Landscaping Rock Adds Character

Spending the time to find the right landscape rock can make the difference between an OK looking landscape and one that shops people in their tracks. Here’s a picture of a rock simply placed out in front of the landscape between two cycads. This rock graces the enterance to a doctors office and makes “potential” clients stop.

What does the rock look like to you? I think it looks like a cat! How about you?

Bougainvillea - Bright Colors on a Trellis

Bougainvillea adds a real color pop to many a garden wanting to create an impact.

Did you know bougainvillea can also thrive with irregular watering patterns? In nature a bougainvillea plant can receive rain for days and weeks at a time. Then, see months of dry spells. If you mimic these conditions in your tropical garden by watering them really well for a few weeks and then stop watering… You’ll find they seem to bloom best when going through a little stress, or when staying on the dry side for extended periods of time.

The bougainvillea can be grown in a variety of ways too like on a trellis.As you can see they create a gorgeous display of color.

Ficus Benjamina - A Midnight Corkscrew

Do you know that one of the most popular plants in Europe is the Ficus benjamina
and its many cultivars.

There are many perceptions in the US on Ficus trees with differ from Europe

• Ficus drop their leaves
• Ficus are short lived in the interior environment

Ficus are uninteresting

• Ficus are inexpensive
• A Ficus is a Ficus
• There is nothing new in Ficus

In fact over 10 years ago Ficus trees accounted for over 11% of all potted plant sales sold and over 60 Ficus varieties were being cultivated commercially.

Now not all Ficus cultivars are superior but some select varieties are indeed superior. Plus we continue to see new selections both unique in color form and growth habit.

This image is of a crop of 14 inch Ficus Benjamina ‘Monique‘ trees grown as ‘corkscrews’. These trees are undergoing the acclimation process getting use to lower light levels soon ready to be a conversation item as a houseplant or in an office.

Ficus Benjamina Monique is more drought tolerant than past benjamina varieties. Learn more on Ficus tree care here.

Dazzle Your Umbrella Tree

Tired of green umbrella tree?

Schefflera arboricola “Dazzle” is one of the newer cultivars in the umbrella tree family. Dazzle distinguishes itself from many of the other scheff varieties with its bright white to cream colored leaves. Usually leaves of variegated plants only show some mottling evenly around the leaf. But not Dazzle! Some leaves come up almost entirely white/cream!

The care for Dazzle is very much like all the other umbrella varieties, however, keep in mind with those bright leaves this houseplant will want more light.

At the moment Dazzle is going through the plant patenting process but that doesn’t mean you cannot find it at garden centers. I’ve seen it grown as a braid, bush and “pyramid” form. Try it indoors or outside on the patio. Learn more about umbrella trees and their care here.

Sunburned Houseplants - What To Do When Plants Get Burned

House plants in general enjoy the same indoor climate as you. Temperatures in 70-80 degree range and some humidity. When spring and summer arrive people like to head outside to enjoy the warmth and sunshine. This is a follow up on the post from the other day discussing the topic of moving houseplants outdoors and IS that a smart choice.

Many people believe their indoor houseplants would enjoy the warmth and sunshine of the outdoors like they do.

As they go about their weekend chores as weather permits they move their houseplants outside to the patio for a little summer sunshine.

Before long the busy starts… working in the yard, cleaning the garage, running off to do errands. Later… you remember your lush indoor houseplant is outside… slowly being toasted by the afternoon sun.

Leaves burn turning a dark gray color and eventually turn to a black or brown. You may find some comfort in seeing a little bit of green once the torched foliage is pushed away..

“What do you do next?”

Solutions and Tips in Sunburned House Plant Care

• Take the plant back inside and put it in a bright area
• Lay off the water
• Cut the bad, burnt or torched leaves off
• Keep the soil moist but not wet… Roots could have become damaged from the heat. Any extra moisture can cause the roots problems.
• DO NOT ADD ANY FERTILIZER!

Be prepared for a long wait before your plant comes back to health. It all depends on how bad the plant was damaged.

Another solution may come down to throwing the plant out… if that is the choice purchase another plant of the same type or variety. It won’t bring your plant back… but you learned another valuable lesson in house plant care. Learn this lesson… Once a plant acclimates to it’s environment… leave it alone.

Since we’re talking about acclimation… Find out why Ficus trees drop so many leaves when bringing it home!

Next Page »