Plants from Logee’s Tropical Container Plants for Home and Garden
As a serious and passionate gardener, whenever I have the time I always enjoy visiting area nurseries in search of new and unusual houseplants to add to my collection.
During a recent business day trip to Northeastern Connecticut, I made a stop at Logee’s Plants for Home & Garden in Danielson - one of my favorite sources for tropical specimens. Logee’s was founded in 1892 by William D. Logee. He started the business as a cut-flower shop and then expanded into begonias and tropical container plants. Today, Logee’s is owned and operated by Williams’s grandson, Byron Martin, and his business partner, Laurelynn Martin. Logee’s offers more than 1500 plant cultivars - most of which are all propagated right in its greenhouses. I have been going to Logee's for many years, and Byron has been a guest on both my television and radio shows. On this trip, I was excited to bring home several new plants to add to my growing collection - Begonias, Anthuriums, two Staghorn ferns, and a hanging citrus.
Enjoy these photos.
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- It is always so much fun to visit Logee’s – I never come home empty handed. Once I get the specimens home, I bring them into my main greenhouse, so they can be repotted, fed, and watered.
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- Here is one of two staghorn ferns I purchased. These plants are mounted on wooden boards. Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, which means they are air plants. They gladly grow on a wall mount, which lets air circulate around them.
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- Ryan chose to hang the staghorns on two upright pillars in the greenhouse. Staghorn ferns are very interesting plants. Fern leaves are actually called fronds, and staghorn ferns have two types. The first is the “antler” frond – these are the large leaves that shoot out of the center of the plant, and from which staghorn ferns get their names, since they resemble the antlers of deer or moose. The second type of staghorn fern frond is called the shield frond. These are the round, hard plate-like leaves that surround the base of the plant. Their function is to protect the plant roots, and take up water and nutrients.
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- Here is the other staghorn fern hanging nearby. I adore staghorns and over the years have collected quite a few of these magnificent specimens.
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- Next, Ryan pulls several pots for my new begonias and anthuriums. As a general rule, choose a pot that is one to two inches larger than its current container, and be sure there are holes in the bottom for good drainage.
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- Ryan is using Scott’s Potting Mix. This formula is fast-draining and includes sand and perlite to help create an optimal growing environment. The mix is also fortified with iron and plant food.
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- A clay shard is placed over the hole to help with drainage. We always save shards from broken pots – it’s a great way to repurpose those pieces.
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- Ryan fills the pot with mix to just under the rim of the container.
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- And then gently places it into the new pot – planting it slightly deeper than it was before. If needed, a little more potting mix is added around the plant and patted down, so there is good contact between the plant and the soil.
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- This is Begonia ferox, a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae. It is a rhizomatous begonia endemic to Guangxi, China. Look closely – it is particularly striking because as it matures, it develops raised black cones on its leaves.
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- This is Begonia Joy’s Jubilee. It is a colorful and beautiful begonia with stunning white dots on deep green outer banding that transitions to a rich magenta center. This plant also has ruffled-edged leaves. It is a Byron Martin hybrid. Logee’s has been hybridizing begonias for a long time.
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- Here is a closer look at the leaf center. This begonia thrives in bright to medium indirect light, so it’s best kept near an east or west facing window.
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- Because begonias store water in the rhizomes, which are its thick, fuzzy stems, it is important not to overwater them. Only water these plants when the top one-inch of soil feels dry.
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- These are the roots of a very healthy Anthurium magnificum. Here, Ryan points out the new root growth. Anthurium is a genus of about 1,000 species of flowering plants, the largest genus of the arum family, Araceae. Other common names include tailflower, flamingo flower, and laceleaf.
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- The leaves of Anthurium magnificum can become quite massive, up to 18 to 24-inches long by 20-inches wide when fully mature. The leaves appear leathery with age and feature a lush dark green color with contrasting bright white veining.
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- Ryan pots it up as he does the others – into a vessel that is about one to two inches larger in diameter than its original container.
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- Here he is ready to pot up another Anthurium. Which pot is best? The leaves of this Anthurium variety are long, so taller, narrow pots are good to use, but Anthuriums do not like to sit in wet soil, so the right pot should definitely be fast draining. Both these pots are made by master potter, Guy Wolff. He says I have the largest single collection of his handmade clay vessels. All my plants look so wonderful displayed in the historical shapes that Guy and his son, Ben, create.
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- Ryan selected the smaller of the two. It will grow in this vessel and then eventually move to the larger one. For this Anthurium, Ryan uses an even faster draining soil mix.
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- Ryan sprinkles fertilizer over the soil of all the newly potted plants…
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- … And then takes the plants out to the greenhouse. This area is filled with all my begonias.
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- Ryan places the Anthurium on the other side, where I have a few other similar plants. The long leaves of this specimen will grow nicely here at the edge where they cannot be disturbed.
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- And look at this citrus fruit growing on my newest specimen. I am so excited to try it.
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- This hanging citrus will be brought down to my citrus hoop house where it will be stored with all my other dwarf citrus fruit trees. I am so very pleased with these additions to my greenhouse. I am looking forward to seeing them mature and thrive.
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