New here. Working on Tropical back yard in Middle TN

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:42 am

Do any of you know what this plant is? I bought it in panama city beach fl 3 years ago. It survived some pretty cold air in a pot. I took them in the first year and sat them in the garage all winter with no light. They came back the next year, but not as big. Last winter I left them out and they survived quiet a while before the cold got to them. I think they may could be protected and make it thru the winter, but I lost them last year and I don't know what the name of the is. They flowered the entire time I had them from spring till fall. This plant lost its blooms every night and was full of blooms the next day. The flowers just fall off and there are new ones to replace them.

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 10:57 am

I think I may have found it, Mexican bluebell. Any of you tried to leave these out all year with protection?

http://www.gardenguides.com/77584-germi ... seeds.html

Overview
Heat-loving Mexican petunia, or Ruellia brittoniana, is also called Florida bluebell, desert petunia, Mexican bluebell, wild petunia, garden ruellia and narrow leaf petunia. Violet-blue, white or pink flowers bloom summer and fall. Each lasts for only one day, but copious buds form continuously for extended blooming periods. Carefree and tender perennials hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9, ruellia die back from hard freezes. But unharmed roots bring them back in spring. Abundantly self-seeding, small colonies of Mexican petunias spread rapidly. Seeds easily germinated indoors by even beginners can be moved to sunny or partially shaded locations outside after frost.

Read more: How to Germinate Mexican Petunia Seeds | Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/77584-germi ... z1S0iGsFFK

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 1:03 pm

Yes, one of our favorites. Spreads each year; invasive down in Florida.
Mulch keeps the roots alive. Loves sun and heat.
Hummingbirds love the blooms.
Bill MA had them last year. I'd lie to know if his came back.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 4:04 pm

Very pretty.
Except for the self-seeding part...

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:19 pm

These are really cool, they grow wild here if close to walls or warm concrete and can overwinter....

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:55 pm

I might give some of those a try for the front yard. Maybe I can find some now that I know the name of them.

I got four of the palms planted today and the dirt filled in around them. Hopefully I can get the rest tommorow.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 7:25 pm

Perfect in that planter!

What a great view while sitting on the patio this summer.

How about along the fenceline?
Have you decided yet on what you're getting?
Remember that your fenceline palms are further away from the house, therefore anything less than Trachies will need considerable protection over winter.
(Extension cords all over the place are risky...)

I love it already!
Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 8:57 pm

lucky1 wrote:Perfect in that planter!

What a great view while sitting on the patio this summer.

How about along the fenceline?
Have you decided yet on what you're getting?
Remember that your fenceline palms are further away from the house, therefore anything less than Trachies will need considerable protection over winter.
(Extension cords all over the place are risky...)

I love it already!
Barb

I plan on crapes along the fence to block out the houses in the summer.

Also There will be plugs in every planting area.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 2:05 pm

Nice planning job, Brandon!

I can already picture it in a few years with crapes flowering and palms swaying in the breeze...good job!

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 9:01 pm

lucky1 wrote:Nice planning job, Brandon!

I can already picture it in a few years with crapes flowering and palms swaying in the breeze...good job!

Barb

Thanks.

I plan on putting out some potted palms around the pool and patio as well.
What could I use that I could sit in for the winter? I don't have a tall ceiling in the house. Its 8ft so that limits me a little. I plan on taking out the rear door and the window next to it and replacing it with a 3 door all the way across there. One with lots of glass so that I can get some light in the house and have a nice view of the yard once its finished.

I didn't get anything done today. I had to go out of town, but I hope to get some work done tomorrow.

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:14 pm

A little off topic, but here one of my bathrooms I redone. I built this all from scratch. I used a waterfall faucet. The top bowl overflows into the bottom bowl. There is a small drain to drain the rest of the water out once the water is off. I also made the silver stand. I made the mirror to match the sink. I used a bamboo window shade for the outer shower curtain. I broke slate for the floor. It was a PITA, but very slip resistant.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:31 am

That's a nice remodel, but I would post it in off topic.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:23 am

I just moved my potted Chamaedorea to my bathroom, decorated with a palm motif. Still off topic.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 12:01 pm

What could I use that I could sit in for the winter?

Brandon, my first answer would be "a chair?"

Second answer (assuming you're talking about potted palms?) would be any pot with a proper-sized saucer to prevent floor damage after watering palms.

Erik, your Chamaedorea will love the bathroom location because of the humidity from showering.
Then you'll look for an apartment with a 20 x 20 bathroom for your fav palms as they grow

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 12:53 pm

lucky1 wrote:
What could I use that I could sit in for the winter?
Brandon, my first answer would be "a chair?"

Second answer (assuming you're talking about potted palms?) would be any pot with a proper-sized saucer to prevent floor damage after watering palms.

Erik, your Chamaedorea will love the bathroom location because of the humidity from showering.
Then you'll look for an apartment with a 20 x 20 bathroom for your fav palms as they grow

Barb

LOL I guess I worded that wrong

. I meant what kind of palms would be good to set in the house for the winter and set out in the same pot for the summer. I don't have a ton of light in my house right now.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 2:44 pm

Brandon,

Most of us use some kind of supplemental light in winter or hope that a south facing big window will "do it".

Palms hate the dry hot temperatures of residences in winter, so you have to mist them at room temps, or find a spare room and turn the vent off/down.

Basically any palm that would die outside in winter can be tried indoors.

Some make it indoors, some die slowly (after a year or two).

But remember that cool-winter palms like Trachies can be kept quite cold all winter long, just reduce watering to bare minimum (once in two/three months).
Warm-winter loving plants like cocos and butia and foxtails, etc. need warmth PLUS humidity.

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:13 am

I got this area formed up for concrete and backfilled so I could plant some palms. I got three in so far.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:48 am

What a difference the palms already make to your project.
The only thing missing is the Mai Tai cocktail

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 6:46 pm

lucky1 wrote:What a difference the palms already make to your project.
The only thing missing is the Mai Tai cocktail

Yes I'm loving them too.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:18 pm

Great looking palms! Are you a member of the HPS board? You should talk to Randy or Rob in Tennessee, they would have a lot of helpful tips for your area!

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Sun Jul 24, 2011 10:04 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S. wrote:Great looking palms! Are you a member of the HPS board? You should talk to Randy or Rob in Tennessee, they would have a lot of helpful tips for your area!

I'll have to check it out. Thanks.

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:08 pm

My palms have made it thru the winter. I covered them once when when it got into the teens. We had a mild winter though.

When should I fertilize them? What fertilizer shoudl I use?

I should have some more progress coming soon! I'm excited.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:10 pm

Super!
We'll want photos, of course.
I'll someone more knowledgeable answer about fertilizer. Personally, I am but it is warm like May here.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:05 am

Hi Brandon, that`s wonderful news.
And yes, we`d love some photos.

There`s a good article on palm fertilizer here...scroll down near the bottom.
Palm-specific fertilizers are among the last good fertilizers available.

http://mgonline.com/articles/fertilize.aspx

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:23 am

Thanks for the advice.

Here are pics of current progress and current pics of the palms:

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:08 am

All I see are red X's

And I so look forward to these pics.

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:30 am

DesertZone wrote:All I see are red X's

And I so look forward to these pics.

Hmm, I see the pics. I'm not sure what happened.

Anyone else not seeing the pics?
edit: I just tried google chrome and they don't show up. but they work on IE for me
I just rehosted them somewhere else. See if they work now

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:05 pm

Yes, works now (Chrome).
Looks super! Good idea going with Trachy.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:27 pm

brandonppr wrote:
DesertZone wrote:All I see are red X's

And I so look forward to these pics.
Hmm, I see the pics. I'm not sure what happened.

Anyone else not seeing the pics?
edit: I just tried google chrome and they don't show up. but they work on IE for me
I just rehosted them somewhere else. See if they work now

Yes! they work now, and look awesome.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:37 pm

Hey Brandon, you did a great job overwintering your palms.

Great progress pics...big job, well done.

Thanks for the pics.
Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:39 pm

Thanks

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:24 pm

I got the gravel in for the lower patio (i'm so glad to get that dirt covered up). I also got the trim on around the pool edge. There will still be one more thin piece I am going to glue on over the screw heads. The stone floor will hang a little over the trim. I'm hoping to pour the concrete in that space to the left of the pool and about 4ft to the right of the pool. That area will be covered in the stone for the floor. I want to get that done in the next couple weeks. Then the rest of the lower patio will be stamped concrete.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:32 pm

I used sun shades and a mister system over and around my pool to keep temps down in Summer. Will you need to do that there?
Note: palms liked the shade and moister air....

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:47 pm

TerdalFarm wrote:I used sun shades and a mister system over and around my pool to keep temps down in Summer. Will you need to do that there?
Note: palms liked the shade and moister air....

I defintley want some shade. I'm going to be doing something. I just haven't decided yet.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:43 pm

Nice plan and work Brandon.

