Tag Archives: house plants

Peace Lily

  By Rachel | March 14, 2012 - 1:54 am | Plants
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Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum is a very hardy plant that is often given to family or friends after the passing of a loved one.  That is how I received this plant, a friend of the family gave it as a gift when my Grandmother passed away, and now it has taken up residence at our house.

I am thankful for this reminder of my Grandmother and her life and for the love and comfort of friends and family when we are grieving.

Peace Lilies are very easy to care for.  They are a low light plant- preferring no direct sunlight.  Make sure to repot them in a well-draining soil and keep them moist.

Peace Lilies require little to no maintenance.  To keep the plant happy, fertilize occasionally every so often with a generic house plant fertilizer.

This plant will wilt when it needs to be watered, and will perk up accordingly once you have watered it.

From what I have observed, I believe this plant blooms constantly as well as putting out new leaves.

I found this advice about pruning a Peace Lily on Dave’s Garden website:

I notice in your picture you have a lot of the seed-heads showing, even on the center bloom. That means the bloom is done!
You should cut those off as soon as the Spath flower goes to pollen and starts making a mess.
Cut the stems all the way down to where it enters the stem of the leaf it came out of. Leave about a 1/2″ of the stem sticking up as eventually, the flower stem inside the leaf stem will shrivel up and get all brown. Then you grab it by the little 1/2″ end you left and pull it straight up and out. If you try to pull it out and it does not come freely, it is not ready yet. Wait some more.

If you have only had this plant for 2 months, it is possible that all the blooms are deteriorating and should be cut off. The blooms turn green as they age. Don’t leave them on the plant.

Direct Link to post about Peace Lilies, click here.  There is a lot of other helpful info about Peace Lily care and some pictures.

Storing Hyacinth Bulbs

  By Rachel | March 4, 2012 - 10:14 pm | Plants
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My hyacinths are done blooming.  I forced them inside- to enjoy their spring beauty and fragrance.  I had thought about planting them outside when I was done, but now I am pretty certain that I want to keep them inside, store them for next year, and then force them indoors again in the spring.

The only problem is, I don’t know exactly how to do this.  So, I am going to comb the internet, post my findings, and then hope that maybe someone with a little more gardening experience might read this post and kindly redirect me if I end up with erroneous findings.

savvygardener.com – have a great article about forcing bulbs here.

ehow.com – I didn’t like their info as well, left some questions unanswered- but helpful place to start.

theflowerexpert.com – they also gave a helpful amount of info about planting and storing hyacinth.

The basic info I have learned from the above sites.  Forcing bulbs inside weakens the bulbs- you either need to plant them outside after forcing them, or throw out bulbs and use fresh ones each year.

Do not cut off the foliage after bloom period- you can cut the flower stalk but leave the leaves to die back on their own.  You can try to dry them out and store them, but if you want to use the same bulbs again- it looks like they need to be outside so that they can store up energy to bloom strongly again the next year.

Maybe plant them in the yard and mark them to dig up in the fall?

I am not sure what I am going to do yet.

Will add to this post once I decide what I am going to do and we’ll see how they bloom next year.

I am not throwing them out, so either they are going in the ground outside or they will get dried out and stored for next year.

Hyacinths

Rex Begonia

  By Rachel | February 19, 2012 - 10:00 pm | Plants
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I got a cutting of this plant from one of my Mom’s neighbors at Christmas.  That is one of the things I love about people who have plants and are passionate about them.  If you compliment a plant or express interest in their plants, they almost always offer a cutting.

So, I brought it home and followed her recommendations for how her plant has thrived.

I looked at some of the internet info on rex begonias- I know there are many different cultivators- but I do not have my plant on a tray to increase humidity, and my plant gets some direct sunlight- and it has been doing great.

Both of those things are in direct contradiction of the care instructions that I have found online.  This supports my suspicion that some plants are widely adaptable and you can usually find at least one hybrid of any plant that can survive in any home.

So, if you really like a plant but the particular cultivator that you buy dies- try another one- more than likely you will be able to find one that will adapt to the particular conditions of your house.

This plant has been very hardy and low maintenance.  I brought home several cuttings and rhizomes and they are all doing very well.

I will post more info about this plant as time passes. If you have any insight into care for rex begonias, please share.

***I have two pics at the beginning and end of this post- they are the same plant taken about 2 months apart, and it shows the new growth and flowers.

 

 

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Boston Fern

  By Rachel | February 17, 2012 - 8:09 pm | Plants
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The newest addition to my indoor plant family!  I have admired this plant at other people’s houses many times, so when I saw a little plant for $3 I just couldn’t resist!

