Some pictures

Orchid Arrival

Orchids are finally here.  As you may have previously surmised, my wife and I have a fondness for these beautiful flowers.  They make an excellent gift, and I happen to know they may facilitate an apology to that special someone in your life.  Available in 3 colors of Phalaenopsis, White, Yellow, and Purple, in bloom for $45.99

Bottlebrush and Ixora

New plants are here again.  Up this time are Ixora (Jungle Flame) $11.99 and Callistemon (Bottle Brush) $29.99.  Have a look:

and also:

Pleased to Present: Kratom plants. Mitragyna speciosa

Good times!  Here at UC we continue to roll out new products.  Todays new addition is Kratom.  Starting with 4" pots ( although we are bound to have 1 gallon plants too in the near future), These plants are super healthy, very well rooted and completely pest free.  Offered at $36/each plus shipping. 

Have a look:

Grow your own fresh air.

This very astute looking gentleman suggests my $11.99 Sansevieria as a bedroom plant:

http://www.wimp.com/freshair/

Hard to argue.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's some of my favorite pics from the last few months.. Top and Bottom are from Kapiolani Community College, and the middle one is the Lilikoi ripening on the vine, in the back yard.

Opuntia ficus-india with fruit

So I'm sitting on a ton of these Ountia ficus-india.  This large cactus grows quickly, with almost no care required.  The Pitaya, or cacti fruits which it produces abundantly, ripen to a deep red color.  The jelly like insides are a tart treat with a crunchy seed surprise. 



Mystery Nut from Kaimuki High School

Someone, someday will see this picture and leave a comment that will enlighten me.  What is the tree that this came from?

Hawaiian Ti, Cordyline

This picture was great.  I think it is Cordyline terminalis var. Hawaiian Compacta.   Or what might be referred to as a dwarf, purple Ti.  A compact yet vigorous variety, with leaves that are tightly compacted together like a plume. Leaves short to 4" to 2" wide, color dark pink to burgundy purple. Great Ti for areas that don't need lots of room. 

I think this is a great choice for adding a year round punch of color to any outdoor space, and the fabulous inflorescence in November gives you something special.   Easy to propogate from cuttings.

Announcing Gotu Kola and Bacopa

I am pleased to announce a new partnership with other local (Hawaiian) growers has culminated in my ability to offer some new live plants.  Gotu Kola or Centella asiatica  It is used as a medicinal herb in Ayurvedic medicine, traditional African medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine.  I just like the nutty flavor, and it is a an outstanding addition to any salad.  Live specimens shipped bare root for $5/each plus shipping.



From this same grower I am offering Bacopa monnieri another beautiful ground cover plant with purported health benefits.  This fast growing and easily propagated plant produces small white flowers.  Also offered for $5 each plus shipping, and shipped bare root.



Opuntia microdasys, Polka Dot cactus

Took this photo at Kapiolani Comunity College this morning.  I like to tour the cactus garden there after shopping at the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. 

Rainy Season

So the rainy season is here.  We usually get a lot of sprinkles or short rains here in Honolulu, but Autumn marks the beginning of the rainy season.  And it has started.  I've moved most of the cactus under the eaves so I can better control the moisture.  Lost a couple Opuntia cuttings to too much water. 

Most of the island is beginning its winter transformation where rains seem to paint shades of green on the otherwise tan hillsides.  Soon it will be "Lord of the Rings" green around here.  (I suspect they altered the color balance in that trilogy, but I've never been to New Zealand where they shot it.)

I'm starting some Psychotria viridis(Chacruna) beans that I hope will sprout, and a few surprises.  Business has been surprisingly successfull, so it looks like you will be seeing more of this blog to come.  Happy growing, and if it gets too wet to garden.. go mushroom hunting.

I found this unidentified beauty on the Maunawili Ditch Trail yesterday:

NPR is running a story about interesting bark

And they point out one of my favorite trees:  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130811023&sc=fb&cc=fp

Great article.  I like the Blue Gum Eucalyptus also.  That's the tree they get the oil to make Vicks Vaporub out of.  There is a grove of the Blue Gum Eucalyptus Trees on Maui, about halfway up Haleakala, and it is magical.  Picking up a huge shipment of plants today, so I'll be spending the next day or two in the garden.  Watch for updates soon!

Liliko'i, Passiflora edulis is in bloom

Finally the wait is over.  After watching this Passionflower(Passionfruit) grow larger and larger on the fence and clothesline in my backyard, and wondering all the while when it is going to bloom.  Finally it has, and it was worth waiting for.  Starting to take cuttings/trim it back, is probably what has triggered the large, showy 3" diameter blooms.  Dark purple centers surrounded by white and a scent that enchants the area.  My son describes the scent as "like sugar" and while I agree that it is a sweet smell, I fiind it closer to honeysuckle.



12 inch potted plants are available in 4 inch pots for $11.99

Beautiful Opuntia cochenillifera!

I just picked up about 100 lbs of Opuntia cochenillifera.  Thank goodness it's spineless, because I think the flowers are spectacular.  I especially love how the flower buds start from green, to a bright yellow and then eventually to reddish orange flowers.  Maybe they should call it the 'Stoplight Cholla'. 

Cuttings available by the flat-rate boxfull. $19.99  Will have rooted plants available  Dec 2010. 

Makes EXCELLENT turtle or tortoise food. 

Here I am again: October 2010, The Opuntia cochenillifera is directly behind me (photo below) with these giant bouquets of pups and flowers (shown above).  To the right and left are Opuntia ficus-inda, Prickly Pear cactus.

Pleased to offer: Passiflora caerulea, Blue Passion Flower

These are new in stock, thanks to Jen who mastered taking cuttings from the huge mother plant.  This is also the host plant for native hawaiian butterflies and each morning I am greeted by several of the fluttering guests as I sip my morning coffee. 

