TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

9,802 topics in this forum

1. 

   Aloe thraskii

   February 21 by Josue Diaz

   • 1 follower
   • 5 replies
   • 253 views

   First bloom on my seed-grown thraskii. Took about 6 years or so to get to this size. Show yours if you have one!

   

   Last reply by iko., March 5

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3. 

   I just bought a Thailand Giant EE

   March 4 by WSimpson

   • 7 replies
   • 239 views

   I haven't had one for a few years and miss those huge leaves . Here I've learned that to keep it alive through the winter I need to mulch heavily . I need to put a 6 inch high load of mulch around the growing buds . Adding half a foot of leaves would work too . As spring weather comes around more consistently I start to pull away the mulch . Then you end up with some live tissue and a lot of muck that I pull out and from around the centers of the growing buds . This helps to dry up the goo . When the heat really builds in , larger and larger leaves start growing . Will

   

   Last reply by Silas_Sancona, March 5

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4. 

   mealy bug treatment

   March 2 by miamicuse

   • 2 replies
   • 146 views

   I have been struggling with mealy bugs with crotons and orchids. What I have been doing is just spot treat with some dish soap/detergent, I have also use neem oil, to spot spray the affected areas, remove the bugs. That works sometimes and not sometimes as I can't always see the bugs especially on some plants that are 5' or taller I won't be able to look at the growing points once they get taller. Sometimes the plant recovers sometimes they do not and continue to decline even after I removed all the visible mealy bugs. Should I try some systemic treatment that may be more effective?

   

   Last reply by Gallop, March 5

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5. 

   Flowers in the temple grounds in India

   February 29 by happypalms

   • 2 replies
   • 184 views

   While visiting another temple in India this time flowers were the main landscape theme plant in containers and in garden beds all well grown in excellent condition adding even more vibrancy and colour to India

   

   Last reply by happypalms, March 4

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6. 

   Running bamboo

   February 27 by Swolte

   • 1 follower
   • 20 replies
   • 386 views

   I had some red cedars die off due to the extreme weather lately that were screening the neighbors and, well, this has created some space that needs filling - fast. Its an area that is about 30ft x 10ft in size. I was planning to mix 2 or 3 types of running bamboo. I will use some bamboo shield to prevent this from getting out of control. Any tips on affordable barriers are welcome! Although I am using several clumpers, I have no experience with running bamboo! Are there any that you would recommend? I am basically 8b on average with temperatures often dipping in the single digits. We can have lengthy droughts with temperatures in the triple digits for months. Any pic…

   

   Last reply by tropicbreeze, March 3

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7. 

   Tree ferns in Texas? Houston?

   February 29 by Chester B

   • 16 replies
   • 464 views

   I have to ask but do any of the tree ferns survive Texas heat, specifically the Houston area. I have grown D antarctica in the past and it did pretty well in the heat but it was only 30-40 days of 90+ heat, not 120 or more. Even if it you could get one to survive in a shady spot, I would imagine it would need a hose down almost daily. Any Cyathea out there?

   

   Last reply by Chester B, March 3

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8. 

   Silver Maple Flowering Early?

   March 2 by DTS

   • 1 follower
   • 4 replies
   • 124 views

   Is it a bad thing that this Silver Maple is starting to flower right now?

   

   Last reply by Silas_Sancona, March 2

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9. 

   Current Favorite Cycad? 1 2 3 4 11

   September 6, 2018 by Tracy

   • 6 followers
   • 424 replies
   • 31.5k views

   Similar to "favorite" palms, it is always changing which is my "favorite" cycad. Over the weekend, I would have picked this hybrid, big green ancient and twisted looking Encephalartos horridus x woodii. While my favorite will likely be different with a new flush, a cone, or maybe just different lighting, this gets the award today. My son, my dog, and his ward (the black lab pup) all give this perspective on how long the leaves are given it's partial horridus parentage, but then again, the woodii is coming through. The mother was a Steytlerville E horridus, which may explain part of the look. I just love those vicious looking leaflets too! So what is your current…

   

   Last reply by Tracy, March 1

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10. 

    Macrozamia Macdonnellii seedling, dig it out?

    October 1, 2023 by Cycadsavy

    • 1 follower
    • 11 replies
    • 713 views

    Team, Please see below, very young MacD seedling, leaf appears healthy, base dried up to some degree. Do you think I should leave it be, repot, or do you think it’s a lost cause. It’s currently potted in a 75/25 inorganic/organic mix. Thank you, Nick

    

    Last reply by Cycadsavy, March 1

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11. 

