All

Palms are more than Ornamentals

Sun, 27 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald Many Floridians love palms because of their beauty and elegance, their capacity to grow fantastically in our South Florida climate and their ability to conjure images of island living. Some Floridians use the impressive royal palm for shade; others use the areca palm as a barrier; while many more plant the saw palmetto for its willingness to grow in any soil. For all of these reasons and more, palm trees make truly remarkable landscape ornamentals. But, there are...

Loofah: Grow Your Own Sponges

Sun, 13 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald You may know the loofah as a bath sponge, but did you know it can be grown in South Florida? The fibers of the dried loofah fruit stiffen and hold together to form nature's perfect sponge, which is used to gently exfoliate your skin. Immature fruit can be cooked and eaten as squash or substituted for cucumber in salads. The species most adapted to South Florida are Luffa cylindrica and Luffa aegyptiaca. Both species have oblong fruits and are beautiful robust...

Pruning in South Florida

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:10:30 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald Pruning is done to control size or shape, to promote flower and fruit production, to remove unhealthy portions of a plant and to open trees up to make them less likely to fall or break apart during a storm. True pruning is an art which takes time and thought. Before you make your first cut, study the plant's natural shape and try to picture this plant in three to four years. Try to maintain that shape in your mind as you prune. This will help you to make...

Proper Planting in South Florida

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:36:58 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald There are many questions when it comes to planting a new tree or shrub. How large should the hole be? Is it necessary to amend the soil or to add fertilizer? How often should a new planting be watered? What type of mulch should be used? The answers to these questions are simple and can generally be applied to most new plantings. Your first step in planting is to dig a hole for your plant. The hole should be dug just as deep and slightly wider than the container...

Mango Season - Just Satisfying!

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:32:11 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald With mango season here, we are all thinking about that age-old question: how to deal with all those glorious, delicious-and ripe-mangos. There is the only one mainland area of the United States where this delicious and fragrant fruit can be properly grown. For years mangos have been of great value in South Florida, grown with pride in the garden - a fruit to eat when ripe and at all stages of growth. Fresh mangos are a privilege Floridians have....

Right Plant, Right Place

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:27:31 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald As a horticulturist in a public garden I often hear, "I have this (insert plant name here) and it has (insert problem here), what should I do?" While it is true that there are likely corrective measures to be taken, perhaps pruning, pounds of fertilizer or ounces of pesticide will do the trick. The first step is taking time before planting to do some research and plan what will work best for your needs. There are a few very common mistakes that can...

Grafting

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:21:05 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald Grafting involves joining a piece of a mature tree (scion) to a seedling (rootstock). The scion will become the new trunk and branches of the tree and the rootstock will become the root system. Some trees, such as mangos, will produce roots using air-layers, but the roots will not be strong enough to maintain the tree. In those cases, grafting can be used successfully. The cambium is a key component in a successful graft as cambium layers from both the scion and...

The American Persimmon

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:14:48 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald The American persimmon, Diospyros virginiana, is native from South Florida to New York and the central parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. In Florida, they grow wild in the fields, pinelands and moist woods across our state. South of Lake Okeechobee, it was the indigenous people who had the most success making use of the American persimmon for food throughout the swampy lowlands. Today, one can find remnant stands of American persimmon that were...

Growing Plants from Cuttings

Mon, 07 May 2012 18:09:08 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald Growing plants from cuttings is a method of plant propagation that produces new plants that are genetically identical to the parent plant. This is desirable trait if you are trying to maintain a characteristic such as superior fruiting or flowering. Cuttings do not typically work with monocots such as grasses and palms, but will work with most dicots. Making cuttings involves removing a small portion of a mature plant to get it to root. May through September is...

Summer Garden

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:43:24 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald The windows are all shut now; the air-conditioner doing its job again. The Spring time has arrived in South Florida. So, what is on tap for the home vegetable garden? One can go inside and vegetate for the entire summer season, or one can evolve and thrive. It is time to break out those unique South Florida vegetables and sit back and watch them flourish among the heat and humidity of the South Florida monsoon. There is still time to plant larger herb plants into...

