Patio Garden

Patio Garden

What could be better than having your own fruits to pick? Growing Hobby sells guava and olive trees, passionfruit, pomegranate, mini bananas, dragonfruit, and even Arabian coffee plants.

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

Guava and dragonfruit 

Light

Most of our patio garden fruit is tropical, so it takes full sun. Instructions come with each plant.

Temperatures

Patio fruit needs to be protected before the first frost.

Watering

Keep moist but not waterlogged.

Toxicity

Edible!

Growth

Our patio fruit is typically a dwarf variety, easily managed on your porch.

Origin

Tropical regions

Propagation

Propagation differs according to each species, but it’s a safe bet that they can be propagated by seed. 

Dormancy

Winter dormant

guava tree

Guava trees do well in large pots, and they typically produce fruit in the second year.

dragonfruit

dragonfruit can have white or bright pink flesh

pomegranate

Pomegranate is a sweet fruit that tastes a bit like honey.

passionfruit

Passionfruit has a sweet-tart taste.

olive tree

Olive trees grow well in containers in the South Carolina climate.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Parodia

Parodia

Sometimes called ball cactus, parodia is known for its large flowers.

Parodia is used to rainy summer seasons in its native habitat. Be sure to keep the soil somewhat moist in the summer.

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

Balloon cactus – Parodia magnifica and  golden powder puff – Parodia chrysacanthion

Light

Direct sunlight

Temperatures

Can tolerate temperatures down to 50°F.

Watering

Parodia need moist soil in the spring and summer growing seasons. Fertilize regularly during the spring and summer, also.

In fall and winter, taper off from the watering regimen.

Toxicity

Non-toxic to humans or pets.

Growth

Some are small globules, while others grow to 3 ft high columns.

Parodia need to be repotted to 1 inch larger pots every 1-2 years. Becoming rootbound will stunt its growth.

Origin

South America, eastern slopes of the Andes

Propagation

Taking offsets is the easiest method.

Dormancy

Winter dormant

Parodia leninghausii

Parodia leninghausii

Parodia bloom

Parodia are sometimes called Easter Lily cacti

Notocactus – Parodia

Notocactus, now known as Parodia

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Madagascar Palm

Pachypodium | Madagascar Palm

As spiky as it is, the Madagascar palm, or Pachypodium lamerei, is still one of our favorites. It is a stem succulent, and it lets its trunk do all the work of photosynthesis.

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

Madagascar palm – Pachypodium lamerei

Light

Bright, direct sunlight

Temperatures

Madagascar palms can tolerate temperatures down to 50°F.

Watering

Allow the soil to dry completely between soakings.

Toxicity

Take care when repotting. The spines, when scraped or cut, can release an irritating white sap.

All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.

Growth

Grown indoors, the trunk may reach 3 ft in height. Outdoors, it may reach 20 ft.

When grown outdoors,  the succulent (it’s not a true palm tree) may produce white trumpet-like flowers.

Origin

Madagascar

Propagation

Offsets

Dormancy

Winter dormant. Don’t fret if it drops its leaves.

Pachypodium lamerei madagascar palm

Pachypodium lamerei madagascar palm is a succulent and not related directly to any palm trees.

Pachypodium Lamerei plants in the garden

Pachypodium Lamerei plants in the garden

Pachypodium Lamerei plants in the garden

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Money Tree

Pachira Aquatica

Chinese Money Tree

Also known as the Guiana Chestnut, the Chinese Money Tree is a popular house plant, believed to bring luck and prosperity to the household.

This guy grows quite quickly and can reach an indoor height of 6 or 7 ft. Once it hits its max height, it may just start growing horizontally. It really is an impressive houseplant.

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

The Chinese Money Tree is typically found as a single tree trunk, sometimes as a stump to bring out more foliage, or as a braid of multiple trees.

Light

The Pachira does best in long hours of indirect sunlight. We recommend placing the tree near an east-facing window.

Temperatures

Air plants do well inside the house or hanging in trees outside. Once temps drop to 50 degrees, be sure to bring them in and place on a sunny windowsill.

Watering

Water when the top of the soil feels dry. The tree should be planted in loamy, quick-drying soil. It requires 50-60% humidity, which can be achieved by misting or by placing the pot on a dish filled with pebbles and water.

Toxicity

Generally non-toxic to pets and humans, although the sap may cause skin irritation.

Growth

Chinese money trees may grow to 30 ft in their native habitat, but will remain at a height of 6 or 7 ft if grown indoors. Once it reaches this height, it may begin to spread its branches.

Origin

This tree is found in swampy areas of South America.

Propagation

Pachira can be propagated through seeds, cuttings, or air-layering – cutting through the bark of a branch and keeping the area moist by wrapping with spaghnum moss. The branch can be cut once it has grown roots.

Dormancy

Pachira is winter dormant. Fertilize in the spring and summer, but not in winter.

Pachira aquatica money tree

The Pachira aquatica money tree is a very low maintenance houseplant.

A "Money Tree" plant (Pachira Aquatica)

A “Money Tree” plant (Pachira Aquatica)

A “Money Tree” plant (Pachira Aquatica)

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Opuntia

Opuntia

Also called the Prickly Pear cactus, Opuntia has more than 300 varieties. You’ll find it in landscaping in South Carolina, and in random locations. It is said that the enslaved Africans planted prickly pear cactus to mark cemeteries and to discourage spirits from walking the earth. We once talked to a customer that planted it outside their daughter’s bedroom window…

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

Opuntia microdasys, or Bunny Ears cactus, is the most popular Opuntia at Growing Hobby. Out in the open, the most common Opuntia is the humifusa, or eastern prickly pear. Very rare but beautiful is the Carolina Prickly Pear, Opuntia tunoidea, with bluish pads and bright yellow flowers.

Light

Opuntia prefer full sun.

Temperatures

Many opuntia are hardy to extremely cold temperatures. We recommend protecting Prickly Pear cactus when temps are below freezing to keep the fluid in the pads from freezing and damaging the cactus from the inside out.

Watering

Opuntia can be watered twice monthly in the summer and once monthly otherwise. Opuntia does well planted directly in the ground, and they can survive on natural rainfall.

Toxicity

Prickly Pear fruit is often used for candies and jellies, but the fruit has fine spines that are difficult to remove.  Opuntia cactus pads are said to be dangerous, if not poisonous, to humans and pets.

Growth

Opuntia can grow to 20′ in its native habitat.

Origin

Opuntia can be found across North, Central, and South America.

Propagation

Prickly Pear cactus is most easily propagated by stem cuttings.

Dormancy

Opuntia is winter dormant.

Opuntia tunoidea eastern prickly pear

Opuntia tunoidea/macrarthra, or eastern prickly pear cactus, is native to South Carolina.

Opuntia prickly pear flowering

Prickly pear Opuntia is often used in landscaping in South Carolina.

Opuntia prickly pear cacti assortment

Opuntia prickly pear cacti: left – microdasys rufida (red bunny ears), center front and back – Argentine, right – microdasys (bunny ears).

opuntia wave cactus

Wave Opuntia is easily propagated from stem cuttings.

opuntia crested roller coaster cactus

opuntia crested roller coaster cactus

opuntia crested roller coaster cactus

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop