"In 1968, a study was begun to determine the 'optimum' amount of soil amendments to use in the planting hole since recommendations varied from 5% to 50% by volume. The optimum amount turned out to be none" "The reason for the poor performance of plants in small areas of soils amended with organic matter is primarily one of water relations. Peat does hold substantial quantities of water. However, when mixed with soil, it increases the porosity of any soil. Through the process of capillarity (the ink blotter effect), water readily moves from a coarse material to a fine material unless the system becomes saturated. Therefore, the soil amended with organic matter does absorb water readily following irrigation or rainfall but quickly loses most of the water since the surrounding soil has a finer texture and a greater capillary attraction. This movement of water out of the soil made more coarse-textured by the amendment and into the surrounding finer soil occurs very rapidly when the surrounding finer soil is relatively dry as frequently occurs during the summer and fall. During this time of relatively high temperatures and low humidity, the water loss from the top of the plant is very rapid and the limited volume of water held by the amended soil is quickly lost. The amended soil may be sufficiently dry to cause plant stress while the surrounding unamended soil is still quite moist, but because of the textural differences, the moisture will not move back into the amended soil and since few, if any, roots have extended out into the unamended soil, the plant suffers from drought. If the plant survives the drought conditions accentuated by the soil amendments, the roots will eventually grow beyond the amended soils and little further effect of soil amendments occurs. However, with species slow to develop horizontal roots such as azaleas, the additional moisture stress caused by the soil amendments may continue for several years. When planting without the use of soil amendments, the roots grow into loosened and aerated soil of the same texture as the surrounding soil, and a textural difference and dry zone does not occur. Even though the soil is loosened in the planting process, the texture of the soil is not changed" --Carl E. Whitcomb, Establishment and Maintenance of Landscape Plants Here is a link that might be useful: Lacebark Inc.

I think they would cross well and make an attractive hybrid, Patusho. The only problem, as I mentioned before, is the verrrrryyy sloooooooowww rate of growth for Till seedlings.

Yes, now that I take a closer look at the calyx, it doesn't look like a salvia. But the flower sure did! The leaves look a bit like a salvia I saw (not in bloom) recently at UCBerkeley which was labeled only "Salvia sp. Costa Rica". Still wondering what that was. Interesting species fuchsia, if that is what it is. btw, we have been looking at options for a Costa Rica trip, hopefully for this spring.

Hello from St John USVI, Geostv you are getting good advice. Wait till you get settled in to do any garden planning or planting. We moved from zone 5/6 to 10/11. I was so excited I could garden year around I ordered plants, had things dug up from my garden and sent and bought lot's and lot's of books. I have found my best source of gardening books is to go to a Barnes and Noble in Miami which has the closest zone to St John. Start a calendar diary of where the sun is and the average wind on each area of your new home. When you are closer to the equator the positon of the sun is dramatically different each time of year. I put an orchid garden in an area which I thought was shaded only to find a month later it got direct sun and burned all the plants. My garden workers which get $25.00 an hour laugh at me and tell me they will never be out of work as I am constantly moving everything.I started my garden in 1997 and it is a huge learning curve. I have learned that the plants and look I want and what will do well are not necessarily cooperative. Other factors I had never considered cows that roam the island and feast on Hibiscus or goats that can climb sheer rocks and eat anthing and everything in your garden. Our entire garden is fenced and I have a cattle guard across the entrance or there would be no garden. On a happpier note I now have a prized and beautiful garden I have just about every tropical plant and some that I have challenged to grow I can't live without such as roses.I have been very successful with Vanda orchids from Thailand heirloom roses from Vintage gardens and Antique Rose Emporium and Plumeria which other gardenweb members have shared with me.I will email you the titles of my favorite tropical gardening books. So many have great pictures but no real information.If I can share cuttings or seeds of anything let me know. I wish I could figure out how to post pictures on Gardenweb but I am technically challenged. I can email pictures with no problem. Congratulations on your move you will love gardening in the tropics.