Growing Plants from Air-Layers

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:35:24 GMT

As Published in the Miami Herald Growing plants from air-layers is a method of plant propagation that produces new plants that are genetically identical to the parent plant. This is a desirable trait if you are trying to maintain a characteristic such as superior fruiting or flowering. Air-layers do not typically work with monocots such as grasses and palms, but will work with most dicots. Air-layers create instant plants. Air-layering will sometimes have a higher success rate than growing...

The Red Mulberry: A Bird Attracting Plant for South Florida

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:02:54 GMT

As Published in the Miami Herald Red mulberry (Morus rubra), a native of South Florida, has found its way to New York and the central parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. In Florida the red mulberry grows wild in dry fields, pinelands and moist woods, where they can form a thicket of rapid-growing trees. The mulberry grows well in South Florida and needs little care. It hybridizes frequently with white mulberry but it does not usually have a long life, as it will be damaged by winds...

Leave the Green: How to Prune Palms Properly

Sun, 06 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald As a palm lover, my favorite sight is a palm tree crown with a perfect circle of green leaves. The crown is full, strong, healthy and, my favorite, happy. In the wild, palms are not trimmed by man. Instead, they are allowed to keep their old leaves and shed them with time. While a full crown brings a smile to my face, palms missing many of their leaves make me grimace. We have the power to maintain our palms in our yards however we choose. Sometimes, certain...

What to Do in Your Yard After a Hurricane Hits

Fri, 04 May 2012 20:41:12 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 with the fiercest storms doing their damage from August to October. Hurricanes are powerful storms that very often cause incredible damage to trees and landscapes. If a storm occurs, you may feel helpless, but there are steps you can take in your yard after a storm hits to minimize the damage that has been done. Repairing downed and damaged trees is your first concern. Trees that have been uprooted and toppled...

The Magic of Mulch

Fri, 04 May 2012 20:28:51 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald Mulch is magic. Mulch turns stone to soil, protects your plants from the dangers of the string-trimmer, adds a much needed organic component to your soil and helps keep unwanted weeds from popping up. Turning stone to soil sounds a little too good to be true, and perhaps it is, but mulch can alter your soil profile from pure limestone to something a bit more organic and beneficial for your plants.South Florida's main type of "soil" is Miami...

Preparing Your Yard for a Storm

Fri, 04 May 2012 19:54:19 GMT

A pitfall to living in South Florida this time of year is the ever present threat of hurricanes. Designing a completely hurricane-proof yard is impossible, but the decisions you make before and after you plant can help your yard survive the fiercest of storms. Hurricanes can be very destructive and have the power to uproot many plants, includint this bamboo. Hurricanes can alter landscapes in an instant, but there are ways you can prepare your garden before a storm appears. When you are getting...

The Natal Plum

Fri, 04 May 2012 19:44:54 GMT

How would you like to have a beautiful, low-maintenance hedge that produces delicious fruit year-round growing in your landscape? The Natal plum is just such a plant and its dense foliage and thorns make it an effective barrier or security hedge. Add on the deliciously fragrant blossoms and deep green hue of the leaves and it's hard to think of a better shrub for the tropical garden. Natal plum is native to the Natal Province of South Africa and was a popular landscape tree in South Floridain...

South Florida Soils

Fri, 04 May 2012 19:32:41 GMT

South Florida soil is one of the key factors in making our area of the world unique.South Florida soil consists of rock, sand, marl and muck. The rock is known as Miami limestone, which is an alkaline calcium carbonate. It is not coral rock as some believe. Miami Limestone is high in pH (7.8-8.1), does not retain water or nutrients well and makes growing many plants a challenge. Our type of limestone is very young geologically and is found only one other place in the world (Bahamas). Marl like...

Growing Coffee Plants in South Florida

Fri, 04 May 2012 19:25:27 GMT

Coffee (Coffea arabica) is native to central Ethiopia and is grown commercially in more 80 countries. It is one of the major horticultural crops traded throughout the world. Coffee also makes an attractive evergreen tree for South Florida with dark, glossy leaves and shiny red berries. If you're one of those people who can't live without your cup of coffee in the morning and you are up for a "green" challenge, then consider growing and producing your own cup of joe. Growing coffee...

