My reds

Since I showcased the pinks over the weekends I thought I better show you where the red Kalanchoe went....   I did tell you it was red!
  I planted them just below the poinsettia which is showing its colors right now as well.  Unfortunately the Poinsettia is always plagued by white flies when it starts to color up.  I have not had any success with strong water pressure, or garlic chili spray.  My hubby got out the fly spray and thought he had eradicated them but even that did not work.  After it has finished flowering I will cut it right back, and if the white flies come back the whole plant might have to go.  I do love the red color they add for months to this area of the garden though, so if anyone has any ideas, please let me know.
 The coleus in this area tends towards the red and yellows, with the new leaves being the most colorful.


The stars in this garden are the crotons, they are pretty slow growing, but I have quite a variety, and with their curly variegated leaves they are a lovely filler plant, and look so good at this time of year. 

In the long view you don't really see all the color, but there are more kalanchoe buds about to burst open any day.  


Comments

  1. Solitude RisingThu Jul 21, 02:47:00 AM

    Your garden has a very tropical look, I like it. I don't know what will get rid of those white flies but I hope you find a working solution for the sake of your lovely Poinsettias.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AlisonThu Jul 21, 04:36:00 AM

    Your reds are wonderful! So bright. Red is just about my favorite color in the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kit Aerie-elThu Jul 21, 08:51:00 AM

    Beautiful! Lovely garden!

    ReplyDelete
  4. DesireeFri Jul 22, 06:48:00 AM

    So bright and colorful! White flies are a real pest!

    ReplyDelete
  5. africanaussieFri Jul 22, 08:51:00 AM

    Solitude rising,
    It helps that I have a small garden so I can cram lots of plant in! Alison,
    Red really stands out, but then again so do the pinks....
    Aerie-al,
    Thank you!
    Desiree,
    I do love the kalanchoe as they flower for ages and bring lots of colour, and are so easy to propagate. The white flies are the pest that keeps coming back - I guess I need to find out who their predators are :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. StellamarinaFri Jul 22, 06:21:00 PM

    I love the way you use the pink colors in your garden with the greens and whites. It is really lovely to see what other tropical gardeners are doing around the world. I enjoy your blog. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  7. Malay-Kadazan girlFri Jul 22, 09:46:00 PM

    Those plants remind me of my primary school garden. You brought me back to my childhood memories. Like your red collection.

    ReplyDelete
  8. KateSun Jul 24, 07:59:00 AM

    What you need to do Gillian is to attract the predator of the white fly but planting things it likes to live on. You might find this interesting:
    http://www.bugsforbugs.com.au/product/41
    which tells you what the predators are and actually sells them but if you can now find out how to attract them yourself you will have started to fix the ecology of your garden.
    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  9. KateSun Jul 24, 08:00:00 AM

    ps.... since the predator is a native insect, you probably just need a more diverse range of native plants in your garden!

    ReplyDelete
  10. DavidSun Jul 24, 01:49:00 PM

    I love red in the garden. Do you have Mexican Fire Spike yet? It's a fabulous plant. I think I saw a variegated version (leaf of it) in the first photo. It's a great bloomer.
    Latin name: Odontonema strictum
    Your tropical garden looks terrific!
    David/ Tropical Texana/ Houston :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. africanaussieTue Jul 26, 08:04:00 AM

    Stellamarina,
    Thank you, yes I also enjoy gathering ideas from seeing what other people are growing.
    Malay Kadazan,
    I am glad I could bring back happy memories.
    Kate,
    that is very interesting. I think one problem is that it seems to be just on the verge of growing naturally here. I find too that when plants are stressed they attract bugs. I might have to admit it is not happy here....
    David,
    Yes I have that in the shade and was worried it wouldn't flower, but it is doing just fine. That is great at attracting honeyeaters and butterflies.

    ReplyDelete
  12. OurGangof7Thu Jul 28, 11:57:00 AM

    Hi
    I have just found your blog/s and am enjoying browsing through them all. I have added you to my list of favourites and am looking forward to trying some of your recipes.
    I have a recipe blog too which I have only recently started up.
    I love your garden!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. BomThu Jul 28, 07:08:00 PM

    How fun to be designing through color. Your reds serve for accents in the last picture. It will look even more wonderful when all your kalanchoe buds bloom.
    Sorry, I have no advice for the poinsettias.

    ReplyDelete
  14. MiaFri Jul 29, 06:41:00 AM

    I like yuor garden and all of your colurful plants in it.( Sorry if my english is bad)
    I vill visit here again.
    Bye
    Mia

    ReplyDelete
  15. SusanMon Aug 01, 11:27:00 PM

    Love all your pretty reds. The kalanchoe does well here, too...even in the cold. Your grass looks similar to ours which is St. Augustine. What kind is yours?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Steve AsbellTue Aug 02, 10:33:00 AM

    I always love looking at your garden and blog posts by color is a neat idea. I like to use a lot of red too since it really lends itself to a tropical look.

    ReplyDelete
  17. MeemsThu Aug 04, 11:36:00 AM

    Oh, I love that long view and I can definitely see the color. Red is one of my favorite colors and in the garden it is perfect! Poinsettias blooming really illustrates the difference in season there.

    ReplyDelete
  18. africanaussieFri Aug 05, 10:15:00 AM

    thanks for all the comments, I have been sick and haven't felt much like gardening or blogging. back on track now though......

    ReplyDelete

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