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Spider
Plant
Spider plants, or, Chlorophytum comosum, are one of the most
common of houseplants. Native to Africa, Spider plants
enjoy natural light, but not direct sunlight. You should
place your plants near a window but not directly in them,
this will cause browning of the leaves. The plants do well
in cool rooms as long as there is enough light. You should
keep your plants watered at least once a week and never
soak the soil. If you find your spider plant’s leaves
turning brown at the tips, this could be from the water
you are using. Chemicals in water cause damage to spider
plant leaves and you can remedy this by using distilled
water.
If
you keep your plants in proper condition, you will soon
notice spider ‘babies’ forming on your spider
plant. These babies look like little miniature spider plants
suspended from a longer branch of the plant. In order to
separate the baby from its main plant, place the baby on
a pot of loose soil, making sure to hold it in place with
a lightly tied piece of string or stake. The baby will take
root in the pot of soil and once its roots are established,
you can clip the baby from the main plant. You can also clip
the baby from the main plant and place the bottom of it in
a glass of water until roots begin to form, then plant the
baby in soil or put them straight into the soil. These methods
take longer and are not as healthy for the plant as the direct
transplant into the soil while the plant is still attached
to its mother.
Treat
your plants with a bit of house plant fertilizer from time
to time, using half of the recommended strength. Spider
plants are sensitive and need only a bit of fertilizer
to
stay healthy.
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| Dendrobium Orchids
There
are many varieties of Dendrobium orchids, however,
D. nobile are the most widely grown in this
area. They are extremely variable in color and
size. The
plants are upright, growing as high as 24” tall, with somewhat zigzag
stems. Leaves are thick and fleshy, usually 2” to 4” long. They
bloom mostly early spring to summer. Dendrobiums are among the easiest to
grow of all orchids, hence they are heartily recommended to all collectors.
Dendrobiums
are best grown in pots with very well drained potting
medium. They will not tolerate stale conditions at
the roots; hence drainage is an extremely
important factor in their successful cultivation. Fir bark is the most common
potting medium used in this area; however, osmunda or chopped tree fern fiber
is also used. While actively growing Dendrobiums require copious quantities
of moisture and bright light and will take considerable
heat. During cooler months,
as the new growths harden, water should be all but stopped in order to harden
the pseudobulbs and induce formation of flower buds.
Dendrobiums
benefit from frequent and liberal applications of
fertilizers, though feeding should be ceased during
their resting period in cooler months. We recommend
using Osmocote 14-14-14 or water soluble 20-20-20 and follow the instructions
on the package.
Propagation
of new plants is easily done from ‘keikis’ which form
on older growth. Cut them off as clean as possible when “air roots” have
formed to about 1” long. |
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Autumnale
Fuchsia
Autumnale
Fuchsia has some of the most beautiful foliage that we
have ever seen. This fuchsia has red sepal/purple corolla
flowers offset by pure gold leaves flushed with purple
and orange. It is not a large plant, 6”-18” high
by 15”-18” wide, which makes this a splendid
trailing fuchsia which would be perfect for window boxes,
hanging baskets, and containers. Hummingbirds love fuchsias
and this one has proven to be one of their favorites. As
with most fuchsias it should be planted in a warm, sheltered
spot in well-drained soil. Autumnale is an early blooming
Fuchsia with flowers being produced summer through early
fall. Fuchsias do not like to dry out so if it is planted
in a hanging basket it may need daily watering. Keep the
soil moist to the touch but not sopping wet.
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Salvia
lanceolata
Salvia
lanceolata (no common name that we know of) is a compact
(3’-4’ high and wide) shrubby sage. Its narrow
gray-silver leaves have a pleasing, pungent scent and its
smoky rose-tan flowers are relatively large for a salvia.
It truly becomes interesting when the flowers drop. The
calyx takes on a pink tone and is as showy as the flower.
It blooms early spring through fall. Regular water is ok,
but it can be very drought tolerant. Like most salvias
it loves full sun and any soil with good drainage. Hardy
to at least the mid-20s so it will do well in most San
Diego yards. The hummingbirds also like this.
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Coral
Vine
Coral
Vine (Antigonon leptopus) is a native of Mexico. It’s
a fast growing, easy care, evergreen vine that will happily
cover up and over any nearby object. During the summer,
this vine produces large branching flower stalks (racemes)
upon which masses of small pink flowers are produced. These
brilliant flowers attract hordes of butterflies so be prepared
for caterpillars. Not to worry though, its rapid growth
rate and luxurious foliage will not succumb to a little,
or a lot of, nibbling. This vine will grow in almost any
type soil, needs full sun for best bloom but will tolerate
a little shade, wants well-drained moist soil but will
tolerate some drought. In the very coldest areas it will
suffer from frost but a good layer of mulch should have
it surviving the winter, just cut it back after threat
of frost has passed. It has tuberous roots that are said
to be edible and are eaten in its native Mexico. Coral
Vine has been used in urban settings as it tolerates air
pollution, restricted space, inadequate sunshine and poor
soil.
