Dang Jay, you've got one heck of a green house! I'll have to post a picture of mine for a good chuckle. The only bit of info I can offer concerns the dragon fruit. They are epiphytic cacti and send out aerial roots to help climb and to search for nutrients. Sometimes in dry environments they will put out thin long roots indicating it is too dry, yours look nice and healthy, the plants seem happy. I'm growing mine somewhat like you but I wrapped my post with coir basket liners cut into strips with a small layer of potting soil underneath. Idealy in my dry environment this will allow the roots somewhere to grow/grab and hopefully offer added humidity. My luck it'll rot through the post just before my first harvest. I'll have to grow ultra tropicals vicariously through you, my mister system is me w/a spray bottle. How 'bout planting some abiu and sending me the fruit? BTW epiforums has good info on epiphytic cacti and you probably know pine island nursery has great pics of fruit.
thanks for your inspirational pics,
Ethan

Yes this fourm has being sorta slow thanks for spicing it up. Thanks so much for the very nice pics! I would love your extra plants(I dont know why you have EXTRA PLANTS)but shiping would be probably be way to much.

BTW. My dragon fruit does that with the roots too, I've heard the some poeple grow them on moss/burlap stuffed chicken wire poles that they pour liquid ferts down it.

Thanks again for the pics!

John

Can't be because it's too dry in there. Humidity never falls below 75% and most times it is 80's or higher. Thanks for the feedback. It's fun...frustrating too. Just hope I learn fast enough to keep things alive.

I just looked up some info on the dragon fruit. These "roots" are aerial roots used to help support the stem when climbing up a support. Pretty nifty eh?

Yeah John, shipping would be a bit high. Someone in Florida wanted my orange tree. For the size of the plant I thought the costs were pretty fair. Shipping was estimated high at $30 and the box was $9. Turned out not to want it afterall. It's a big plant. I was going to talk with our local conservatory and see if they were interested.

It seems like all the forums I belong to are almost dead.

Thanks for the treat!

I noticed that there are some white cones at the base of some of your plants? Is this to repel pests?

Really nice photos- you must have a HUGE greenhouse!
Thanks for sharing-
Gwenn

Holedigger, the white cones...and green ones too, are actually plastic or styrofoam cups that I split, inverted, and put around the base of the plant. This allowed me to build up the mulch layer around the plant without it actually being on the plant. Works out pretty good.

Gwenn, not as big as I would have liked it to be!!! It's only 21x26. If I could have afforded it and my wife allowed it, the entire back yard would be enclosed in glass! Thanks guys.

Hi Jay,

Excellent photoessay.

My Dragon fruit is sending out the aerial roots, but only up at about the 7 foot level, and the structure I built only goes to 6 feet. So the little rootlets are just pitifully reaching out into the air! You could wrap your post in burlap in order to use the liquid fert technique that John mentioned. I'm thinking about trying that.

I agree with you about getting rid of the Musa zebrina. Mine are all compost, too.

I have some nice TR Hovey dwarf papaya seedlings, so if yours kicks, let me know. I have mine on a heat mat under a MH light, and they are doing pretty well. I'll try to see if I can post some pics tomorrow.

SB

That's an impressive collection - you seem to be doing a better job growing your ultratropicals in Ohio than I am in Miami! The bacupari (Garcinia brasiliensis) looks great; I received a grafted tree a few months ago that was broken in half during shipping. It's started growing out from the rootstock, but now I'll have to wait seven or eight years before I can expect any fruit...

okay Jay maybe a picture or two for you,
cardamom (alive)in the background with cana lilies (dead)in the front. I love to rub the cardamom leaves, they smell of cinamon.
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babaco fruit forming
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capulin cherry racemes
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banyan fig, sorry for the side ways pic

Nice pics Red. Hard to beat the smell of cinnamon! Can't wait to see fruit forming on my plants.

Eldys, where in the world did you obtain a grafted Garcinia B.????! Would they still be available?

SB...appreciate the offer on the papayas. I've grown them before and never had this problem. Maybe if I keep spraying the fungicide it will clear up. If they are growing at all right now, then it is so slow I'm seeing no progress. And you are absolutely correct about the Musa Z, but I can't compost it...worried about the spider mites. Now burning may be an option! I'll get those outta there this weekend and slip your DC in there instead. The Musa Z. is a beautiful plant and the two I have have never ever looked better. But there just ain't room for ornamentals!

Jay, are you having as much trouble with mites this year in the GH as you did last year? Do you ever go through and just spray everything with water? I have found that to be helpful. I do it on warmer, sunny days, on a day when I don't really need to water. I set the spray nozzle on "mist"...it is a hard mist/spray...and I go over everything from underneath, I go over the bottom of each banana leaf, just trying to knock off any critters that are setting up shop.

