need help with soil. Zone 9b San Jose Ca
Ann Le (8b) New Orleans La
7 years ago
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Marica 7 high Sierra's Ca 4,000ft
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A couple of my palms - zone 9b Fresno, CA
Comments (13)I did Stan! I had one in Chowchilla at my previous place. This was out in the countryside so it was exposed to a lot of cold wind and frost in the winter (with overhead protection). Unfortunately after I moved, that palm was dug up and moved to a different spot in the yard. I drove by the other day and the majesty palm is barely hanging on with two spindly, green fronds. It was a beautiful palm with a bulging trunk that almost made it look like a spindle palm. I'll be trying some here in Fresno perhaps in the springtime after winter has come and gone. I've seen several Bismarkias in Bakersfield. Bakersfield is just over Tejon pass from the Los Angeles basin and I've noticed that nurseries there tend to carry more of the exotic palms - perhaps because they have more access to deliveries from palm growers in LA, Orange, Ventura and San Diego counties. I've been meaning to make a trip to Golden Gate Palms in Richmond to see if they carry any 5 gallon Bismarks. You wouldn't happen to know would you? Did you have a Howea forsteriana that was getting to a nice big size? I think I remember seeing posts about it a while back....See MoreHey! Who wants to live and build in San Jose CA?
Comments (26)I agree that there are some aspects of this house that look a little cheap and I would not personally want tile countertops in the kitchen (although the bathroom wouldn't bother me). Lots of houses built from the end of the Depression until the 1970s had a lot of cheap or modest materials even if they were essentially well-built house. (It seems like a lot of the houses built in the depth of the Depression were very well built because they were built by people who were not affected by the Depression) Anyway, I think it's possible to take houses like this and get some of the cheap out but still maintain the spirit of the house. That's what I am trying to do with my 1965 house: replace hollow core slabs with solid, do much better hardware and plumbing fixtures. It's pretty impossible to replace a lot of this stuff with exactly the right style because if it's still available it's usually the cheapest quality --because it's something that hasn't been redesigned in decades. This is where I differ from some real purists. I could replace the doorknobs with exactly what the house was built with (or almost, the "tulip" or "urn" shape is not nearly as sharp or defined as it was at one time). But I am not going to put a $10.00 knob back in the house just because that's what it came with. But some real mid century purists would....See MoreAny Obsessed Plumeria Grower in San Jose, CA
Comments (84)When you say plant, do you mean planting them in-ground? If so, then you will need to prepare the environment every well as far as sun/shade/wind/moisture protection for them to survive. Do you have photo of cuttings? Where location/direction wise are you planning to plant them? Most experts here have their plants in pots and move them inside during winter time. Disclaimer: I am a newbie and only sharing what I have learned and from my limited experience at the moment. There are a lot of great growers on here with vast knowledge and experience. They can give you more info: Aileen - aileenrdh Toshi - Kawagoe (Home of SF 49ers Santa Clara CA Boom - Boom (SoCal)(11) Laura - Loveplants2 8b Virginia Beach, Virginia I am sure other experts will chime in but I will share my experience as this is my first season with cuttings and seedlings too. I am in San Jose and my seedlings and cuttings have been doing OK outside. With that said, I have always planned to have my plumeria inside protected from cold/wet during winter/raining season in our area. I just rooted some cuttings about 1-2 month and they just rooted and seeing leaves sprouted. For one that has 3 leaves I have been leaving it out side under filtered sunlight I have in backyard that has walls on three sides and an opening which I have one of those outdoor curtain/shade from store for wind/sun protection so that space can heat up well during day and stay "warmer" at night. It does not get down below 50 degrees at night so far. During the day it ranges from 70-100. I keep close eye on it though. For the ones that is barely showing leave sprouts, I take them in at night and put them on heat mat. I do this to quicken rooting and leaf development. I sunbathe them on hot days outside under filter light though. To simulate tropicalness, I have also been putting them inside a 50 gallon trash bin which has multiple holes as I was using them before for hot composting. I have not cooked them yet :). I would proceed with caution on this. I have been careful on placement and how much sun/heat the trash bin gets. I am sure there are more elegant way but this is what I have so experimenting with. A board member on here Boom gave me two saplings which I have been leaving outside and they are doing well in same space. They have grown multiple leaves in the last month. But I plan to bring them in as soon as the weather gets colder. Toshi - Kawagoe (Home of SF 49ers Santa Clara CA has only one plumeria (Celedine) in-ground. The rest he has in big pots which he shelters them with carport and canopy during winter for cold/wet protection. He is great guy and can offer more tips and/or give you a tour of his setup. Hope that helps a little. Again, newbie so take what I said with a grain of salt :). What cultivars do you have? Please upload photo so we can see. Thanks....See MoreHeat pump in San Jose, CA
Comments (52)I don't think the Santa Clara Valley has microclimates to the same extent as other parts of the Bay Area. If you want to see a microclimate in action, drive from Orinda to Oakland or better still Treasure Island. 15 minutes and 25 degrees. In San Jose and the rest of the county - the northern part nearest the Bay - a bit windier, a bit cooler sometimes (5-8 degrees on a summer day, not much), a bit less rain. To the south and near the hills - a bit warmer (as above) a bit more rain, a bit less wind. Near water is always windier than at a distance. SDGE (the power company) considers Del Cerro to be a mile or two at most out of its "coastal zone" that starts at the beach and ends around the 805 at that point for power pricing purposes). As I said, "Air conditioning, not all that common in coastal areas (where our place is) is now a standard feature in new construction and more frequently retrofit into older places that didn't have it. " So if you consider Del Cerro inland, that comment may not apply to your experience. But it's hotter there now too. Feeling argumentative?...See MorejedobaTX9b
7 years agoAnn Le (8b) New Orleans La
7 years agoMarica 7 high Sierra's Ca 4,000ft
7 years agoAnn Le (8b) New Orleans La
7 years agoAnn Le (8b) New Orleans La
7 years agoMarica 7 high Sierra's Ca 4,000ft
7 years agoAnn Le (8b) New Orleans La
7 years agoMarica 7 high Sierra's Ca 4,000ft
7 years agoAnn Le (8b) New Orleans La
7 years agoMarie Tran
7 years agoAnn Le (8b) New Orleans La
7 years ago
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Ann Le (8b) New Orleans LaOriginal Author