I have found some conflicting info about care for this plant online.  Some of the info I have read says that this plant likes direct sunlight and needs it, other places it says only indirect bright light and that Boston Ferns do not like direct sunlight.

Needless to say, I am feeling a little unsure where I should put it.  I am going to keep an eye on it these first few weeks and see how it does.

I have also read a few places that they like high humidity.  I do not usually mist things or put them on a tray of pebbles.  So, we will see how it does without it, and maybe I will take these extra steps if it starts to die on me.

According to the sources I have read, the soil needs to stay moist for this plant, it does not like to dry out.  I also say some mention of amending the soil with peat moss.  I did not do this, but for most plants drainage is really important too- so we’ll see how things go.

I have seen conflicting reports about fertilizer too.  I will wait to fertilize like I usually do- I like to wait about 6 months before I fertilize any houseplants.

As I keep finding, there is info out there, but many times the best way to learn with plants is experimenting yourself.  There always seems to be exceptions to every rule when it comes to plants.

Anyone else have a Boston Fern?  Where do you have yours?

 

 

 

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Gardening Websites

  By Rachel | February 11, 2012 - 9:04 pm | Random
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English: Amber Flush rose - Bagatelle Rose Gar...

Image via Wikipedia

I am going to use this post to start a list of gardening websites that I like.  I get so frustrated sometimes b/c I am looking for care information about a plant.  Sometimes I don’t even know what the plant is b/c someone gives it to me and they may not know specifically what its name was.

So far, these are some of my favorites for finding info. about a variety of plants- indoor and outdoor.

easytogrowbulbs.com :  Ok, they are trying to get you to buy bulbs from them while you are there, but the pics are gorgeous and they have great information about bulbs- I like the layout too, very easy to search and quickly find what you need.

naturehills.com : Great site with a wide variety of plants- perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, bulbs- they have it all.  They do NOT provide good info. on caring for plants however, and they are trying to get you to buy their product- so I could not go to them for more than just to surf plants- they have great pics and well organized site.

plantcare.com :  Just discovered this site.  I love the menu where you can choose plant encyclopedia- then you select specific things you are looking for in a plant like how much sun, flowering or no flowers, fragrant or no, and then level of expertise.  Then, you hit search and you can hover over plant pictures and it makes it bigger- Ok, I LOVE this- I choose plants often by aesthetics- so I love being able to see a close up of the plant without having to click on each one.

 

I will add more to this list as I discover more sites that I like- please comment and leave some info. if you have a favorite site you like to use to find plants/plant care info.

 

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Prayer Plant

  By Rachel | February 10, 2012 - 8:43 pm | Plants
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I just bought this plant today.  I have admired it many times when I have seen it in the past.  From what I have read today, Prayer plant is very easy to grow.  It is a good beginner plant.  It is also called Maranta.

Prayer plant likes bright light, but not direct sunlight.  It is a fast grower according to the sources I have read, and is flexible with soil- just doesn’t like to be soggy- most plants like well-drained soil.

I have read some places that they like to be misted with water on leaves and that they prefer a higher humidity.  I usually wait to see how a plant does before I spend the time to do any extra things above and beyond watering.  I like to try to keep things simple and low-maintenance with my plants.  So, if it starts to die, maybe I will look at misting or getting a humidity tray for the plant to set on.

Will post some updates after I have had this plant for a while (2-10-12).

I am having problems with the new growth on this plant dying- I think that the soil isn’t draining well and it is getting a little soggy- and I think I might be overwatering.

I think the soil I purchased might not be draining well- I might have to repot. (4-14-12)

Tradescantia – Red Hill

  By Rachel | February 9, 2012 - 8:26 pm | Plants
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I just picked up this plant, called Tradescantia “Red Hill” at Lowe’s over the weekend.  I have not been able to find out much about the plant.  From what I have been able to find, it is a flowering plant- I will post another pic when and if it flowers.

It looks like it tolerates a variety of soils, does not like direct sunlight but bright light- I have it about 5 feet away from an eastern window.  Sounds like they like to be dried out between waterings and propagate easily from cuttings- I will try this once the plant gets a little larger.

The few things I have read recommend holding off on fertilizing until the plant has gotten over the shock of being moved to a new location.  I tend to do that anyway, I like to wait about 6 months before I fertilize any new house plants.

