Spiraled Shell Tillandsia Garden

Tillandsias, also known as air plants, are a member of the Bromeliad family. Mostly native to Central and South America, there are more than 730 species in the Tillandsia genus. Attaching themselves to other plants or trees, they thrive without soil, absorbing nutrients and water through the leaves. While some grow in the desert, the tillandsias featured here at Logee’s are generally found in the understory of a tropical forest.

Tillandsias come in many shapes and sizes. The plants themselves are usually quite durable, made up of stiff leaves that form in a rosette. Some are wispy, others thin and broad. They reproduce by seed or by offsets (also called pups), which is how they grow in size and reproduce. The only pruning that needs to be done is cutting off old flower spikes.

One of the best-selling plants here at Logee’s is this attractive, easy-care Spiraled Shell Tillandsia Garden, which makes a colorful decoration for a partially sunlit window. Three “air plant” tillandsias, including a Belize Bulbosa, a red Brachycaulos Abdita and a silvery-green Ionantha, are “planted” on top of a sustainably-harvested spiraled shell with green reindeer moss as the finishing touch. Overall height of the Garden is approximately 6” tall. A 4” aluminum hanger makes it easy to display the Tillandsia Garden.

Mist or soak the Spiraled Shell Tillandsia Garden once or twice a week to keep the plants healthy. When grown indoors in the north during the winter, more frequent misting is beneficial. However, they can tolerate dryness quite well. Just don’t forget about them entirely!

Spiraled Shell Tillandsia Garden – Highlights

Hardiness Zone: 10
Bloom Season: Intermittent
Sun Requirement: Partial Sun
Grows to: 6″
Minimum Temperature Indoors: 60°F

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Banana ‘Super Dwarf Cavendish’

Anyone can grow bananas at home!

The Banana ‘Super Dwarf Cavendish’ (Musa acuminata) is an exciting strain of the Cavendish banana that is amazingly fast and easy-to-grow, and will actually produce fruit at a manageable height of just 3’ or less. The bananas will appear often after one year. Although the fruit is smaller than commercial bananas, they’re perfect for little hands or small appetites.

Banana plants do best in full sun. When actively growing, they need constant moisture. We recommend bringing the soil surface to slight dryness between waterings. When watering, thoroughly saturate soil until a little water runs out of the bottom of the pot. Musa are easy to grow and rewarding for the gardener due to their speed of growth, which can be optimized by warmth, water and fertilizer. They prefer humidity levels of 50% or higher, but will tolerate low levels with no harm.

Banana ‘Super Dwarf Cavendish’ – Highlights

Hardiness Zone: 9, 10
Bloom Season: Intermittent
Sun Requirement: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Grows to: 3′
Minimum Temperature Indoors: 40°F

I love banana plants and Logee's NEVER disappoints me. They always come in healthy and happy. I am living in the NYC area and it was very cold out as you can imagine, and the plant had ZERO damage from the cold. I highly recommend getting your plants from them, Banana plants are very tough especially for tropical plants. If you wish to start growing tropicals then this is a good starter one. any questions you have (and I always have tons because I love learning about them) the staff is patient and helpful. Don't be afraid to ask for info, do your homework, and you will have a great experience!!! I know i did!
- Logee's customer, Acarentz - 11/2/2014

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Showy Medinilla

Native to the Philippines, the Showy Medinilla (Medinilla magnifica) is actually an epiphyte, a plant that grows on other trees but does not withdraw its food from those trees as parasites do. This species of Medinilla is also commonly known as the “Philippine orchid.” Various species and hybrids in this family are well known and much sought after with plant collectors.

The Showy Medinilla displays large umbels of draping pink blooms crowned with pink bracts. From spring through early summer, flowers emerge from the growing tips and last for weeks. It is a large blooming-size plant in a 6″ pot and requires minimal fertilizer.

