Koala Blooms Banksia (Banksia spinulosa 'Schnapper Point') - UPDATE

exerpt from Banksia (Schnapper Point) Photo/History page, where you can access the full history of this plant

The Banksia, 30 days later, is doing fine & is apparently happy with his "new home" & the potting mix, water & food. I've found that if new plants can quickly adjust to new surroundings, they will be able to handle almost anything you throw at them "down the road". Not only is he adjusting, he's putting out what I'm assuming will become what passes for flowers for this cultivar.

According to the literature , this little tree will produce "blooms" in (our)Late summer through (our) Fall-Winter..coming from the southern hemisphere, his seasons are reversed. Below is a photo of the "flowers" the Banksia produces.

courtesy San Marcos Growers

 

                          

Pittosporum (Wheeler's Dwarf) - UPDATE

 exerpt from Photo/History page for Pittosporum (Japanese Wheeler's Dwarf); click to see growth,  development & life-cycle of this specimen.

Apparently, the re-pot did the trick..the Pittosporum has responded by sprouting & growing a whole new canopy, on top of the old leaves.

I remembered that he did the same thing just about a year ago, when the tree had fewer, smaller brachts (sets of leaves).

This must be something that this cultivar is meant to do annually. 

July 2026

July 2026

Just for Fun - Wk 12

note: no report on wk's 10-11; sometimes life gets in the way..

Dwarf Tomatoes

When I started this project, the criteria were to grow & demonstrate that an apartment dweller with minimal space could keep a tomato plant that would bear full-size fruit throughout the growing season or a Chili Pepper plant or possibly, both. I am particularly impressed with the tomato cultivar chosen..seed to fruit production in 8-9 weeks..free-standing (no staking) & can be grown in small containers. (the tomatoes shown here in cut-down 1/2 gal. plastic nursery pots). All of those criteria are currently being met..the only questions being "how long will the plants produce?" & "how do they taste?".

The older of 2 plants, has 4 nice looking tomatoes ripening on the vine, while the slightly younger bush has smaller fruits, but is flowering  & is catching-up with plant #1.

How do they taste? Don't know yet, as they are still green & I want them to ripen to a nice red, which a couple of the larger tomatoes are starting to show.

Can't wait for that 1st bite into a fresh, red-ripe, juicy tomato, grown on my patio!

NM Hatch Chili Peppers

The Chili's, likewise, have long, dark green peppers appearing almost daily & many, many buds. The photo shows 2 plants, one planted in a 4" square, the other is  in a 1/2 gal. cut-down pot, like the tomato plants.

The interesting thing is that the chili in the larger pot has only 1 pepper, however the 4" container has 2..it will be interesting to see if the larger potted plant will produce more or less, over the long run.

The peppers on all 3 plants measure prox. 6" so far. I have harvested 1 pepper from the older plant & they are ok to eat..I seared the skin, skinned & split open, cleaned out the seeds & diced the chili..they have not developed any real "heat"yet, but you can taste a little hint of what is to come.

Both the tomatoes & chilis have been fed a generic, all-purpose(low nitrogen) fertilizer on a daily basis. I happen to be one of those that prefers micro-feeding to a once-a-week application. I simply divide the recommended weekly dosage by 7 (days in 1 wk) & add it to their daily water.

I still have 1 extra tomato & 2 pepper plants that I'd like to give away.

Manzanita - UPDATE

The Manzanita has adjusted well to its new container and continues to develop, including the signature peeling red bark on the trunk and branches. It is shaping up to be a visually striking specimen.

However, I am currently navigating conflicting guidance regarding summer care. The Arctostaphylos species is reported to go semi-dormant in the summer as a survival mechanism for its native arid, desert-like habitats. Conventional advice cautions against feeding or watering during these months, though it remains unclear if this strict protocol is intended for established, in-ground trees or if it also applies to young specimens in container culture.

I am currently soliciting feedback from other growers regarding their experiences with this species in captivity and will update my methodology accordingly once I have more information.

For the complete photo history, technical background, and tracking of this tree’s development, please visit the full entry here: Howard McMinn Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Densiflora)

Star Jasmine - UPDATE

June is almost over, but 'the Star' is still in full-bloom, although, I can see some of the blossoms are getting tired & droopy. I don't anticipate a 3rd bloom, but I am more than a little surprised at the vitality this little tree has shown..especially after being nearly dormant for almost a year.

