Linnaea Newman

Tacca chantrieri

Now here’s an exotic flower from TPIE 2007.  As Barb Helfman and I toured the ever expanding show, we both agreed the purplish-black, whiskered "Bat Flower" was one of the more interesting that could be added to a BLOOMING PLANT program.  The Tacca leaves resemble a Spathiphyllum at first glance, but this plant is unrelated, first being given its own class botanically, the Taccaceae, and more recently being added to the yam family, Dioscoreaceae. 

Although the flowers must be staked, like orchids, to remain upright, they will last several months with adequate water and light.  I recommend trying them on Sippers subirrigation pegs to avoid premature wilting.  Currently they are available from sales@greendalenursery.com.  And please let me know what you think!

Fresh attitudes, fresh ideas!  That’s truly the value of TPIE 2007.  Leslie and Stacey from The David J. Frank Company of Milwaukee, WI joined me for questions on the floor at TPIE. 

The topic?  Mealybug and its beneficial predator Cryptolaemus, complete from "Hot Times for Mealybug in the Night." on my web page.  Ah-h-h, the marvel of modern technology!

Drop me a comment and I’ll be happy to fill you in on all the good stuff I saw at the show.

Cheers!

Yes, the holidays are upon us, and the first delivery of beautiful Poinsettias is arriving at all of our malls and retail stores.  As a friend and client said to me, "The Poinsettia is a bittersweet flower."  Bitter, because it is the source of extra work and numerous complaints during the already busy holiday season, and sweet because it is also a beautiful example of what we do, and can be a good source of revenue.

This dramatic flower only remains beautiful as long as it obtains adequate moisture–without drying out or sitting in water, both of which will lead to its early demise.  So, how does the smart plantscaper keep it looking fresh and vibrant without jeopardizing profits with twice weekly visits?  In a word, Sippers™!

Regardless of what watering system(s) you may have tried on flowering plants in the past, don’t let another holiday season go by without the use of Sippers™ on every one of your Poinsettias.

Made out of the same material as the tips of dry erase markers, Sippers™ allow "on-demand" water transfer from a 1+1/2 inch reservoir held in a waterproof decorative liner to the soil of the plant, held safely above the water’s surface.  This allows a constant supply of moisture, as well as oxygen to the plant’s soil, preventing the occurrance of root rot–see diagram below.

Which is more cost effective, $2.00 per plant in Sippers™ or an extra visit each week to water thirsty Poinsettias?  And don’t forget to compute the cost of extra replacement flowers, and disgruntled customers where Sippers™ aren’t used.

Also, Sippers are not biodegradable, so don’t throw them away, they can be cleaned, and reused next year.  They are invaluable for hanging baskets, too.

To order, click on the following link:  www.linnaeanewman.com/wp-content/uploads/File/TOPsiders.mht