Brugmansia, Pitcher Plant and Teddy Bear Cactus are amazing works of nature that also qualify as "scary plants" because of their menacing traits!
My intention is not to discourage you from adding these plants to your garden or to encourage you to throw them away if you have them.
I just want you to be aware of the "darker side" of these plants!
I wrote the "Scary Plants" script for my "Way to Grow" series featuring newbie gardeners Ari and Emma.
Please watch this short, informative, and eye-opening video!
Scary Plants: Giant Pitcher Plant, Brugmansia and Teddy Bear Cactus
Giant Pitcher Plant
Nepenthes attenboroughii1. Giant Pitcher Plant
This exotic, carnivorous plant is native to the Phillipines where nature designed it to be a meat eating machine.
Any insect, small bird or rodent who has the unfortunate experience of falling prey to the Pitcher plants fragrant but poisonous lure will testify from the grave to STAY AWAY!
The Giant pitcher plant secretes an attractive nectar, that also happens to be sticky, making it almost impossible to escape!
Once the insect or other victim is in it's grasp, it falls through the large 11-inch flower opening into a deadly cauldron of toxic enzymes and acid where it dies and becomes plant food!
Angel Trumpet- Brugmansia
The gorgeous, giant , trumpet-like, flower of the Brugmansia adorns many gardens and patios where it's fruity fragrance can be enjoyed closeup.
Just don't get too close because all of the Brugmansia parts are poisonous and contain the tropane alkaloid, scopolamine and atropine.
Tropain alkaloids pack a powerful hallucinogenic and opiate effect that has been connected to scorcery and witchcraft for hundreds of years.
The BAD witch kind!
"Teddy Bear Cactus" Cylindropuntia bigelovii
Don't let the common name, "Teddy Bear" fool you!
This is no sweet, squeezable plant.
Spoon up to this "teddy Bear" cholla cactus and you'll likely die from fatal stab wounds all over your body!
The name teddy bear comes from the "fuzzy soft" look of the plant from a distance- where you should stay!
The teddy bear cactus is covered by silvery-white spines, which are actually a form of leaf, that are one-inch long and sharp as a razor.
The plant is also highly flamable, so don't smoke when near it!
Luckily for most people, the teddy bear cactus grows wild in the southwest desert and you have to make an effort to visit there.
Not an easy plant to run into, literally!
More Scary Plants: Oleander and Monkshood!
Oleander- Nerium oleander
The scariest thing about the Oleander is that it is a popular plant that adorns many landscapes and masquerades as an innocent "pretty, flowering hedge!"
Not so!
Unsuspecting, curious kids and hungry pets have fallen prey to the glossy leaves, colorful flowers and deadly fruit that contains cardiac glycosides which leads to cardiac arrest!
Home gardener beware of the devilish Oleander!
Monkshood
Monkshood is a flower with killer looks!
People have fallen in love with the Monkhood's charming and uncommon blue flower color.
Don't be a victim of a plant "fatal attraction!"
At the end of this "Cupid's bow" is a poison found in Monkshood called aconite which is one of the most formidable poisonous substances known to man.
As a matter of fact, the Neanderthals used the toxic liquid from the tuber of the plant and smeared it onto their sharp arrowheads to kill both beasts and human beings!
Now that you are aware of some "scary plant" facts, please share this "Way to Grow" video and blog post with a friend!
Hope you enjoyed the special "Halloween-inspired" post.
Way to Grow" Video Series
Garden designer Shirley Bovshow and her two apprentices, comedians Ariana Seigel and Emma Tattenbaum-Fine, take you through the basics with a fun Gardening 101 series.
Shirley brings the expertise; Ari and Emma bring the cluelessness.
If Shirley can teach them to garden, she can definitely teach you!
Learn how to feed your soil and read a plant fertilizer label. Ari and Emma ("bodybuilder dudes" in this video) demonstrate how soil nutrition is similar to human nutrition.
