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The world of carnivorous plants consists of exotic flesh-eating plants that will peak anyone’s curiosity. The large family of 645 registered species are grown all over the world in diverse environments and come in different shapes and sizes. They are the Startrekkers of the earth. They grow where no other plant can grow. Carnivorous plants grow where nutrients are very low and therefore have evolved into flesh eating plants consuming insects and other animals for their food supply. Each species has a unique way of attracting and trapping its victims.

Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) is one the popular snap trap species from this large family. This intriguing novelty grows only in the boggy coastal areas of North and South. Carolina and yet it is known all over the world. This plant grows in a rosette form and develops snap traps that get 1-1 ½ inch long with sharp teeth and bristle sensor hairs inside each trap. In the spring it sends out a flower stalk with a cluster of small white flowers.

Care
In order to grow a Venus Fly trap you must know what kind of environment it requires. It does well in an open terrarium where humidity and moisture can be controlled.
It needs wet, acidic (ph 3.9-4.8) soil, humid air (min 50%) and temperatures ranging from 55-80F degrees. Plant the tuberous perennial in 50% peat and sand or 100% sphagnum moss. Be sure to always keep the plant moist and never let it dry out. You can flood or soak the soil but then drain it so it doesn’t get water logged. When watering, use distilled or clean rainwater. Keep it in 1/2 day full sun and 50% shade in spring to fall with increased shade in summer. Don’t need to fertilize, for the most part they will feed themselves.

How the traps feed
The traps have 6 sensor hairs inside. If 1 hair is touched twice or 2 hairs are touched simultaneously the trap starts to partially close to determine if the object is edible. As the insect struggles to free itself more hairs are triggered causing the trap squeezes tighter then closing all the way releasing acidic enzymes to digest the insect. This process can take 5-12 days. If the trap is triggered by something else then it will reopen within 12 hours. Each trap can take 2-3 insects and then dies. Dying leaves and traps are part of the growing cycle and should be trimmed off.

Winter dormancy
VFT requires a 3-5 month dormant period and should be stored slightly moist at 45-50F degrees. At this time it may loose all its leaves and die back. Remove any blackened foliage to avoid disease. When it shows signs of new growth start watering again.

Be sure your Vft has been propagated vegetatively from clump division, leaf cuttings, tissue culture or started from seed and not removed from the wild as this species is threatened by extinction.

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The glossy dark green leaves and fragrant milky white flowers of the gardenia plant make it an irresistible plant to grow. Usually sold in bloom or bud, the intoxicating fragrance entices us to make it a must have plant but gardenia can be finicky and a challenge to grow in indoors. In fact, some treat it as a disposable plant and discard it after blooming.

Gardenia (Cape jasmine) requires loose well-drained, acidic (ph4.5-6.2) soil, bright sun 6-8 hrs and dappled shade when outdoors in the summer. It prefers high humidity and moist but not soggy soil. Feed it with a 1/2 strength acid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks from March-October.
For winter care: Provide a cool bright location, humidity and keep away from heating vents. Do not fertilize and water less by allowing the top 1-2 inches to dry before watering again.

Blooming: Gardenias require an even temperature of 62-63 F and high humidity during bud formation. To increase humidity place plant in a water pebble tray or close to a humidifier. When the buds are formed, provide consistent cool nights (58-60F) and warm days (70-75F). A 10-15 degree temperature differential is needed to keep the buds from dropping off (bud blast). Opened flowers should last 3-8 days and bruise easily when touched.

Prune after the blooming cycle has ended, or when the plant is actively growing and needs a trim. Don’t prune during winter.
Propagation: Take 3-4 inch semi-woody tip cutting from a non-flowering shoot in early spring. Remove lower leaves, dip in rooting hormone and insert cutting in moist peat, vermiculite mix. It should root in 4-6 weeks.

Troubleshooting
Gardenias attract a number of insects: aphids, mealy bugs, scale, red spider mites and thrips. They are also susceptible to root rot, bud drop and yellow leaves.

In the south and west coastal areas (zone 7b), semi-tropical gardenias are grown outdoors as evergreen shrubs. Varieties can differ in size, growth habit and blooming season. ‘Mystery’ a California favorite gets up to 8′ tall and produces large double flowers.

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Bougainvillea, also referred to as Paper flower is a native of Brazil and belongs to the Nyctaginaceae family. This tropical climber is ideal for hanging baskets and grown in containers where it can cascade its vibrant blooming vines. The flower is unremarkable compared to the brightly colored, paper-like bracts that surround the flower.

