<![CDATA[BIOSCAPES CANADA-LANDSCAPING SERVICES

In recent years, container gardening has become increasingly popular because it can be done in even the smallest space. Gardeners everywhere are expressing themselves with colour and an ever-expanding range of plants, including tropicals.

HIBISCUS & OLEANDER:
These two tropicals are well-known and easy to grow. Hibiscus is available in single or double flowers in a range of stunning colours from red, pink, and burgundy to yellow, peach, and white. It's also available in bush or tree form, with single, spiral, or braided trunks. Flowers last one day, but the plant is prolific given proper cultural care. Hibiscus also makes an ideal houseplant. Oleander (Nerium) also comes as a bush or tree form, and it grows vigorously. Flowers occur in clusters in pure white, peach, or pink. The latter colour has a spicy fragrance. Leaves are leathery and willow-like. The wood and sap are both poisonous.

HIbiscus

Oleander

BRUGMANSIA & DATURA:
Referred to as angel's trumpet, these two genera are often confused. Brugmansia is woody and has pendulous (not erect) flowers that look like huge flared trumpets, hence the nickname. It's the one most often overwintered indoors as a tree. Datura, however, is generally grown as an annual, and its trumpet-shaped blooms are erect or spreading, never pendulous. Spiny, round fruit splits open to release numerous seeds that can be kept and sown the following year or left on the ground to germinate naturally the next spring. All parts of Brugmansia and Datura are highly toxic.

Brugmansia

Datura

SOUTH AFRICAN MALLOW, PRINCESS FLOWER, ROYAL ROBE & FLOWERING MAPLE:
These four patio tropicals are most frequently grown as small standard trees in full sun.

1) South African or cape mallow is covered almost continuously with small, pale pink, hibiscus-like flowers.

2)Princess flower (Tibouchina) has dark green, velvety, 10–15 cm (4–6") long leaves with several prominent longitudinal veins. Large, royal purple blossoms, flaring open to 12 cm (5"), are held above the foliage, creating a spectacular sight when in full bloom.

3) Royal robe (Solanum rantonnetii) has profuse, saucer-shaped, dark purplish-blue flowers about 2.5 cm (1") wide. It tolerates heat and humidity well.

4)Flowering maple (Abutilon) is not part of the maple tree family; the common name derives from its attractive maple-shaped leaves. Some varieties have brightly splashed, variegated leaves. Flowers are cup-shaped with five overlapping petals in red, pink, yellow, white, or pastel shades.

South African Mallow

Royal robe (Solanum rantonnetii)

Princess flower (Tibouchina)

Flowering maple (Abutilon)

EXOTIC FLOWERING VINES:
Mandevilla, passion flower, and bougainvillea are just some of the excellent candidates that can be trained on some kind of vertical support in a container. Passion flower, which grows quickly in full sun, also looks sensational covering an arbour. The blooms of this tropical vine are incredibly intricate and come in red, blue, mauve, and pink. The fruit is edible. Mandevilla (Dipladenia) has shiny, heavily textured leaves and pink or white trumpet-shaped flowers that can be 7.5 cm (3") across. Twining, woody stems make this a rampant grower as well. Bougainvillea produces long, arching, thorny branches. The flowers look like delicate paper but are, in fact, bracts. The true flower is small and white inside the outer, showy bracts that can be brilliant pink, purple, lavender, peach, orange, or white. Some varieties have interesting, variegated foliage. Given lots of sunlight, bougainvillea blooms all summer long.

Mandevilla (Dipladenia)

Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata)

Bougainvillea (Nyctaginaceae)

HOW TO GROW PATIO TROPICALS:
As all these plants originate from hot, sunny, southern climates, they're used to intense light levels. They also flourish in morning light that lasts until 1 or 2 in the afternoon. Keep the soil moist during their blooming period or, in the case of hibiscus, water the plant when it just starts to wilt. Too much or too little water for all patio tropicals will result in foliage turning bright yellow and dropping. The combination of sunlight and regular fertilizing will ensure continuous bloom. Fertilize every 1–2 weeks with water-soluble fertilizer within a range of 15-30-15 or 14-14-14. These controlled-release granules, applied to the soil surface, feed plants for six months with just one application.

OVERWINTERING PATIO TROPICALS:
If you want to overwinter a patio tropical so you can use it again outdoors next year, plan to bring it inside around late September, before night temperatures get really cool. This is also an ideal time to prune plants that put on a lot of growth in previous months. Spray several times for insects with Insecticidal Soap or Safer's End-All II. Hibiscus, abutilon, brugmansia, and datura are prone to whitefly. They require radical control to prevent clouds of these insects in your home. Because eggs are deposited on the undersides of leaves, you need to remove all foliage before bringing them indoors. You'll be truly amazed to see healthy new growth within three weeks, and the plant should remain insect-free all winter. Remember to monitor all your other plants carefully for insects so they don't infest the patio tropical.

Light levels in the Northern Hemisphere are very low from December to March. During this time, patio tropicals take a rest. Unless you have a particularly bright sunroom or conservatory, chances are plants won't continue to flower, and you may experience significant leaf drop. This is especially true with bougainvillea. Water your plants less through the winter months, stop fertilizing, and keep them in a cooler room. Come March, they'll start to pick up again. You can water more frequently and fertilize as well. When all risk of frost has passed, bring plants back outdoors but place them in the shade to start. Direct sun at the start of the season scorches leaves.

Thriving plants will soon outgrow the pots they're in. They can be transplanted into containers 2.5–5 cm (1–2") larger than the ones they're presently in. When you've reached the maximum size and can go no larger, you need to lift the entire root ball out of the pot. With a very sharp knife, cut 2.5–5 cm (1–2") off the sides and bottom of the root ball. Put fresh soil in the bottom of the existing container, center the trimmed root ball in the pot, and backfill the sides. This will probably need to be done about every 2–3 years.

CONCLUSION:
Patio tropicals really spice up any balcony, terrace, or deck.Consider what good value they are when they can last for a number of years. Placed on plant dollies, they can be moved around to create whole new looks during one summer. So, try something different and consider all the other great annuals, grasses, perennials, and tropicals you can combine for a big, lush, colourful statement.

]]>