Hat-Rack Horrors

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald There is nothing more confounding for a horticulturist than to drive the suburban streets of South Florida and see the horrific tortures administered to the many trees that populate our landscape. Atrocious, awful, brutal, butchered and botched are some of the words that spring to mind when I see the pruning jobs that some homeowners allow their trees to receive. And that's only the first two letters of the alphabet. Trees are very special creatures and...

Herbicides- the good, the bad, the ugly and the alternative

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in The Miami Herald All gardeners want the same thing- a vibrant, green garden full of lush vegetation and free of weeds. As gardeners, we spend a lot of time maintaining our plants, ensuring their health and happiness. So, it's no surprise that when aggressive weeds invade, we quickly become protectors of our collection. How should we stop these trespassers in their tracks without hurting our beloved flora? Before you grab the herbicides and make a mad dash to destroy the...

Predators and Pests do Battle over Native Gumbos

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in The Miami Herald The fast growing and sturdy native tree known as the gumbo limbo, (Bursera simaruba) has succumbed to a tandem of pests which have combined to turn this once beautiful tree into something belonging in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Gumbo limbos are under attack. The gumbo limbo was the first tree I ever wrote an entire article on and for as long as I have taught the class "South Florida's Top 40 Plants", the gumbo has sat proudly near the top of...

Palm Outcasts are Actually Supermodels

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in The Miami Herald Growing up, my parents told me that my characteristics that set me apart made me special. When I felt like an outcast, it was only because I had individuality, or so they said. In the palm world, there are quite a few palms that don't fit in. These palms have bizarre and rule-defying characteristics. Now I am the parent saying their differences make them beautiful. Palm enthusiasts, me included, have embraced these weirdos and believe that everyone should...

A New Beginning-Spring has Sprung

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Late to mid-February usually marks the end of frost danger in South Florida and signals a new beginning as plants slowly begin to wake from the slumber that the cooler weather wrought. Oaks will soon drop their old leaves and quickly put forth a new coat of glossy green splendor. Gumbos, native tamarinds, bulnesias and many others will also put forth new leaves to replace the ones they shed in December. Bulnesias are putting forth new growth in the sping The awakening of the trees will spread...

Plant Native Palms

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald When people think of South Florida landscapes, their minds immediately conjure images of palm tree lined roads along a tropical South Beach. Luscious, deep green palm leaves sway with no signs of cold or drought damage. No pests, no fertilizers, no problems. Maybe you've tried countless times to recreate this scene in your own backyard. You've struggled with a handful of exotic palms but you keep running into the same persistent problems with pests,...

The Mamey Sapote in South Florida

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As Published in The Miami Herald Under the Florida sun, Mamey trees grow in some backyards in South Florida. From massive branches that shoot straight out to grow football-shaped fruits with leathery skin the texture and color of sandpaper. Mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota) is native to the seasonally dry forests of Mexico and Central America. It was widely distributed in Central America before Columbus and introduced to the Caribbean, South America, and Asia. Mamey sapote has been grown in South...

Fight is on against Giant African Snails

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald In what sounds like a headline pulled from a science fiction movie, Giant African Snails, Lissachatina fulica, have invaded South Florida. The snails can reach sizes of eight inches, but so far the largest found in Miami-Dade County has been 5 inches. This snail infestation is being taken very seriously, as this pest can damage more than 500 types of plants, as well as homes and even human health. Giant African Land Snails can be identified by the stripes on...

Chocolate Fruit for South Florida

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald For people who have chocolate cravings, here's a surprising source of satisfaction: the chocolate persimmon - sweet and creamy with subtle notes of chocolate flavor. Chocolate persimmon fruits have green skin and a shape like that of a tomato. The smooth-textured chocolate persimmon ( Diospyros dignya) originates in the dry forests of central Mexico. This is a different fruit than cacao, which is what chocolate comes from. Growing cacao in South...

Home Composting

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald Composting converts kitchen scraps and yard waste into nutrients that can be used to naturally fertilize small areas of your garden, such as vegetable gardens or specific plants that need additional care. Compost is an excellent alternative to synthetic fertilizers and is a natural way to fertilize your garden. Compost is a rich, organic source of nutrients for your garden. In nature, fallen twigs and leaves are converted into nutrients with the help of certain...

