Episode 3402

- [Narrator] Have you ever grown a tropical pitcher plant? Phillipe Chadwick is in Morrison, Tennessee at RedLeaf Exotics to visit with the propagator and grower of these truly beautiful plants. Then, Annette Shrader marvels at how much interest and color container plantings can bring to any space, especially when they're displayed en masse to create a garden vignette of its own. We'll learn pointers from this talented grower with an artist's eye for combining color, texture, form, and habit. Join us! Let's delve into a collection of fascinating tropical plants that are surprisingly pretty easy to care for.

- I'm here at RedLeaf Exotics, one of the world's leading carnivorous plant nurseries. They specialize in tropical pitcher plants, and it's spectacular! I can't wait to go inside. Let's go take a look. So, we're inside the greenhouse here with Domonick at RedLeaf Exotics, a very well-known, world-known breeder of these pitcher plants. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

- Sure. I've been growing tropical pitcher plants my entire life, probably around 9. Venus fly traps and stuff. And they've always been with me whether I was in an apartment, New York City, wherever, they always were on my windowsill. And then just eight years ago in Brooklyn, I had an opportunity when I lived there to build a greenhouse, grow more of them than I've ever grown, and I turned it into business and it exploded. And eight years later, here we are, I have new updated greenhouses and I specialize in these, my favorite plants in the world: nepenthes.

- They are spectacular.

- I love them. They're like artwork.

- Yeah.

- [Domonick] This one is really fun and kind of fat in a fun way. I love how fat it is.

- Is there anything special about this one?

- Yeah, so this particular carnivorous plant here is one of my favorite in my collection and one I've had for many years, I'm, I'll say famous, or well-known for it. It's called Nepenthes veitchii "Candy Dreams". And this species is endemic to the island of Borneo, right above Australia. And they're very rare in the wild, almost endangered. A lot of people poach them and stuff. You probably won't even see these stripe types in the wild anymore. But I've had this plant for many years and once it started maturing and getting these beautiful colors and big round vases, I call them, a lot of people gained interest and wanted cuttings. And now today, I breed a lot of my genetics. My staple plants are bred with this, so it really is like the image of my nursery for the carnivorous plants.

- Cool. Wow! And to kind of go all a little-- So, these carnivorous plants, these pitchers hold water that then kind of create a juice that will kind of digest the insects that go in there? So, that's just so fascinating.

- [Domonick] I almost picture them like a stomach just on the end of a leaf. And there are digestive enzymes they produce even before they open. And they use scent, smell, color to lure insects and prey. They'll eat sugar and then they get a little drunk. It's intoxicating. It won't do anything to us. But when they get a little intoxicated, they'll fall and drown. And over the course of a few days, it will digest them and use the nitrogen and the broken down matter to grow just like fertilizer.

- Yeah. That's just so fascinating! So the color and texture on these is quite spectacular also. It really drew me to come look at these. What's special about these?

- [Domonick] I love the dark-colored pitchers. You don't get a ton that are dark like this. But all of the plants that we're seeing up here in the front of the greenhouse are species, a lot of them are critically endangered. Some of them are functionally extinct, so they'll never be able to replicate in the wild. You can only see them in cultivation, which is crazy. But a lot of these are just so slow growing, demanding. Like this plant is 10 years old, and it's still a baby. These pitchers will get maybe this big, so you could see maybe another 10 years. They're very slow growing. A lot of time and patience. But that's what you're seeing up here. All species that would normally come from the wild or are found in the wild. But there are easier-to-grow ones and much faster growing ones than what I have up here.

- Yeah, well let's go look at some of those.

- Sure.

- [Phillipe] So, these are the hybrids that we've got behind us right now?