I really liked the look of this plant- the leaves are green and have a slight purple color underneath- very subtle- and the leaves have a fuzzy type of texture to them- and the growth habit is unusual as well- it might be more of a vining look as the plant gets larger.  I am looking forward to keeping an eye on it over the coming months.

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Kalanchoe

  By Rachel | February 8, 2012 - 11:04 pm | Plants
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My Aunt gave me a Kalanchoe cultivator at Christmas.  She said it has white blooms, but I have yet to see them.  They are supposed to bloom in the spring, however, so I am hopeful that I will see some blooms soon.

Light: They prefer bright, sunny locations, especially in the summer growing season. I have left mine in an east facing window with the shades pulled up and it seems to do well there.
Water:  I have heard that this plant holds water in its leaves.  The leaves have a very unusual texture, almost rubbery.

So I usually let the plant dry out between waterings.  I have read some info that supports a different watering regimen in the winter than the summer.

In the winter you let it dry out almost completely and only water sparingly.  I have not done that with my plant.  It seems to do well with consistent watering- though I do let it dry out somewhat between watering.

Temperature: They prefer warmth. Do not let fall below 55ºF.

Soil: An ordinary potting soil mix is fine. My aunt used a generic potting soil and the plant has continued to be very healthy and show lots of new growth.
Fertilizer: I have not fertilized this plant yet, though I plan to fertilize it once a month.

Kalanchoe flower colors can range from white, bright yellow, glowing orange, red, hot pink and everything in between.

Some have flowers with more than one color, but kalanchoes are mainly known for neon bright colors.

Kalanchoe plants seem like they are  easy to propagate.  I used a spade and broke away one of the stems that you can see in the picture from the rest and potted it separately.  It is doing very well and has shown some new growth.

Here’s a pic showing what these plants look like in bloom.

Crassulaceae kalanchoe flowers

Image via Wikipedia

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Orchid Killer

  By Rachel | February 6, 2012 - 9:15 pm | Random
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Can I vent a little?  I am so FRUSTRATED.  I love orchids- they are such beautiful plants- but they are rather expensive.  They need special soil, special fertilizer, special humidity, special pot- but  I was willing to forgive them all this- to actually take on a high maintenance plant.  I bought all the necessary things to keep it alive….and it died.

Now, if that was the end of the story, well, maybe we could go on without a bitter epitaph aimed at the Orchid in question.  Extenuating circumstances push me to continue.  Yes, I admit it.  This year, in fact, only 3 short months ago- I bought a second orchid.

The latest orchid met its official demise today, but truth be told that Orchid was on death’s doorstep for at least a month.

 

English: Orchid, Kew Gardens, Surrey One of th...

Image via Wikipedia

 

What did I do wrong?  I know people who grow orchids by just throwing a few ice cubes in once a week and their plants are fine.  Seriously, I think this is personal.  These plants have a vendetta against me.

All joking aside, I am genuinely disappointed about this last orchid.  I really did try to keep you alive- I even danced around the kitchen singing “Staying Alive” when I first brought you home, hoping to cleanse myself of my previous failure.  I am the harbinger of death for orchids.

So, if you have an orchid plant you want dead, just bring it to me.

And if you value your orchid’s life- don’t let me near it.

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Dracaena

  By Rachel | February 6, 2012 - 9:07 pm | Plants
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Dracaena reflexa cv. Song of India

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I love the variety of colors and growth habits that you can find with this hardy and low-maintenance plant.  It seems like there is one suited for about every location and personality- you can find one to fit whatever your decorating style might be. (top pic not one of my plants but I wanted to share)

I bought this Dracaena for a few dollars about six months ago (pictured below), and I have been very pleased with this plant.  The growth rate has been medium, not snail-pace but a little slower than I expected (you might want to purchase something a little bigger depending on your budget and how patient you are for things to grow).

From what I understand and have read, these plants are flexible when it comes to the amount of light they get, they do not have specific humidity needs, and can easily be pruned to thicken them up.  There are many different popular cultivators that are widely available.

I have Dracaena Magenta or (Dracaena marginata).  It seems to like bright light but no direct sunlight and likes to dry out between waterings.  That seems consistent with what I have read, they do not like to remain moist all the time.

I also had a friend tell me that these plants also prefer water at room temperature rather than cold water- I think this is a safe practice to adopt for all your plants indoors- not all plants are negatively affected by cold water- but it also simplifies the process of trying to remember which plants don’t care and which ones are particular.

Dracaena plants are also very sensitive to fluoride- so be careful about not using soils or fertilizers that might contain even small amounts.  It won’t necessarily kill the plant, but parts of the leaves may turn brown.

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