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  Sun-Tolerant Caladium Sun Sun-tolerant caladiums perform best in full sun to part shade. They can handle 6 or more hours of direct sun, though morning sun with some afternoon relief will give you the most vibrant color. In full sun, expect more compact plants with bolder, brighter foliage. Too much shade and the colors can fade or become washed out. Water Caladiums need consistent moisture, especially when getting established and when growing in full sun. Keep the soil moist but never waterlogged — soggy soil leads to tuber rot. The more sun they're in, the more frequently you'll need to water. Mulching around the plants helps retain moisture between waterings. Soil Plant in moist, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH (around 5.5–6). Caladiums appreciate soil with some organic matter worked in. Good drainage is non-negotiable — tubers sitting in wet soil will rot. Fertilizer Go light. A slow-release, low-phosphorus fertilizer applied once or twice during the g...

Dune Sunflower

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  Sun Dune Sunflower thrives in full sun and needs a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. The more sun it gets, the better it blooms. Water Water regularly while the plant is getting established. Once established, Dune Sunflower is drought tolerant and does not need frequent watering. Overwatering is more of a risk than underwatering. Soil This plant prefers sandy, well-draining soil — exactly what most of Gulf County naturally provides. It does not need rich soil or heavy fertilizing. Go light on fertilizer; too much will push leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Growth Habit Dune Sunflower spreads freely and will self-seed, naturalizing into an area over time. Give it room to roam or plan to pull volunteers if you want to keep it contained. It makes an excellent ground cover, border plant, or pollinator garden anchor.  Trim top part of main stem to encourage bushy growth.  Dead heading can encourage more growth, leave a few to seed for continued and ...

Welcome to Turtle Pines Nursery - Gulf County Florida

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 Welcome to Turtle Pines Nursery Hi, I'm Sandy, and welcome to the Turtle Pines Nursery blog. If you've ever wondered about the name — it comes straight from the land. Our property was once part of a paper pine forest, and pine trees still surround us on all sides. As for the turtles, they showed up on their own. On any given day I have over twenty Gulf Coast box turtles wandering the property, each one with its own personality and its own territory. A while back, a gopher tortoise decided this was a good place to be too, dug a den, and made herself at home. She ended up on our logo, which felt right. Turtle Pines is a wholesale plant nursery in Gulf County, Florida. We grow annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, and more — plants suited for the Gulf Coast climate and built to thrive in Florida gardens. This blog has one simple purpose: every few days I'll spotlight one of the plants we grow and sell, with practical care tips you can actually use. What it needs, how much s...