Plants are about 12".  Cuttings rooted firmly in 4" pots, offered at $11.99 while supplies last.

Banisteriopsis caapi shortage

So.  To no avail I attempted to buy some local Banisteriopsis caapi.  While the dried specimen at uncommoncactus.com is perfect, live plants in the USA remain elusive.

Toothpick Cactus, Stensonia coryne

In it's habitat at the Ace hardware.

http://www.hear.org/starr/images/species/?q=stetsonia+coryne&o=plants

Some pictures from the last year.

all pictures copyright Justin Myers 2010

Word of the day, and cactus to save the planet?

Word of the day is:  Liana

and Can planting cactus save the planet?  Less water more stored carbon than trees.  Let me know in the comments below.

A trip to the Honolulu Zoo

Ok, so the orchid show wasn't really what the kids wanted to do.  What they REALLY wanted was to hit the Zoo. 

This Opuntia sp? was gargantuan.  As you can see in this next picture:

What a weekend!  I'm wiped out after al the excitement.  Time to take a break and upload a few new products over at http://uncommoncactus.com/ocart/  Thanks for stopping by.

71st Annual Honolulu Orchid Show Continued

More Pictures from the Honolulu Orchid Show:

I was tickled to find this elusive blue orchid (pictured above) ;)

71st Annual Honolulu Orchid show

Well, the Orchid Show is under way... There was alot to see. Unfortunately the lighting wasn't super condusive to taking good pictures. More to come.

Ayahuasca and William S. Burroughs are like raindrops and roses

Growing Banisteriopsis caapi

Banisteriopsis caapi is a perennial vine native to the Amazon rainforest known for its role in South American ayahuasca ceremonies. These spiritual ceremonies have gone on for hundreds of years in the Amazonian Basin and still exist today to some degree. Today, banisteriopsis caapi is one of the most sought after plants by collectors of entheogenic plants. Its allure is fueled not just by a fascination to grow a plant, but to cultivate a powerful symbol, to possess something that harnesses the spirit of an ancient tradition and the mysticism of the rainforest.  From time to time we will be offering rooted cuttings at: Our Store

The real limitation, and what many new growers are not aware of, is that banisteriopsis caapi seeds have a low germination rate, which decreases to none in just a few months. By February I would expect the caapi seeds to be non-viable. Vendors who sell seed year-round are feeding on this naivety, and so it may seem to many growers that germination of banisteriopsis caapi is difficult or that it requires some special trick. The real trick is getting fresh seed. Banisteriopsis caapi seed harvest generally occurs in October or November. It can range a bit depending on yearly climate. It is wisest to plan your growing around those months to ensure you start with good seed, and it is worth paying more money for fresh seed. Since you are growing in the fall, it is likely that you will need to use grow lights, although nothing fancy is required. We typically arrange ahead of time for our caapi seeds to be shipped as soon as they are harvested. The freshest banisteriopsis caapi seeds are still green, although brown seeds will still germinate. In fact, even green seeds will turn brown in between planting and germination.

Once you have obtained your fresh banisteriopsis seed, it is time for sowing. Prepare a well-draining soil mixture. We have had success germinating banisteriopsis caapi with several different soil compositions, but we recommend using potting soil mixed with about 25% perlite. Avoid using seed starting mixes or soils heavy in peat because you want something richer that would resemble forest soil. In forests, the rainforest especially, there is vast supply of plant material to enrich the soil. As mentioned before, it is also important to have a well-draining soil because banisteriopsis caapi seeds are somewhat prone to fungus attacks. By removing excess moisture, it reduces that risk. Fungus attacks that do occur can be treated with chamomile tea, or you may even choose to use it to water your plants initially.

 It should be about two weeks before you see anything. Be patient, and do not give up. You may get new banisteriopsis caapi seeds germinating days or weeks after your initial sprouts.

Happy trees for unhappy times.

We are proud to begin offering this product, Albizia julibrissin, Happiness Tree (Starter Pack includes 1/2 lb of bark, 1 ounce dried flowers, and 5 seed containing pods).  While I'm not allowed to make any claims regarding its potential health benefits, I can tell you that this tree has been used in eastern medicine continously since the second century.

That's a long time.

A description of the herbal benefits of this tree  can be found here:
http://www.planetherbs.com/specific-herbs/albizzia-the-tree-of-happiness.html
and here:  http://hollirichey.com/2010/06/21/mimosa-the-tree-not-the-drink-brings-happiness/

I am currently offering a "starter pack" which consists of:

5 seed pods with several seeds in each pod
1/2 pound bark
1 oz. dried flowers

These trees are well established, old growth and of the highest quality: all for $14.99  available year round.

October is Plant Show Month

Here in Honolulu we are blessed to have many garden related activities throughout the year.  This month however are 2 events we are especially excited about.  The 71st annual Honolulu Orchid Society Show on Oct. 8-10th.  and the Honolulu Cacti and Succulent Society show the following weekend. 

Pretty much those are tailored for the wife and I.  I hope to catch a lecture on tissue culture propogation of Orchids. The chance to rub shoulders with the old guard will be good, I'm sure they have much gardening wisdom to pass along.

We will for sure have pictures and stories to share, so please stay tuned.

See you there!

Ipomea Biloba, Beach Morning Glory at the Beach.

Buy Beach Morning Glory Here
Only $9.99 while supplies last.  A great salt tolerant ground cover for your house by the sea.

I stumbled upon this slice of awesome.

See original photo here

Opening Post

Some nice pictures of what I consider some of the most beautiful and highly sought after specimens to start off the blog.  Enjoy!