Tuesday, March 2, 2010

WEATHER EFFECTS

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It might just be me but has anyone noticed your garden behaving strange from the weather lately?


This Christmas Cactus is blooming in March. It seems a little confused. My local temperatures have gone from the mid 80's to the mid 40's as each successive cold front rolls through.
Usually the cold fronts don't make it this far South at this time of year.
The difference in weather here in Florida this year is due to El Nino. It is a natural cycle occurrence every two to five years due to periodic warming of the
central and eastern pacific waters. El Nino usually lasts about 12 months and the one we are in now was announced July 9th 2009.
It effects the subtropical jet stream allowing for cooler and wetter weather in reach down in Florida.
Researchers predicted for Florida that the Winter temperatures would decrease 40% from normal and that we would get 50% more rain during the dry months here.
For Central and South Florida El Nino significantly increases the chances for tornado and for severe weather.
So the extra long January freeze and the rolling cold fronts were predicted and can be attributed to El Nino conditions.
The good news is that the El Nino going on now helped from us getting slammed by a hurricane last season. Also the wetter conditions reduced the number of wildfires that we have been getting in the past few years during the dry season.
So for a few more months we can expect unusual weather for Florida.
That was no consolation for my Black Flamingo plant.
This is how it looked in early December when the temperatures here were still warm and toasty.
This plant is Chrysothemus pulchella if you like.
It likes the shade and has leathery coppery green leaves.
I found out while it likes the heat and being in the shade it doesn't like the cold fronts we have been getting.
And here is the proof. This is my Black Flamingo now.
Below 50 degree's apparently it didn't like.
The upside is that when consistant summer weather arrives it is supposed to come back again.
Anyway I still have the Orchid's blooming to cheer things up.
This one is soaking up some late afternoon sun.
It is a Phalaenopsis type named Chien Xen Pearl.
And some more progress toward my 2010 challenge .
For this week I started six more seeds in the yogurt cups.
They include:
2-Butterfly flower [Asclepias Tuberosa]
2- Sunflower
1- Jubilee heirloom Tomato
1-super beefsteak Tomato
------Sanddune----

5 comments:

  1. I also have one Christmas Cactus blooming now... I have my eyes on that black flamingo for a while now. Since my shaded area is quite limited, I decided to hold on this. The flower and the foliage both are beautiful. Hope it will come back for you when the weather warms up.

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  2. My Christmas cactus bloomed in December and is blooming again now. I don't think it has done that before. Your orchid is beautiful! Hopefully, warmer spring air will be here soon.

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  3. Sanddune, I'm glad you explained this year's weather. I've only been down here for 5 years and was wondering what in the world is going on! Nice explanation of the deflection of hurricanes and fires also. Your photos are wonderful!

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  4. The unusual amounts of rain have been very welcomed this winter, but I am ready for a little warmer weather. Your black flamingo plant is neat...pretty foliage and flowers.

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  5. Ami,
    I don't know what triggers the Christmas cactus to bloom. Maybe something to do with the temperature flux or the hours of light they get. Mine sure is mixed up for some reason. As for the Black flamingo it did look nice. I can confidently state the one I have didn't like the cold.

    Deb,
    Looks like lots of Christmas Cactus are mixed up this year. I hope it warms up and stays warm soon also. It's disgraceful to have to wear long pants ,socks and a shirt in South Florida.

    Kimberly,
    Best I can tell the weather dudes have been recording El nino cycles back till the early 1900's. It's nothing really new but it helps to understand the rain and cold we have been getting this winter dry season.

    Susan,
    The Black Flamingo was a neat plant. The key word being was . Now it looks like a worn out corn stalk. From what I have managed to read there's a good chance it will come back again to it's former glory. Hope so!

    ReplyDelete

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