The Florida Gardener

My favorite Florida Flowering Plants to incorporate into a Fall Seasonal Display!

Seriously - if a client wants fall inspired flowers, I'm suggesting one of these. 

Plants Discussed Today:

Crossandra (Crossandra infundibuliformis)

Firecracker Plant (Russelia equisetiformis)

Cockscomb/Celosia

Lantana

Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum)

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It's my FAVORITE time of the year!  So today, in honor of Autumn, we are going to discuss how to create Fall Containers like a Pro using Florida plants.

Plants Discussed Today:

SUN COMBO 1

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum')

Croton 'Petra' (Codiaeum variegatum 'Petra')

Purple Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)Bronze Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)

SUN COMBO 2

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum')

*Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)

Purple Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)Bronze Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)

*A burnt orange / rust colored coleus would be ideal if you can find a sun tolerant variety. (Many of the red varieties are full sun tolerant)

SHADE COMBO 1

Black ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Raven' or 'Black Queen')

Purple Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus)

Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida)

SHADE COMBO 2

Croton 'Petra' (Codiaeum variegatum 'Petra') Maidenhair ferns (Adiantum)

*Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)

Creeping Fig Vine (Ficus pumila)

*A burnt orange / rust colored coleus would be ideal but most any Coleus will work as most prefer shade - part shade.

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We had a Houseplant Gardener in the Carolinas reach out.

BK’s mother gifted her an English Ivy Houseplant and despite BK’s best efforts, the plant is struggling inside her home, and she wants to know why.

Today's episode is not limited to English Ivy! We dive deep into the unique microclimates of our homes (spoiler - every home is different) and various troubleshooting techniques to help you when an interior plant is struggling. I also share some of my favorite houseplants.

Have your own question for the show? ⁠Write in to us.⁠

SHOP MY GARDEN, SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE NEWSLETTER, SUBMIT A PLANT QUESTION: ⁠RootsRedefined.com⁠

Florida is home to more meat eating plants than any other state. 🥩

Today is all about exploring carnivorous plants and their various trapping mechanisms.

I hope you leave this episode with a sense of awe and appreciation for these spooky yet spectacular living organisms.

LET'S CONNECT!

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PLANTS DISCUSSED:

SNAP TRAPS

Venus Fly Trap

Waterwheel

STICKY TRAPS

Butterworts

Sundews

SUCTION TRAPS

Bladderworts

PITFALL TRAPS

Nepenthes (Tropical Pitcher Plants)

Nepenthes Rajah - The largest tropical pitcher plant

North American Pitcher Plants

The Cobra Lily - Really cool North American Pitcher Plant

Bromeliads (Brocchina reducta, B. tatei, and Catopsis berteroniana)

SOURCES:

North Carolina State University Extension

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/utricularia-inflata/

Botanical Society of America

https://botany.org/home/resources/carnivorous-plants-insectivorous-plants/nepenthes-the-monkey-cups.htmlhttps://botany.org/home/resources/carnivorous-plants-insectivorous-plants/darlingtonia-californica-the-cobra-lily.html

Botanic Gardens of Sydney

https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/teachers-and-schools/teacher-resources/primary-learning-resources/carnivorous-plant-adaptations-0

International Carnivorous Plant Society

https://www.carnivorousplants.org

Van Attas

https://www.vanattas.com/growing-guides/indoor-care/carnivorous-plants

Curious Plant Carnivorous Plant Nursery

https://curiousplant.com/shop/sundews/?srsltid=AfmBOopebXcXjmgyeJTI1l7d43jp7s5VDU9ICoemqzeW_fXb3aWHF43V

National Wildlife Federation

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Venus-Flytraphttps://carnivorousplantnursery.com/blogs/carnivorous-plants-by-genus/bromeliads?srsltid=AfmBOorWeRPN1bNDEAj_00uMiNovFJFYqnAqFKLly4oKofaDrtkY3i-H

BBC Earth

https://www.bbcearth.com/news/10-of-the-planets-most-predatory-plantshttps://www.bbcearth.com/news/10-of-the-planets-most-predatory-plants

UF IFAS

https://plant-directory.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/utricularia-species/

We had a gardener in North Florida reach out.

Mike shares his trouble with vinca flowers and asks us for a potted alternative that will provide color under his tree which receives afternoon sun.

Have your own question for the show? Write in to us.

EPISODE RESOURCES

Flowering Succulents:

Desert Rose (Adenium obesum)

Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)

Neoregelia Bromeliads

Neo 'Martin', Neo 'Cosmos', Neo 'Fireball' & Neo 'Bossa Nova'

Bromeliad List/Gallery: Blooming Freedom

In-Ground Landscape Plants Discussed

Coontie (Zamia integrifolia)

FL Native Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)

Rain Lilies (Zephyranthes)

Dwarf Firebush (Hamelia patens var. glabra)

Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata)

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella)

Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)

BUY POTTED NATIVES HERE: Buy Native Plants Online | Garden for Wildlife

BUY NATIVE SEEDS HERE:

Seed Packets - Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative

University of North Florida (UNF) Campus PLANT LIST: HERE

MY WEBSITE: RootsRedefined.com

You don't need a bird feeder or a massive back yard to attract a ton of different birds to your Florida garden.

In today's episode we discuss how to design and create a bird friendly garden - even in the tiniest of spaces.

FLOWERS

Red Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)

Spanish Needles (Bidens Alba)

Tickseed (Coreopsis)

Blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella)

Wild Poinsettia (Euphorbia cyathophora)

VINES

Blue Sky Vine (Thunbergia grandiflora or Thunbergia laurifolia)

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Morning Glory (Ipomea indica)

Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.)