Garden expert, Shirley Bovshow explains how soil breaks down plant nutrients, what the numbers on a fertilizer box mean and demonstrates how to properly fertilize a plant.
"Way to Garden" is a unique "gardening 101" series that blends solid gardening information and humor.
Garden designer and garden coach Shirley Bovshow shares her gardening tips and creative design ideas with two young newbie gardeners (and comedians) Ari and Emma.
Watch the complete, entertaining series and build a basic foundation for gardening and crafting from the garden!
Did you know that plant propagation requires exteme sanitary measures? Watch the video with Shirley Bovshow and Chris Berg.
I was invited to tour one of the growing facilities for Proven Winners plants, in Bonsall, California at EuroAmerican Propagators to learn how their plants are developed.
It all begins with research and development and testing…lots of testing.
Plant Trials and Developing Plants With "Superior" Traits
Every plant that is introduced by this company undergoes a STRENUOUS trial period where the plants are planted in the ground, in containers, in hanging baskets, you name it.
Although these plants are well cared for, they aren't "babied" during testing in order to assess their "survivor" potential under average garden care.
When a plant is finally selected for development, great care is taken in growing the "mother plant", (original plant where cuttings are taken from) where it lives in a disease-free, sanitary environment.
A trial plant undergoes many years of testing and once selected for development, thousands of dollars are invested to produce and market the plant to both the trade industry and the home gardener.
This may shed some light as to why branded plants are usually more expensive than non-branded ones.
Proven Winners selects a handful of plants every year from a pool of thousands of hopefuls!
Watch "How Plants are Bred to Become Proven Winners Plants" with Shirley Bovshow and Chris Berg.
Plant trials are a combination beauty pageant/Olympic games where only the most beautiful and most vigorous plants make the cut for development.
Coleus growing in flats in the greenhouse are strengthening their roots system so that they can be shipped out.
Common plants such as alyssum, cleome, lantana, petunias as well as lesser known but notable plants are scrutinized for improved performance and beauty.
The results are "designer" versions of popular plants that come with a stamp of approval by the plant breeder.
Once selected as a "Proven Winner" plant, the plants are given memorable names such as 'Snow Princess,' (alyssum), 'Señorita Rosalita,' (a thornless cleome) and 'Supertunia Vista Bubblegum,' among the select.
Container with mixed Proven Winners plants
Some of the improved traits include, longer bloom times, improved disease resistance, lower watering needs, less maintenance and of course, designer colors and patterns!
Gardeners who like to grow plants from seed will not be able to duplicate these plants as they are grown from cuttings and in some cases, they do not re-seed, by design.
Common alyssum has re-seeded in parkway
In the case of the rampantly-self-seeding alyssum, Proven Winners has developed an improved alyssum,'Snow Princess.'
'Snow Princess' promises a long blooming season, neat habit and that it won't end up in your neighbors garden!
Watch the video to see what Proven Winners does to improve plants and follow the step by step process from "research and development" to when plants are shipped in preparation for their final destination- garden centers!
I hope you find it to be informative and entertaining.
Next time you see a branded plant at the garden center, you'll understand what makes this plant different from plants with "no name" distinction!
Yes, they cost a few more dollars but they also promise gardeners a lot more.
What has your experience been with branded plants?
This is the planter to use for maximum strawberry planting in small space!
A dedicated strawberry patch, even a small one ranging between 40 to 50 square feet, is managable by most gardeners and will supply a season's worth of strawberries for a small family.
Garden Video: Strawberries Versus Weeds!
Please watch this short and entertaining garden video called, "Strawberries Vs. Weeds Richard Simmons' Estate: Gardens Of The Rich & Famous"- I'm the garden expert for the show!
In it, I outline how to prepare your garden soil for strawberries.
It supposedly takes place in exersize guru, Richard Simmon's home, but it is actually my client's home.
So, not only will you learn how to prepare your soil for strawberry plants, you'll also get to see one of my gardens!
