Brad's Tropical Paradise

Even though they aren't technically related, palm trees and sago palms grow the same way, from the middle. So, if you are wondering how far back you can trim these plants, rest assured that you can trim them back very hard. With a palm tree you can literally leave only one leaf growing (usually called the *spear leaf*). Palm tree trimmers call this *candle-sticking*, and it looks kind'a sad, but does no harm to the tree. In fact, if you're paying someone to trim, tell them to go ahead and take all of the leaves off that you want to (as long as they leave one or two in the middle). It will look sad for a while, but it will grow back even stronger. For sago palms, you can go even further and cut all of the leaves off if you want to. As long as the plant isn't cut completely flat (like with a chain saw) across the top, new leaves will reappear in the spring. You would want to do this if all of the existing leaves were damaged from frost or something else. It will loo...

Agaves do well here in the Phoenix, Arizona area. And that's why getting the wrong type can be a big mistake. Some of them grow to be monstrously huge and create a nasty forest of long razor-sharp daggers with an almost uncontrollable number of offsets, or *pups*. And since they all look so much the same at the nursery, and are all about the same size, it's hard to know which one is best. So I will tell you. Get an Agave parryi var. truncata . That's what I have here at the Tropical Paradise, and I just got another one this weekend. The bigger one I've had for many years. It doesn't pup, it hasn't grown into a monster, and I like the shape and the color. But be absolutely sure to read the label. Don't just buy a blue-grey agave. All plants have their proper latin names written on the pot - or they should. Take along your reading glasses and be sure. To care for it, plant it on well-drained sandy slope. Find an area with mostly sun, but just a little ...

One of the best ways to achieve a tropical effect is to use a plant that forms a nice low cover on the ground. Here at The Tropical Paradise, I have tried many over the years, and most have failed, but this ajuga reptans is doing great. But there are some tricks to help it grow. • It needs shade. It would be nice, but you can't plant this in full sun in the Phoenix, Arizona area. At best it just sits there looking at you, and at worst it just dies. So find an area with some shade. • It needs rich soil and lots of water. I dug down deep into this area and backfilled it with a lot of premium-quality potting soil, the type that includes moisture crystals, which helps to retain water. I also added a generous amount of moisture crystals. Also mixed in is coffee grounds from Starbucks and Seattle's best. • Cut the flowers off as soon as you see them. The flowers are nice, but they rob the plant from the ability to make more foliage, which is really what you want in a ground ...

As you can see, the Canna Tropicannas here at The Tropical Paradise are doing great. They have been in the ground for several years now, and just keep coming back stronger all of the time. They do best with morning sun, deep rich soil, and plenty of water (I use a drip system). But there some tricks to getting them to produce the nice tropical effect. This is what you need to do - • Give them plenty of water and plant food. And if you planted them directly into the hard Arizona ground, dig them up, dig a nice big hole, filled with the best potting soil you can afford (I pay extra for the Miracle Grow Moisture Control) and replant them. • Give them plenty of water and plant food. Yeah, I know that I already said that, but it's the most important part. These are tropical plants that love moisture, and they are always hungry. Don't starve them  of food and water! • Cut the flowers off. When the flowers are finished blooming, cut the stalk all the way to the ground. I us...

One of the cool things about planting bulbs is that moment when you glance down and see something growing that maybe you don't remember ever planting there. I planted this Caladium Gingerland about two months ago and then promptly forgot all about it. It started poking up a few days ago (at least so that I could notice it), and is now beginning to unfurl its first leaf. As you can see, it's planted in the shadiest place in my garden that I could find. This new variety is said to be *sun tolerant*, but here in the Phoenix, Arizona, area to me that just means that it might not completely burn up if planted outside in deep shade. Even a little bit of morning sun can be brutal on plants like this! Beginning to sprout May 1st Growth by May 8th I am always experimenting mostly, so I will keep an eye on this plant. It is surrounded by cannas and elephant ears so I hope he will feel at home. I'll let you know how it does. Second leaf beginning to grow May 13th ...