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Lois
Woodhull
A
Plectranthus called "Lois Woodhull" has light
green (almost lime) colored leaves on stems with a rounded
branching habit which seems simple enough but the flowers
are what caught my attention. They are square but come
to a point and appear to be in sections as the blooms start
at the bottom and bloom individually all the way up to
the top. They are a lovely lavender-blue color. They bloom
repeatedly spring through fall and some have found it to
bloom all year. It will take full sun, but, a little shade
where it gets really hot would be great. It is not a large
plant, 18” tall and 24” wide, and will look
great in a pot or in that little area that you just don't
know what to put there.
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Golden
Jubilee or Golden Anise Hyssop
Agastache
called Golden Jubilee or Golden Anise Hyssop (Agastache
foeniculum). It has green-gold leaves, one of the few that
do, and upright branches that end in a great lavender,
thistle-like flowerI. It should stay under 3 feet in an
upright, compact clump, and bloom from Summer (June) until
Fall (October or first frost). It is good for a xeriscape
garden but light to moderate watering will give the best
color. It also isn't picky about soil. It is loved by hummingbirds
and butterflies. If you let the late flowers go to seed,
the finches will love you for the tasty treat you provided.
This Agastache is also edible. It can make a very aromatic
tea or be used in salad. Chinese herbalists believe it
is useful for heart conditions.
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Pincushion
Flower
Tired
of Lobelia and Alyssum as a border plant? Well, here is
something new to try; Scabiosa or Pincushion Flower. That's
not new you say. Well, this is one of those tweaked plants.
It's called "Blue Diamond” and it only grows
6" to 8" tall and wide. The rosette of gray green
leaves support masses of small pincushion flowers through
the summer (June to September). The flowers are really
on the lavender side of blue. Dead-heading is a breeze.
It provides a source of nectar for bees and butterflies.
It will tolerate some drought and will grow in dry to moist
soils, full sun to light shade, although it doesn't like
it really hot.
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Pink
Powder Puff
Pink
Powder Puff or Surinam Powder Puff (Calliandra surinamensis).
It is a large shrub or small tree called that is native
to Surinam in South America. It is evergreen and can grow
to a height of 15 to 20 feet. This attractive plant has
dense double pinnate foliage and axillary, compound, showy
pink flowers that resemble powder puffs. The flat pods,
each with 5 or 6 seeds, are first green, then turn brown
before curving back to release the seeds. In frost free
areas of San Diego it has the potential to bloom year round.
It is vase-shaped in growth so despite the size of the
plant it does not take up that much room in the garden
nor will it shade these salvias to the point they won’t
bloom. Humming birds will be all over this one.
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Golden
Delicious
A
salvia called Golden Delicious (Saliva elegans) has great lime green foliage and brilliant red flowers,
just what you need to perk up that dark corner of the garden.
One more caveat…brush the foliage and it smells like
pineapple! It is a hybrid of the Saliva elegans, Pineapple
Sage. It loves full sun but will tolerate some shade. It
will stay around 3’ x 3’, likes a little more
water than most salvias but will tolerate some drought
once it is established.
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Wooly
Blue Curls
Trichostemma
lanatum, or Wooly Blue Curls is a fragrant 3 – 4’ shrub
known for its showy flowers that bloom May-August. The
flowers are royal blue, fuzzy, 12" clusters and make
excellent cut flowers. The foliage is like a wide resinous
pine needle. Both the flower and foliage has a sweet fragrance
like freshly cut cedar with a bouquet of lavender. Woolly
Blue Curls is native to very dry slopes. This native needs
full sun, good drainage, no water after established. Cold
tolerant to 10 degrees with no foliage burn. It will burn
to the ground at -5 F. but recover.
More
of a problem is its need for perfect, absolutely perfect,
drainage. If your soil has high organic matter, do not
try this. Standing water will kill it, areas of much summer
rain will kill it, soil amendment will kill it, and fertilizer
will kill it. If you have clay soil, plant it so water
cannot stand. It is native on sites that range from serpentine
clay to gravel with a rainfall from 14- 35". Plant
in your soil, water well once/week indirectly (first year
only), put a rock or boulder next to it and get ready for
the flower show. |
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