Prepare Garden Soil For Strawberry Plants
Select a site that is as weed and pest free as possible that receives all-day sunlight. Southern exposure is ideal.
Three months (minimum) before planting, pull all visible weeds and apply corn gluten to the soil to act as an organic pre-emergent herbicide.
Water your soil a few times a week in order to encourage weeds to grow.
As the weeds grow, pull them and apply more corn gluten.
Repeat these steps for a few months in order to encourage latent weed growth and strategic weed killing!
In Southern California, November is an ideal month for planting strawberries.
There is plentiful sunshine and slightly cooler temperatures that strawberry plants appreciate.
Plant Your Strawberry Plants!
Now that your have garden soil is moderately weed free, it's time to plant!
Install a weed blocking fabric on top of your strawberry patch and secure with pins.
Cut small holes in the fabric where you will plant your strawberry plants.
Don't make the holes too large because weeds can grow through them and choke out your beloved strawberry plant!
The weed blocking fabric prevents the sun from penetrating the soil and encouraging weeds to grow, supressing their growth.
For greater protection, add a 3 to 4-inch layer of mulch on top of your weed fabric.
As your strawberry plants grow, feed them through their small planting hole and stay on top of any weeds that manage to "break through."
It should be relatively easy to pull them as they emerge.
You can make a lightweight container garden with less soil when you use one of my favorite gardening accessories- the Ups-a-Daisy planter insert.
Watch garden video: "Make a Lightweight Container Garden Using Less Soil"
When you see huge containers at the mall or in public spaces, you can bet that they aren't filled from top to bottom with potting soil!
Designers have many tricks for filling large containers with all kinds of material to avoid filling pots with soil!
This is mine.
Materials Needed for Lightweight Container Garden
Lightweight faux ceramic or authentic ceramic pot
Potting soil
An Ups-a-Daisy planter insert
Plants
Desire to create lighter weight garden container!
Select a lightweight container such as this fiberglass faux ceramic pot.
This 15-gallon container cost me nine dollars at Ralphs Market!
Look for blow out sales at market floral departments after any holiday.
Many of their "gift" plants are planted in pretty containers and since your goal is to purchase a pot, don't worry if the plant looks as though it's dying!
I find that the best values are for containers that are larger than five gallon size.
I'm usually not concerned about the weight of my smaller planters.
The larger ones are the challenge!
Generally, faux pots are less expensive than their "real" counterparts and are available in a variety of finishes including simulated stone, metal, wood and cement!
Many faux material containers are very convincing- I've been "fooled" a few times.
Instructions
Insert an Ups-a-Daisy planter insert into your container.
The planter insert should fit about 3/4 of the way down the pot.
Notice that the insert has drain holes to keep water from ponding around roots.
The Ups-A-Daisy planter insert comes in many sizes and can be used over and over again in different planters.
The plastic Ups -a-Daisy inserts are used instead of gravel or broken crockery for drainage, so don't add any other material to your container.
Push insert down into planter until it wedges itself and can't be pushed any lower.
The insert should sit low in the pot, but afford enough depth for roots to grow and spread.
Fill the planter with a lightweight potting soil.
Never use "planting soil" which is heavier and made to mix with your garden soil in the garden!
Add your plants.
I discovered these gorgeous, Golden Cypress in a small 4"-inch size.
Golden Cypress sports a lime green color when indoors, but turns to a rich golden color when outdoors in the sun.
Done!
Now that your container garden is half-filled with soil, it will be easier to move around in your patio.
The Ups-A-Daisy planter insert makes an unexpected and very welcomed gift for the gardener in your life.
Bio: Hi! My name is Shirley and I'm an "EdenMaker!" I'm a happily married mom of 4 kids and I design gardens for a living in Los Angeles.
But there's more! You may know me from my garden makeovers on television or for my many web series!
If not , start watching my shows!
http://GardenCenterTV.ning.com & http://Blip.TV/Garden-World-Report