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‘Endless Summer ‘ Hydrangea is part of a small group of Hydrangea macrophylla that is known to be dependable for winter hardiness and repeat blooming. It was discovered in St. Paul, Minnesotta, by Vern Black an employee of Bailey Nursery. After several years of trial testing, it was confirmed that wintered plants that died back to the ground still set buds and produced flowers the same season; proving that it bloomed on new as well as old wood. This is an unusual characteristic for H. macrophylla because it blooms only on old wood. This new plant was referred to as remontant or everblooming hydrangea because it had the ability to form flower buds in the tips of new growth, allowing repeat flowering throughout the growing season.

‘Endless Summer’ Bailmer grows to 3-5 feet high and wide and the color depends on the soil ph .
Since its introduction, similar cultivars of remontant Hydrangeas were discovered such as: ‘Penny Mac’, ‘All Summer Beauty’, ‘Blushing Bride’. ‘Dooley’, ‘David Ramsey’, ‘Decatur Blue’, ‘Mini Penny’, and ‘Oak Hill’. New and improved cultivars are constantly being tested and evaluated. Look for more varieties in the future.

Planting hydrangea

-Choose a location with morning sun and afternoon shade.
-Plant in moist, well-drained soil. Amend poor soils with organic material.
-Dig a hole 2x the size of the rootball, mix in compost/peat moss. Before planting check the roots are they white and healthy? Gently loosen the roots before placing in the ground and plant at the same soil level as grown in the container. Backfill the soil and be sure not to compact the soil. Water the plant which will fill in any loose soil and add 2 inches of mulch over the plants.
-Don’t plant under a tree as there will be competition for light and moisture.

Hydrangea care info

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Jasmine polyanthum also referred to as winter jasmine, pink jasmine or Chinese evergreen jasmine is a native of China and a member of the Olive family (Oleaceae). It produces very fragrant, star-shaped white flowers that start as rosy, pink pointed buds. The woody trailer is a vigorous grower that can with support climb up to 20 ft outdoors. It is grown as a ground cover, on a trellis, in a container or in a hanging basket.

Care:
Jasmine prefers well-drained fertile soil. It needs at least 4 hours of bright direct sun and can be grown in full sun outdoors. Water regularly during the growing season and fertilize every 2-3 weeks with a high phosphorous fertilizer (15-30-15) to encourage blooming.
J. polyanthum is a seasonal bloomer that will set bud when exposed to temperatures below 60 F for 4-6 weeks. It blooms primarily in late winter into spring and then sporadically throughout the year.
In colder climates, bring the plant indoors when night temperatures reach 40 F or once the buds are set and place it in a sunny bright, cool location. J. polyanthum requires less water in the winter therefore water when the soil dries out.
Pruning
To control the vigorous growth, Jasmine needs frequent pinching. Cut the plant back after blooming and in the summer to control growth and prevent tangling. Repot into pots 1-2 sizes larger every 2-3 years in the spring after flowering.
Propagate in the summer from tip cuttings or by layering. They can also be started from seed which do not require stratification.
Problems
Spider mites aphids and scale. It can also be susceptible to iron chlorosis (yellowing leaves with dark green veins) which can be corrected by adding chelated iron to the fertilizer when needed.

More info on Confederate Jasmine

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I currently have a beautiful Mandevilla and would like to preserve it for the winter months. I live on Long Island NY. any tips?

There are many varieties of Mandevillas,including varieties formerly known as Dipladenia. The old fashioned variety Mandevilla x amabilis Alice du Pont has fuzzy foliage and bright pink flowers, grows vigorously. Among other cultivars Mandevilla splendens (Dipladenia splendens) has a dark glossy leaf. Both are grown trellised and have a tendency to vine. These species of tropical vines winter over only in the tropical South. They tolerate a minimum temperature of 45-50F at which time growth will begin to slow down. For winter storage keep the plant outside as long as possible before bringing it indoors. Check for insects and use insecticidal soap if needed.