Everyone talks about "the heat" out here in the Inland Empire, but the heat & low-humidity are not really a problem for this guy..the main "plant killer", for me, is the wind..a very predictable West & SW wind that blows like stink, every afternoon.

I have watched as the wind whips & gusts hit the Star Jasmine & he bends nearly in half & then springs right back afterwards, without so much as a hair out of place.

To anyone, wanting a low-maitenance, hardy, tough little tree, bush or hedge, I can recommend the Star Jasmine.

Just for Fun - Wk 9

 NM Hatch Chilis

Up until now, the chilis have been growing in 4" pots, except for the single plant that was started a couple of weeks ahead of the set of 4, propagated at the same time. Concerned that perhaps their production was being retarded by the smaller pots, I transplanted one of the plants, as a test..so far, that plant has done nothing.

So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this pepper growing on one of the plants still in 4" containers.

Then I checked the older plants & saw this one..my conclusion? If I want to maximize production, the larger pots will allow for more fruit, but if I didn't want to transplant, but keep the chilis in the smaller pots, they will still produce. Now I've got 2 plants in larger pots, while 2 remain in 4"..I want to watch how they do for a couple of weeks before a final decision &/or before I give the younger plants away.

Dwarf Tomatoes

Nothing to report for this week..no significant change from last week. Hopefully the barren plant will have small fruit by next week..flowering now.

Fremont Cottonwood - UPDATE

'the Fremont' was a little slow coming into spring/summer, but has perked-up, after a short hot-weather preview we had a few days ago.

I think this little tree is going to "take-off" this summer & show some growth. It seems like he has started to figure out foliage, but I am more concerned with the trunk & branches..and I thought he would be developing the nebari (base of the tree) by this time.

While slow-growing, he appears healthy & relatively happy in his current surroundings, although he has been in this training tray since last fall. It may be time to repot with fresh  potting mix & take a look a root development.

This excerpt from the Fremont Cottonwood Photos/History page where you can access the full history  of this tree

 

 

Flowering Dogwood - UPDATE

It worked! A week of "hanging out" with 2 Japanese Maple seedlings & our Flowering Dogwood is perky, looking healthy & putting out new growth.

 Like the Acer's, he doesn't want too much exposure to direct sun, seems to get along better with partial sun..really likes "dappled shade" & shows it.

I expect to see some real growth now that we've figured out just how the Dogwood likes to be treated. The question now is how he will handle the heat, this summer             

Just for Fun - Wk 8

Dwarf Tomatoes

As you can see from this photo, we have "fruit on the vine".. This last week & in particular, the last few days, we had our first real taste of summer..sun all day..temps in the 90's..

8 weeks from germination to fruit, almost to the day..I am really pleased with these tomatoes..free-standing, not 'bushy', they aren't trying to take over the patio & require a minimum of attention..water them when they're thirsty and prune the lower branches as they wilt..they don't contribute to fruit production & by pruning them, you reduce the overall water demand of the plant. 

NM Hatch Chilis

It looks like the Chili's have been growing for a couple days, at least, before I discovered them..the plant is still flowering, so I expect by next week, we will have many more.

Here in California, people wait months for the 'Hatch harvest' & the first of the Chili's from New Mexico. Fans of this Chile swear there is none other like it. I purposefully ordered the seeds these plants are grown from, directly from a NM source.

They will not exactly duplicate Chili's grown in NM..we don't have the same growing conditions..but they are bona fide Hatch Chilis.

I'm anxious now to see what they look like next week.

Pruned & Potted: 'Schnapper Point'

 excerpt from Photo/History page for 'Schnapper Point'

The Banksia seems to have acclimated well & seems indifferent to the dry afternoon winds that we contend with, pretty much year-round. He was potted in a rich, heavy soil mix that seemed to drain well, but I wanted to see how he would fare in our potting mix with prox. 50% gravel/grit. 

I de-potted him & removed prox. 50 - 60% of the potting mix with a chopstick, combed-out the roots as best I could & with a minimum of root pruning , fit him into a training pot.

Then I pruned the lowest branch that doubled the windage of this little tree & threw the perspective "out of whack". (the cutting is already rooting in water)

In this photo, you can see the scar on the lower trunk, where the branch used to be. I am impressed with the health & hardiness that is apparent, telling me that he is most-likely to become a permanent specimen in our collection.