Great pics Jay, it has been slow on this forum.
What means do you have in place to prevent too high temps in the summer? What temp is the max you are allowing?

Your Kohala will perhaps send a sprout or two from the lower area eventually, perhaps next spring. The only way to force it of course, would be to prune some upper growth-not worth the risk. My Kohala is an interesting 'shrub' with perhaps a 5' wide canopy, but is only 4 or so feet tall. It was beat down by a frost in February. The bright side is that fruit will be well within reaching distance. Mine is finishing a growth flush, which had mixed results since its not 85 outside.

My Alano looks very similar to yours, decent 4' wide canopy, but only 2 or 3' tall. I've picked a few immature fruit off now and then to prevent it from fruiting as a juvenile. My little Makok has also had a couple small fruit which I picked off while small.

I've been picking a decent amount of Sri Kembangan Carambolas over the past few weeks. Too many to eat, been feeding them to my chickens. Going to plant a Kari out this year, replacing a guava in a spot which never did well. Also might replace my Phillippine mango. It looks ok health wise, but only puts out one flush per year. Never gets bigger. Might put in a Brahm Kai Meu. Asian mango with mild sweet taste. A tad of unobjectionable fiber at the seed. My other plan this year is to plant some lychees without mounding on my regular, not well drained property. We'll see how that works out.

Very nice plants!

Gary

Jay, I hate to say this but you might consider removing the majority of leaves from your mangosteen, or cut all but the newest in half. The roots are inefficient to begin with on these guys and the reason you see wilt immediately after misting stops is a result of this inability to "keep up" with transpiration. This will correct itself but with all that foliage it will perhaps be a long battle. Cutting most of the leafs in half worked better than removing all but the newest growth as such defoliation was harder for the plant to look "normal" again in any amount of time, I had good luck with all my Garcinia sent from Bryan Brunner or Sadhu when using a plastic humidity house and leaf abbreviation techniques.

Alan

Good luck

SB...periodically I do have issues with mites. I thought I was being vigilant but they surprised me on all my citrus. I occassionally spray a soap/canola oil mix on the nanas and citrus...even started on my cacao and plumeria. I'll keep doing that now and then and also try your method with just plain water as well. Not sure if the water blast kills them and the eggs or not? Would hate to spray them to some other location only to take up residence there!

Gary...just stop...I have zone envy! Isn't the Kary carambola one of the best varieties to have? I might be pestering you for a scion in a year or two! How bout some pics?

Alan...no new growth but I see your point. Bryon mentioned cutting the leaves and such on bare root plants he sends out if the customer wanted it. Like I mentioned, it is now back to "normal" looking...meaning that the leaves are no longer drooping and the stems don't have the wrinkled look. I know you've been growing them for quite a while now, any advice besides leaf cutting on getting the roots to start taking up nutrients? Would you cut all remaining leaves in half? There's really not ALL that many leaves as it is. The plant is tall but kind of sparse. And the few times that it did go without humidification in the tent, a couple of the lower leaves dropped off...which p.o.'d me to no end! I'm dying to see a growth flush on this thing! If it had a neck...I'd ring it!...or pet it and plead with it to start growing!! Ain't it sad that these plants can make us feel and act like idiots? Anyway, thanks for the advice...look forward to hearing more.

When I said all but the newest growth I was referring to the "top most" foliage not really any new growth as in still bronze or whatever since you received the plant. That clarified, I hope I would still cut at least 75% of the leafs in half, except the "top most" ones. This may trigger a flush as well. I also use foliar sprays and other highly soluble ferts to allow the plant ample easy to access NPK. As a note, the 20-20-20 miracle grow at 30% the normal ratio once a week or so seems to be OK for both foliar spray and as a drench.

Fish emulsion, etc diluted is just dandy also as a drench and spray.

Also, what is your soil mix? I would try some coconut coir as it is easier to "wet" than sphagnum peat.

Not encourage a repotting but for your next mangosteen, and maybe as a top dressing for your current one.

again, good luck

Alan

Jay,

I have great success on triggering sick plants to grow new root and new leaves. Actually my wife call me too green a thumb and no flowers, she mean too much foliage, no fruits.

For new arrival plants, my trick is to maintain the humidity around the foliage about 80% and spray the leaves with Spray-N-Grow (the recommened solution) several times a day, but keep the container in normal room humidity(around 45% in my case), the sick root enjoys some fresh air. How to maintain two humidity levels? I use low tech method, a big plastic bag that only wraps the plant above the soil. I also water with some Myco Drench. Sometimes I add some superthrive, but I don't really know that stuff works or not.