- Yeah. Usually the hybrids, like in anything, are more vigorous, larger, more colorful, so you could kind of see that in here. They're a lot larger and the rare dark one I showed you up front, you could see with breeding you get something that's way bigger, kind of more dramatic, and way easier to grow. Still, some of these hybrids are rare but way easier to grow and possible than something like I showed you up front. A lot of growers today just have them on a window cellar in like a grow tent and they put a good quality grow light over them. And I feel like that gets them growing really nice, just being patient. They don't really need the crazy humidity and stuff. You could hand mist, but good quality light is probably key to growing the best pitchers like these on them.

- [Phillipe] Yeah, this one's fun too 'cause it kind of shows the evolution of the pitcher.

- [Domonick] They start like this and then they open.

- [Phillipe] Yeah. That is fun.

- [Domonick] They are fun.

- So some of these look pretty huge, like they could maybe even eat something bigger than an insect?

- [Domonick] Yeah. I very commonly in the greenhouse have them eat mice and I just had one eat its first bird. But once they get this size, they're definitely gonna eat mice. Birds are really rare 'cause I don't have them in the greenhouse, but the mice will come in, and see all this glistening white sugar? It literally is pure sugar. You can even taste it. Beautiful sweet sugar, it's so sweet.

- Wow!

- Right?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, pure sugar. So the mice will come for that, if at all. I haven't had many in this new greenhouse 'cause it's sealed up. But they'll come up, they'll drink that and they'll fall in here and you can feel that. It's like a plastic bottle.

- [Philippe] Oh, it's like a glass bottle?

- [Domonick] Yeah. It's so tough. They'll drown first, sadly. And then over the course of two weeks, they'll be completely disintegrated and you'll see the big leaf jumps as if it was fertilized. And a little surprise for you guys. In this pitcher here, we actually caught a bird and I'll show you how pitcher plant people show you what their plants ate. So, I'm gonna use my forceps and go down in here, but just get ready for it. It might even smell. Oh my god, that is a bird! Or what's left of it. You could see some of the feathers and hair. I don't wanna make it smell, but usually when they're this big, this one's a little smaller, you could see how it's browning. It might've been a little too much for the plant to handle but it's still gonna absorb it as long as this is green. And the next leaves and pitchers will just keep getting bigger because of the fertilizer or the little animal that died in there.

- Yeah. Yeah. Wow! That really ups the ante for the term "carnivorous plant".

- Yeah. A lot of people will say, can they eat people, or can they eat like cats? Not really. But I think it's impressive that they can eat a mouse, even sometimes rats or birds. We never thought that was possible, you know? And we're all used to little Venus fly traps, so they definitely are a little more monstrous than we give them credit for.

- Yes. Fascinating! So, you talked about that you've gotten into breeding of these pitcher plants. So I guess, I assume, these are kind of where we start? These are seed grown?

- Yes, I'm actually one of the only nurseries in the world that only do seed grown. Most people do tissue culture today. To replicate, I only do seed grown. It's a lot more work. You need a lot more space to grow out. But the quality and genetics always shows through. So, I love only doing from seed. And you could see in these pots, this is what they start as, just little tiny microgreens. And then once you get to around two years, this is how long it could take from seed, you get something more like this.

- [Philippe] Wow!

- [Domonick] I am getting faster at it in this new greenhouse, but this is how I start the little seedlings. I'll pluck them out, put them in cell trays and over the course of, you know, weeks and months, they just get bigger and bigger. And then I'm now at a place where instead of potting them up when I sell them, 'cause I sell mostly smaller plants, more affordable with really good genetics now. I'll just pop them out, pop them up and ship them on. I like to sell stuff at the smaller size now. It's just easier for me, the customer. I do sell bigger plants, but I like to try to stick to my new releases in genetics. And most people are so happy with that.

- [Phillipe] As far as the plants in general, if somebody was to want to have one, you know, just a common person to have one at home, what kind of care are we talking about with that?