Flowering Dogwood - UPDATE

 excerpt from Photo/History page for the Flowering Dogwood 

Prox. 6 weeks or so & the Dogwood is growing, but I'm not sure he's very happy. He seems healthy..good color..new shoots opening, but I'm concerned about his "droopy" appearance. This might be "modus operandi" for this plant, but not having any experience with them, I have to conclude that Cornus Florida is not only finicky, but also "tender"..not a robust plant.

I have been told that they are as delicate as Japanese Maples & should be treated in much the same way. An 'understory' plant, he can't handle much direct sun & doesn't like wind.

In fact, I am going to grow him with the JM seedlings that are about the same age, or a little older. I will treat him going forward like a Japanese Maple & see if that makes a difference.

Laurel Sumac - UPDATE

access the Photo/History page for the Laurel Sumac to see more about this tree

Looking at the photos from last month & this month, you will probably notice a difference in the color of the leaves, which was diagnosed as an iron deficiency, attributable to the pH of the soil being too alkaline (over 7.0) & depriving the plant of the ability to absorb iron present in the potting mix. (the Bouganvillea also suffers from this problem, but more severely)

The Sumac, like many other plants, prefers & needs a slightly  acidic (below 7.0) mix in order to absorb iron & other minerals. There are multiple ways to do this, including using a fertilizer that is manufactured specifically for plants that need a slightly-acidic soil mix. 

As you can see, the leaves are now "greening-up" & the new leaves are coming out green, not yellow, as before. 

Now if someone would teach me how to properly prune this tree to show off it's best features...well, I'll have to work on that. 

Dwarf Pomegranate - UPDATE

 exerpt of most recent entry to the Dwarf Pomegranate Photo/History page

Hard to see from this photo, but the Pomegranate has grown and grown faster than I expected..especially seedling/saplings that have been shipped via USPS or a commercial shipper & been in-transit for several days.

He began sending out shoots within days of root pruning & potting, usually an ordeal that some specimens take weeks &/or months to recover from..

Keeping with the planting-angle that he had when received (see un-boxed photo above) the trunk/main stem is set at an angle & the trunk will develop some interesting curves, I think, as the tree grows.

Also, when he arrived, all of the foliage was on the "front side" of the plant..over the last few weeks, we have been able to start rounding-out the canopy..it's about 50% right now. 

If he continues to grow at this rate, I will have to put him in a full-sized tray, which are, normally, the reserve of older, more established plants.

If you can't tell, I'm very happy with this juvenile & I look forward to watching it grow & develop.

Star Jasmine - 2nd Bloom

The Star Jasmine has decided 'once is never enough' & has put out a new set of blooms..that's twice in 60 days!

I don't know if this is business as usual for this tree, but I'm not complaining.

visit the Photo/History page for the complete Star Jasmine story

Just for Fun - Wk 7

 Dwarf Tomatoes

Nothing to report..still have 2 plants which are flowering..and since fruit comes from flowers, that means we should start seeing fruits starting to form..I'm guessing, but within 30 days or so..

Observation: these plants are VERY sturdy..main stems are trunk-like..easy to see why these bush tomatoes need no staking.

I continue to prune the lower-most branches as it becomes obvious that they are superfluous .

NM Hatch Chilis

Little to report as Chili's continue to mature. These plants are still in 4" pots, except for 1 plant that is older then the rest (earlier start). 

They are all budding & the older plant is actively flowering with little white blooms, that hang down..this is also where the fruit will form, I think.

All of these plants look healthy & happy, although it has been suggested that I put the tomatoes on a tomato fertilizer rather than stick with Miracle-Gro for plants that prefer lower pH soil conditions. (The particular formulation I've been using is for Azealea's, Hydrangeas, etc.)

Let's hope next week we have perhaps small fruit starting to form?

Hibiscus (Rosa sinensis) 'Brilliant' - UPDATE

 exerpt from Photo/History page for the Hibiscus ; to see the complete record, click on this link or use the Tree Inventory Menu, on the R-H side of every page

 I think I've remarked more than once about the resilience of this little tree & he has proven it over the last 4-5 months, during which he has endured & survived not only "hard pruning", but a total chop-down to a stump & major root reduction commensurate with a cumulative 60-65% of what we started with, last February.

Today, after yet another root reduction (including the tap root) I was able to repot the Hibiscus into a training pot.

