Brad's Tropical Paradise

Even though I have a lot of tropical plants here in my backyard in Glendale, Arizona, there are some places that are just too hot, and get too much hot sun. In those areas I have been planting agaves, and I am very happy with them. But there are a few tricks, and this is what I have learned. • Plant them on a slope, in free-draining soil. Agaves aren't cactus, but they don't like to be over-watered. As you can see from this photo, the slope here is enough to allow water to drain away, even when we get the heavy summer thunderstorms. They do need supplemental water, so they're on the drip system. • Plant them far away from where people may be walking. Those needles are razor sharp! Having something so deadly close a sidewalk, or where people might brush into it, is a very stupid idea. All of my agaves are several feet into the garden, and some are way in the back. Beautiful, but dangerous! • Do your homework before you buy an agave. Find out if it gets really big...

Pygmy date palms, also called dwarf date palms, and miniature date palms, do great in the Phoenix area. Like all non-native plants that you grow in the Sonoran desert, they do better with some shade. And the best time to trim them is in April. You should never trim them in winter, as these plants can be very sensitive to cold. During the big freeze of 2007, I lost a fairly big one, although it's usually the little ones that are killed by frost. And you shouldn't trim them in summer, as they're doing the best they can to survive in the heat, and besides, it's not wise to be out in 100+ heat, yourself! I've had  Phoenix roebeleniis , which is their Latin name, here at The Tropical Paradise for over twenty years. And I trim them back as far as I want, and they grow back looking better all of the time. By the way, if you're wondering what those pods are, they're the beginning of the flowering stage of the plant. Personally, I let them completely flower a...

If your sago palm ( cycas revoluta ) looks more like a fire plug than a small palm tree, like the one here in my backyard, don't panic. If you transplanted it recently, the leaves (actually fronds) may have all shriveled up and died, in which case you were wise to trim them off. So you're left with a fire plug. For a long time. From several months to a year or two. The most important thing to know is that these plants don't grow continuously. They grow only in short spurts, called *flushes* about once a year. And that's only when they are happy and healthy. If they've gone through stress, or have moved, they may not flush for years. So, before you give up on that sago palm (or any other cycad), here are some things to check: • Check for firmness of the trunk or *pineapple* (caudex). If it's mushy, the plant is dead, go ahead and pull it up, it will come out easily. It probably smells bad, anyway. If it's still firm, you may still have hope. • Check...

I've had Cannas here in my backyard in Glendale, Arizona (a suburb of Phoenix) for many years now, and they just love it here. They have amazing tropical foliage, and grow so fast you can practically see them grow. But there are a few things I've learned over the years to make them look their best. And the first thing, of course, is location. • Plant them in shade. What you're seeing in the photo is morning sunlight, but after noon, they go into the shade of the house. That is, they're planted along the eastern edge of my house. I've tried planting them elsewhere, but they won't last. They get ratty, look terrible and never come back if you plant them in full sunlight. Give 'em shade! • Give them water. The tiny area where the cannas are has always been a boggy area, going back to when I had grass there, many years ago. Cannas love water. If you have an area that collects water and is in the shade, put your cannas there. • Give them rich soil. I l...