I wouldn't recommend to put the plants under almost 100% humidity all the time except the first couple of weeks, slowy dry it to around 80% would be sufficient. They need some water vaporation for the photosynthesis.

Mangosteen really likes organic food, the same is true for Cacao. My cacao tree only likes Fish Emulsion, it exploded last year.

BTW, your greenhouse is amazing. Wow 21X26. My little eden space is only about 11X10.

About the zone envy, well, we are going to have minus 31 next week. Now I have to go offline and shovel the snow.

Tao

As for the spider mites, I really hate it. But so far I have lots of success dealing with them, they always manage to come back sometimes, but they are so weak now. Only struggling to stay on a couple of leaves and not expanding. My trick is to use a product called spidermite control, I bought this online, it's expensive, but really works. I apply it once, they are gone. The endAll is great too, but too sticky to me. The best organic way to control spider mites is by the nature, in summer, move the plants outside, the wind and the rain will do the trick. They are so clean at the end of the summer, even the scales are gone. Sparying with water from underside of the plants works wonders to me too. I got a special hose from Costco, then I use the finest stream, fully cover the plants. Once a day, after a week, the plants are absolutely clean. Mites hate it, the trick is to break their cycle(two weeks). Spider mite control can kill the egg effectively.
Good luck, it's difficult, but can be done. Remind me a lottery Ads. "I won, if I can win, you can too". Yeah, why not, but it surely requires persistency.

Okay Alan, thanks a bunch. My mix is peat, perlite, pine needle and leaf compost, worm castings. I agree, I don't think a transplant at this time would be smart. I might try some top dressing of the CC. I'll nail the leaves tonight. I've been doing periodic sprayings of Earth Juice Microblast Liquid Micronutrients and water using miracid. I'll try some fish emulsion as well. I'll keep them light and do it more often.

Thanks Yellowthumb. Good luck with the snow and cold temps. I hope we avoid both this year...and every year after! I agree...mites are an on-going battle. Nothing ever seems to completely wipe them out. They always eventually show up again.

Jay, your mix is great for growing tropical plants, but IMHO, only healthy tropical plants, plants after the transplant shock. The mix is mild acid, but holding too much water (peat, leaf compost and worm castings in this case) for sick plants. If the plants are healthy, They will enjoy it, as the roots can take the water. But for sick plants, it's a different story. I use Coconut Husk Chips (Fir Bark nuggets works as well to me), corse sand, peat and lots of perlite, this mix can hold so much air, the new root grows freely inside. I also try to avoid watering with any fertilizer at this moment, only some light (1/5 strength) seaweed. They don't need much anyway. May I recommend that let the container gets a little bit dry? Try to cut down the watering and give the container some air flow.

For the spray, I found it's important to spary with organic fertilizer with some NPK value inside, I don't think your mangosteen baby is having Micronutrients problem, the first priority is let it take some food from the leaves, it will use the food to grow new roots. Some very very mild fish emulsion(I use Bill perfect fertilizer from Spray-N-Grow which has NPK and Micronutrients). If that can be done, the exsiting leaves will perk up. You will know the difference. I did this so many time on my new arrivals, some of them have such a weak root system.

I wish you great luck on your mangosteen and the battle with spider mites.

BTW, I just got 5 lbs very fresh mangosteen in a local grocery store. It's pricy, but so worth it.

Yellowthumb, I use a mix like yours. I use coconut husk chips:peat:perlite in a 3-4:1:1 mix for plants that like it wet, and substitute pine bark for CHC for the plants that like it drier. The one time I put compost in the mix I had soup in the container! For the stuff that cannot stand wet feet, I switch out one part CHC/bark for perlite and another for turkey grit. FWIW. SB

Thanks all. Yellowthumb...any way you can ship me 5 lbs of fresh mangosteen??????????????????!!!!!!!

SB, I love the mix so much. Actually I use turkey girt too. They make the container wind resistent. I play around the mix based on the condition and variety of the plants. I don't like compost in my container at all, but in ground, god, plants love it. Container gardening is so different than in ground gardening.
Jay, you are welcome, your greenhouse inspired me so much. Now I am planing moving into a warmer area, get a house with bigger back yard. Only if I can convince my wife about it. Sure about the mangosteen, please give me your address :) But at least I think I can mail you fresh seeds if you like them. I found smaller mangosteen has bigger seeds. The last batch I got is bigger and with very few and smaller seeds. This time, the mangosteen is smaller but had two or three big seeds. Yeah, I sound a little weird complaining about no seeds.

I told my wife last night that we need to take a road trip to Ontario. When I told her why she said I was nuts. The US is suppossed to receive fresh mangosteens sometime this year.

