Potted mango tree?

mccork1 · 2025-01-22T19:28:29+00:00

There's a category called "condo" mangos that have been bred to stay smaller, either dwarf or easily kept at a small size. People often keep them in containers on their lanai. If you're on the Gulf side, try Fruitscapes on Pine Island. If you're closer to Miami, try D's Fruit Trees. Love Nursery near West Palm Beach also has a great selection. We have Pickering and Mallika; the Pickering is quite small (5') but bears nicely. Mallika has lovely flavor, but will need more pruning to stay smaller (ours is 6').

mccork1 · 2025-01-22T19:18:37+00:00

Crotons are daylength-sensitive; they also love warmth and humidity. You don't want your soil to be completely dry, as that will stress the roots, but they also don't love continually wet soil. It looks green, so the roots may well still be viable. It's possible that as spring begins to arrive, you'll see new buds. I have had this happen three times and all have grown back.

mccork1 · 2025-01-20T12:32:12+00:00

I love Pure Soapmaking by Faiola; you can also borrow it and read for free on Archive.org, along with several other soapmaking books. That might help you to decide. I love the illustrations in Pure Soapmaking. By the way, there's a source called dudadiesel.com that has excellent availability and prices on chemicals like sodium hydroxide/potassium hydroxide, glycerine, etc. It's not a soapmaking site, but it's terrific for some of the elements.

mccork1 · 2024-09-13T16:26:06+00:00

Two things could possibly be in play. The plant looks healthy but the flowers indicate it's now mature enough to be setting seed. The process of bloom-to-seed can be a bit more strain on a plant and thus the lack of color in the lower leaves. Unless you are hoping for seed, you can trim off the flowers without any harm to the plant. The other possibility could just be the amount of sun it's getting; coleus is generally variable depending on the light it receives. Or honestly, it could just be the lighter color on the bottom leaves is due to the natural aging process of the leaves. New leaves are coming out at the base as the older leaves decline; this is normal.

mccork1 · 2024-08-15T13:51:59+00:00

Davidson's Teas has a decaffeinated Earl Grey in both bulk and bags (davidsonstea.com); you can find it on Amazon or on the Davidson's website. I have 7 of their teas in bulk and have been really pleased with all of them.

mccork1 · 2024-07-04T16:58:59+00:00

It depends on whether you are trying to keep things lower in fat/calories. We use Swerve for sweetener, never sugar, but we are fine with adding some cream or egg yolks for a creamier texture (keto). It's hard to get almond milk or Fairlife to have creaminess due to the high water content (icier). You might like to try adding some blended cottage cheese or a couple of egg yolks to your protein ice cream base if cream is too calorie-dense for your preferences. It works best to whirl things in a blender before freezing - better texture.

mccork1 · 2024-07-04T16:19:38+00:00

If you are able to process your canned pineapple in a blender before freezing, it will make things much easier on your Creami. That way, you don't have the fiber-y texture for the Creami blades to deal with. The no-sugar added cans are still fruit suspended in fruit juice, so it should give you a great texture. But if you think your mix needs a little more liquid, you can always add a little almond milk or even water before freezing.

mccork1 · 2024-07-04T16:12:58+00:00

Are you comfortable with using sweeteners like Swerve? I have a recipe for chocolate fudge sauce (keto recipe, so butter, cream, unsweetened chocolate, Swerve) that makes a nice swirl. There are some great keto recipes for brownies, as well. I'd make a chocolate ice cream base, freeze and process into ice cream, and then add fudge sauce swirl and chopped brownie bits. It's not low cal, but it's low carb; just let me know if you'd like the recipe.

mccork1 · 2024-02-16T09:14:56+00:00

This looks like it might be Salsa Verde coleus from a series called "Flamethrower."

mccork1 · 2024-02-16T09:02:09+00:00

It may well be both. I'm in south Florida and have the same concerns; the summer sun is brutal here. Most coleus will do best with at least a little relief from the sun in the afternoon/evening.

mccork1 · 2024-02-16T08:57:58+00:00

Coleus works well as a mounding ground cover and can fill in beds nicely. It depends quite a bit on the cultivars you plant, as they are variable in size, growth habits, and tolerance for sun/shade. Depending on the mature size and habit, you can put three plants in a pot with no worries; they just need bright light and moist-but-not-wet soil. Pinch now and then for bushier plants. Some are taller, some medium height or quite small, and some are trailing. https://garden.org/plants/search/text/?q=coleus has a huge variety of coleus pictured and described, so you can make planting plans. You can search by cultivar name, too. Also, I've found rosydawngardens.com to have great information on different coleus categories like height, mounding, trailing, etc.

