Whats your favorite Tropical

What do you like for tropical plants. Dale

My all time favorite Tropical plant is the Plumeria. I now have 18 plants ranging in size from 12" to 6 feet. Not so patiently awaiting them to bloom.

Thanks for the post Andi I will look into this one a bit more. Can you upload any photos. Dale

As soon as I get the front patio rearranged I will post the photos. The trees are not in bloom yet, but I do have a few pictures of last years blooms that I will post later this evening. I will also post pictures of the trees as they are starting to leaf out with the heat. I purchased these trees from a collector who had to move and wasn't able to take them with him. I saved them from being chopped up.
Andi

If you do get a few "sticks" to bloom for you, you will be hooked. The blooms are just to die for and the scent of each one is heavenly. Each variety has a different scent ranging from Hawaiian tropics suntan lotion to spices.

Just one?? I dunno...that's a tough question. I tend to like fruit producers. I really like Eugenia dombeyi, I know it as Brazilan Black Cherry, no doubt there are other common names. It has beautiful leaves and blooms, is easy to grow and keep. The fruit taste is wonderful and fruit size is large. Mine is blooming right now (mid June). I'll post a photo of the fruits when they are ripe. Behind that would be all of the variegated Citrus'....especially those that have variegated fruit.

Here are a few of my Plumeria. While they are not in bloom, the trees themselves are interesting, at leat to me. When I find the pictures from last year I will post them.



I also have one with 2 inflos that should start opening up within a few weeks.
Andi

I like the ones that stay alive!!!
I love ALL my babies!!! they are all interesting to me..
Hard to pick JUST one!!
I like the looks of the Aussie whatsit.. Can't wait for fruit..

Gina *BabyBlue*

Well, I've learned a bit about the Cherimoya since my first post. I've learned that in areas where they are grown commercially..hardy, robust trees are sometimes sprayed with herbicide to cause them to drop leaves. When they re-leaf they will also produce more flowers. I did that..caused it to re-leaf. I used horticultural oil, they are pretty sensitive to it. I've learned that natural bristle brushes (sable) work better for hand pollinating than man-made, acrylic fiber brushes. I've learned how to collect pollen in late afternoon, refrigerate it overnight and introduce it to the (un-opened) female flower the next morning. This photo (I believe) shows the flower at male stage. Typically, the female flower should be fertilized mid-morning....when I'm at work (M-F). I guess I need to win the lottery so I can stay home and hand pollinate the Cherimoya, or train it to only bloom on weekends....my boss doesn't think staying home to do that is a legitimate excuse for missing work~(lol). Stay tuned, no fruit yet.

Well that is easy for me ORCHIDS, I have been growing for over 15 years and I am finally getting a green house I cannot wait as you can see in the photo my plant stands are kinda full.... Mostly with Orchids but there are some violets and other plants also.. I have included a picture of a species orchid that is not all the way open it is one of the main parent plants that give the big ruffley flowers.
Bonnie

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I love the orchids also. I have a few that I was given to rehabilitate. I am learning a tremendous amount on how to grow these. There are several different kinds and they all need different care. Sometimes its a bit mind boggling but so far they are all putting out new growth and roots. One Vandaceous is getting ready to bloom within the next month. It was identified as possibly a neofinetia hybrid. Hopefully the blooms will tell us.
Andi