It's been a long road just to get to this stage, which is where most of our specimens begin. To illustrate this, I lined-up the progression of containers that he has occupied since Feb 4 (acquisition date).

 

I was looking for a project when I encountered the Hibiscus on the "50% off" table & so far, he has sure lived up to expectations...now, we get serious.

An 'Aussie' Joins the Collection

Originally discovered on a windblown point of land along the southern coast of New South Wales, Banksia spinulosa 'Schnapper Point', commonly known as the Koala Blooms Banksia, is a compact, low-growing evergreen shrub/tree native to eastern Australia.

This plant grows with a dense, rounded, and slightly prostrate habit, typically maturing to 2–4 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide, has needle-like green leaves, but is not a conifer, although it resembles one. Happy in full-sun & semi-drought resistant, this plant should do well in so. california.

Since it blooms during what we call winter (Australian summer), producing large, cylindrical flower spikes (up to 40 cm long) in golden to bright yellow, often tipped with black, purple, or red styles, it will be appreciated even more.

 As with all of our little trees, you can access his Photo/History page @ Koala Blooms or from the Tree Inventory menu on the r-hand side of the page.

Just for Fun - Wk 6

 personal note: no, I'm not dead or anywhere close to it (yet), but I do have a life away from the patio & this blog, so I do not apologize for not posting for a few days..all is well.

NM Hatch Chilis 

The chilis are growing, though not as fast as the tomatoes. We continue to have cool, grey mornings(June Gloom here in so Cal), but sunny warm afternoons, which the plants love & they are thriving. I still have a full complement, but once they have fruit, I'm sure I'll have no problem finding homes for them.

Dwarf Tomatoes

The tomato plants have yellow blooms & there are small pods forming, which I presume will be fruit. I chose this particular cultivar specifically because it sounded like it was made for containers..the plants now are about 2-3 ft. tall & I don't think they will grow appreciably in height, but they are spreading out, to some degree. 

They are living up to their designation as "dwarf", although the real test will be when they bear fruit. They are compact, well formed, not 'scraggly' or looking malnourished, without taking-over the whole patio. They too, like the chilis, seem to like the cool morning/warm afternoon weather & so far, have remained "pest free".

Nothing else to report..tune in next week..

New Plant on the Patio: Japanese Red Maple (Acer Palmatum 'Bloodgood')

Japanese red maple (Acer palmatum) is a highly prized deciduous tree famous for its deeply lobed, star-shaped leaves. These maples feature vibrant spring and fall color, non-invasive root systems, and compact sizes, making them perfect focal points, container plants, or bonsai subjects

Bloodgood: The standard upright variety; matures to about 15 feet and holds deep burgundy-red leaves exceptionally well through the summer.

Care & Cultivation: 

Soil: They thrive in moist, well-draining, and slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter. For clay-heavy soil in the Ontario area, plant the tree slightly elevated to prevent root rot.

Sunlight: Plant in partial sun to partial shade. While some varieties handle full sun, the delicate foliage of laceleaf types can scorch in intense afternoon heat.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Newly planted trees require frequent watering, especially during hot summer months.

Hardiness: Generally suited for USDA Zones 5–9

Acquired: May 2026; Grower/Seller (Internet); Cost: (    .)

This specimen arrived promptly, only 4 days in-transit, from the grower in Tennessee. The shipping was more expensive than most, but it is reflected, I think, in the pristine condition when received. I will not hesitate to order from this supplier in the future &/or recommend them.

I put the "Bloodgood" in a training pot, gave him a little water & within a few minutes he was standing straight, leaves un-curled & I took this photo. They ought to put a warning on Acers that they are habit-forming & may lead to addiction.. overwhelmingly the most sought-after, popular ornamental tree according to articles published by & for the horticultural trade.

There are dozens of cultivars & growers/collectors that specialize in Japanese Maples, exclusively. If I were just starting, I might just limit my acquisitions to Acers & Conifers only..they complement each other because of their diversity.

 Pictured here with his cousin, also an Acer Palmatum, but a different cultivar, I hope these two will become bookends, hopefully both maturing into like-sized trees, and as with all of the trees in my collection, their growth & development documented here to you to share, should you so wish.

   

Just for Fun - Wk 5

Dwarf Tomatoes 

Now you see 'em..now you don't..was able to reduce numbers this week by gifting 2 of the plants..just 1 more to go.

