superbly in a large pot blooming all year on new growth. It blooms more profusely when grown in a pot rather than in the ground. It loves heat, water and fertilizer. You can keep it at any size buy pinching the growing tips or allow it to grow into a small tree. This could provide some additional shade for all your begonias. It has a sweet night fragrance and the blue flowers last for weeks. It should be easy to find at nurseries in your area. This is truly an under utilized, showy plant for southern gardens, one which I never see........the second plant recommendation is the bromeliad Harvey's Pride. It is a patented plant and quite pricey ($50-75)but well worth the price. It has very thick leaves that will not bend even in strong wind and strikingly variegated leaves. I think it is the very best bromeliad on the market today. It would become the focal point of your plant collection I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I will try to find these two locally. Probably in a Miami nursery. I appreciate the suggestionis.
ReplyDeleteHi again, if you're really interested in the potato tree, I don't think the wind will cause any adverse effects. I live in the Orlando area and we have very persistent winds in this region. The potato tree has thick strong leaves very resistant to wind damage unlike brumansia. I grow my potato trees in an open area and they suffer no wind damage. I've seen them growing in the Tampa area near the coast and they had no damage either. I believe that Fairchild Garden should have some in their plant collection.
DeleteI like you have given up on angel trumpets. For some reason, they don't like Florida conditions. They wilt in the middle day and never bloom to their full potential. I lived in CA for many years and grew many varieties of brugs, all which bloomed profusely with hundreds of blossoms for most of the year (never any wilting). They are much happier growing in a Medditerrian climate or up north as a summer annual. Brugs are very susceptible to the virus (TMV) tomato mosaic virus which can be spread by sucking insects or by cuttings taken from an infected parent plant. The lack to thrive could be caused by TMV..Most brugs are propagated by cuttings and TMV is present in a high number of brugs tested. Perhaps if one acquired a "virus free" plant (Terra Nova does provide virus free stock) it would grow to fuller potential in Florida. The Germans have hybridized many amazing brugmansia, the colors and shapes are unreal.
Regarding Aechmea Harvey's Pride, it is a variety that can take a lot of sun. I grow mine in full sun with only dappled after noon shade and it thrives. In high light, the yellow variegation on the leaf edges turns red, which I don't really care for. Great sources of bromeliad information can be found on Ebay. There is a lady out of Hollywood, FL that sells many bromeliads on Ebay. She is expensive but sells only highest quality, mature plants. She has many pictures and great cultural information on each plant (The Natures Collection). I have found that Michael Bromeliads (online catalog) is the cheapest. He doesn't have any pictures so you have to use Goggle Images. BTY, I was using Google Images for researching bromeliads and linked onto your blog from a bromeliad picture you posted on this page.
My profession is a plant pathologist and I am an avid plant collector. My recommendations come from my own personal experience with the plants.
Hi, thanks for further cultural info on the Potato and Harvey's. I know Palm Hammock has the potato tree, hopefully Living Color, a good, though not cheap, nursery on Griffin road probably will have them too. I think it sounds like a great addition -- providing color, scent, and shade. AND it grows well in a container.
ReplyDeleteAlso, shirleygk of the ebay store The Nature Collection is advertising a very handsome Harvey's Pride, I've emailed to see if I can pickup the plant in person as I'm in the area.
I look forward to reporting about these two. Thanks again!