I use to buy "triple 17" at Comer. Don't know about Soriana as I try to avoid them.////////Do you know how the maracuya plant grows? It's a climbing vine and WILL take over, quickly.(but I love the fruit)

I thought the Soriana would have it, but I haven’t seen it. It seems to me that the gardening-type stuff area has been lessened since the renovations last year. I’ll try again although I don’t like going there now.

I had a pergola built a couple of years ago and needed a vine to give me shade. I tried “teléfono” (potros), but it burned in the sun. My first try at maracuyá was a failure because the holes that were dug were not big enough to provide enough nutrient-rich soil. (Digging in clay/lava is no fun. I’m glad I didn’t try to do it myself.)

Now the maracuyá is thriving, giving shade and fruit. And yes, I have to keep it trimmed back so that it doesn’t damage the roof.

My property has clay and lava rock, not ideal for growing anything that needs nutrients. (I am amazed that coconut and other palms grow in it.)

I had big holes dug and filled with good soil for my maracuyá, carambola, and carissa, but they will need nutrients added. I’m looking for a balanced fertilizer, like a 10-10-10 or 17-17-17.

Very minimal joy. Everything that we had read about extensively died. After 8 years we still have three things hanging on, but barely. We finally figured it out. The plants we wanted to grow need a cooling off period at night. MOST plants at night need a cool period. We don't have that here, and love it.

Phalenopsis orchids were tough in California, we were gone for the winter, they didn't stay warm enough and died. Here, after two years, we learned that they wouldn't bloom in the house. Too hot. Grown outside on the terrace, they bloom beautifully and are weeds.

Give seeds a try, you may be very successful! Even the many large tropicals that we love can have an issue here. Of the 7 heliconias we have grown, only 5 do well here, and several of them are touchy. It's HOT here! We love it.

Please keep us posted as to what you are successful with, we'll try them too.