ed barrios brazoria county master gardener pictures by ed ... · what are tropicals? tropicals are...
TRANSCRIPT
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TerrificTropicals
Ed Barrios Brazoria County Master Gardener
Pictures by Ed Barrios & Kathy Walton
Rick-Rack plant (Cryptocereus anthonyanus)
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■ What are Tropicals? ■ How did Tropicals get so popular? ■ Can I grow Tropicals here? ■ What factors do I need to know? ■ What about design? ■ The plants:
■ Palms ■ Shrubs ■ Flowers
■ What’s next?
Agenda
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What are Tropicals?
■ Tropicals are plants that are growing in the Tropics and Sub-Tropics ■ The Tropics are the land masses between the Tropic of Cancer and
Tropic of Capricorn ■ Tropic is a Greek work meaning solstice, tropic circles are where the
sun is directly overhead at noon during the solstices, about 23.5º latitude
■ Sub-Tropics are bands 300 – 700 miles next to the Tropic areas that are kept temperate due to prevailing winds, ocean currents, mountain ranges, etc.
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What are Tropicals?
■ 300,000 species of plants are found in Tropical and Sub-tropical regions representing 75% of ALL plants
■ 220,000 species, 55%, of plants are from the Western Hemisphere
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How did Tropicals get so popular?
■ European explorers, starting with Columbus started collecting exotic plants for the journey home
■ Tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco, corn and cocoa are a few significant imports from the tropical Americas to Europe
■ After Spain’s early lead, other European countries started colonizing the tropical world and more exotic plants were collected
■ In the 1700’s cities in Europe began building conservatories to display exotic plants
■ By the 1800’s showing exotic plants from the tropics became all the rage in Europe, especially in England
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Zone 9 20F to 30F
Zone 10 30F to 40F
Can I grow Tropicals here?
■ YES, Brazoria County is in Climate Zone 9 and in a Sub-tropical region
■ The Sub-tropical region extends to just North of Houston
■ In fact, our winters seem to be getting more mild and there is less damage to some of the more tender Tropicals (global warming)
How to “Winterize” Tropicals
■ No pruning – stimulates tender new growth, dead sections protect live tissue
■ No fertilization – stimulates tender new growth ■ Mulch to protect trunk and roots ■ Water before freeze or cold spell ■ Cover any prize plants
■ Use frost cloth
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What factors do I need to consider?
■ Temperature ■ Warm ■ Temperate ■ Cool
■ Soil ■ Gumbo ■ Loam ■ Humus ■ Sandy
■ Water ■ Drench ■ Evenly Moist
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What factors do I need to consider?
■ Environment ■ Dry conditions ■ Humid conditions
■ Light ■ Sunny ■ Partial Shade ■ Shade
■ pH ■ Acid ■ Basic
■ Salt tolerance ■ Over spray ■ Well water
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What about design?■ Accent Plants ■ Scale & height ■ Foliage
■ Bold leaves ■ Feathery leaves ■ Variegated Leaves
■ Flowers ■ Complimentary colors ■ Habitat gardening
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Full Sun• Shell Ginger • Cannas • Oleander • Hibiscus • Palms* • Cycads • Cuphea
Shade• Philodendron • Caladiums • Impatiens • Gingers (short) • Ti Plant • Cast Iron Plant • Sansavera
• Lantana • Bougainvillea • Bananas • Plumeria • Hamelia • Ixora • Strelitizia
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■ Scale ■ Growth Pattern ■ Color ■ Frond Shape ■ Cold Tolerance
Palms ….
Pygmy Date Palm
Chinese Fan Palm
Mexican Fan Palm
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Palms ….
Canary Island Palm
Chinese Fan Palm
California Fan Palm
Cardboard Palm
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Palms ….Ponytail Palm
Mediterranean FanPalm
Travelers Palm
Windmill Palm
Sago Palm
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Palms….Growth Pattern in 2 years
“before…” “after…”
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Other Trees….
Banana Tree
Red Banana Tree
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Shrubs ….
Cast Iron Plant
Peacock Ginger
Ti Plant Canna
Caladium
Hibiscus
Spiral Ginger
Fern
PhiladendronCaladium
Ti PlantTi Plant
Lantana
Plumbago
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Variegated Shell Ginger
Asparagus Fern
Shrubs ….
Variegated Ginger
Elephant Ear
Hisbiscus
Ti Plant
Varigated ManihotPlumbago
Firecracker Plant
Pride of Barbados
Canna
Fern
Fox Tail Fern
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Shrubs …. Mother-in-Law Plant
Split Leaf Philadendron
Red Yucca
Bottle Brush Plant
African Iris
Variegated Crepe Ginger
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Shrubs ….
Bamboo
Bird of Paradise
Crinum ShellGinger
Bougainvillea
Candlestick Plant
Powder Puff
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Flowers ….
Bromeliads
Canna
Star Hibiscus
Orchids
Brazilian Red Cloak
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Flowers ….
Mexican Petunia
Penta
Bulbin
Hibiscus
Vinca
Lantana
Oleander
Plumbago
Vinca
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Flowers ….
Hidden GingerSpiral Ginger
Butterfly Ginger
Ginger
Pink Ginger
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Firecracker Plant
Plumeria
Plumbago
Mexican Petunia
Pride of Barbados
Jatropha
Flowers ….
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What’s next?
■ Get out and PLANT ■ Most plants are tolerant of less than ideal conditions ■ Buy reference book, use internet: Dave’s Garden, TAMU ■ Enjoy