- Okay. I always like to keep the care super simple. I always say good quality water, rainwater, RO water, reverse osmosis. If you can't do that, they'll still probably grow well. But good quality light. I feel like even most window sills just need an extra bump with a grow light, maybe 12 hours minimum for if you wanna really grow them to their best, you know, and look beautiful. And then just hand misting and maybe once a month, like a fish fertilizer sprayed on the leaves. You don't have to feed them bugs. You can fertilize carnivorous plants, but just spray the leaves and pitchers once a month with a quarter strength of, most fertilizers work. And they will just keep producing pitchers and grow. They do take a few weeks, maybe months to settle, but once you have them settled and they are consistent in their care and temperature and light, they seem to do fine. They don't like being moved all over the house. They're not one of those plants. But I'd say light is super important or they just kind of don't do much.

- And consistency? Because them being, are they epiphytes?

- They're epiphytic. Some are terrestrial, but a lot are epiphytes.

- [Philippe] So essentially, they're stuck where they are? So they want that consistent water, humidity, light. So, this is so cool. The information has been great. How can people get in contact with you?

- So, my website is redleafexotics.com, and Instagram, Facebook is RedLeaf Exotics, but all the plants will be on the website. And if you have any questions, let us know.

- [Philippe] As fun and as exciting as these are, and they may seem intimidating to you at home, you can grow these.

- You can so do it.

- You can, so try something new.

- Gardening and containers can add much life into our gardens and into our patios. The plants that we choose, the variety of color, and those things that are maybe rare even in Summertown, Tennessee, you're gonna see this great example. We're so happy to be here, Memra.

- Thank you.

- I know that just going slowly through the paths of your garden and your containers, that you have an eye for color and plants, and I'm so excited for you to introduce us to some new plants, I think, along the way. Tell us about what's going on.

- Yes. Well, I enjoy using containers because you can prolong the growing season and you can control what they're growing in better than you can in the ground because we have a lot of large trees and the trees take all the moisture. So, I like to use containers, so that I can control their environment. Here I have some Malabar spinach that's growing and some, just some ornamental grasses there. And this is an ornamental oregano, "Kent" oregano. And it was a surprise plant. I wasn't sure. I've read that they don't do well in our humidity, but it's done okay.

- I think the fact that it's cascading also helps. Now, that spinach is edible. Correct?

- [Memra] It is, it is. Now they say when it starts to berry that it tends to get a little bitter, but I love the berries. They'll turn into purple berries, the flowers will, and you'll notice here I have black elephant ears. I have several of those in many of my pots. I overwinter those and then I have the vinca. This is just a mixture of plants.

- [Annette] And you know, this is that black so-called petunia, isn't it?

- [Memra] Yes, uh huh, it is. And that's about the only petunia I can grow. Petunias don't do well for me for some reason.

- [Annette] Well, right off the bat, I can see your eye for color, just in this container color and how you've accentuated all of the purple in these plants right here. I think you have unusual containers by using wheelbarrows.

- I do. I typically have three to four wheelbarrows every year. And this one gets some sun and some shade. So, in this one I've got some coleus and this is "Red Flash" caladium. And I've got a variegated New Guinea impatiens.

- [Annette] I love those.

- [Memra] I do too. They really bring color, even if they're not blooming.

- [Annette] This is beautiful.

- [Memra] It is. Coleus, just, I enjoy them in the containers because they bring color without having to have a bloom.

- [Annette] Wheelbarrow number two.

- [Memra] This is the one I refer to as the sun wheelbarrow. So, it's got coleus, it's got some of the "Diamond Frost" Euphorbia just different things. The coleus has pretty much taken over. It did have other things, but the coleus gotten quite large this year, so.

- [Annette] I did check. It does have a wheel on it.

- [Memra] Yes, there is a wheel under there.

- [Annette] These are beautiful. This is very aromatic.

- It is. In this wheelbarrow, I had some basil coming up this year from seed, and so I just hated to waste it. So, it also made it every time I walked past, I smell that smell. But I've got some more of the variegated impatiens.

- And I love the white.

- [Memra] Yes. And then I've the black elephant ear and a few more coleus back in here.

