Caffeine Buzz

Bugs, bugs, and more bugs. In Florida, no matter where you are, insects will find you and eventually your plants, too. The other week while doing a few chores outside, I walked by the king sago (Cycas revoluta) growing near my garage and noticed a decent portion of its inner, lower fronds near the petioles turning white. Upon closer inspection ... Hey wait a minute, some of this white stuff is moving! Yep, tiny white specs were roaming all over the inside of this cycad and apparently attempting to suck the life out of it.
Not sure how they found my sago (guess it doesn’t matter), but it appears the dreaded Asian cycad scale has landed in my front yard. This pest has put a hurting on Florida landscapes by wiping out multitudes of king and queen sagos, cardboard palms, and coonties ever since its Sunshine State discovery near Miami in 1996.

Now knowing what I was facing, I had a plan for these buggers thanks to recalling an article I wrote about two years ago. In the piece, I interviewed Tom Broome, owner of The Cycad Jungle in Lakeland, FL, about a somewhat unorthodox method of pest control he found to be successful on Asian cycad scale. The weapon of choice --- spent coffee grounds.
Packed with beneficial nutrients for nitrogen-loving plants, spent coffee grounds used in gardens as a top dressing and a compost addition is nothing new. However, the grounds’ main ingredient (caffeine) apparently makes a mere top dressing into something with natural insecticide properties, too. According to Broome, the caffeine alkaloids left over in the coffee grounds kill the scale. And, the higher the caffeine content (e.g., what you find in espresso beans), the better.

In my mission to gather grounds, I didn’t have to brew pot after pot to get what I needed. A quick stop at my nearest Starbucks to ask for a bag of its “Grounds For Your Garden” was all it took. The five-pound bags of the used grounds, which are part of the coffeehouse giant’s ongoing environmental initiative, are complimentary to customers and anyone who asks.

With my bag of busted beans in hand, it was time to trim and treat my sago. The infestation was pretty dense in the fronds I removed.

Mulching around the entire root area is important for the method to be effective. Since the rainy season has arrived here, there will be plenty of precip to help the alkaloids sink in and do their work.

Crop protection, whether organic, conventional, or even unconventional --- as in this case, is something all Florida growers, landscapers, and home gardeners need to take into account and have a plan for. Many pros usually have multiple plans of attack in their arsenal.

Thanks to our hospitable climate and multiple ports of entry, invasive pest pressure is always going to be present. Frequent scouting and early intervention with the right chemistries are keys to productive pest control.

That's all for now regarding this sago saga. Hopefully the end result will be one that not only purges the pests, but also perks up the plant.

A Valuable Lesson

About every other day, my 4-year-old daughter brings home something from school that represents the fruits of her labor. I’m always interested to see what she is working on and learning about in the classroom and outside of it. It’s cool to see the book she’s made, the picture she drew, or any of the other clever items she helped make that were designed to nourish her creativity and expand her growth in knowledge. The other day, I was quite pleased to see her bring home a little squash plant. The tiny seedling, which was barely peeking out over the plastic cup in which it was placed, was none the worse for wear after digging it out from the bottom of her back pack. While there are many effective learning tools available, there’s nothing like a living, tangible object to drive home a point. And what a fine lesson this could be in not only how plants grow, but also where food really comes from.

Often, the hard work that goes into growing, packing, and shipping foods that feed the world is taken for granted. While the local supermarket is quite a sight for a wide-eyed child, us adults know the food that fills the shelves doesn’t just magically appear. Given that fact, it doesn’t hurt to teach and/or remind our future generations how food truly gets from the plot to the plate.

The other day, when I went to visit my daughter’s elementary school for a scheduled function, I stumbled upon a nice surprise as I was walking through the campus. Two decent-sized edible garden areas were focal points around the courtyard. There was a good variety of attractive veggies and herbs in different stages of growth and development: how very symbolic of the dynamic that makes up every school community. Kudos to the teachers and school administrators in sharing this concept with our kids. Talk about feeding young minds.

