BajaNomad

Houseplants

Price - 3-3-2005 at 04:29 AM

Can houseplants be brought into BCN ? When we move to San Felipe I would like to bring a few of my favorite plants -

Bruce R Leech - 3-3-2005 at 07:32 AM

I think if you cook them first there legal.

You should not bring seeds ether.

Mexitron - 3-3-2005 at 08:07 AM

I wouldn't worry about them unless you have to declare them.....houseplants generally don't carry diseases that are dangerous to farming.

yankeeirishman - 3-3-2005 at 08:15 AM

Think there be any problems bringing in Queen Ann palms?

Bruce R Leech - 3-3-2005 at 08:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron
I wouldn't worry about them unless you have to declare them.....houseplants generally don't carry diseases that are dangerous to farming.


I would not worry about the plants ether but I would worry about you if you git caught bringing them in with out declaring them. that is called smuggling. your fine if you don't git caught . who is going to take that chance for a houseplant? git new ones here in Mexico there cheaper.

bajalou - 3-3-2005 at 08:21 AM

Price, ther is a Mex Agriculture agent stationed at the Mexicali East border crossing - The one I met spoke passable English with my poor spanish. Stop on your way down next time and see what they have to say about it. I agree with Bruce, if it's a no-no and you get caught it ain't fun.

:biggrin:

THANX

Price - 3-3-2005 at 02:04 PM

Thank you all for the info - you are right - it's not worth the risk ! It is probably better to buy plants raised in Baja - it is going to be our new home - Baja's economy is now our's - :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Bruce R Leech - 3-3-2005 at 02:46 PM

that is the Nomad Spirit.

DavidK

yankeeirishman - 3-3-2005 at 08:33 PM

You're a landscaper too, yes? Think Queen Anns be allowed in Baja?
Quote:
Originally posted by yankeeirishman
Think there be any problems bringing in Queen Ann palms?

David K - 3-3-2005 at 08:54 PM

No, but I am a landscape irrigation specialist ... Sprinkler and drip systems for landscape... Mexitron is a landscaper and Pappy Jon is a plant expert (I bet there are many more, as well on Nomad).

[Edited on 3-4-2005 by David K]

Palms

Cincodemayo - 3-7-2005 at 07:22 PM

I'm a palm expert...Are you refering to Queen palm...Syagrus romanzoffianum?
They can get lethal yellowing desease and depending where you go can suffer from too much heat. Go with Washingtonias or Braheas which are native to Baja.

yankeeirishman - 3-8-2005 at 09:06 PM

There ya go! I will research this data. Thanks Cinco!

Plants

Price - 3-13-2005 at 09:32 PM

This might sound like a dumb post - but it is worth a shot ! We have very limited garden space so I want to use several potted trees on the balconies - I want lime - blood orange & palms that will do well inpots - I would also like a climbing vine to cover the brik wall - I want something that smells good - any suggestions on plants that will thrive in San Felipe ?

yankeeirishman - 3-14-2005 at 08:10 AM

Bouglavillia is excelllent for dry conditions, will need a trellis to help it climb. Lime will do well....but get the Mexican varity (smaller fruit). Blood Orange ...keep it out of the 4 o'clock sun (light is too intense at the late aft for this citrus).
Quote:
Originally posted by Price
This might sound like a dumb post - but it is worth a shot ! We have very limited garden space so I want to use several potted trees on the balconies - I want lime - blood orange & palms that will do well inpots - I would also like a climbing vine to cover the brik wall - I want something that smells good - any suggestions on plants that will thrive in San Felipe ?

Fragrant vines

Cincodemayo - 3-14-2005 at 10:32 AM

Stephanotis florabunda-Madagascar jasmine, star jasmine or jasminium polyanthum are all fragrant.

bajajudy - 3-14-2005 at 10:52 AM

Dont get Spanish jasmine as it has no fragrance. Learn from my mistake. argh!

Baja Spirit

Skeet/Loreto - 3-14-2005 at 11:17 AM

On one only Trip of Many to our Home in Loreto we were at Parrell 28 and had a white Ponsietta taken from us and in our face torn from the Bucket and put in a trash Can. I assumed the guy was mad about christmas!

Virgina and I started out at Rancho Sonrisa a bare peice of Ceach North Of Loreto, planting more that 250 Palms, Fan and Coco purchase for about $4 each from the good Nursery in La Paz.
I tried several times to transplant "Blue Palms" from Catavania Area with no Success, final smuggled one into the US. grown from a Seed. It is now 6 years old and about 18 Inches.

We had Cocos producing at 6 Years, their trunks at 2 Foot diameter.

I wish you Luck.

Skeet/Loreto

MrBillM - 3-14-2005 at 05:41 PM

I don't have any experience with "Bouglavillia", but Bougainvillea or Bougainvillaea take one Hell of a lot of water to do well.

