So, now that the cool weather is upon us and our nights are getting chilly, what is everyone doing with their tropicals?? Both in the ground and in pots?? This may help out some of our members that are new to tropicals. Unfortunately, I am low on my stock of tropicals, but my potted plumerias are moving into the garage for the winter. Since I have the baby toddling around I can't bring them inside... so post your comments, advice, and pictures

Thanks for starting this, Brittany.
My one little in-the-ground plumie, about 3 feet tall, has lots of leaves still. This will be it's second year in the ground. It's kind of sheltered by the garage wall to it's west and a cement walkway on the east with rocks... so, I'm thinking the ground stays somewhat warm..

I have 2 small Brugs I grew from cuttings this spring. They are in pots and will be moved into the garage when it gets too cold. If they survive the winter in the garage I will have to find a spot to put them in the ground in the spring.

Brittany,

As you know, I am 'the pot lady' and lots of tender plants are in pots. I do not bring anything indoors.
I either bring them on the patio or I place them under my big trees. If I hear that it will be freezing or below, I bring my
garage sale sheets and I inclose the patio with them to keep the plants there warm and throw some sheets on the plants left in the garden. It might not look pretty , but that is how I avoid killing them and the expense of replacing some tender tropicals.

Nice rig, Rodica!

I was thinking about getting the outdoor bamboo roll-up shades for protecting my patio container plants but I like your method better, Rodica. :)

This is my first winter with all of my container plants, I have 8 citrus trees (young) quite a few adeniums (Desert roses), and two "baseball" plants Jatropha Berlandieri). My seedlings will be brought inside to be under grow lights for the winter but I am hoping to let my bigger plants stay on the patio if they don't become distressed.

Love the set up Rodica... wish I was able to do that... my dogs would go out their little doggy door and then look at my like I was crazy... LOL... poor little things would have nowhere to do their business

My brugmansia survived last winter in the garage. It got nipped by frost at the end of October, but I moved it into the garage again and it is leafing out now. I'm hopeful that it will last through another winter.

I have Mandevilla Alice duPont in a pot that I just brought into my office. She also got nipped a bit by frost and the new growth has died. But I think maybe she'll get by. And I have a yellow-flowered vine - gelsemium if I remember correctly - that is two years old and as many inches high also in my office.

I need to get something to kill fungus gnats. Any suggestions?

Best thing to do for fungus gnats is spread a thin layer of sand on the surface of the soil. The sand dries really quickly. The gnats are attracted to wet/moist soil. Without it they just disappear

all the plumies are in the house leafless.


my tropical bird just bloomed today. woo hoo!

Detrick,

Did you cut the leaves ? If you did, why ? Aren't they suppose to lose them anyway ?
I keep mine outside and they drop most of them. I water them once in a while and they are doing great. The only complain I have is that the do not bloom. :O(

Mine never bloomed!!! I gave them all away!!!

Mine is under my AZ Sweet orange tree.... doesn't get enough sun to bloom regularly... but, it has bloomed twice in 4 years. Foliage is very healthy, however.

i cut the leaves off so that i could bring them inside. i did not want all those leaves falling off in the house. also, i did not want to deal with spider mites. that is the only reason i cut them off. i most likely would have left them on if they stayed outside this winter. i just didn't want to worry about moving them inside if we got a cold snap. plus, i am hoping for lots of blooms next year.

there are a million and one reasons why they don't bloom for ppl. most of the time the plant needs something that it is not being given. sometimes, it seems that age can overcome those restrictions. i love this plant and fortunately have lots of time to wait.

My 3 yr old Plumie (Pink Perfection from Barb, via Detrick) is now (again) at the stick stage. About 3 ft tall. In the ground, as I mentioned. This will be interesting. I think we'll have a mild winter. Maybe that will be a nice boost for foliage and bloom.

Plus, it's in ground, clay like dirt where a climbing rose and two barrel cactus had lived. We'll see... like Dete says, maybe it's young and maybe it's hungry for something... I don't know what. PBNJ?

mine have been hungry for something since i started growing them in 2001. LOL i think next year will by their year to shine. i hope so. otherwise, i am bringing them all to alan's house.

To Alan's House!!! Too funny ... BUT, A great idea... look at house lush his garden is .... all good, all success!!!!

Oh D...