SM-MED SHRUBS

Firebush (Hamelia patens var. patens)

Walter’s Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum)

Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum)

Sandankwa Viburnum (Viburnum suspensum)

Cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco)

Wild Coffee (Psychotria nervosa)

American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

Everglades Tomato, Sprawling Shrub Like Vine  (Solanum pimpinellifolium)

TREES & LG SHRUBS

Oaks (FL has over 20 native species)

Sabal Palm (Sabal palmetto)

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

HUMMINGBIRDS!

Red Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)

Orange Mexican Sunflowers, Annual (Tithonia rotundifolia)

Mexican Flame Vine (Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides)

Coral Honeysuckle Vine (Lonicera sempervirens)

Red Firespike (Odontonema cuspidatum)

Purple Firespike (Odontonema callistachyum)

Firebush (Hamelia patens var. patens)

Pink/Coral Porterweed (Stachytarpheta mutabilis)

PURCHASE NATIVE SEEDS

Florida Wildflower Co-Op - ⁠floridawildflowers.com⁠

PURCHASE NATIVE LIVE PLANTS

Garden for Wildlife - ⁠gardenforwildlife.com⁠

VISIT MY WEBSITE

⁠⁠rootsredefined.com⁠⁠

We had a listener write in with the following question:

Can you talk about plants that are frost tolerant. With climate change, I fear colder than normal weather is going to be the norm. I live in Vero Beach Florida and I'm going to lose all my hibiscus to the recent frost.

LET'S CONNECT

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COLD HARDY PLANTS DISCUSSED TODAY

VINES

1. Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) NATIVE

2. Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

3. Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia) NATIVE

SHRUBS

1. ​ Firebush (Hamelia patens var. patens) NATIVE *Hummingbirds!
2. ​ American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) NATIVE
3. ​ Azaleas (Rhododendron)
4. ​ Viburnums (Viburnum odoratissimum, Viburnum suspensum and Viburnum obovatum) Only obovatum is NATIVE - All three are great though.
5. Firespike (Odontonema cuspidatum) *Hummingbirds!
6. Podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus)

PALMS

Sabal Palm (Sabal palmetto) NATIVE

LAWN/TURF

1. Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) NATIVE

2. Fleabane Erigeron quercifolius) NATIVE

BOARDER PLANTS/FILLERS

1. Coontie (Zamia integrifolia) NATIVE

2. Monkey Grass (Liriope)

3. Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri')

I brought a Moth Orchid home. Now what? Orchids are a huge diverse family of plants. Learn how to care for your grocery store orchid while also gaining a deeper understanding of the family Orchidaceae as a whole.

ORCHIDS DISCUSSED TODAY

1. ​Phalaenopsis Aka Moth Orchid (most common)
2. ​Dendrobiums - My favorite genus! Easy to source.
3. ​Terrestrial / Ground Orchids - Behave more like "normal" plants. Two common ground orchids are Epidendrum radicans / Reed Stem (sun) and Spathoglottis plicata (shade). Easy to source.
4. ​Florida Vanilla Orchid: Vanilla phaeantha, Vanilla dilloniana, and Vanilla barbellata *commercially exploited. be mindful.
5. ​Water-spider orchid (Habenaria repens)
6. ​The cranefly orchid (Tipularia discolor) *rare, be mindful if sourcing.
7. ​Florida butterfly orchid (Encyclia tampensis) commercially exploited, be mindful
8. ​Jewel Orchid (Ludisia discolor) Beautiful foliage. Easy to source. Recommended for indoors by UF IFAS.

SOURCES

American Orchid Society

https://www.aos.org/orchids/articles/cold-tolerance-of-warm-growing-orchids

UF IFAS

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/floridas-native-orchids/

Florida Nature Photography

https://www.floridanaturephotography.com/project/native-orchids/

St Augustine Orchid Society

https://staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/200110Tips-ColdTolerance.pdf

We had a listener in SW Florida write in with a couple questions.

"I'm struggling to find reliable sources of gardening advice. I'm getting lots of suggestions of things to try, but the advice is not consistent, and I end up mostly confused...do you have any suggestions on the best sources for local gardening advice?"

"Also, I'm going to be away for several months and wondering if there are people who can be hired to take care of my fruit trees and other plants."

Tune in to episode 30 for my response.

Have your own question for the show? Write in to us.

RootsRedefined.com > The Florida Gardener Podcast > Write in to the Show

Episode Resources:

1. South Florida Plant Guide (online plant guide)

south-florida-plant-guide.com

2. Stacks Urban Harvest (website + youtube)

stacksurbanharvest.com

3. Flip My Florida - tv series. free to watch on youtube. just search the name.

4. Your Central Florida Yard - podcast. Available on Spotify and Apple podcasts.

5. Become a Florida Master Gardener - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/mastergardener/what-we-do/become/

I’ve had a few folks reach out inquiring about how I started my gardening business - some of you are even interested in starting your own!  So, I decided to dedicate an entire episode to this. I hope you enjoy.

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EPISODE RESOURCES:

Courses & Certifications: FNGLA, UF

Audio Books: David Goggin’s “Can’t Hurt Me”

Minimalism “Live a Meaningful Life”

Podcasts:

The Minimalists, Plants Grow Here, Native Plants Healthy Planet, The Beet, Gardening with the RHS, BBC Gardeners World

Shows:

Your Garden Made Perfect, Monty Don (he has been in many!)