- [Annette] I don't know which one I like the best.

- [Memra] I always have a hard time. And every year I try to take pictures, just to remind myself what did good. But every year, they're different because I just kind of use what I've got on hand.

- [Annette] I should say, this looks like a magazine cover. What is your secret here?

- [Memra] We have these set up on a timer on self-watering. And so, that helps tremendously with keeping the plants happy.

- [Annette] So, what are the contents of these window boxes?

- [Memra] I have the Surefire Cherry Cordial Begonias, the SummerWave Torenia, and the "Silver Falls" Dichondra, and then there by the steps are the black elephant ears again.

- [Annette] Is that an easily found begonia?

- [Memra] It's a newer variety, so it's just now becoming commercially available. But I lucked into a whole tray of them this year, so hopefully next year they'll be even easier to find.

- Well this is very, very, very pleasing. And then you have some unusual plants in your pots in the front.

- Yes. the bromeliads. I have to, those of course do not overwinter, but they're just such a beautiful pop of color.

- [Annette] Like I said, you have an eye for color.

- [Memra] I love color.

- [Annette] This is so beautiful, Memra.

- [Memra] Thank you. This is called a blue butterfly pea vine. And I start these from seed in February and you can see it's starting to make some peas right now that I'll save the seed from.

- [Annette] Oh, okay. I see that.

- [Memra] And the bloom can also be used to make a tea, and it's a beautiful blue tea, unless you add lemon and then it turns pink.

- That is really interesting. And you know, I've seen these from a distance, but I've never reached in and touched. Those are beautiful. Then over here?

- [Memra] That is called a "Sapphire Showers" Duranta. And that is a tropical. I do have to take that in, but it's so worthwhile because it blooms all summer.

- [Annette] Does it attract any certain insect?

- [Memra] Oh, it attracts butterflies, bees.

- [Annette] Yes, I put my hand on a bee.

- [Memra] All the pollinators enjoy that one.

- [Annette] Okay. This is beautiful!

- [Memra] Thank you. This is an Asarina splendens vine, or some people call it snapdragon vine.

- [Annette] Oh yeah.

- [Memra] And I start these from seed in February, although I did have some volunteers come up this this year. It surprised me. But this is one plant. It grows so fast and big and so, it's a great plant to have and it's got a small trellis in there, but it grows up to that and then it just cascades down over this barrel.

- [Annette] And I think I'm seeing correctly that these are future blooms up in here.

- [Memra] Yes, yes. It will bloom right up until frost. In fact, it pretty much blooms all summer. It's one of my favorite vines.

- [Annette] Everyone needs a fence to grow this vine on.

- [Memra] Oh yes, I would highly recommend. This is called a Mexican flamevine and I grow this from cuttings every year, it's tropical, so it doesn't come back, but the butterflies, all the pollinators love it. And you can see I've got one vine there and one vine there, and it's just growing in a container. This is another one I like to keep in a container because I can control its moisture.

- [Annette] Yes. One of my favorite colors.

- [Memra] Yes. This is one of the newer varieties of vinca. It's part of the soiree series that they have. And it comes in white and lavender and then a hot pink and it just covers itself all summer. It gets full sun all day long. And even in the heat, it has held up. And then I have some basil there that I just had some seeds that came up and it smells so good.

- [Annette] Absolutely. I choose this as one of my favorites.

- [Memra] It it is definitely one that's good for containers in our area.

- [Annette] Let's go seek some shade.

- [Memra] Alright.

- [Annette] This is unusual, Memra.

- Yes. This is a Rabbit's foot fern that I have growing in a strawberry pot.

- [Annette] Oh yes.

- [Memra] And so, you can see it is very happy in there because it's got all those rabbit feet coming out.

- [Annette] And, you know, I like the fact that if it were just in a regular 10-inch pot, it would just go like this. But look at the height. You have a tower. That, I think, is fantastic. Well, I've used these for the real purpose in my life, now this is cool.

