Tag Archives: plant

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.

My First Azalea

  By Rachel | February 28, 2012 - 1:07 am | Plants
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Azalea flower

Image via Wikipedia

This is the newest addition to my outdoor garden.  Planted in partial shade on the north side of our house, it gets morning sun for about 2 to 3 hours every day- maybe 3.5 in the height of summer- I will have to see as the sun moves.

Azalea ( Glenn Dale ) ‘Fashion’
Reaching up to 6 x 6 feet in 10 years or 8 feet with great age.

This Evergreen Azalea has deep green foliage that turns reddish in winter.

One of the faster growing Azaleas; this is a popular moderate sized azalea that produces ( orange-red ) salmon colored flowers over an extended period from mid autumn through the spring provided there is not a hard freeze.

Like all Azaleas, Fashion Azalea does best in an acidic soil.
Feed with an acid fertilizer after bloom. Keep roots cool with a thick layer of mulch. Make sure to amend the soil when you plant azaleas.
The extra work when you plant makes it well worth it and your azalea will thrive- dig a hole at least twice the size of the gallon container you are planting and twice as deep.  Replace clay soil with any outdoor plant soil- just make sure you amend that soil with peat moss.
Then, use a mulch that has a slightly acidic content like pine bark or pine tree needles.

 

Make sure to water during the first year if they get really dry- except in extreme drought, they should do well in years afterward, as long as they don’t get too much sun.

Here are some companion plant suggestions:  dogwood, ferns, hosta, holly, pines, serviceberry, silverbell, spring bulbs.
(neighbor suggestions taken from: CareFree Plants: A Guide to Growing the 200 Hardiest, Low-Maintenance, Long Living Beauties by: Reader’s Digest)
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Flower Shopping!!

  By Rachel | February 25, 2012 - 9:10 pm | Plants
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English: A red and yellow Daylily. Daylilies f...

Oh Joy!!  First thing on a Saturday morning, armed with my list, I anxiously await the opening of the local Grower’s Outlet.  It can be hard to find the things that I am looking for, but the prices are fantastic.

I am practically glowing with excitement.  I love digging in the dirt, and today has been a full day of digging up weeds, making holes for new plants, mixing up a soil combo perfect for each plant, and then thoroughly watering.

The planner in me definitely comes out when I start thinking about flowers.  I think about how much sun each spot gets, how big the plants are going to get, how much maintenance they require, how much water, when to prune and how much.

Once I decide what I want and where it is going to go- finally, the purchase is made.  I have been slowly adding things- divisions that people give me, plants that I buy- we have a limited budget so I usually buy very small plants- but I love to watch them grow.

It takes patience, and investment of time and nurture- but to step outside and watch hummingbirds, butterflies, and birds enjoying all the beautiful flowers and berries- it makes it all worth it.

Here is a list of the things I planted today with pictures:

Spider Lily- Red Surprise (Lycoris radiata)

 

Lycoris radiata English: spiderlily, The flowe...

Image via Wikipedia

Spider Lily- Yellow (Lycoris aurea)

Yellow Spider Lily - 'Suddenly the earth smiles'

Daylily- Red  (Hemerocallis- Little Business)  -pictured at top of post

Itea- Henry’s Garnet Sweetspire (Itea Virginica)

English: Itea virginica 'Henry Garnet', photo ...

Spirea- White Double Reeves- Spirea pictured is a little different from mine.  But you get the idea.

Spiraea a. 'Anthony Waterer' Japanese White Spirea

Spiraea a. 'Anthony Waterer' Japanese White Spirea (Photo credit: KingsbraeGarden)

I hope this inspires you to get out there and plant some flowers- there is so much to learn and enjoy- learning about God’s creation and seeing firsthand how things grow, watching buds appear, noting the different seasons- and the different insects and animals that appear when you start nurturing some trees, shrubs, and perennials in your own yard.

All of the shrubs and perennials above are very easy to care for- Spirea and Itea like full sun and are drought tolerant, day lilies are the champions of the garden- so low maintenance and gorgeous- very good beginner plant and they come in every color of the rainbow.

Spider Lilies are a little more picky- but I just think they are gorgeous!!  :)

Please feel free to ask my questions about any of the plants above, and I will post some pics of my plants as soon as they start to flower.

 

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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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Beginning at the Beginning

  By Rachel | February 15, 2012 - 4:15 pm | Random
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Gymnaster savatieri (Scientific name), Place:O...

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Sometimes it is hard to be new to something.  It can feel overwhelming- all the things I don’t know, all the things I need to learn.  All the mistakes that I make.

But this time around, in all the newness- I am trying to enjoy the process.  Learn from my mistakes and enjoy the journey- not anxiously pressing forward toward mastery- but seeing the beauty in the process.

I have made so many mistakes as a gardening novice.  Planting things in full sun that should be in partial shade.  Planting things out in the yard that really should be planted next to the house to protect it from the weather.

So many mistakes, little and big- and there are many more to come.  I have planted bulbs the wrong way- have watered things too much and killed them.  And some things have died and it remains a mystery- those are the most challenging- because sometimes I feel like I haven’t learned anything because I don’t know why the plant died.

Nothing can make me stop gardening though- and I think that’s when you know you really love something- and are committed to it.  You work through the ups and downs and still find joy in the most mundane tasks- pulling weeds, watching the little sprouts appear, mulching, fertilizing, planning where to plant new things, doing research on what plants fit best in what locations.

It all brings joy.  I know there are many mistakes to be made in the years ahead- but I also believe that the joy of all the plants inside and outside my house will far outweigh the trials that I may face.

There is something to be said for hard work- it reaps rewards.  Sometimes we forget that.

Here’s to beginnings- and sticking it out to reap the benefits of faithful work.

 

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Lily of the Nile

  By Rachel | February 14, 2012 - 4:52 pm | Plants
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Lily of the Nile
Lily of the Nile (Photo credit: Khirol Amir)

I just bought my first Lily of the Nile last week.  When I saw the pics of this flower in bloom, I knew that there was no way I could pass up purchasing one to sit on my front porch.

I anxiously looked up care instructions when I got home, and found some of the following information helpful.

They do not like to sit in water, so find a sight that is well drained if you are planting in a flower bed in your yard.  If you have very cold winters, this plant might be an annual in your area so check that out as well before planting.

I have my plant in a pot on the porch- and from what I read they make a lovely potted plant as well. They don’t seem to be very particular about what type of soil, only make sure it drains well.

These plants need full sun, so try to set them out somewhere where they will get at least 5 hours of sun- they can do ok with a little less- but the plant will thrive if it gets more sun rather than less.

If you are planting these from the bulbs- make sure to plant with the pointy end facing up, and about 2 inches deep.  These bulbs are very easy to find this time of year- I have seen them in several stores- from Walmart to Kroger to Home Improvement stores and of course gardening centers.

From what I have read, it sounds like you can overwater these beauties, so make sure to not make them too soggy, esp. after you have first planted the bulbs. Let me know if you are trying these out, and I will continue to update on how my plants are doing as the spring progresses.

Happy Planting!

Lilies of the Nile at Dusk

Lilies of the Nile at Dusk (Photo credit: Living in Monrovia)

 

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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...

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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)

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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