Category: Tropical Style

Erosion is one of the banes of home gardening. Often thought of as a phenomenon which affects beaches and hillsides, vandalism also eliminates dirt from home gardens when conditions are appropriate. Installing shrubs, flowering plants and other plants usually helps keep dirt in place only when they have fibrous root systems. If they’ve taproot systems, your erosion-control campaigns would not have as much success — unless the taproots have extensive lateral roots. Development of Soil Erosion Soil erosion occurs when something carries away soil on a regular basis and the dirt isn’t replaced. As an instance, water may wash dirt down slopes, and wind can blow away dry dirt. The dirt within an erosion area gradually lessens over time, leaving exposed rock or such shallow layers of dirt that planting becomes hard unless topsoil is additional. When water or wind can’t be controlled, then controlling erosion requires stabilizing the dirt…

Often grown for fresh winter greens, collards (Brassica oleracea var. Acephala) can endure numerous frosts and keep producing under cold conditions which prevent other members of the Brassica familymembers. In actuality, the cool temperatures which precede frost improve the sweetness in the leaves. Collard green plants have been biennials which overwinter at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, with a few varieties hardy to USDA zone 6. One Tough Vegetable With normal weather patterns, collard plants can survive temperatures down to approximately 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so long as they’re growing in well-drained soil. The exception is when a hard freeze follows a period of unusually warm weather, which does not permit the plant to acclimate gradually to lower temperatures. As the weather cools before frost, the plant converts starches in the leaves to sugars and changes the structure of their proteins. This chemical reaction gives credence…

Watching plant roots grow in transparent pots gives an intriguing look below the surface, but those clear walls do not suit all plants. Many typical potted plants grow better in nontransparent containers. For plants which naturally grow in soil, opaque pots lead to greater growth above and below ground. Sensors with light-seeking air roots, which obviously grow without soil, do nicely in containers that are clear. Soil Roots and Darkness When roots naturally grow below the soil surface, neighboring light signs they are headed the incorrect way. Like roots, roots feature growth-directing hormones known as auxins, which tell them which way to grow. In precisely the same way that upper growth on plants bends toward well-lit windows, roots naturally develop from light. They seek protective and shadow moisture rather. In transparent pots, these roots avoid light-penetrated areas of soil. Forced into high-light locations, light-sensitive roots recoil and slow or stop…

An uprooted tree, lying broken roots splayed out from the air, on its side, is a sight to get a homeowner because the root system damage spells death for the shrub. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that a direct line end of 75 to 89 miles per hour could uproot a tree, depending on the size and kind of shrub — and its own surroundings. Weather Earth is the immediate source of uprooting, called”windthrow.” Hurricanes — even severe thunderstorms contain 75-mile-plus winds. According to the new Enhanced F Scale of NOAA trees uproot in winds ranging from 73 to 112 miles, which translates into an F-0 into F-1 storm. Strip the bark or higher winds in the categories that are over and F-3 tend to snap trunks. Soil Type and illness can reduce the end requirement for windthrow significantly. Very sandy soil lets go easily than loam, and…

Water is the secret to growing watercress (Nasturtium officinale). In the wild, watercress grows in slow-moving streams. So recreating its natural surroundings is the best way to grow this plant, or you’ll be able to grow it in moist soil, though the plant’s taste is hotter that way. A perennial vegetable, watercress is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 10 and trails up to 39 inches long and 20 inches wide. Ponds and Streams Watercress grows best at the borders of ponds or slow-moving streams. In case you’ve got a stream flowing through your garden, you can grow watercress on its banks if no domestic animals soared upstream and the water isn’t otherwise polluted. Animal parasites such as liver flukes can infest the plant. Grow watercress where land of any soil type slopes slightly toward the water’s edge in a sunny website. Submerge watercress plants…

As are massive, you might think about shade trees. If you’ve always desired a shade tree, but believed your yard was too small for you personally, think again: The Amur maple (Acer ginnala) might be the ideal choice for your lawn. As a shrub on several stalks known for its fall color, this streamlined beauty obviously develops. Considering the Climate The Amur maple is a shrub that is tough, but it does best in moderate or cool climates. A compact form is created by its clumping habit. The Amur maple grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone through 8, tolerates low temperatures and does well with snow and ice. It develops best where summer temperatures aren’t high and in which humidity is low and prefers cold to hot. Too much hot, direct sun can cause the leaves . For Appearance’s Sake Nothing matches the grandeur of an…

Fuchsias are flowering plants. The genus Fuchsia comprises about 100 species and tens of thousands of cultivars with different growth habits, making the plants adaptable for many applications in your garden. If you provide your fuchsias some care, they will reward you with abundant blossoms that make a powerful statement wherever they grow. Fuchsias are generally hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 9 and above. They may be grown as annuals in colder areas. General Requirements All of fuchsias create flowers that a vibrant, inner portion and back called the corolla. All also share growth requirements. When moisture is abundant, being native to moist, mountainous areas, fuchsias do best in cooler seasons. Plant your fuchsia at a spot that receives morning sun or shade all day and mulch your own plant to keep soil moisture. Shield the plant from strong winds and hot and prune your plant…

Lithodora diffusa is a ground cover which yields twining foliage and blue blossoms. The plant is well-suited to rock raised flower beds, gardens and areas that receive full sunlight. It tends to do best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 9, though it can grow nicely in the Bay Area. The flowers bloom in spring, but the trailing greenery lasts throughout the entire year. Lithodora diffusa will blossom year after year to improve your garden’s beauty. Pick a place in your yard that receives full sunlight and contains well-drained soil. Every single Lithodora diffusa plant develops between 4 and 6 inches tall and spreads between 12 to 18 inches. Pick an area of your backyard which will accommodate this expansion without infiltrating your plants. Dig a hole that’s deeper and slightly larger than the root ball of your Lithodora diffusa plant, together with your trowel. Place the…

A vase of tropical leaves might be the perfect answer if you crave some easy-care green. These leaves may last for weeks and come in many different shapes and fashions. Palm fronds are breezy and beachy, and they grow in a range of sizes, from small enough for an average-size vase into large and quite heavy — in which case you are going to need a huge floor urn. Large tropical leaves like strelitzia, elephant’s ear and split-leaf philodendron are reminiscent of a tropical rain forest and are able to appear exotic and spectacular. Just imagine your perfect tropical getaway and select your leaves so. More ways to develop tropical fashion Rachel Reider Interiors Vases filled with strelitzia and philodendron leaves are the ideal accessory to this tropical-style porch in Boston. The colorful throw pillows and green leaves attract the room to life. Tracy Murdock Allied ASID Isn’t it really…

To explain Pride of Madeira’s attributes as anything other than stunning doesn’t do the plant justice. You’ve probably heard that the list of features prior to — purple flower spikes, mounding habit, low water usage, coastal tolerant, sage green foliage — but once you’ve seen a Pride of Madeira and its charms, you’ll never forget it. Such as the island it evolves from, Pride of Madeira allures from both near and far. GARDENIA-Sharly & Tanya Illuz Botanical name: Echium candicans (syn. Echium fastuosum)Common name: Pride of MadeiraUSDA zones: 9 to 10; hardy to about 25 degrees Fahrenheit (find your zone)Water necessity: Small to nonemoderate requirement: Total sunMature dimension: 5 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wideBenefits and tolerances: Flowers attract bees, birds and butterflies; deer resistant; coastal and drought tolerantSeasonal interest: Evergreen; blossoms spring through summerWhen to plant: Plant seeds in spring; plant cuttings in midsummer. Caution:…