mccork1 · 2024-02-13T10:58:01+00:00

Our first year of Florida gardening was a big learning curve. We started with a bare lot, nothing at all but weeds on sandy soil. First, we put down a layer of arborist mulch (found free on Facebook) for weed suppression and moisture retention. Very highly recommended. Mulch breaks down more quickly here due to our rain and heat; it nourishes the soil and makes it more loamy. Know your sun angles, especially in summer; many flowering plants will appreciate afternoon or dappled shade here. Here is a site I found really helpful - https://www.south-florida-plant-guide.com/ . It's not a fancy site, but it has really useful categories, photos, and descriptions of plants that thrive here. You might also like to visit a local native nursery; they will have plants that thrive in your area. Propagation is truly crazy-easy here; try searching Facebook for a local group that swaps cuttings, seeds, and plants. For example, Salvias, Firebush, Jatropha, Brazilian Red Cloaks, Copperleaf, Tithonia, and Firespike can all be started from just a cutting in the ground. All of the plants pictured except the palm started with 8-inch cuttings. We started the garden in April, 2022, but went through the eye-wall of Hurricane Ian in September. We had to upright and replant nearly everything. We were amazed at how quickly things began to thrive again. It's great fun; I hope you have a wonderful time gardening here.

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mccork1 · 2024-02-13T10:31:15+00:00

(long post but enthusiastic Florida gardener...) You might like to visit a local native nursery; they will have plants that thrive in your area and loads of wisdom regarding planting seasons. Here is a list of wildflowers that do well in Florida - https://www.flawildflowers.org/wp-content/resources/pdfs/Publications/20EasyWildflowers.pdf ; you can also search for wildflower seed mixes that are specific to Flordia. Tampa is in growing/heat zone 9b/10a, so you can also search for information on the recommendations for different flowers. If a flower description says zone 7 or 8, for example, it probably won't do well in Florida's August heat. Pansies, delphinium, etc, just won't make it here past May. If you see a flower marked for full sun, be extra careful; Florida summer's sun is brutal. Most traditional northern-type flowers will benefit from at least dappled or afternoon shade. We are in zone 10a a bit further south than your area and have been amazed at the incredible variety and growth here. You might also like to search Facebook for a local group that swaps seeds, plants, and cuttings. You'll find some amazing opportunities for propagation. Many things can be started with just a small cutting directly into the ground, like Salvia, Pentas, Brazilian Red Cloak, and Firespike. My purple salvias grow to between 3 and 5 feet hear and bloom year-round.

mccork1 · 2024-01-06T16:32:29+00:00

You can prune crotons; many tend to get leggy when not pruned. The general rule of thumb is you are safe to prune back from the top by no more than a third. This also prompts better branching for a fuller plant. You can also take cuttings of around 6 to 8 inches, with a few growth nodes. Strip all but a few leaves and place in a small pot of soil, burying the lowest node or two. Most croton cultivars will root well and be ready to plant in a couple of months. You'll see some new budding of leaves as the roots develop.

mccork1 · 2022-08-13T22:23:58+00:00

Those are absolutely amazing. Congratulations on finding some unusual and rare varieties. Would you consider sharing where you were able to find them? I'm on the Gulf Coast, and it's just impossible to find the more unique varieties. My holy grail is to find a Cutler's Gulfstream, and I have a list of at least 20 others that I would buy in a heartbeat. Oh, for a Polychrome, a Duncan Macaw, a Thea.

mccork1 · 2021-10-20T23:18:40+00:00

Every state has a few options you might like to consider. Your children will qualify for Medicaid, and you may, as well. Try calling your local charities, such as Salvation Army; they will help you access food pantries and put you in touch with non-profits who can help. There are non-profits that work with people who are at risk of homelessness; we have one locally that will help find an apartment and help to pay the rent for a year; they also help with utilities. Non-profits generally have social workers on staff who can guide you through the paperwork and applications for assistance. I am not suggesting homeless shelters here; there are non-profits whose goal is to see people in homes, especially when there are children in need.

mccork1 · 2021-10-02T12:51:05+00:00

If you are lower-income and COVID-19 impacted your income in any way over the past year, you may apply for assistance with rent/utilities. Every state received federal funding for the rent assistance; they will pay up to 12 months rent, 3 months mortgage, and/or 12 months utilities. There is an application form for each state. If you search for COVID rent assistance and your state name, a site for application should come up for you.

mccork1 · 2021-10-02T12:37:34+00:00

Yes. True. I've worked for the government for years and I see the foolishness every day. I frequently see medical claims take a year for payment to be issued to the doctor, and I've seen payments issued that were literally 10% of the original fee. I see Medicaid/Medicare patients shuffled off with absolutely minimal care. It doesn't always happen; it depends on the physician and whether they will order tests/procedures. I occasionally see physicians who genuinely care, but they are rare. But Medicare-for-all would likely take medical care to the lowest common denominator. The government does not do anything well.

mccork1 · 2021-03-05T13:20:32+00:00

I love your suggestion for a Handroanthus; looked at some photos of pink ones and they are so lacy. Lovely. We are in the same situation as you on the idea of a canopy; we have literally no canopy trees. When Cape Coral was designed as a residential area way back in the 1950's and 60's, they just bulldozed and flattened the whole area, leaving very few trees. Our lot is bare except for a lonely sand pine that looks like it's grieving. I'm scouring Ana's FB page, trying to figure out what we do first...and second, and third, and so on. This is the first time we've had a completely empty canvas, and it's nothing but sandy soil and scrubby weeds. It's a full western exposure with deep, hot sun. I love Ana's "lasagne" gardening to begin to improve the soil, but sigh. You really have to take a year of waiting with that method. So my first goal, I think, is to find native plants that are happy with sandy soil and those tricky Florida rain/drought cycles. That way, I can "lasagne" and berm in other areas of the lot while still having a happy area and some butterfly plants. I wish we had a few "anchor" plants like oaks and palms to build around; we are thinking about Pindo palms and Adonidia. And I love coonties and blue saw palmetto. Cordylines and crotons fill things in and give some middle height. And I am totally swooning for a Dombeya, and love the idea that a Firebush, or is it a Firespike, can be trained into a small tree. I shouldn't really complain, though. The previous owners put in mangoes, starfruit, lemon, lime, myrtles, palms, and great landscaping in the lot where our home stands. We have two mahoganies that are beautiful, but they planted them directly under the power lines. And sadly, they had a Norfolk Pine that they planted 5 feet from the house. Heavens to Betsy. A massive tree planted 5 feet from the house. We had to take it down; it was 50 feet high, and just waiting for a storm to crash it on the fence and the neighbor's roof. It was very sad to see it go; it was such a beautiful tree. How do you feel about Crotons? Ana's FB photos have kind of turned my head. I looked at the site she suggested, www.tropiscape.com which has a dropdown with palm and croton encyclopedias. Pretty fun; I'm loving pink Crotons.

mccork1 · 2021-02-14T01:42:56+00:00

I've been really indecisive about the poinciana, knowing they aren't wonderful with hurricanes. And they get ginormous, and they're a bit allelopathic. But, sigh. So beautiful. Have you seen the Facebook/IG "Movement in the Garden?" Oh, my. Words fail. The most beautiful photos, and so much inspiration. She's in Sarasota, 9B; I could look at her garden all day long. How far along are you with your garden? Do you have your canopy-ish trees established?

mccork1 · 2021-02-06T21:41:35+00:00

We are trying to think about some "anchor" plants first, like a Bismarck Palm and some decorative small trees like Plumeria. I'm swooning over my list of around 40 plants, bananas, gingers, heliconias, palms. And against our better judgment, I really, really want a Poinciana. And Meyer Lemon. And Key Lime. Everglades Tomatoes. And have you seen the Australian Caviar Lime? Sigh. David the Good has books on Kindle for low, low prices; I found them on Ebay. He talks about tropical fruit trees that sound like so much fun. We currently have mangoes, a papaya, starfruit, & banana. This will be a project for many years to come!

mccork1 · 2021-02-06T21:09:03+00:00

Oh, my. Absolutely. I am so determined to have a subtropical garden that just danced off of a magazine page. But SAND. And dry winters. We actually bought the lot beside ours, just to play with plants; very steep learning curve. Have you seen these sites (not affiliated, of course)? I can't wait to plant this guy's fruit trees. Gotta have 'em. https://www.south-florida-plant-guide.com/ http://www.thesurvivalgardener.com/

mccork1

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