The houseplant/tropical plant-related Retailer’s Choice Awards from July’s Cultivate’22 I listed in the last Tropical Topics were great picks, indeed! But by no means did they encapsulated all the TT-appropriate items found at the summer’s hottest trade show. I found a few other items that totally spoke to the tropical world, as you knew I would. Such as?

From the folks at Plant Development Services Inc., Colocasia Royal Hawaiian Waikiki joins the Southern Living Plant Collection. It has all the greatness of a colocasia—large leaves, a promisingly plump habit, for example—along with some extraordinary leaf coloration, and by that I mean the color changes with, greens and creams, to pinks and reds. Works equally well in full sun to shade conditions.

Did I tell you about Proven Winners’ newest use for their Heart to Heart Caladiums? Here’s a hint:

I know, right? A totally appropriate Christmas plant was right under our noses the whole time! The idea has been brewing within the organization for a few years. From what I understand, Moss Greenhouses grew some caladiums for Laura LeBoutillier of Garden Answer to use for the holidays, and she made an entire video about it. And now, Proven Winners is full steam ahead with the concept. Fun and novel. They even developed tags. 

(Read the above in the voice of a peanut hawker at Fenway Park.) You may have read in my Buzz e-newsletter about Monrovia offering houseplants as liners to their IGC customers. They began offering houseplants just recently, and started with mostly larger “ready for my closeup” sizes. The liners, though, are new.

Monrovia received feedback from some customers who have been wanting to grow on their own houseplants from liners for whatever reason. Maybe they are growing combos or bowls. Maybe they want to grow in special pots. Some, I’m told, specifically wanted these liners for workshops and planting parties. If you’re an IGC and are interested in procuring some of these liners, talk with your Monrovia rep about availability.

Terra Nova Nurseries isn’t only perennials! Terra Nova’s Director of New Product Development Chuck Pavlich told me they are offering liners of certain houseplant varieties, including Philodendron Pink Princess. That one comes with a bit of a story—and you know I love stories. Chuck said, “Terra Nova put PPP in the lab in the early 2000s but it didn’t receive any traction. It wasn’t until someone made an inquiry about it that I asked our then-lab manager (and now general manager) Harini Korlipara if it was still in the lab. It WAS! After more than a decade of living in a test tube, year after year, Harini woke it up and started production once again.”

That is a great story! I wonder what else is in the deep sleep room? Anyway, Pink Princess will be available again next month—they have a brief gap in production. They will also have the following available for future ordering: Monstera adansonii, Philodendron hastatum Silver Sword, Dracaena cantleyi Malachite and “a few surprises and some exclusive varieties, too,” Chuck added. Interested? Contact whoever you contact for Terra Nova items.

I missed a houseplant/tropicals-appropriate Retailer’s Choice Awards in the last Tropical Topics! My bad, I forgot to include the SUS-Tee Aquameter from the folks at Cabinotier Co. out of Japan. It is small, light and doesn’t look like much, but inside it has a unique wick that detects moisture. If the top of the wick is blue, it’s fine with moisture. If it’s white, water. Also, no batteries, USB cord or app needed! www.Sustee.jp/en.

Here’s one that the roving band of retailer judges may have missed. It’s the 100% cotton macrame plant hangers from Soul of the Party Macrame. Based in California, the owner Kevin (dagnabbit, I didn’t catch his last name!) designs all of the styles himself—he has more than 100!—and sources them from China. www.soul-of-the-party.com.

Thanks to eagle-eyed colleague Jen Polanz, we have a seventh item from Cultivate for your consideration. This Begonia brevirimosa is a new variety from the folks at ForemostCo. Jen said she was walking by the New Varieties Showcase and this item’s coloration stopped her in her tracks.

Its olive-green leaves have metallic pink markings and it even has pink flowers that bloom sporadically. And apparently those pink blooms will develop a more intense color when given sufficient lighting. If it’s a head-turner for us, you know you have a winner. It’s available as URC and in cell packs. Contact the folks at ForemostCo should you be interested.

That’s it for my coverage of Cultivate’22. Unless, of course, you have some Tropical Topics-related items you wanted to share in this space. I’m happy to do so! Drop me some info about whatever it is to ewells@ballpublishing.com.