TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

10,801 topics in this forum

1. 

   Taro Plant

   June 2, 2009 by Neel

   • 7 replies
   • 1.3k views

   I just got this plant from a family friend. In India they use the leaves and cook them to make a dish. I think it is a type of Colocasia esculenta but none of the pics I see online or on ebay look exactly like it. the stems are purple to black. I was looking to get more plants in case these don't make it....I've tried them before without success although several people grow them fine in Southern California. This time i'm giving them tons of water because that's what i've been reading. Anyone know the exact species or where they might have them?

   

   Last reply by gcyao, June 10, 2009
3. 

   Flowering trees in SoCal

   May 28, 2009 by Peter

   • 31 replies
   • 11.8k views

   Here are a few flowering trees currently in bloom around Southern California: Schizolobium: Jacaranda mimosifolia:

   

   Last reply by ariscott, June 10, 2009
4. 

   Using banana peels as a natural pesticide.........

   May 21, 2009 by Palm Dave

   • 12 replies
   • 33.7k views

   Has anyone had any success using banana peels to get rid of harmful bugs on your outdoor tropical plants? Ive tried them on my hibiscus bushes and coco plum hedges (just hanging the peels from the plants' branches). The peels turn black in a short while and seem to have improved the health of these plants. Aphids and mealy bugs have been my concerns and they've disappeared after the hanging banana peel treatment.

   

   Last reply by Palm Dave, June 9, 2009
5. 

   jacaranda trouble (J. mimosifolia)

   June 7, 2009 by Randy

   • 1 reply
   • 743 views

   I've really enjoyed the jacaranda tree we have in our back yard as a tropical compliment to my palms in the landscape, even though though the litter on the onset of winter's cold is messy. The tree goes completely bare in the cold months, and then typically the purple blooms explode around Mother's day, followed by the sprouting of green leaves. This year the waether in the Phoenix area has been hot early - we had a lot of triple digit days in May and warmth is not a problem. Observation. Our tree has three main branch systems, two "original" branches and one that is far younger but now larger than the other two. This tree has a main trunk that seperates into the th…

   

   Last reply by John Case, June 7, 2009
6. 

   Mistake at Kew Gardens

   June 6, 2009 by Wai`anae Steve

   • 8 replies
   • 912 views

   I was watching something on perhaps Discovery Channel about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. A lady at Kew Gardens was asked what kind of plants would have been growing there. Amongst the names that made sense was this "various cactus". Now I'd really guess that someone working at Kew would know that there were NO CACTUS growing in Babylon at this time. Cactus are native only to the New World which had not yet been discovered by Europeans or those of the Mid-East. They even showed a picture of a Golden Barrel Cactus. Shame Shame.

   

   Last reply by Wai`anae Steve, June 6, 2009
7. 

   Zamia ID Please

   June 5, 2009 by AJ_del

   • 1 reply
   • 527 views

   Hi everyone I bought a plant which is know in Delhi as 'Zamia Palm'. Please help identify the plant. Thanks for your help Best Regards Akash Jain

   

   Last reply by virtualpalm, June 6, 2009
8. 

   Two great cycads

   June 4, 2009 by PalmsZA

   • 15 replies
   • 1.7k views

   Hi all I paid a visit to our local gardens last Sunday. Thought I would share these to pics of two remarkable plants...... E.woodii, notice the chap having a snooze to the right of the plant for scale. E.natalensis, nice trunk shape, needs a brace now to keep it upright. Cheers Dennis

   

   Last reply by GeneAZ, June 5, 2009
9. 

   Weird Air Plant

   June 5, 2009 by Moose

   • 2 replies
   • 849 views

   This weird air plant has been growing on my Avocado tree. Today I noticed it was flowering. Could someone help me I.D. ? Thanks. Ron.

   

   Last reply by virtualpalm, June 5, 2009
10. 

    id

    June 4, 2009 by gyuseppe

    • 5 replies
    • 567 views
    

    Last reply by gilles06, June 4, 2009
11. 

    Show us your Philos!!!! 1 2

    July 25, 2007 by metalfan

    • 63 replies
    • 7.9k views

    I love philodendrons and collect as many as I can. T current count I have about 30. I'd like to see photos of your philos! This is one of my faves, Philo "White Wizard" about to grow up this living grapevine with Epipremnum "Skeleton Key".

    

    Last reply by ThunderSRQ, June 4, 2009
12. 

    Helwingia chinensis

    May 8, 2009 by Eric in Orlando

    • 5 replies
    • 2k views

    Helwingia chinensis (Helwingiaceae) is an interesting shrub from southern China. The small inflorescences are borne on the top surface of the leaf. They are very tiny, the leaf itself is maybe 1.5 inches long. Helwingia is epiphyllic, since the flowers are produced directly on the leaf.

    

    Last reply by ThunderSRQ, June 2, 2009
13. 

    Please Respond if You Plan to Attend

    June 2, 2009 by Tropicalken

    • 0 replies
    • 486 views

    There have been quite a few hits on this thread. If you are in the Southern California area and have decided to attend, please inform me so I can pass the information on to the host of the meeting. Probably there won't be that many, but on the other hand I wouldn't want a lot of people showing up without giving the host notice. Thanks, Ken

    

    Last reply by Tropicalken, June 2, 2009
14. 

    Bamboo cutting question

    May 31, 2009 by freakypalmguy

    • 17 replies
    • 1.3k views

    I bought this bamboo cutting about 6 months ago and just noticed the lower portion of the cutting lost it's color and was dead. It easily lifted from the soil and had no roots. I'm not sure if I got it too wet. The person that sold it to me said to keep the top of the cutting filled with water. As you can see the upper portion is still alive. Should I saw off to just below the live point and put that in the soil to root it out, or is it done for. Any help appreciated, Matt

    

    Last reply by freakypalmguy, June 2, 2009
15. 

    Crotons and more

    May 29, 2009 by Walter John

    • 3 replies
    • 678 views

    Here's some pics from the jungle. Last pics before winter turns up in 2 days.

    

    Last reply by ROBERTICO, June 2, 2009
16. 

    E. ferox

    May 28, 2009 by ghar41

    • 12 replies
    • 1.7k views

    I am frustrated growing this cycad...maybe one of our cycad experts can help. All three of mine tend to flush new leaves late in the year...I had a couple of them begin flushing new leaves last November. As the cold weather sets in they do not complete the flush...leaving deformed leaves. I fertilize all of my cycads in May...should I change the fertilizer schedule for these? Thanks for your replies

    

    Last reply by Kris, June 1, 2009
17. 

    Clusia Rosea

    May 29, 2009 by epicure3

    • 6 replies
    • 1.2k views

    Is anyone growing this in So. Cal? I have tried, and killed, a few. An easy grow in S. Fla or HI, I'm curious to know if anyone is growing it here. There is a rather nice specimen at the SD Zoo that seems very happy.

    

    Last reply by epicure3, May 31, 2009
18. 

    Encephalartos ID

    May 29, 2009 by leyucca

    • 1 reply
    • 658 views

    Does anybody have an Idea about this one ? (It is about 1 meter 50 high)

    

    Last reply by virtualpalm, May 30, 2009
19. 

    Staghorn Fern

    March 25, 2009 by SubTropicRay

    • 19 replies
    • 4.9k views

    One of my neighbors gave me a huge Staghorn fern yesterday (species unknown). I'm not a fan of hanging these from tree limbs as most people do. It would look great attached to one my my Live Oaks but am unsure how to attach a large, mature plant? Second, how would I keep squirrels from attempting to make a nest inside (short of a pellet gun). Thanks in advance, Ray P.S. In regards to shooting squirrels, tell PETA, I'm a bad, bad man.

    

    Last reply by Walter John, May 30, 2009
20. 

    Cordyline terminalis

    May 18, 2009 by Tyrone

    • 3 replies
    • 748 views

    I've got some seed from a Cordyline terminalis (not sure which one). Has anyone grown them from seed? What do they require to germinate. Best regards Tyrone

    

    Last reply by SubTropicRay, May 29, 2009
21. 

    Dragon Tree Setting a Spike for the First Time

    May 27, 2009 by Fouquieria

    • 15 replies
    • 2.1k views

    One of my Dragon trees is getting ready to bloom for the first time.

    

    Last reply by BS Man about Palms, May 29, 2009
22. 

    Dwarf Red Dacca Banana,

    February 1, 2009 by Jonathan

    • 5 replies
    • 4.4k views

    I just bought a plant of the above description - it was labled as a 'Cool Climate Fruiting Banana'. After searching the net, I found info about Red Dacca and Dwarf Red varieties, but nothing about Dwarf Red Dacca! Just wondering if anybody has heard of such a beast? And if it is truly cold tolerant? I plan to grow it in my big poly tunnel, but it still gets pretty cold in there - my other non-denominational banana suffers badly each winter.... Cheers, Jonathan

    

    Last reply by Jonathan, May 28, 2009
23. 

    What is this ?

    May 27, 2009 by edbrown_III

    • 1 reply
    • 569 views

    Which species is this? I have enjoyed it many years Best regards, Ed

    

    Last reply by virtualpalm, May 27, 2009
24. 

    First Annual Plant I.D. Party 1 2

    April 9, 2009 by Jerry@TreeZoo

    • 49 replies
    • 4.5k views

    The Deerfield Beach Arboretum will have our first annual Plant I.D. Party on Saturday, May 16. Over the years, we have purchased many plants, mostly flowering trees and palms, that for one reason or another have lost their tags. Maybe the writing faded (Jeff, hint hint) maybe the tag got lost in a repotting, maybe it was bought as one thing but turned out to be different. Maybe we know the genus but not the species. For whatever reason, we have lots of plants, trees and palms that are mislabeled or unlabeled. This is where all you ID geniuses come in. We are going to have a contest to see who can identify the most plants. There will be prizes and booby prizes. …

    

    Last reply by Moose, May 27, 2009
25. 

    Cycads ID, Please

    May 26, 2009 by ariscott

    • 12 replies
    • 1.1k views

    I have 2 cycads given to me without any tags and they have been sitting in my shadehouse for the last year or so. I am not into cycads and I can't really tell one from the other, except for Zamia which has bronze new growth.... . They really need to be planted and I can't simply do that without knowing what they are, how big they get and their sun requirements. So, if any of you can help me, it would be highly appreciated. Cycad 1 Regards, Ari

    

    Last reply by ariscott, May 26, 2009
26. 

    Cycas ID

    May 24, 2009 by freakypalmguy

    • 12 replies
    • 1.1k views

    Hi all, here is another one I picked up the other day without a tag. Any ideas what it might be?

    

    Last reply by freakypalmguy, May 25, 2009