It’s a new year!
Happy New Year. Hope you all had a merry Christmas and happy holidays, something to look back on with joy. January is named for the Roman god Janus, from the Latin word ianua meaning door, a two headed, rather a two faced, back to back, facing opposite directions, being. He looks forward and backwards on the years; actually he’s looking east to west to follow the rising and setting sun.
Have you made any resolutions, or just accepting the fact that life goes on? It is what it is.
We have been blessed with very warm weather and can continue doing what we’ve been doing. Predictions have us turning cooler Saturday and Sunday, and to watch out for Tuesday, where 40 degrees is predicted. Precipitations are expected to be scattered throughout the month. Glad we aren’t drying out too much, too fast yet, but, remember, we do need consistent moisture on our plants for them to do well. Water restrictions may eventually come our way. The danger of frosts will be gone after February. Still, pruning has its dangers at this time; just prune any non-spring blooming trees and shrubs. Pruning usually sets up new growth that when frosted, creates a die back. Since our state Legislature passed the proclamation that the third Friday in January is Florida’s Arbor Day, they seem to feel it is safe enough to do ornamental plantings now. New plantings need two weeks of consistent watering.
We could even consider this our third growing season, but only of cold weather plants. Grape vines can be pruned until February. Many herbs will thrive now, along with the beets, cabbages, turnips, lettuces, broccoli and spinach.
It seems pests and viruses love this warm weather, too. Apply horticulture oil for scales while plants can be dormant and temperatures are below 80 degrees. The problem with cool weather is that when watering isn’t utilized, fungus and rot breed in the damp conditions; we don’t need as much water in cool weather.
Inside, potted housebound plants need watering with dehumidifiers going. Container gardens inside or out look much nicer if you top the containers. Try using Spanish moss, aquarium gravel, glass or plastic gems, marbles, river rock, beads, corks, crushed shell or rinsed small seas shells, wood chips or regular mulch. This adds to their charm and beauty.
Right now the Naples Botanical Gardens is featuring its gorgeous specimen blooming Hong Kong Orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) in front of their LaGrippe Orchid Garden. Of course, the breed originates in Hong Kong, southern China. The Hong Kong Orchid tree is one of the treats of winter here. Many people describe the captivating fragrance given off when it’s warm and humid as heady perfume. Orchid-shaped, five-petal flowers bloom orchid to red from early November to the end of March; their green leaves are a chopped off heart shape.
The Hong Kong Orchid tree is different than the orchid tree, in that they are sterile and do not develop seedpods, thus, no littering. Not actually related to orchids, they are in the Leguminosae family, but hardy only in zone 9B through 11. Growing 29 to 40 feet in height, the young Hong Kong Orchid needs to be pruned to develop a more uniform crown. Their spread is 20 to 25 feet, with a rapid rate of growth, so that drooping branches need to be trimmed for pedestrian traffic. Being drought tolerant, flowering best in dry soils, it grows in full sun or partial sun with well drained slightly alkaline or acidic soil, having a moderate salt tolerance.
Weak wood problems make it susceptible to breakage in storms, but there are no messy seedpods and seeds.
Propagation is by cuttings or air-layering.
The regular orchid tree, with its falling seedpods, has an invasive potential, so it is not recommended, but I do like the white orchid tree. Years ago, when my grandsons were active at Jason Verdow ballpark, there were three or four white orchid trees along the parking lot edge. I plucked some seedpods and grew five seedlings. Several bloomed variegated, blending their purple and white colors.
They seemed to be smaller than regular trees, but they can grow to 25 feet high and 15 feet wide. Their scientific name is Bauhinia aculeate or Bauhinia variegata. Same requirements for growing as other Bauhanias, but they drop their fruit, small branches and leaves periodically, a messy tree that can be propagated by seeds as well as cuttings, air layering. I might also mention that their roots sucker. Being deciduous to semi-evergreen, they flower from spring through the summer. Varying in form, uniform plantings don’t happen. Since they benefit from early pruning, try to keep the dropping lower branches eliminated.
Being on the Category I non-native invasive list, I hesitate to mention this tree, but want you to be aware of potential hazards. The best bet is the non-invasive seedless Hong Kong Orchid tree for winter beauty in our landscape. I wonder if there are any white ones available.
Start this year off with good intentions when doing our landscapes. Our future living depends on it. Take good care of our Earth. Remember, trees eliminate carbon dioxide, provide oxygen, and provide peaceful, serene habitats for us.
Joyce Comingore is a Master Gardener, hibiscus enthusiast and member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral.