Herself’s Houston Garden

It’s getting harder and harder to single out plants in photos here. But I guess that is a good thing? This was planted about a year ago and it has doubled or more its height and filled out quite nicely.

I wish I had several more, but with city lots one must pick and choose plants.

This tree bloomed a little last year, more this year and in time should start to bloom through out the summer.

Southern magnolia should reach about 60′ tall and 30′ across. We are at the southern edge of where it will grow, so that may stunt its size some.

Some people remove the lower branches, some leave them on. I have not yet decided. When removing lower branches from a tree wait till they reach about 1″ in diameter. It is better for the trunk and overall growth.

Growth is slow when the tree is first planted and picks up as the tree settles in.

Tolerant of Houston summers and hard freezes.

It is an evergreen. And likes regular feedings of nitrogen and iron. I give everything iron about once a year year.

Watch for scale, orange oil helps. Better is to remove branches closer than a couple of feet to the ground. I’ve done that and had no scale problems since.

This tree grows in full sun to part shade, this one receives full sun all afternoon. It is drought tolerant but prefers a moist, slightly acidic soil. My alkaline clay seems to suit this one.

Once is it grows it will shade out everything around and underneath it.

Sagos are one of the easiest plants to grow, though the growth can be frustratingly painful for some people. Usually a dose of fertilizer or removing the bottom third of the fronds will get the plant pushing out new fronds for you.

This plant has been working away putting out pups at the base last year and it’s getting ready to seed this year.

Yellowing on the outside of older fronds is not a problem and very rarely cause for concern. Just remove older fronds when they turn brown.

Scale can be a problem. Picking scale off a sago is a job for only the most devoted of gardeners. I’d recommend using orange oil. The first symptom of scale is often yellowing leaves. So if you have newer leaves turning yellow, flip them over and check for scale.

If there is no scale and there is yellowing of newer leaves check for fungus. Take a magnifying glass out to your sago and go over the leaves looking for bumps. Fungus can almost always be cured with a fungicide from your local nursery.

If there is no scale and no fungus then you are sitting where I am now. It is most likely a magnesium or nitrogen deficiency. Since this plant is busy making babies and seeds, I’m guessing that is probably the correct answer. I’ll fertilize tomorrow. If a lack of nutrients is the problem, the yellow spots will remain yellow, but new growth will be green.

More information:
Sago Palm, Cycas Revoluta, care and information

If you’ve given up growing hostas down here or are looking for a hosta replacement, consider these gingers. Kaempheria pulchria grow in shade, remain small and provide wonderful foliage and small purple flowers.

All gingers are safe to eat from flowers to leaves to roots, that doesn’t mean they will all taste good though.

Like hostas they die back to the ground in the fall and they are the very last plant to show up in your garden each spring. Be patient if yours do not reappear. Some will wait till mid June before poking a leaf up, the ground must reach 70′F first.

They form rounded clumps as they grown between 6″-12″ in height and 9″-12″ across depending on the variety.

Peacock gingers bloom from June until November here. Each small purple flower blooms for one day to be replaced by a fresh flower the following day.

Plant them in the deep shade and water regularly all summer. They want to be moist. These are not drought tolerant plants. Go easy on the watering in the winter or them might rot.

The designs on the leaves are what draws people to peacock gingers more than the flowers. The leaves are much rounder than any of the other ginger families.

Propagate by dividing the rhizomes.

These gingers also do well in hanging baskets. They do well around the base of trees where it is too shady for other plants. Just remember to keep them moist.