Growing Palms Indoors

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald Neither the coming of cooler weather nor the lack of a backyard should stop you from adding to your palm collection this winter. Many palms do well as indoor plants and grow slowly, so they can stay inside for years. Growing palms indoors is more challenging than outside because it is harder to match their natural environment. Despite this fact, some shade-loving palms do better indoors than outdoors. Whether planting a shade-loving Chamaedorea elegans or a...

Use Your Garden to Introduce Children to Nature

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald The intricate pattern of a spider's web glistening with dew in the morning light, the unbridled beauty of an orchid's bloom perched high in an oak, the absolute grace of an osprey flying overhead. All are experiences that happen only in nature, and, no matter how hard we try, they cannot be faithfully reproduced by man. Nature has the power to calm, excite and inspire. The beauty of a South Florida Pineland is a sight to behold. Children clamor for...

Planting (Cuban) Palms with Personality

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald Are you looking to add a palm tree to your backyard plant collection? Instead of opting for the same common palm trees spotted regularly in South Florida landscapes, such as the ubiquitous sabal palm, pick a palm that truly stands out. These three palms are endemic to Cuba and have the spunk and personality that will set your backyard apart. The similar climates of South Florida and the island of Cuba make Cuban palms especially easy to grow locally. These Cuban...

White Sapote: Unique and Delicious

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald If you're looking for a fruit tree that produces something a little different but does well here, the white sapote, unique and delicious, is a good candidate. White sapote (Casimiroa edulis) is a relative of citrus, sometimes called "custard apple" because of the smooth texture of its flesh. Originally from central Mexico, it is well adapted to the South Florida climate. The white sapote is a smooth -skinned fruit with a shape similar to a...

Attractive Cocoplum Provides a Tasty Fruit

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 03:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald From the Caribbean Islands to South Florida, the cocoplum adds to the color and attractiveness of our white sandy beaches and our beloved River of Grass. Often used in urban landscaping, the cocoplum is usually pruned into a formal hedge, but I prefer seeing it at its pinnacle in the pine flatwoods of South Florida. The cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco) is found near beaches, as well as inland throughout the tropical Americas and the Caribbean, including Cuba,...

Edible Gardening

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald One year ago, I attended the Edible Garden Festival at Fairchild with my then nine year old daughter, Samantha. Before we visited the festival, Sam went online to see if there were any lectures she would be interested in. She wrote down several talks in her fourth grade scrawl, including everything from creating your own vegetable garden to composting with worms. I attended several lectures independent of my daughter and was inspired by each speaker to not only...

The Canistel, A Winter Fruit for South Florida

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald A bowl of Canistel, fresh from the tree in December, can be a magnificent display on your table. The colorful golden yellow skin and bright yellow flesh of the fruit are stable over time - cut it as you like and there will be no browning - try that with an apple! As they ripen on the tree they drop to the ground and burst open with a texture similar to cooked pumpkin. InPeruthe fruit is partnered with chocolate to create a truly decadent treat. Here in...

High Output, Low Input Plants

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 04:00:00 GMT

As published in the Miami Herald Your garden should be giving you what you want. Whether you want flowers, fruit, fragrance, wildlife, butterflies, hummingbirds, a touch of the tropics, shade or beauty, your yard should be giving it to you. There are plants that are well adapted to South Florida that can fulfill your needs, and if you choose wisely, those plants will need very little input from you and still give you what you want. As someone that has gardened for pleasure and profit for over 20...

Galapagos Encounter

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 04:00:00 GMT

On a week's journey to the Galapagos Islands, a remarkable thing happened: raw earth and fearless creatures brought home a vision of life without the scars from human encounters. Little wonder Charles Darwin's understanding of evolution was ignited by what he saw in the Galapagos Islands.. I traveled aboard the National Geographic Islander, with 48 other passengers. We went ashore in rubber Zodiacs, 8 or 10 at a time. Here are some of the plant and animal wonders that contributed to...

The Modern Botanic Garden

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:00:00 GMT

This essay on the modern botanic garden was written by Dr. Mike Maunder in 2008 for the journal Nature when he was the Director of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Over their 500 year historical trajectory botanic gardens have retained their core functions, namely the collection and exhibition of plants for scientific and educational purposes. In addition over the last thirty years they have become key institutions working on plant conservation, for instance the Global Strategy for Plant...