To winterize the plant; either treat it as a houseplant or store it in a dormant stage.
Mandevilla as a houseplant can be trimmed back to make it manageable and needs a sunny window to flourish. Water once a week. You will get some leaf drop due to lower light and humidy indoors.
Another way to winterize mandevilla is in a dormant stage in a garage or cool basement with temperatures around 45-55F. Cut it back to about 12 inches above the soil line. Treat for insects if any. Keep it dry but not completely dry. Check periodically for soil moisture. It will drop its leaves. The important thing to keep in mind is that you want to keep it alive it through the winter. In the spring some of the old growth may be pruned back and when new shoots develop move the plant to a sunny window. Pinch the new growth to get a bushier plant. Repot in fresh soil and set outside when danger of frost has passed.

Mandevilla care click here

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Brugmansia, Angel Trumpet is a large shrub or small tree with large, pendent trumpet shaped flowers. There are several varieties that range in color and growth habit but all are known for their exotic fragrance which intensifies in the evening. They are frost tender(zone 8 ) and prefer a warm to hot climate in protected sun.
Plant in a light, fertile, well- drained soil. Brugmansia are fast growers and heavy feeders; it needs to be fertilized regularly ( 2x per week) during the growing season. Give it lots of water to keep it in bloom all summer and fall. Since it blooms on new wood, it can be trimmed when growth becomes excessive or when you want to shape it as a dense round shrub or tree . It will take a month or more to resume blooming after pruning.

In cold climates, it is best to grow it in a container and move it indoors/greenhouse to a frost-free area during the winter. Place it in a south window and maintain it as a houseplant during this time watering once a week. You may get some leaf drop which is normal. The second option is to cut your brugmansia back and store it dormant in a cool (above 40F), dark place (basement, garage) watering monthly to keep the soil from totally drying out. The plant will defoliate completely during dormancy.
Prune it in the spring after the last frost, when new growth appears and the plant is ready to go outside; cut back to one or two buds.
No flowers can be the result of low light, low fertilizer or excessive heat.

All parts of this plant are poisonous and not advisable to grow if you have small children or animals that eat plants.

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Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) also known as Star Jasmine is not a true jasmine but referred to as one because of the fragrant jasmine-like flowers it produces. It is hardy in zones 8-10 and ubiquitous in the southern states. Cultivar Madison is hardy up to zone 7.

The twining foliage emerges with light green lance-shaped leaves and then matures to a glossy, dark green color which produces clusters of white star-shaped flowers in late spring to summer. Once established, this fast growing evergreen vine, which can grow up to 20 feet, can be trained to climb supports such as fences, pergolas, pillar and trees. With tip pinching and trimming, it can also be grown as a spreading shrub or a weed choking groundcover. Its tight growing habit also makes it an ideal candidate for topiaries, trailing containers and hanging baskets.

Confederate jasmine prefers fertile well-drained soil with full sun to part shade exposure. Fertilize from early spring to fall with a well balanced (NPK) fertilizer.

Pruning is important to control excessive growth and thicken the foliage. Prune straggly and tangled vine grown indoors in the fall/winter when growth has stopped and/or after blooming to promote lateral branching. Because C. jasmine blooms on last year’s growth, the best time to prune outdoor plants is after blooming (April-May). Prune away dead, cold damaged shoots in late winter after danger of frost is over. The semi-hardwood cuttings dipped in rooting hormone can be propagated in the spring/summer to produce additional plants. Cuttings exude a white milky sap which can be a skin irritant.

Indoor culture
Trachelospermum jasminoides tolerates a minimum temperature of 40 degrees and therefore in colder climates needs to be grown in a container and brought indoors for the winter. As a houseplant, they can adapt to moderate light exposure as well as neglectful watering but grow best in bright indirect light in the summer and need a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight in the winter. Night temperatures of 50-55 and 68-72 during the day are preferred. In the winter provide added humidity but water less.
Another cultivar, Trachelospermum asiaticum cv mandianum, Asiatic Jasmine is also a popular container plant. It has smaller, oval leaves and sweeter yellowish white flowers with a longer blooming time which can start(depending on temperatures) early to mid-winter to the summer.
Ref. Clemson.edu & Logee’s Container Plants

Buy Jasmine Plant with snow-white flowers and exotic perfume midwinter

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I have recently purchased a Confederate Rose. My grandmother called it a Cotton Rose. Are they the same? I’d appreciate any information you can give me about this plant. Does it like full/partial sun? Mature height? My neighbor has two that are trees; can I train my potted bushy plant into a tree? If not, can you give me the estimated spread of the plant at maturity? All information you can give me would be so helpful. Thanks.

Confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) also referred to as Cotton Rose likes full sun, well-drained , slightly acid soil. It grows as a multi-branched shrub or a small deciduous tree with low branches which can get up to 12 feet tall and wide. Flowers bloom white and by evening turn pink. It can be invasive. It is hardy in zone 8-10 and will die back with the first hard freeze and return in the spring getting larger each year. If you are growing it in a container it will be easy to maintain. To get a tree shape choose one large dominant stem and cut away the others.

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Mandevilla tips and care

Mandevilla belongs to a large family that also includes plants that were formerly known as Dipladenia. It was named after a British diplomat/gardener Henry Mandeville. This exotic plant bears trumpet shaped flowers shades of pink, yellow and white (some fragrant) on twining vines with puckered, oval leaves.

This tropical plant is hardy (depending on cultivars) in zones 9-11 and therefore is for the most part of the U.S. treated as a houseplant. It is grown outdoors for the summer and in cold weather taken indoors to endure the winter.

Care
Outdoors: Mandevilla is cold sensitive and can be taken outdoors when the danger of frost has passed and overnight temperatures reach over 50ºF. It likes full sun to part shade in the summer and a deep rich, well-drained soil. It will also need a trellis to support its long trailing vines. Provide plenty of water during the hot days of summer. To keep a healthy blooming plant, feed it every other week with a high phosphorus fertilizer (10-20-10) in the spring and summer. In order to maintain the tangled growth during the season, pinch off new shoot tips which will produce a bushier plant. Trimming will not reduce flowering as it blooms on new growth. Use the cuttings to make new plants.

Propagation
It can be started from seed at temperatures of 70-80ºF. A faster way is to take cuttings in the spring and summer which will easily root and develop new plants.

Watch out for mealybugs, scales, whitefllies and red spider mites.

Winterover mandevilla

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Growing Tropical Hibiscus
A popular plant sold at box stores and nurseries is the Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa- sinensis).This well-known species is hardy along the Gulf Coast, California, Florida and Hawaii but can be set outdoors for the summer in any part of the country. There are hundreds of cultivars that come in various shaped flowers as well as in almost every color and are sold as container plants in bush or topiary form.

Care:
Hibiscus need, well-drained slightly acid soil, direct sun and some protection (filtered shade) when temperatures are in the 90 degrees. When you bring it out for the first time you need to acclimate it to the intense heat and sun. They also like a lot of water. Fertilize lightly and often with a diluted 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 during the active growing season.

The disk like flowers will usually last a day or two and come in single five petals, crested single, double and cup saucer double. Hibiscus has active periods of bloom that are followed by a rest, indoors and out. So if your plant stopped blooming for a while, it may be just resting.

Over wintering
When the night temperatures drop below 50 degrees bring your hibiscus indoors for the winter. To help endure the long season, keep it in a cool (60-65), sunny room away from direct heat. Water less but provide humidity such as a pebble tray filled with water or a humidifier. Check for pests such as aphids, whitefly and spider mites and treat with insecticidal soap if infestation occurs.

Pruning
If your plant has grown leggy and out of control you can prune it 1/3-1/2 in early spring to reshape and keep it bushy. Pruning the roots in the fall also helps slow down branch growth.

In cooler climates, hibiscus can be enjoyed as a houseplant indoors in the winter and brought outdoors for the summer. With a little care you can enjoy these tropical flowers on and off all year long.

A common occurrence is yellowing leaves and leaf drop; which can be caused by overwatering or underwatering. How do you determine which one? Look at the root ball. Is it potbound? Meaning are the roots so tight that they are growing in a circular pattern with little soil left? Do water everyday and the plant still looks dry? If this is happening chances are you are ‘underwatering’. There is not enough soil to retain any water and nutrients. Instead of soaking in, the water and nutrients are flowing right through the drain holes leaving your plant thirsty and hungry. It’s time to repot into a larger container. The best time to repot is in the spring but if that can not wait add more soil to your container to help with water absorption and water slowly. For additional info go to http://www.hibiscusworld.com

Here you can buy this:

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I have very large healthy Hydrangia foliage but no bloom. What can I do?

First thing you have to determine is what kind of hydrangea you have. Some of the common reasons for blooming failure are 1. Too much shade-all grow in partial shade but too much will affect blooming. 2. If you live in the cooler climates, the flower buds could have had winter damage. Only smooth(H. arborescens) and panicle(H. paniculata) hydrangea bloom on new wood; bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla) blooms primarily on old wood which means that they need to set their buds in one year and then make it through the winter to bloom the next year. In addition some cultivars of bigleaf also bloom on new growth. 3. Pruning - be aware of the timing. Judicious pruning is important. Too much pruning will loose next years buds. If you prune to reduce the height, do so right after blooming . If you prune to thin out the plant, cut some of the oldest stems to ground level in the early spring(dormant season). Most hydrangeas grow well with no pruning at all.