- [Memra] Yes. Whenever we go to flea markets or things like that, I look for these sifters, just because I can use them for a container. They're just fun and whimsical

- [Annette] And you know, they have such good drainage too.

- [Memra] They're excellent. They're perfect for the succulents. And I also have some succulents here. That one's growing in a chicken feeder and then just the burro's tail above.

- It's wonderful when we set a theme on vignettes for places that we like to seek and sit, isn't it?

- Yes, it is. I enjoy this area a lot. The back deck, we just totally keep flowers everywhere. But I also, for winter interest, I have some shrubs that I've potted into containers that stay out all year and therefore I have green in the winter. That one's called Mr Bowling Ball and he's been in that very pot for about six years now.

- [Annette] Well, obviously, he's happy. Okay. This is fun to see in here.

- Yes. This is a "Sun King" aralia and it's growing in a large pot. It stays out for the winter here. It dies back, but it comes back in the spring. And I like it in the pot because it likes a lot of moisture.

- [Annette] We do need perennials, so they don't have to have as much care, don't we?

- [Memra] Yes. And also, it's just good winter interest for ones that keep their color all year, like the heucheras. I have heucheras in several pots.

- [Annette] I see that.

- [Memra] And so, that just gives me another winter interest because, I just, I don't like bare soil in the winter.

- [Annette] Me either. So the sedum, it stays evergreen?

- [Memra] No, well, it has winter interest because it holds onto the flowers.

- Yes. I call this your decorator wall.

- I guess that's a good name for it. I love coleus because they don't have to have a bloom to be beautiful. So, I use a lot of coleus here in the containers. Sun coleus are amazing. They don't have to have full sun, but they do better, they have better coloring with some sun. And so, I just have a variety of these and I couldn't even tell you how many, but I do try to save cuttings. I have, I guess, a coleus collection that I try to save cuttings for in the winter, so that I can find them again that fall.

- As you've been speaking, I've been randomly counting. I counted over 25 different plants in this collection.

- [Memra] I've never counted, so I will take your word for it.

- [Annette] Well, give or take a few.

- [Memra] I'm afraid to count

- In the world of sedums

- Yes, this one's called "Tokyo Sun". And it's just one of my favorites. I love that color that it has. And also, I usually take this in for the summer, I mean for the winter, but I've noticed there by my greenhouse, it'll stay in the gravel growing over the winter, which is interesting to me.

- Yes, and that's good to know. And is it stays evergreen in the winter?

- It does, it does. There when it's in the ground, in the pot, it has not stayed evergreen.

- [Annette] You don't see chenille plants very often, do you?

- [Memra] You don't. And I've heard people say they don't do well in our area, but mine do great for me every year. In fact, I usually wind up in the fall, I split them into fourths and repot them, and give plants away because they just bound right back similar to how fern does.

- [Annette] That's an interesting plant. So, we've made it back to here.

- [Memra] Yes. This is the perennial garden. And I like to use containers in it as well because perennials have the bonus of coming back every year. But they have a short bloom season, so I like to put containers of annuals or tropicals among the perennials, so that I have color all season long.

- Yes, now this is the caladium, it's beautiful.

- Yes. This is "Red Flash" caladium. And it just grows huge. It's one of my favorites.

- [Annette] And then the dipladenia?

- [Memra] Yes.

- [Annette] That is a beautiful pop of color. Memra, I want to thank you because you're not just out here in your garden all day. You have a day job.

- I do.

- And your knowledge, but most of all, I gather from you that you educate yourself. You want something a little bit outside of the box and you've provided a way to add color or grow the unusual and not all of us are able to do that. And you have executed it perfectly.

- [Memra] Thank you.

- [Annette] And thank you so much for this beautiful morning in your beautiful garden and containers.

- [Memra] Well, thank you for coming.

- [Narrator] For inspiring garden tours, growing tips, and garden projects, visit our website at volunteergardner.org and find us on these platforms.