Hawaiian Goddess Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane Plant

QUICK SPECS OUTDOOR Zone 9-11 PATIO Zone 4a-11 SOIL TYPE Rich Moist % SUN 80-100% POT SIZE 7″ Deep INCLUDES One Plant ABOUT THIS PLANT Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane Plant, A true ornamental, but edible sugarcane! The strap-like leaves begin deep green and immediately turn a dark smokey purple. This is a dwarf, smaller cane variety better suited to patio container growing than the more common commercial cane. The small stand above was discovered at EARTH University, located in Guácimo, Costa Rica. Its a beautiful campus in the cloud forest, check it out if you get the opportunity. This cane was aptly named for the volcano goddess Pele.  These are very healthy plants with well established root systems. The growth rate and yield of Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane will vary greatly depending on soil type, sunlight, temperature and other factors. Lower leaves are trimmed and plants are topped to 36″ overall prior to shipping to reduce transpiration and travel stress. PLANT CARE Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane are very easy to grow plants that require little care. They add a tasty accent to any outdoor space, garden or patio. In very cold zones a containerized plant can be brought inside for the winter months. In the northern end of their grow zone Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane plants should be brought indoors or protected with mulch during the winter months. When you receive your new Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane plant, there is no need to worry about planting right away. Your new plant can be stored for a while by simply placing it in a bucket with about a half inch of water in the bottom and moving it to a shady location. You can then add some mulch to the bucket to keep your plant standing upright. The mulch will also supply nutrients while in storage. This will give you plenty of time to select the ideal location for your new plant. CONTAINER SIZE Pele’s Smoke Sugarcanes grow very well in patio containers. Allow enough room for growth generally a 18″ to a 24″ diameter, 10″ deep container will suffice. Remember the looser the roots, the taller and healthier your plant will be. When the plant becomes root bound its growth will slow. At that point it is time for a larger pot. SOIL Pele’s Smoke Sugarcanes enjoy well drained but moist, rich organic mix. Remember try to stay away from wet, mucky or dry, sandy soils. FERTILIZER To help establish your new Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane Plant, fertilize sparingly at least 6 inches away from the base, monthly with a slow time release fertilizer. Unfertilized they will tend to grow very slowly. Note: The heavy salts in cheaper fertilizers will damage the roots and possibly kill the plant. GROW ZONE & LIGHT Best outdoors if grown in zone 9-11, find your zone here. This plant requires 80-100% sunlight. Depending on your location full sun is best. At the northern end of their grow zone Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane plants should be brought indoors or protected during the winter months. The patio zone is 4a-9b which means the potted plant will flourish over the summer months in colder zones but must be brought inside before harsh winter temps. BEFORE YOU PLANT OUTDOORS Here at the nursery, these Pele’s Smoke Sugarcanes are grown under 20-40% shade cloth. If you plant directly in full sun you may experience leaf burn. It is best to acclimate This plant to its environment by keeping it outside and slowly moving it into a sunny area over a week or two to avoid stress before planting. WHAT IS THE SHIPPING SIZE All Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane plants for sale will vary in size. In the spring, plants are often smaller than plants shipped in the fall. Plants designated with a sku ending in -4, or -6 will arrive in a standard 4 inch or 6 inch growers pot respectively. Our new, reusable, recyclable deep cells are 5 to 7 inches deep and 1 to 2.5 inches in diameter. Plants growing in these cells are easy to transplant and allow for deeper, faster growth and are designated with a -5, or -7. (Note: The item sku number can be found just below the buy button.) The color and style of these pots may vary. If we are out of a particular size item, we may ship a larger size at no additional charge.   Note: Before leaving, Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane plants are inspected, watered, pruned and topped to 36″ if necessary, to facilitate shipping. Your new Pele’s Smoke Sugarcanes’ pot is then bagged to ensure that the soil stays in the pot and not loose in the box. Then your plant is tissue or kraft paper wrapped and secured in place with natural biodegradable peanuts. You will be pleased. You may want to buy Pele’s Smoke Sugarcane online now while they are in stock.