The only thing I'd be concerned about is all the impermeable surfaces with concrete everywhere.
Might pick up a lot of rainwater (from the roof too?) and shed it all to one neighbor, but you've probably thought of that already.

Yeah, Erik had a great idea with his sun shade across his pool.
Maybe he can re-post his pic.

I agree that Trachies like some humidity (and in my place, only morning sun).
It'll be good to see how much those Trachies grow this summer.

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:29 pm

lucky1 wrote:Nice plan and work Brandon.

The only thing I'd be concerned about is all the impermeable surfaces with concrete everywhere.
Might pick up a lot of rainwater (from the roof too?) and shed it all to one neighbor, but you've probably thought of that already.

Yeah, Erik had a great idea with his sun shade across his pool.
Maybe he can re-post his pic.

I agree that Trachies like some humidity (and in my place, only morning sun).
It'll be good to see how much those Trachies grow this summer.

Barb

Thanks!

We defintley have the drainage worked out. The guy helping me with the concrete has been doing it for years and knows his stuff, especially with drainage. Luckily there is a storm drain directly behind my fence. There is a ditch back there. I have a drain on the opposite side of the yard than to pool. The pool has a drain around it incase it is over filled that runs to the drainage and I am putting a drain on the right side of the pool in the concrete we are getting ready to pour. The water from the roof on the pool side has a drain already and the other side runs to the drain on that side.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:43 pm

It's good you've planned all that.

My community just issued a notice to residents that we'll be charged for repairs to drainage for stormwater leaving our properties.
What morons!

That's the only reason I thought of it.

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:25 am

lucky1 wrote:It's good you've planned all that.

My community just issued a notice to residents that we'll be charged for repairs to drainage for stormwater leaving our properties.
What morons!

That's the only reason I thought of it.

Barb

Our community made a mess of everyones drainage. A lot of people got them to come out and fix it, but some fixed it themselves. We used to have water build up on each side of the house. I fixed the drainage myself and my neighbors were happy abou that. Others are having problems with the land being washed into their yards being almost all have sharp slopes at the edge of the yards.

KrisK · Post by **KrisK** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:28 am

Is that concrete board around the pool? And you're gonna thinset it and put stone around it right? May I suggest mesh backed flagstone? I did my patio and built a little seating wall veneered with the mesh backed flagstone and I really like it. It's thin, so it cuts easily, and you can grout the joints with a bag. Seal it with miracle 511 and done.

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/building-m ... 05546.html

These are made for concrete patios, so on second thought, they may flex too much over ply and cement board. As always do your research.

Ive been wondering since this thread started, can you still change the pool liner out? It looks like the patio is over the steel pool wall, making it difficult to change.

Your yards really shaping up. It will be great in a few years when the palms are grown in. Its combining some of my favorite things: yard improvement/landscaping, palms, and DIY'ing.

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:16 pm

KrisK wrote:Is that concrete board around the pool? And you're gonna thinset it and put stone around it right? May I suggest mesh backed flagstone? I did my patio and built a little seating wall veneered with the mesh backed flagstone and I really like it. It's thin, so it cuts easily, and you can grout the joints with a bag. Seal it with miracle 511 and done.

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/building-m ... 05546.html

These are made for concrete patios, so on second thought, they may flex too much over ply and cement board. As always do your research.

Ive been wondering since this thread started, can you still change the pool liner out? It looks like the patio is over the steel pool wall, making it difficult to change.

Your yards really shaping up. It will be great in a few years when the palms are grown in. Its combining some of my favorite things: yard improvement/landscaping, palms, and DIY'ing.

I've did as much research as I could. I have also reinforced the deck really well. I know with wood it's going to never be solid solid, but I made sure everything was as solid as it could be. I made sure that every piece around the deck was atached to the retaining wall around the pool to make it extra solid. Yes I left a gap to change the liner. Once side is a little high, when it comes time to change the liner, I am going to lower that one side a little if I have trouble getting it on.

I know the stones you are refering to. I had thought about them at one time, but they are very close to the price of the regular stone and the regular stone will be better being a little thicker to hang over the edge of the pool a little.

Thanks! I am excited to be able to enjoy it more this year. It will be nice to have the corner with the pool done. I need to find some steps for the pool. I just missed a nice set of wedding cake style on CL for $50

. I want to have a stainless rail on the steps.

That kind may take up too much room in the pool though. I may be better off finding something like this:

PalmsNorth.com

New here. Working on Tropical back yard in Middle TN

Shade?

Re: Shade?