When is the best time to cut back Hydrangeas?

The best time to prune is early spring and immediately after flowering. It helps to know what kind of Hydrangea you have to know how much to prune.
H.arborescens blooms on new wood, so you can cut it down to 1/2 size or 6″ above the ground in the winter or early spring. No pruning will give you less vigorous growth and smaller flowers.
H. paniculata - same as H. arborescens.
H. macrophylla Bigleaf hydrangea- blooms on old wood (except for Endless Summer, Penny Mac and All Summer Beauty) do not prune, only to remove spent flowers. Cut right below the flower head. Any other pruning will reduce flower production for the next season. The more you cut the less flowers you will get.
H. quercifolia, Oakleaf hydrangea blooms on old wood -prune same as H. macrophylla. Prune in early spring to shape or thin the plant at the expense of flowers.

There is a great collection of Hydrangeas here to buy:

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I just got my first pineapple and it was a small but very tasty. My question is this will another pinapple eventually grow from the same plant?

I am glad you enjoyed your pineapple. You will not get another pineapple from the same mother plant but you can get a second (ratoon) fruit when a shoot or sucker is left attached to the mother plant. Other shoots should be cut off and started as new plants.

Another option is to start a new plant from the pineapple you bought in the grocery store.

Here is how to start:
Pick out a pineapple with healthy, unbruised leaves. Cut the spiky top of the pineapple, leave the large leaves and pull off about a fourth of the lower leaves to expose the stem. You will see small brown bumps that eventually become the roots (root primordia). Let it dry in a shaded area for several days and then plant in 6 inch pot with well-drained soil. Some people have brushed rooting hormone on the bottom to speed up rooting. Another method is to let it root in water. It can take 2-4 weeks for roots to grow. After planting keep it moist but not wet and in a sunny, warm(75) and humid place with night temperatures above 65 degrees. It should start to grow in about 2 months. In dry conditions, mist and keep a bit of water in the center crown. Feed it with a half strength fertilizer twice a month during the summer months.
It can take several years for the plant to be ready to flower and bear fruit. The plant should have at least 25 normal sized leaves to be large enough to flower. If after 18 mos. you don’t see anything happening-place the plant in a plastic bag with two very ripe apples cut in half, this will release ethylene gas which will triggers their blooming stimuli. In 1-2 months you should see a red spiky bud followed by blue flowers in the center of the plant. This process can take 2-3 years but it’s worth a try just to have a novelty bromeliad around to enjoy. Once you pick a pineapple it will not get riper or sweeter only juicier.

The pineapple plant pictured here was forced to bloom when the plant was young (18 mo.) producing smaller fruit. For larger fruit it’s best to have a minimum of 40 mature leaves 18 inches long.

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The Carnivorous Venus Trap

The Venus flytrap has captivated people across the world; the plants actually grow in an incredibly small geographic area. In the wild, they are found in a 700-mile region along the coast of North and South Carolina. Within this area, the plants are further limited to living in humid, wet and sunny bogs and acid wetland areas. Because Venus Flytraps are so scarce, some early botanists doubted their existence, despite all the stories about a flesh-eating plant.
So, how did the plant end up with the intriguing name of Venus Flytrap? It’s not too hard to imagine how ‘Flytrap’ might relate to its insect-catching abilities.

But how to choose a Venus Flytrap Plant to buy? Unless one lives where Venus Flytraps grow naturally, one probably won’t be able to just plop one into the dirt in the garden and watch it grow. However, if one is willing to invest a little time and effort, one can certainly grow Venus Flytraps at home. There are two ways by which one can acquire a Venus Flytrap plant.

1) A reputable nursery or carnivorous plant society. There are several sites that offer carnivorous plants.

2) Local garden centers. Sometimes grocery stores with flower shops will feature carnivorous plants for sale at certain times of the year. The plant may be stressed but with a little love and care will prove to be not only and educational interest but also an unusual conversation plant. The kids love it. Just don’t let them feed it or snap the traps too much or the plant be stressed and die sooner than later.

For Venus flytrap care

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