5 weeks and the tomato plants are, as far as I can see, healthy, happy & I think approaching near full-size. I don't think they will become appreciably larger, at least not much taller, which has been my concern all along. Since this is my first experience with these cultivars, actually my first with bush tomatoes, much less a dwarf variety, I wasn't sure just how much room they would take.

And one of the criteria for this little experiment has been to see if one can grow a decent crop on a patio or porch, with limited space for them.

If you look closely, you can see that both remaining plants are starting to develop flowers, which, of course, mean fruit cannot be far behind.

I will continue to attempt to reduce the population to a single plant this week & hopefully make someone else as pleased with these plants as I am.

NM Hatch Chili's

The Chili plants are starting to catch-up with the tomatoes..the last week has been typical so. Cal weather this time of year..cool, grey overcast mornings, with sun burning-off the coastal layer by noon & bright, warm afternoons, apparently ideal for these plants as this is the growth surge I've been looking for.

Like the tomato's, the chili's are starting to form tiny flowers, which I expect will bud over the next week or 10 days. Fruit follows flowers & of course, that's why we're growing these plants.

Once these plants start to show some production, I don't think I'll have any problem finding homes for them..may even have to start some more, but we'll wait & see.

Buxus microphylla (Japanese Boxwood): Update

 excerpted from Photo/History page for Japanese Boxwood

The Boxwood  has a good headstart on developing a canopy, so I decided to pot him-on. The photo shows him in a full-size training tray, which I had to use to accommodate a large & well-developed root system, which required root reduction; best described as "close your eyes & hack-away". The 'rule of thumb' is to remove no more than about 30% of a root system, at a time..I think I took about 50% of the buxus's root ball.

One of the things that attracted me to this specimen was the "nebari"..the base of the trunk where, as the plant grows & matures, slowly reveals & exposes the juncture of the tree & his roots.

The trunk has the "weathered" look, as if he were much older; part of this is because it IS older than you would think..I am told that it takes 7 years to grow the typical boxwood for retail sale.

This little tree is healthy, strong & seemingly up for anything, so it will be fun to watch how he develops over the next few months.

Cape Honeysuckle : Update

 exerpt from Cape Honeysuckle Photo History

Re-potted the Cape Honeysuckle, for better or worse..I found this little unglazed clay pot by accident some time ago, but really didn't have any one tree in mind.

The Honeysuckle was long overdue for a repot, so opportunity met requirement. Because so much time had elapsed since the tray-potting, I had to do more root pruning than I had anticipated or wanted.

He seems like he has come through the "surgery" well & is even shown new growth since I re-potted him (lighter green color leaves in photo)

Because the trunk has an obvious bend, I've always planted this guy offset from center & adhered to that convention with this repot, but I may change my mind.

I will let him rest now, & acclimate himself to the new container. I do like the round shape or perhaps it's just the newness..we'll see as time goes on.

..and the 'chicks' for free..

Back in February, I published a picture of several (7 to be exact) cuttings from the Hibiscus, taken during the initial "cutback". I actually ended-up with 11(pic) & they all rooted!

All of them have buds or have budded-out & grown leaves & appear to be healthy, If these cuttings are anywhere near as vital & strong as the parent plant, they will make fine plants.

I will grow-them-on & report on their progress, from time-to-time.

See the full history @ Hibiscus 'Brilliant' 

 

Just for Fun - Wk 4

 NM Hatch Chilis

Not much to see here..the chili plants have grown, but not remarkably so. The plants are healthy, vigorous & sport a deep green that, I hope, is a predicator of the size & quantity of the fruit they will bear.

No flowers, as yet, but I expect we will start seeing buds on the larger plants. The 2 still in 3" pots will need to be transplanted soon, but there's no rush..probably some time this coming week. I hope to "gift" 1 or 2 this coming week..with the number of new projects coming on-line, I will need the space.

Dwarf Tomatoes 

The tomatoes have doubled in size & another week's growth will mean they'll be crowding the shelf they occupy. I'm not really sure just how tall these bush tomatoes will grow, but I do have floor space, which is probably their next stop.

As you can see, this pot houses 2 plants; I felt like the plants were too young to be ripped apart earlier in their development, but now I wonder if it will even be possible to separate them..I'll give them another week & see how they look.

Like the chilis, I hope to reduce their numbers before they get much larger..maybe next week?