Spring is almost over but in a way that’s good. For plant nuts, our gardens are going into another great season.
Most of us are into the swing of trading right now and as we all know nothing germinates faster than fresh seeds!
For those of us who are into tropical and exotic plants fresh seeds are just plain easier to obtain during the summer.
Most of these plants are overflowing with seeds that people are more than willing to share.
That’s good for us.
Another plus for tropical plant lovers is the many new Yahoo group forums that specialize in tropical or exotic plants and seeds.
For example, there is a forum that deals with Frankincense and Myrrh!
They are out not only to obtain seeds of these great plants but to share them too!
Finally we may all be able to grow them.
Another trick I picked up on was that many foreign countries have “trust funds” that help to promote their native flora.
Many of these places will trade or offer so many packets of seeds for a year’s membership dues….many of which are very cheap.
The good part about this is it gives you a chance to help someone else out and obtain hard-to-find seeds.
As for me, I’ve been gathering seeds from tropical islands as well as from Africa.
The variety and color is amazing.
Another thing I did this spring was to take most of my plants out of their pots and bury them in the ground.
I couldn’t believe how root bound they were!
I need new pots now!
They have responded very well to this.
I think they are doing far better and growing faster than if they were in a pot.
I’m also fertilizing this year with Rapid-Gro.
We’ll see how it stacks up!
I even planted the cacti I had.
Some of them jump started like you wouldn’t believe!
I almost couldn’t believe how fast some of them grew.
They sure didn’t look anything like they do now a few months back.
My friend who gave them to me told me to keep them root bound.
I think they’d rather not be!
Then, I had the plant find of the year!
I went to Lowe’s and in this cute little shell was this strange looking plant.
They were only $2.00 so I bought one.
I took it home and tried to figure out what it was.
I posted its picture on two or three forums in addition to Garden Web.
Come to find out it was a Dischidia Pectamoides.
If you don’t have one, get one!
Well, it’s going to be another month of trading, planting and learning!
I’m off on my honeymoon and yes; we are in search of new plants!