    Haemanthus albiflos positioning

    February 27 by Rivera

    • 3 replies
    • 101 views

    Anyone growing Haemanthus albiflos in coastal California? There's not a consensus on horticultural requirements among online resources. Average guidelines would indicate part shade/dappled light and light to moderate summer water. One New Zealand nursery suggested full sun. Any cultural suggestions welcome. Below is Haemanthus coccineus growing in the San Francisco Botanical Garden under what appear to be moderately dry conditions based on surrounding companion plants. It's a different species, but these are mostly growing in full sun and look good. No staff available to ask about them when I took the photo. I'm inclined to think H. albiflos can…

    

    Last reply by Rivera, February 29

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12. 

    Winter Thingz 1 2

    December 14, 2023 by Silas_Sancona

    • 42 replies
    • 1.3k views

    Mild it has been, yet still, December is quiet time around the yard. Some sleep, some creep, as the curtains fall on another year.. Even so, there is always some color around, and plenty of hints of things to come.. TX. Bluebonnets starting to put out true leaves.. California's " Bluebonnet, L. nanus as well. Desert Chicory.. Baby Blue Eyes Partridge Pea ..Been warm enough to stimulate germination / maintain growth of some late season Kalstroemia grandiflora against a south-facing wall.. We'll see how long they hang on. Hard to tell in the shot, but, rest of the main bed looking good for now …

    

    Last reply by Silas_Sancona, February 29

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13. 

    Aloidendron dichotomum

    December 3, 2019 by Tracy

    • 2 replies
    • 567 views

    I visited the San Diego Zoo Safari Park over the weekend. I enjoyed seeing these tree aloes which have been renamed after splitting off the tree aloes to their own genus of Aloidendron. I think these do better in the drier inland valley's than along the coast where I live. I've had success with three of the genus, one being the hybrid of this species with A barbarae, as well as A pillansii and Aloidendron ramosissimum, but I always worry when we get too much rain and avoid watering them much. This hillside in San Pasqual Valley looks like an ideal habitat for them all!

    

    Last reply by Tracy, February 29

    • aloidendron dichotomum
    • san diego zoo safari park

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14. 

    Bromeliad: Hohenbergia castellanosii

    September 13, 2023 by Looking Glass

    • 1 follower
    • 7 replies
    • 702 views

    Anyone out there growing this guy. I was looking for sun tolerant bromeliads that were medium sized, and this one came up as the best of the best for full sun (which I doubt, it would have to at least be a tie with Aechmea blanchetiana which can tolerate super-full blazing sun, but gets huge). They say to keep them very dry down below. I’m wondering if anyone is growing these well. They don’t seem super popular. I can’t really keep them super dry, so I’m hoping they can get somewhat wet in blazing sun. They arrived in 8 inch pots in dense wet medium. I put them out in no man’s land where they are getting blasted by noon til setting sun. Any pointers? Pics?

    

    Last reply by Paradise Found, February 29

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15. 

    Planting Aloe and Harwothia together

    February 29 by Paradise Found

    • 1 follower
    • 4 replies
    • 122 views

    I decided to plant some large single plants together very common ones except for the potted Aloe hybrid in the middle. This was a good time to use all my cactus and succulent soil mixes leftovers. The bowl is 24” across. Looks pretty good I think.

    

    Last reply by Paradise Found, February 29
16. 

    Caladiums in Texas - Do I lift them in Winter

    February 27 by Chester B

    • 2 replies
    • 166 views

    So my tiny front yard has a northern aspect and three reasonable sized live oaks. I'm starting to plant the existing gardens which for the most part are empty. I'm using some Caladiums for a pop of color, but do I need to lift them in December and dry store them, or can they stay in the ground all year? Location is Houston, TX

    

    Last reply by Chester B, February 29

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17. 

    ficus hybridization?

    February 27 by epiphyte

    • 2 replies
    • 391 views

    i've been collecting ficus for several decades now and for nearly all that time i assumed that hand pollination of ficus species was impossible. then in 2020 at a local nursery i saw this guy... the label said ficus carica x pumila. this blew my mind because i never would have guessed that these two very different species, at least superficially, were closely related enough to cross. initially i figured that the cross had occurred naturally via a confused wasp. later on i learned that the premier fig scientist, ira condit, had created the cross himself. he wrote about it in his 1950 paper, "an interspecific hybrid in ficus". does anyone have this paper? …

    

    Last reply by epiphyte, February 29

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18. 