OJ, here is the bench with the TR Hovey seedling papayas.
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They are in 1 gal containers. I am going to try one or two outside, one or two in the ground in the greenhouse, and a couple in large containers. I'll send you one in the spring if you want.

Here is one on the ground.

Dragonfruit
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BOP, one of 4 bloom spikes.
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Really nice! Your dragon fruit took off. Your seedlings are wonderful looking...spring sounds good. I believe a combination of factors have affected my papayas. I set up my big grow light out there this weekend and moved the papayas near it. Also started watering with warmer water. We'll see how it goes.

I dug out the Musa Zebrinas Sunday and put in your DC. They were beautiful plants and it's too bad there wasn't someone close by who could have taken them. I did save two pups for coworkers.

I picked up a roll of that coconut fiber matting as well and wrapped that around the post for my dragon fruit. I went with this rather than the burlap. I figure it will give those aerial roots more to grab hold of and I believe it will hold liquid fertilizer better too. We'll see how that goes. Looks cool though!

On the down, dark, and stupid side of things...I moved my rambutan near the light too. Didn't think much about it since we've been having some sunny days. Bam! All my pretty new growth got scorched! My screams probably woke up neighbors a mile away. Not pretty, not happy. One step forward, six back. Wondering now if it will recover at all.

nice gh Stress! Everything seems so happy there, I sometimes forget how lucky I am, BOP grow outside here w/a little cover in the coldest winters (like now). Beautiful flower though! Just waiting for spring.......
-Ethan

Great pics Jay! I love that little green frog. It looks so at home. Those aerial roots on the dragonfruit helps support the plant and also takes in nutrients.
That's a nice looking miracle fruit plant, mine has been quite slow to put on new growth. Everything looks awesome. Great job Stress, Red, and Jay!!

As stated in your other post, sorry again about your plight out in CA Eggo. I see what you are going thru because of nature and it makes me feel even more dumb what I did all by myself to my rambutan! I think it will recover but man...talk about setting it back! Everything in moderation folks and that includes moving your plants near a grow light! Duh.

Wonderful pictures! Thanks for posting them. Everything looks pretty darn happy.

Thanks Jay. I look at it this way, whatever going to make it through this winter will probably not going to die anytime soon and this kind of freak weather probably won't occur for another 10 years so there's no where to go but up from here. I'm not too bum about it.
I noticed your imbe, their looking good. I also have one too. It is quite cool tolerant. Read somewhere that it is graft compatible with a mangosteen but haven't been able to confirm it yet. Also what is the name of the pineapple your growing there?

Red, have you tasted the capulin cherry before? I had some before and wasn't really pleased by it.

Wow Jay, I'm really sorry to hear about your jitlee's leaves! Did you move them too close to an artificial light? I would be surprised if they were adversely affected by direct sunlight - my rambutans are all unprotected in full Miami sun (temperatures have been in the 80s for weeks now, and we're in the dead of winter), and I haven't had any trouble with scorching on my new growth. My major struggle is going to be with the soil when my flagship R167 goes into the ground this Spring - I hear high alkalinity is very hostile to rambutan.

Eggo...unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the pineapple. I obtained this from Bill Whitman. I do remember it was very very tasty!

Eldys..yes, I moved the plant too close to my big grow light. I figured with as many sunny days that we'd been having that the light surely couldn't be as bright/hot as the sun! Guess I was wrong.

Can you do the same as Whitman did when he planted his trees in terrible soil? Dig your hole real big and replace the soil with good, acid loam well ahead of time before planting. Don't take a chance with that soil.

Yes, I'm afraid soil replacement is my only real option. I'm having a hole digging party in a couple of weeks, and we're aiming for a cylindrical hole five feet deep with a six foot radius. Thankfully I have a friend in landscaping, so I've been able to acquire a great deal of soil for free, but despite the old saying, dirt isn't cheap! If I had to pay retail it would have cost a small fortune...

That's a big hole and should be plenty big enough. Would be nice if you knew someone with a small backhoe! I won't be able to put such large holes in the greenhouse. What I may do is go as big as I can and then line the hole with something the roots cannot penetrate to the higher PH soil. We'll see. Good luck with the digging! Take some pics.

hey Eggo, haven't tried the capulins yet, I have heard good and bad about them. Worse case scenario, it'll make good cat-food. The birds fly in to eat the capulins and the cats do the rest, no more buying food por los gatos. The capulin tree is growing like crazy, I have dreams about making it into a hedge, we'll see? Cant wait to get some planting temps! Good luck with the recovery, alot of my stuff is not real happy either. Banyan, black sapote, bananas, babaco, eugenia victoriana, some succulents, not real happy but should live (I hope). C'mon sunshine!
-Ethan