Plant Trends

Yucca trucleana or Spanish Daggers

The past year, we've noticed many more calls at our nursery about plants that use very little water - such as this Spanish dagger (Yucca trucleana).

It's native to the Rio Grande Valley and west Texas - flourishing in the dry ranch country.   These are slow growers.    The one pictured was sold at our wholesale nursery, Simmons Oak Farms -  this will make an instant impact, won't it!  I love the sculptural quality of these big yuccas.   

In the spring, yuccas bloom with clusters of beautiful white flowers that some people harvest to eat.   Mockingbirds like to hang out in Spanish daggers - not sure if they are feeding or they just like the cover and protection.    If you want a full Yucca, do not remove the flower pods.    We have noticed that removing the pods before they are nice and dry keeps the branch from splitting into two  heads.  

Be careful that your yucca doesn't get too much water.  To much water will cause the plant to rot.   We had a large Spanish dagger in a planting bed near a huge old ash tree.   That planting area was watered with grey water from our home and everything seemed to be pretty happy there -  until Hurricane Dolly came along.   It tore up the ash so badly that we had to remove it.   That changed everything!  Suddenly there was lots more water and lots more sun.   The Yucca loved the sun - but not the water.   To try to remedy the problem, we've planted a Montezuma bald cypress in the area - maybe in another year or two, the cypress will use enough water that the yucca thrives again. 

Yucca trucleana would be a great addition to your water-wise garden

Cedar Elm

Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia) is a Texas native that is greatly underutilized as a landscape tree.   It comes to mind this time of year because it is just about the only tree in deep south Texas with any realiable Autumn color.   Its small, dark green leaves turn yellow and orange with cooler temperatures.   According to the Texas Forest Service, it is tollerant to salty soil, sea spray, drought, and poorly drained sites.   It grows naturally in alkaline soil and is a tidy little tree

Monkeying Around with Yaupon Holly

I know this is a gardening blog - but there are plant cuttings in this centerpiece . . .   That is Yaupon Holly coming out of the front block.   Even without berries, it's really nice to cut and bring inside this time of year.  I'm trying to decide how to incorporate it into our Christmas decorations this year.  I'd love to hear you use it!

Thinking Spring

I have always struggled when it comes to growing plants from seed - and nasturtiums were the biggest challenge of all!  I just never seem to get a very good stand.   Well, a few years back, my friend, Jean Anne, let me in on the secret  . . .  in the Rio Grande Valley, nasturtiums need to be planted before Halloween.   The next year,  I followed her advice, planting seed in late October and, wolah, great stand and a gorgeous border the following spring.   I know I have some pictures on my home computer and will try to post some this evening because, if I do say so myself, they were stunning!  

So, here is fair warning -  There are just FIVE MORE DAYS to get to the garden center, grab some packets of nasturtium seed, and get them in the ground!   Nasturtium has a large hard seed.  If my soil is nice and pliable, I like to scatter the seed and then just rake them in a bit.   I water deeply one time and then they get what the rest of the bed gets.   Because they will sort of "overwinter", I don't worry about how many sprout the first few weeks.  Some will come up; some will look puny through the winter - but come springtime, they will explode!  I imagine they are growing a beautiful root system through our cooler months . . . .  

I have been kicking myself for not mulching my planting beds this summer - there's tons of bare soil showing - but, now that's turned out to be a good thing.    I have lots of places all ready to sow next springs nasturtiums . . .   If you're looking for a colorful spring border that is easy on your pocketbook, consider nasturtiums.

A Little Poinsettia Lore

How Do I Take Care of This Poinsettia?

The one plant that universally says "Christmas" is undoubtedly the poinsettia or Euphorbia pulcherrima.  It's native to rainforests in Mexico and Central America and does pretty well as a houseplant for a month or two.

Right now I'm on the look-out for some to decorate our home and office.  With proper care they should look great throughout the Christmas season and well into the New Year.  

Place your poinsettia in a sunny room.   Their ideal temperature hovers between 60 and 70 degrees. 

One thing to avoid is drafts!   A few years ago, I purchased large (pricey) plants for the patio and front porch.  What a mistake!   The wind beat the tar out of them and I spend the holidays sweeping up dropped leaves.   Years ago I used to purchase large poinsettia hanging baskets at The Flower Pot in Harlingen.     They hung on our screened porch and just invited you outside- but that porch had great protection from the breeze.    Lesson learned.

A second thing you want to avoid is placing them near a heat source.   I may love a roaring fire on a cold winter night but they do not.

Now what about watering?   I water mine heavily and let them stand in a bit of water for an hour or so.   But, after that time, it is very important to remember to empty the excess water from the saucer or decorative pot.  Poinsettias do not like to stand in water for very long.   They are very forgiving of neglect, so you can let them dry out between watering.    When their leaves begin to droop, that's your sign to give your poinsettia a little drink.   If you let it dry out too much, your poinsettia will not die - it will just thank you by shedding lots of leaves for you to clean up. 

Poinsettias come in many colors to match any home and Christmas decor.  I adore the white ones - but this year, we're going colorful so red it is!

New Favorite Tool

Who would have thought that I would stumble upon my new favorite gardening tool in Target?   This nifty little gadget opens up to a nice tall container that holds tons of weeds and trimmed branches.  Now, I'm not much of a shopper - so this may be a really old product that I'm just now "discovering".

It doesn't fall over and the sides don't cave in like other reusable bags I've tried.   An hours worth of weeds easily fits - and it's lightweight to carry from spot to spot.  No wheelbarrow needed!  

If you're like me and garden away from home, this is so easy to toss in the car and go.   I bought mine in July and was tempted to wait for an end-of summer sale.   But at $15, I think it was a real steal!