    Plant id

    February 28 by 96720

    • 1 follower
    • 2 replies
    • 120 views

    I was interested in what this is it popped up in another plant I bought if it is something that is worth growing I will try it in the jungle!!

    

    Last reply by Chester B, February 28

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19. 

    unusual leaf on Ceratozamia latifolia x hildae

    November 1, 2014 by redbeard917

    • 1 follower
    • 19 replies
    • 3k views

    This photo shows the new leaf on this seedling of the purported cross between Ceratozamia latifolia and hildae. The older leaf is in the right. I think the new leaf is smaller because it has been dry and I have been too busy to even water. Seems to be a tough plant to put up with that and flush, too. I'm not sure if the shape is an aberration or the hildae character showing.

    

    Last reply by Gallop, February 28

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20. 

    Aspidistra in zone 6?

    February 23 by Ohiopalmloverz6

    • 7 replies
    • 218 views

    These common houseplants have caught my eye and I’ve seen they’ll take heavy shade. The problem is, I still have no clue what zones they can take! The internet seems very indecisive whether it is a zone 6 or 7 plant. I’ve seen people online in zone 6 saying it does fine for them and other people have almost no luck. I have no clue what advice to take.

    

    Last reply by Ohiopalmloverz6, February 28

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21. 

    Arum, Asarum, & Cyclamen

    January 13 by BeyondTheGarden

    • 18 replies
    • 380 views

    Picked these up from Plant Delights. There are some Arum, Asarum, and Cyclamen that don't look exotic but there are others that look quite wild. I'm quite new to them and would like to get input on different species or types that folks here may be growing or familiar with. I've seen people talk about Aristolochia but I don't know anything about it; I believe there are some very exotic types as well. Asarum nobilissimum "king kong" Arum concinatum "far and away" Cyclamen hederifolium "crassifolium" And here's a random picture that popped up on my FB today; this looks wild and I would love to figure out how to reproduce som…

    

    Last reply by Rivera, February 27

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22. 

    Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula cold hardiness

    February 8, 2013 by iwan

    • 14 replies
    • 2.5k views

    I saw these all over Indonesia on my last trip (never noticed them on previous trips). Online sources show this as a Zone 10 tree, but most of the comments are from the tropics. Is this a Zone 10 wimp, or worth testing in Z9? Are any thriving in SoCal?

    

    Last reply by Than, February 27
23. 

    Acrostichum danaeifolium

    February 27 by Austinpalm

    • 0 replies
    • 56 views

    Anyone along the northern gulf coast have one of these go thru some sub 20-degree fahrenheit temps in the last few years. Curious if they survived? Also curious if these need a certain soil pH or just need water?

    

    Last reply by Austinpalm, February 27
24. 

    First time at The Kampong Botanical Garden

    February 27 by miamicuse

    • 1 reply
    • 97 views

    Having been in South Florida since 1996 I have been to Fairchild and Mounts dozens of times, but I have never been to The Kampong in Coconut Groves. It's really very laid back and natural, doesn't appear to have every square foot of it's ground curated like other botanical gardens, it's a great place to see plants but even better place to take a walk and relax even sit down to read a book. I am sure there are millions of better pictures on the web of this place so I won't do a massive photo dump here just a dozen or so to comment on and ask questions. There are several ponds on the property. Any idea what kind of plants are these? The very imp…

    

    Last reply by Silas_Sancona, February 27

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25. 

    Tetrapanax in Houston? or the humid SE USA

    February 18 by Chester B

    • 1 follower
    • 12 replies
    • 323 views

    I know many gardeners on the West Coast and the UK like to grow the large forms of Tetrapanax papyrifera (Steroidal Giant, Rex), but has anyone grown it in a climate like Houston?? The form I grow known as Steroidal Giant, came from Japan to Hawaii, then on to California and into Oregon. Once in Oregon it was then made available to the public by Cistus Nursery. From all the comments I get from people it appears to be quite hard to find outside the PNW and even hard to find in Portland where it was first made available. I brought three pups with me from my mature plants and they are happily growing on in pots with the warm weather here in Houston. In this climate I ex…

    

    Last reply by Chester B, February 27

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26. 

    Pink Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima 'Compton' or rosea) source?

    February 18 by Calosphace

    • 9 replies
    • 393 views

    Anyone know of a good source for the pink form? I really like it and it goes well for a color scheme of a garden I am working on but I'm seeing only seeds being sold or seedlings for like 50 USD which just seems disproportionate. I also was curious about its performance compared to the typical red and yellow form

    

    Last reply by Chester B, February 27

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