I began growing bromeliads about a year ago My situation is a little different being I am one of those snowbirds 12 years I have been living here winters and getting the hang of things somewhat But I am so pleased with bromeliads and yes when I am up north they receive very little if any care. This is my first full year of having them in the garden and so many are in bloom I can not believe that I didn't try these plants years ago down in Florida Just thought they would be so difficult to deal with Some are in shade and others in full hot sun I have not really become familiar with names and such Did join the Bromeliad society in Ft. Myers One of the best garden clubs I have ever attended. Thanks for the information I did fertilize some of the plants with epson salts just thrown in to the containers Most of mine are in containers. don't know if it will be any harm hope not

Thanks a lot everyone for all the compliments! Laura, I only planted one plumeria in the ground and that was my plumeria pudica. Since it was dieing and had on leaves on it (which is unusual for a pudica because its an evergreen species), I planted it in the ground without a pot. My plan is to dig it up with a good shovel in the fall which is a little more work, but probably more worth it since the roots have more room to grow. Plumerias dont really mind getting there roots cut back a little so I figured it was worth just sticking it in the ground. My largest plumeria has been potted up and next year I will probably sink a pot in the ground like I planned to this year. Im looking forward to seeing some pics of your yard. Greg, I actually saw a tent at a mall in staten island with plants in it so I looked and saw an orleander. I really love orleanders (especially the white ones), and have never seen any for sale anywhere nearby me so when I saw those I had to get some. I dont think its there permenantly so they probably go there once a year in the spring. It was (I think) about 15 dollars for each which wasnt too bad of a price at all. I know they grow quick so Im sure once I pot them up they will really begin to grow. One also has aphids so Im going to have to treat it. Ive tried coffee grinds (since I hear that works) and it might have slowed the aphids down, but they are far from gone. The ladybugs do help though! Heres a pic of the pygmy palm again but now with the pool in the background. Thanks again for looking!

Thanks for the comments. Here are a few more pics! My sago palm is in a corner. I guess thats my plant hospital-no one can see it-but I can easily care for it. Windmill palm planted this year is looking good in shade. I think its on its 3rd frond . Next is a pic of my sabal domingensis, also newly planted this spring. Its pushed 1 and a half fronds this year. Not bad considering its in a pretty good amount of shade and still a pretty young palm. Also new for this year is my european fan palm. It has a pup on the side of it which is about to open its first frond. Sabal minor in its second year and growing very fast considering its a sabal minor! Its already pushed out a full frond and the second frond is unfolding. I wouldnt be surprised to get 3 fronds by the end of the summer. My sabal minors 'trunk'. It looks like it is actually growing above the ground, but maybe its planted too shallow. I think Ill have to add a little mulch in the fall since the roots are pretty exposed, but I think they have always been exposed. Do you think it should have some more soil on the top? NEW VOCAB WORD FOR ME! This is the 'hastula' of my Sabal domingensis. Apparently its where the petiole meets the base of the leaflets. On palmetto shaped fans its more spearlike. Im pretty sure sabal domingensis is a palmetto shaped leaf and heres a pic of the 'hastula' on it. And here is the 'hastula' on my sabal minor. So Im going to guess the longer the hastula is, the more coastapalmate (that palmetto shaped leaf) the frond is. I guess its a pretty good way to determine if a sabal minor is a minor or a palmetto at a young age. You learn a new thing every day! My new and first crape myrtle which is a crape myrtle zuni. They are starting to become pretty common in the area (maybe almost as common as southern magnolias). They are all in bloom now, but mine looks like it has about a week before the first blooms open. Heres my parlor palm and stromanthe in the shade doing well. They made it through 4 days of 100 degree weather in the shade with no leaf burn. I was very impressed. I have a peace lily in even more shade further to the back and it also had no leaf burn from the recent heat. Heres my tree fern which is growing at a pretty good speed. wsg89, Gardening can be very frustrating at times, and relaxing at others, but in the end its a great hobby. I think we have all lost a few plants. This year (from spring to now) I lost a bismarkia (I guess it didnt like the indoor atmosphere), musella (it just didnt like being shipped), one hibiscus, and definitely a few other plants also. Its disappointing to see plants die, but we learn from our mistakes and I definitely buy more than I lose! Greg, Thats definitely one of the reasons to by at a nursury. And you know the quality of fruit will be good on a grafted plant since it will fruit just like its mother. You just have to know which plants you have to buy grafted and which can be easily grown from seed. Laura, Thanks for the compliment. You have a beautiful yard also! I love those huge sabal palmettos and healthy pindo palms! Thanks for looking! Enjoy! -Alex

Thanks Chris! I wish I had a greenhouse, but I dont really have a place where it would look good and get the benifits of the sun. I usually just put the plants around the house with the tallest palms going by the tallest ceiling . Last year all the plants barely had a place to go and this year I have a LOT more so Im starting to get a little worried. I think Im going to partially convert a room into a greenhouse since it has nice south facing windows and is rarely used. But one day I would really love to put all these plants in a greenhouse! Until then my house becomes a jungle with all the plants are fighting for their lives until spring finally comes! I think I am going to look up about greenhouses and maybe see where one can go. I can dream :) And thanks for the tip about the Fireball bromeliad. Originally when I took them out in late march, they were in full sun, but when the tree grew leaves for the summer, It got a lot more shade. I think next year Im going to look for a place with more sun and maybe if I get enough pups, I will have a few more plants too! And you got my ending signature just right! Sometimes I dont even notice Im writing it, lol.... Good luck! -Alex