Tropical Plants

/Tropical Plants

Palm Leaf Begonia

Begonia luxurians (Palm Leaf Begonia) - An upright, cane-like growing begonia with large glabrous leaves that are palmately dissected into narrow leaflets. Interestingly, the new growth emerges from the center of the next oldest leaf. Requires bright filtered to part sun - best to avoid mid-day sun but stock plant for seed production in the nursery is in full sun and only suffers briefly on warmest days (low 90's ° F). Delicate fragrant cream flowers are produced from late winter into summer. Listed in Begonias: The Complete Reference Guide (Thompson & Thompson) as a bare large-leafed shrub-type for the advanced grower. Discovered in 1848 in the Organ Mountains north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Organ Mountains take their name from their resemblance from a distance to the tubes of an organ. This description is based on our research and the observations we have made of this plant as it grows in containers.

By | 2016-02-13T06:18:48-08:00 February 13th, 2016|Tropical Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Brazilian Edelweiss

Sinningia grow from tubers, so there is seasonality to them. When the plant is actively growing, keep it lightly moist. When the foliage dies back, just mist the soil regularly to keep the tubers from drying out too much. Start your normal watering when new leaves start to show. As with most plants, they can survive a short drought, but they donäó»t recover from drowning. Water the soil, not the plant. They are prone to crown rot and gray mold which happens when the leaves stay wet. Do not let the plant sit in water, it must be well drained, and in well drained soil. They have the same light requirements as an African violet. Morning or soft late afternoon light is best. That means an East, shaded West, or North-facing window. By all means, avoid direct sun during the hottest hours of the day. Protect from frost. Some species with particularly large tubers are cultivated by cactus and succulent enthusiasts as caudiciforms. One such example is this one often listed under the older name Rechsteineria leucotricha and dubbed "Brazilian edelweiss" for its covering of silvery, silky hairs.

By | 2016-01-24T21:13:26-08:00 January 24th, 2016|Tropical Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Ananas Comosus Pineapple Propagation

The browning of the oldest leaf tips is normal as your pineapple top gets going. Remember that it is a Bromeliad, and it doesn't like to have sopping wet roots. That's one reason pineapples do so well in Hawaii because the soil is volcanic and very porous. Your soil looks (hard to say from a photo) to be pretty heavy and moist. this could cause you a problem. If you think it is, unpot your plant and rinse the soil off the roots and just let it sit around somewhere for a few days, it won't hurt it. Most bromeliads grow up in trees with no soil. And about a third or so of Perlite or pumice to your soil mix to open it up and make it more porous - replant your pineapple. I have grown them before and they actually grow quite fast and will get very large in no time once it takes off. To actually get fruit (which I did, albeit small but tasty!) it takes about two years and will eventually have to be growing in something like one of those half whiskey barrels - and it needs full sun all the time. I know that is going to be a trick where you live but you can winter it over inside and if nothing else it is a good conversation piece. Maybe it will take you longer than two years, I'm in southern California.

By | 2016-01-15T13:01:05-08:00 January 15th, 2016|Tropical Plants|0 Comments
Read More

Cambria Orchidvuylstekeara

Cambria is a general category to cover different orchid crosses, but unlike most hybrids or crosses, Cambria or Vuylstekeara, most are lab created and are primarily from Ondontoglossum, Cochlioda, Miltonia, Oncidium and Brassium. Basically it is an intergenetic hybrid and are difficult to identify specifically as a result of such a mixed parentage. It blooms, with as you noted, often fragrant flowers, about every 9 months from a pseudobulb. It takes a pseudobulb 9 months to mature and to produce a flowering stem. Indoors, place where there is bright, indirect light such as a north or east facing window. Hopefully, your orchid is planted in a well-draining medium. Allow the potting medium to dry out slightly before watering again making sure the water drains out completely. Do not allow the orchid to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. Feed with a water soluble fertilizer formulated for orchids at half the recommended dilution rate about every 3rd or 4th time you water. It will tolerate temperatures between 10-30 degrees C. but ideally it is happiest when kept around 20 degrees C. Good luck and enjoy!

By | 2016-01-13T01:10:04-08:00 January 13th, 2016|Tropical Plants|0 Comments
Read More