Algerian Ivy

Finally, we end with a big issue for gardeners here in the desert.  This is the final write of failure. The failure? Overwatering.

First let's talk about Ivy and Ferns.  I am sorry to report this my gardening friends, but the success rates with the English and Swedish Ivy and those beautiful Boston ferns are very low in the desert.  The humidty just isn't there. A lot of Tucsonans put these plants in their sunny bathrooms where they will succeed. These could be house plants and if you're willing to put in extra time, they will do alright.  They take work however. And I do love a beautiful ivy...... 

Let's talk about the Algerian Ivy.  It comes from the very dry Canary Islands off of Western Africa.  Therefore, it does really well here in Tucson.  Don't ask me how or why, but I cannot get these darn vines to grow in any exposure or in any soil!!!  I tend to overwater them and while they last for several months, they seem to suddenly die off!!!  It's very frustrating because I love the large green leaves. They make an excellent groundcover or vine up a trellis.  Many homes have them around town and they are planted in the Northern and Eastern exposures......but not for me!  I have given up on these ivy plants for good because no matter what rules I've shared with you, I simply can't get them to grow! But my failure doesn't have to be yours.  So many people have this plant in their yards that when I see it, I become angry.  Why won't it grow for me??!!  It's lush, dense, and just out of this world.  Of the Ivy family, this is the greatest one to grow here in Tucson.  

Okay, this isn't what this post is about....it's about overwatering and what the Algerian Ivy taught me.  Many gardeners think that because we live in the desert, we should sometimes give our plants a little extra water.  This is one of the greatest reasons why many of our plants fail in our gardens.  I've lost many succulents, cacti, a Chinese elm, countless ivy, and other plants because I thought a little extra water would be good.  The answer to this failure is observation and previous knowledge.  Sometimes plant leaves decline in mid summer and it's natural.  Be careful in your thinking that sometimes when a plant looks bad it needs water.  There are a multitude of issues that could be happening.  Soil is deficient. The sun has been relentless.  Perhaps an insect has discovered your plant as a new food source.  This list could go on and on.....observation and personal experience are needed.  Watering a plant will just help in the advancement of its' death.  Be careful.  Roses sometimes look like they are in decline but it sometimes has to do with aphids or dry winds....watering them too much could help in destroying the plant with black canker. The simple truth is that once your newly placed plants are established; they shouldn't require a lot of water if you've purchased a zone appropriate plant.

There are many kinds of failures in our gardens.  These past few writes are just some of the major ones.  I hope they've helped for people new to gardening.  I kept a long diary last year of plants and my next series, in less than a week, will be on bulbs, corns and rhyzomes in the garden.  Many of you, like me, shop at Wal-Mart for things and we sometimes tend to end up in the garden section seeing these massive gorgeous bulbs.  Our heads start spinning and well....it's pretty bad.  I'll share with you some of the secrets to successful caladium, canna, and elephant ear growing.  PS.  Don't start putting them in the garden yet if you have already purchased them.  My next write is on our work day that happened this past Friday....a little break from the plant series.  Until next time, watch your watering....especially in winter:)

Sweat

Today, like everyday in June, is hot. This month for gardeners is fairly easy, BUT we need to make sure our plants are getting enough water and sometimes protection from the sun. It is quite common to see leaf scald on many plants and it can be frustrating to watch happen, but the leaves on the older plants always come back again by the end of the summer or beginning of fall. I hate losing plants....this is the month that tells you what needs more water, less water....and what just won't grow. My surprise this year has been the caladiums. They have done super well and I am definitely going to purchase more of them for next year. However, with every success comes failure....here are my latest failures and why.....

At the ramada, I planted several Algerian Ivies. However they are in an area that is regularly watered and placed with tropicals that are doing very well. Verdict. It is a vine that cannot be overwatered nor placed in bright sun. While it didn't get the bright sun and did well in the shade; the water for the tropicals is what has made this vine collapse. The Algerian Ivy will be replaced with a Confederate Jasmin or Carolina Jasmin....vines which can take a bit more water.

The planting wells. I have noticed that again because of watering and in this case...lack of sunlight....the following will be replaced with more shade resistant plants that can tolerate wet soil. Colocasia esculenta, the greek urn plant, and fatsia needed more light. They were taken out of the planters and put into pots in hopes of saving them. I have several of the same specimens around on the grounds and they are doing well, but I have realized that they need more light and drier soil. I have transferred the hostas to the planter soil in hopes that perhaps they will do better in the wet and shady spot. They haven't bushed out into a healthy plant. Another planter has the same issue and the castor, elephant ears and canna plants are not doing well due to the sunlight factor. Finally, a boxwood was moved into a pot after not receiving enough sunlight due to tropicals blocking the light.

As with all things, I have taken several of the same plant and moved them around the property to see if they would do better in one spot or the other. While I am disappointed with several of the areas, I am encouraged that they grow in the other places. Again, this just means one thing...."The right plant for the right spot."

During these hot days, we begin to see the moisture creep in and everyone starts to feel the humidity. The plants will perk up again once the summer rains or monsoon begin. It appears to be about 2 weeks away. During these next several months, Mother Nature will provide our thirsty desert with the water needed to keep our Sonoran desert green and beautiful. While June is hot and the gardner must water, July and August will provide dangerous weather conditions that challenge us in different ways.....wind, torrential downpour, and lightening cause trees to lose their limbs, catch fire, or tip over which can be very dangerous causing hundreds to thousands of dollars worth of damage. That is why pruning in early Spring is so important....and why proper pruning is a must....there is nothing worse than a beautiful tree blown down to the ground.

For now, I go out at night or the early morning to water. And I currently am putting in more palms and catsclaw vine....but that's it. It takes a lot to establish a tree....and dig a hole:) Until next time....happy gardening from Tucson.