In the tropics, the Showy Medinilla is grown as a perennial and is a common house plant in cooler climes. This easily grown epiphyte loves warm temperatures and prefers humidity levels above 50%. However, it can tolerate lower levels of humidity for short periods of time.

FUN FACT: King Boudewijn of Belgium was a big fan of Medinilla. He grew them in the royal conservatories and they were depicted on the bank note of 10,000 Belgian francs!

Showy Medinilla – Highlights

Hardiness Zone: 10
Bloom Season: Spring, Summer
Sun Requirement: Parial Sun
Grows to: 2-3′
Minimum Temperature Indoors: 60

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Albuca ‘Frizzle Sizzle’

If you’re looking for an unusual plant to bring enjoyment and whimsy to your gardening endeavors, then Albuca ‘Frizzle Sizzle‘ is for you! Native to South Africa, Albuca ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ is recognizable by its distinctive leaves, which are narrow, spiral tipped with glandular hairs. Its thick, tightly curled leaves on short stems arise from an underground bulb. Fragrant yellow flowers appear in spring on flower spikes that are adorned with 10-20 blooms per spike. The blossoms have a pleasant fragrance that is slightly sweet, with a hint of vanilla.

Albuca ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ does best in full sun. You’ll want to let the soil dry out between waterings. One of the best things about this distinctive and eye-catching plant is that there are no pest or disease problems with ‘Frizzle Sizzle,’ making it an ideal home garden plant.

Keep in mind, when Albuca ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ sends up its flower stalks in spring, it often causes the tips of the leaves to brown. This is a natural occurrence. If you don’t want this to happen, simply remove the flower stalks as soon as they start to grow to prevent leaf tip browning.

Albuca ‘Frizzle Sizzle‘ – Highlights

Hardiness Zone: 8, 9, 10
Bloom Season: Spring, Summer
Sun Requirement: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Grows to: 7-12″
Minimum Temperature Indoors: 60
Plant Type: Easy Grower, Fragrant

I've only had this plant for just a couple of weeks and it's grown by leaps and bounds! And it is already sending up a shoot of flowers!! Now I wish I had ordered more than one plant! I've got to say, that every plant I've purchased from Logee's has been perfect! Very well packed, so the plants always arrive in good condition even if the box they come in is smashed!
- Logee's customer, Sherry - 5/21/2015

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Mimosa Sensitive Plant

The Mimosa Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica) is a fun and unusual plant that absolutely loves the sun! Kids especially enjoy the Sensitive Plant as it actually moves when you touch its leaves. The fine leaflets open in the daylight, but when they’re touched they collapse downward. An hour or so later, they’ll come back up again.

As the plants mature, they form small puffs of pink bloom which add an extra benefit to this fascinating species. What a perfect way to introduce children to the world of plants!

Remember, the Sensitive Plant thrives in a sunny location, preferably in temperatures of 60°-65°F or higher. This makes them a perfect addition to a windowsill or light garden. For best results, it is recommended that you prune your Sensitive Plant only during the active growing season of spring and summer.

Mimosa Sensitive Plant – Highlights

Hardiness Zone: 10
Bloom Season: Summer
Sun Requirement: Full Sun
Grows to: 12″
Minimum Temperature Indoors: 60

I had remembered these plants from when I was stationed in the Philippines years ago. They used to grow like weeds covering the ground. You could see your footprints in the closed leaves when you walked across a clearing. The plant was in perfect shape when I received it and then I almost killed it. I re-potted the plant and put it out in a sunny location next to our water garden. It was May in NH with the daytime temperature was in the 70's. However, during the night it dropped to 42 F and in the morning it looked like I tortured the poor plant. The tips of the leaves were actually dead. It never dawned on me the plant could be so cold intolerant because it is so indestructible in the Philippines. If I had read the nice care sheet Logee's puts out with each plant I would have known enough not to do what I did. The plant has recovered nicely with warmer weather.
- Logee's customer, Herb - 5/27/2015

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