High marks for this elementary school veggie garden.

In a little more than a week’s time, my daughter and I have since transplanted her seedling into a bigger pot to let it stretch its roots. So far, the daily routine of morning sun, mid-day heat/humidity, and afternoon/early evening rain has done the little squash plant some good. It has gotten taller and produced four more leaves and counting. I’m really looking forward to watching the continued growth in this little plant and in my little girl, of course.

Better Safe Than Sorry

As busy as we all are in our daily lives, sometimes the most common-sense actions can be lost in the mix. Unfortunately, a momentary lapse in judgment can have a long-lasting effect --- depending on the situation. The saying: “better safe than sorry” can be applied in some way to just about any physically demanding activity I can think of. One example that comes to mind involves those who work often or exclusively with high-powered machinery (tractors, mowers, etc..). Those mechanized marvels help pros and homeowners alike get the job done, but are usually chock full of fast-moving, sharp pieces and parts that require an operator’s full attention to successfully and safely navigate from one task to the next.

No matter if you think your operating skills are beyond honing, it certainly doesn’t hurt to brush up every once in a while on proper procedure, whether you are a professional or if you are a backyard weekend warrior.

With all that being said, I found it appropriate to mention a safety-awareness initiative Kubota Tractor Corp. is promoting. Part of this campaign includes its “Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety.”

According to the literature, the “Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety” are as follows:
1. Know your tractor, its implements, and how they work.
2. Use ROPS (rollover protective structures) and seat belt whenever and wherever applicable.
3. Be familiar with you terrain and work area --- walk the area first to be sure and drive safely.
4. Never start an engine in a closed shed or garage.
5. Always keep your power take-off (PTO) properly shielded.
6. Keep your hitches low and always on the drawbar. Otherwise, your tractor might flip over backwards.
7. Never get off a moving tractor or leave it with its engine running.
8. Never refuel while the engine is running or hot.
9. Keep all children off and away from your tractor and its implements at all times.
10. Never be in a hurry or take chances about anything you do with your tractor.

Click here to see more of Kubota’s take on the importance of tractor/equipment safety.

While these safety tips should already be ingrained in the heads of everyone who operates these machines (especially professionals), bad things can and do happen when we’re in a hurry, tired, distracted, or all of the above. In a situation where your tools can injure, maim, or even kill, if not used properly, a little extra precaution and preparation can go a long way in preventing such an occurrence.

Oh, and by the way, as part of Kubota’s safety message, they came up with a nice little safety prize promotional pack. The safety prize pack includes a Kubota duffel bag and inside you will find:
· A T-Shirt
· LED Flashlight
· Custom Puzzle and Kubota Safety Coloring Book (fun for the kids) and
· The "Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety" brochure

Kubota was gracious enough to provide me with a safety prize pack to give away to one lucky reader of this blog. Interested in winning this item? Log into Twitter and go to my Twitter feed and be the first to Direct Message me the answer to this:
Out of the “Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety,” which commandment do you think is the most important one to remember? (Hint: There is no wrong answer, since they are all important. I just want to see who is paying attention).

Good luck and, more importantly, stay safe.

A Learning Opportunity

Florida and citrus go hand in hand. They just go together. The deep-rooted history that surrounds producing citrus fruit and juices for the masses is truly iconic and a large part of what makes the Sunshine State special. Indeed, Florida does recognize and appreciate its citrus heritage. After all, the official state license plate bears an image of an orange and its signature blossom.

It's pretty cool, too, that us locals are privy to such a multitude of fresh citrus in our supermarkets and farmers markets. Better yet, it doesn't get any more fresh when you can either squeeze a glass of orange juice or cut into juicy grapefruit harvested from a tree in your own yard.