[Edited on 3-15-2005 by MrBillM]

Skeet

Cincodemayo - 3-14-2005 at 06:39 PM

Don't they allow transportation of plant material into Baja? There is a specie of palm that is so silver called Bismarkia nobilis that develops a reddish trunk. The palms are phenomenol....But on the other hand so are Brahea armata...I tried to post a pic of Bismarkia but the files are too large! Way too many cool palms to list not to mention all the different cycads.

yankeeirishman - 3-14-2005 at 07:02 PM

bougavillia. We use it all the time. Does well in drought conditions. Is this the stuff you are refering to?
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
I don't have any experience with "Bouglavillia", but Bougainvillea or Bougainvillaea take one Hell of a lot of water to do well.

[Edited on 3-15-2005 by MrBillM]

Yankee

Cincodemayo - 3-14-2005 at 07:21 PM

It does tolerate drought only after established.

yankeeirishman - 3-14-2005 at 09:23 PM

Well yes! Just like a baby.....it needs warmth and care for the first year. Then it grows like a weed outda control! This goes for most plants and trees.

bajalou - 3-15-2005 at 07:57 AM

As MrBillM said they take a lot of water to keep going here in Baja. Living where you have to have water hauled in makes us a little more careful with it's use. I have bouganvilla for 8-9 years and the only time there really nice is after a rain. Run a drip system that keeps them alive but rain makes them look great - for a month or so. Central Calif draught can be the equivalent to a deluge in Baja.

:biggrin:

It's BOUGAINVILLEA

MrBillM - 3-15-2005 at 02:39 PM

As far as tolerating Drought once established, that may be true, but who wants a "tolerant" plant ? My Bougainvillea in Baja look great with lots of water and survive with less. When I lived in Indio, I grew Bougainvillea at every house I owned over the years and they were glorious in the Dead of Summer, flooded with water. I had to laugh a couple of years back when a neighbor in Baja told me that he didn't think they could handle the extreme heat. In one older house I owned in Indio, the two Bougainvillea in my front yard were as big as trees and were at their best in August at 120 degrees. When I moved to the High Desert I made the mistake of trying to grow them up there, but everytime we had a freezing Winter, they were history.


[Edited on 3-15-2005 by MrBillM]

Bogusvilla

Cincodemayo - 3-15-2005 at 02:48 PM

Ever try pruning back an overgrown one? You will look like you just escaped from the texas chainsaw massacre. The thorns will penetrate leather gloves! I will give them credit for the flowers and the best is Raspberry Ice with the varigated leaves and deep magenta flowers.

Sharp, Aren't they ?

MrBillM - 3-15-2005 at 03:05 PM

I found out long ago to use long-handled pruning shears like you use on tree branches. Another thing I learned cutting Ocotillo out in the desert many years ago, was to buy Leather Arc-Welding gloves. I've handled a lot of Ocotillo with those and never had a thorn penetrate.

Cincodemayo - 3-15-2005 at 03:13 PM

Mr bill...I'm use to speed pruning with Falco's. Bogies bite no matter what as the older the growth the harder the spines!
I know what you mean about the "Long" handled pruners though.

bajalera - 3-15-2005 at 09:13 PM

Cinco--I hope that's an entirely different palm, and not just a new name for what used to be arecastrum romanzoffianum, the only palm name I know. Or did know?

Lera

yankeeirishman - 3-16-2005 at 08:36 AM

Ay yes! We plant these for security also. Keeps the bad guys out. I have plant three assorted B's at out lot in Campos Octillio bout six weeks ago, will be checking on them next week. Will let u know how they did on the new growth starts.
Quote:
Originally posted by Cincodemayo
Ever try pruning back an overgrown one? You will look like you just escaped from the texas chainsaw massacre. The thorns will penetrate leather gloves! I will give them credit for the flowers and the best is Raspberry Ice with the varigated leaves and deep magenta flowers.

Bajalera

Anonymous - 3-16-2005 at 12:40 PM

Yes same palm but the hoticulturists in the power vacuum renamed it into the Syagrus family...In the 70's it was named Cocos plumosa, then Arecastrum, finally to Syagrus...One of my favorites is the Foxtail palm, Wodyetia bifurcata from the Bay of Carpenteria near Cairns. Absolutely awesome trunk and fronds.

Whoops..

Cincodemayo - 3-16-2005 at 12:43 PM

Forgot to log in...

Back to original question

Price - 3-17-2005 at 04:16 AM

Our whole front fence is covered in bougainvillea(3 colors) I was surprized by the thorns ! Our nephew from maryland who is a landscaper spent 2 weeks at our house in San Felipe - I gave him a long "honey do" list and all he did was the BVS - which was a BIG JOB - I still need to know - can I bring plants into Baja ? Some say yes some say no - anybody know for sure ??? :?:

Anonymous - 3-17-2005 at 05:58 AM

The letter of the law answer to your original question. Yes, with permits and a phytosanitario clearance from the Mexican and American Agricultural Departments for the plants. They can have no soil attached.