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Soils, but Were Afraid to Ask

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

South Florida soil consists of rock, sand, marl and muck. The rock is known as Miami limestone, which is an alkaline calcium carbonate. It is not coral rock as some believe. Miami limestone is high in pH (7.8-8.1), does not retain water or nutrients well and makes growing many plants a challenge. Our type of limestone is very young geologically and is found only one other place in the world (Bahamas). It was formed when the shallow seas covering much of South Florida receded exposing the ocean...

Proper Planting

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The right plant in the right location The right plant in the wrong location Planting There are many questions when it comes to planting a new tree or shrub. How large should the hole be? Is it necessary to amend the soil or to add fertilizer? The answers to these questions are simple and can generally be applied to most new plantings. Your first step is to dig a hole for your plant. The hole should be dug slightly larger than the container of the tree or shrub being planted. If the soil is very...

Does Size Matter?

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:51:09 GMT

When I go to the nursery to buy a tree to plant in my yard, I remind myself, "David beat Goliath" and "the tortoise beat the hare" . . . and "a small oak, mango, or royal poinciana tree often will beat a larger tree of the same species." That it is advantageous to plant smaller, younger trees as opposed to larger, older trees is a realization that has grown as my knowledge of trees has grown. Over the last three years, I have watched trees planted when they were very small (rootballs 8 to 14" in...

Heliconia General Information

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:10:54 GMT

The genus Heliconia refers to a group of plants related to gingers, bananas, prayer plants and Birds of Paradise. There are an estimated 350 species of heliconia, the vast majority are found in tropical America. Oddly, six species have evolved in the islands from Sulawezi to the Solomon Islands. Descriptions of 13 Heliconia species. These are rhizomatous, herbaceous plants that range in height from 18 inches to more than 20 feet tall. The "stems" (pseudostem) are the concentric, sheathing...

What's this white stuff on my cycad?

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:24:34 GMT

It's sneaky, it's deadly and it's everywhere. Many of the cycads in South Florida neighborhoods have yellow and brown leaves, and are encrusted with a white substance. You've never seen this before. What's going on here? Miami-Dade County is experiencing the results of a surging population of an insect known as the cycad aulacaspis scale or Aulacaspis yasumatsui. It seems to affect only cycads, particularly favoring cycads of the genus Cycas, which includes the common Cycas revoluta (king sago)...

It All Starts With Dirt

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:14:50 GMT

Here in the Garden nursery, we are frequently asked what kind of potting soils we like to use for our plants. This is not an easy question to answer since there are many factors-the water holding capacity, aeration, pH, potential shrinkage and more-that have to be taken into consideration. Following are some of the components we use in the nursery with an indication of what they contribute to the mixture. You'll also find recipes for two of our most useful mixes. Please keep in mind that...

The Art of Pruning

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:57:54 GMT

Why do we prune? Most of us know the reasons: to create healthy trees by removing dead wood and awkward branches, to promote fruit and flower production, and to create beautiful trees. But all too often we prune for the wrong reasons... for example, because our friendly neighborhood landscaper planted a large tree directly under a power line. Trying to transform a big tree into a small one usually results in an unhealthy tree and an eyesore. True pruning is an art. It takes intelligence, time...

Tips for Good Planting

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:54:22 GMT

The right plant in the right location. Bigger is better. A one dollar plant in a five dollar hole. You've heard the cliches, but what do they mean? And what really is the best way to plant a tree or shrub? The right plant . . . Begin with the healthiest tree available. New growth is a good sign that the plant is active. Take it out of its container and check its roots. Healthy roots, just as important as healthy leaves, are usually white and fibrous. They should be just beginning to grow to the...

Ten Great Palms for South Florida

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:59:55 GMT

Here's a selection of tried-and-true palms which grow successfully in South Florida yards and gardens, recommended by palm experts at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Many thrive with minimal care. Reliable landscape plants, they have few if any pest and disease problems. In particular, they are generally resistant to lethal yellowing and ganoderma, palm diseases that are ongoing concerns. All are tolerant of South Florida's cool winter temperatures, seasonal rainfall, and alkaline limestone...