With all that in mind, I stopped by Apenberry's Nursery in Orlando this past weekend. My visit, however, was not to check out the plethora of flowering plants, fruiting trees, and hardgoods the garden center had on display, but to learn more about a new collaborative, consumer-oriented campaign from KeyPlex and Lake County-based container citrus grower Record Buck Farms.
Representatives from both operations were on hand to discuss details of the "My Citrus Tree" program, which features an informational website (MyCitrusTree.com) and showcases the rollout of KeyPlex Citrus H/G --- a new dooryard citrus micronutrient formula. The entire promotional package is geared specifically to citrus-caring homeowners.

After taking time to speak with Rich Johnston of KeyPlex Direct and Danny Finch of Record Buck Farms (see videos) at the event, it's clear the campaign's foundation is built on the basics of education. The main lesson being taught: A healthy citrus tree not only looks more attractive and produces consistent fruit, but also is better equipped to fight off pest and disease. The latter being of utmost importance.

Unfortunately, our subtropical climate, which makes it ideal to grow citrus, also can be the perfect breeding ground for invasive plant pests and diseases. Major case in point: The Florida citrus industry has been struggling with HLB (citrus greening disease) ever since it was first reported in South Miami-Dade County in August 2005. Much time and effort has been put into trying to find a cure for this devastating disease. With few promising leads and a possible solution still years away, a lot of those efforts lately have shifted in finding ways for growers to cope with HLB. Though the exchange of research-based information has been fast and furious on the industry side of things, the general public's knowledge of such a serious problem is minimal at best.



Kudos for the campaign's proactive nature. Timing couldn't be better for an initiative like this considering the need for basic information. Going off what little most people know about citrus greening gathered from mainstream media reports (unfortunately, the majority not very comprehensive), homeowners might be feeling pressure to cut and remove their otherwise healthy citrus tree(s) in lieu of possibly hosting a destructive, economically impacting disease in their own back yard. Who can blame them?

While cutting and removing HLB-infected trees has been a common practice in infected groves for years, more growers today are trying different methods to live with greening thereby prolonging their investment's productivity. Nutritional supplementation combined with vigilant psyllid (the disease's carrier) control is proving successful for some and is now being recognized as a viable avenue for growers fighting to stay in business.



In hopes of getting the message out and spreading the word about the campaign, KeyPlex and Record Buck Farms will be taking their show on the road (plastic pink flamingos and all) and hosting similar events at multiple garden centers and nurseries around the state, according to Johnston. Locations and dates are still to be determined.

Homeowners who care to keep their citrus, or who are interested in purchasing a citrus tree for their yard (like myself), certainly need to understand the scope of greening's challenge. Sharing industry knowledge on a grand scale --- especially with those willing to learn what to look for and how to proceed --- is only going to help in this case. And, if that means protecting and ultimately saving citrus in professional groves as well as in back yards, even better. That's something all us citrus-loving Floridians can agree on and drink to --- OJ that is.

A Picture Can Be Worth ... A Lot

When it comes to making purchasing decisions nowadays, most people rely heavily on digital technology to gather vital information. I know I do. In an instant, you can boot up your computer and/or just open the browser on your iPhone to compare and contrast specs on just about anything from toaster ovens to 3-D TVs to waterfront homes. Along with all the important listed features, up-close, detailed images with all types of enhanced views and 360-degree angles also are included to aid the shopper's search.

Though price is usually the ultimate deciding factor in most transactions, how the object of your desire appears at first glance is what is going to make or break a potential deal. All functionality aside, if something is not suited for your specific taste or style (you know, if it's ugly) then taking a pass and looking at the next option is how the normal chain of events progresses. I know, we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but we all are guilty of it at one time or another.

On the seller's side, it's hard to account for taste. But when you're in a competitive market, having quality product and services make a difference. The ability to effectively show off what you have to offer (especially in the digital domain) is vital for success and a key to survival for many.

Today's photographic technology options make it hard for even the least-experienced novice to take a bad picture. Yet, plenty of less-than-flattering images of people, pets, plants, and property (to name just a few) are published and posted all the time. When in doubt, hire a professional to secure the photos and help present the image you want your company and its products and services to be portrayed. Now, if you were taking a Marketing 101 class, no doubt a similar passage spewing the same kind of "wisdom" would be in the textbook. Yep. It's basic stuff, but cannot be stressed enough. Now, if you don't want to or cannot spend the extra money, re-focus your efforts, practice, and learn how to take a better picture. It's not that hard, especially when you have attractive subject matter (i.e. a greenhouse full of beautiful hydrangeas or a virtual scratch-and-sniff landscape teaming with twisting vines of Confederate jasmine---BTW, proud to say, both my pics) on the other side of the lens.

Indeed: "A picture is worth a thousand words." When in business to sell, the right picture could be worth at least that and hopefully much more in potential profit. Click!

Pumping Up Promotion

From plants and flowers to fruits and vegetables, new varieties are something to get excited about. Typically, years of diligent work and research go into producing something that improves on a predecessor. Whether it be more vibrant colors, enhanced cold hardiness, proven pest and disease resistance, or better taste, these are all horticultural scientific breakthroughs that should be celebrated.

For those of us who cover ag for a living, new product news is something we search for and report on a daily basis. The press releases we receive from companies promoting their wares and accomplishments are the tools we need to get the info out to our readers and then for them to get to their clients, and eventually end consumers.

Recently, Costa Farms and Suntory teamed up to create a product promotion meant to make a big impact for the Sun Parasol line of flowering plants. The video presentation of their recent spring kick-off event not only is a good example of using today's modern technology, connectivity, and instant worldwide reach to get the message out, but also a way to create buzz and excitement about a product line they believe in and one they believe people will buy into.

Though the scope (mainly time and money) of this kind of production might not be easily duplicated by just anybody, the concept of a simple video and distribution via YouTube, website, blog, or eNewsletter sure can. Not to mention, other means of slick communication choices (podcasts, webinars, etc..) Here's to continue showing us what you got. We'll be watching and waiting.

Spring Forward, Think Ahead

Spring is in the air, and my azaleas know it.

It appears just about every plant and tree around my Central Florida yard knows what time it is: early spring. The azaleas are in full bloom and putting on quite an impressive display. My pink tabebuias are sporting scores of trumpet-shaped flowers. The twisting vines of star and confederate jasmine are starting to pop, and countless crinum lilies are sprouting anew from old, withered stalks left behind by this year's cooler and wetter than normal winter. Oh, and my weeds are really green and robust, too --- sigh --- but I digress.

Even though the threat of freezes has melted away for this season and the emerging color and warmer weather are beckoning many to get their yards back in shape, a little hindsight and foresight is needed by all to set things right.

Despite the freezing temps being a royal pain for growers, those who were able to endure and protect their supply are sitting pretty. Things are picking up for garden centers and nurseries with good material and selection. I visited a local IGC this past weekend and the place was mobbed with eager homeowners like myself and landscapers looking to stock up. This scene was impressive, especially since a nearby Home Depot, located just down the street, was advertising a spring "doorbuster" event. BTW, HD was mobbed, too.

As I was perusing displays scouting new plant material to replace what was lost to those cold January nights, there was a little voice inside my head telling me to "be smart" and don't make the same mistake as before by choosing borderline plant material that stretches and often breaks the limits of cold hardiness. Easier said than done, however. You can rationalize almost anything when within striking distance of a point of purchase. Reality tends to prevail in the end after you spend an afternoon or two tearing out another ill-advised landscape addition.

Now is a prime time for Florida garden centers and nurseries to be pushing cold hardy, site appropriate plants. It's a great selling point, especially with this past winter's cold spell still fresh in the minds of many. The temperature may be in the upper 70s and 80s now and soon to be 90s, but thinking ahead to what next winter might bring is a good move that will pay off in the long run.

Looks and performance are great attributes when looking for things like a car or landscape specimen. I think more people are beginning to see the value of performance --- I know I am --- and that's a beautiful thing.