Tag Archives: plants

A Day in the Garden

  By Rachel | March 28, 2012 - 11:33 am | Plants
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Yesterday I planted several perennials and annuals in containers on my front and back porch.  Here are pictures and a short description of each plant and care instructions.

Pink Pop Hyssop (Agastache astromontana ‘Pink Pop’):

Flowers from mid-summer through early fall that attract butterflies.  This perennial can grow 2-3 ft tall and wide.  Very drought and heat tolerant once established.  Insect and disease resistant- plant in full sun in well-drained soil.

Agastache foeniculum Honey, hisopo anisado, Blue Giant Hyssop, menta regaliz

 

Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum ‘Metallicum’:

Grows to 12 in. tall and 18-24 inches wide.  Partial sun to shade, great for a shady porch or under trees.  Prefers moist, well drained soil.

Japanese painted fern

 

Dwarf Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria sp ‘Pink or Red’):

Blooms spring to fall, need to remove spent flowers to encourage new growth and more blooms.  Makes great cut flowers.  Full-partial sun in well drained soil-severe heat may slow growth.  Grows 12″ tall and wide.  Twist and pull out spent stems- do not pinch or cut- this encourages the rhizome will be stimulated to produce new shoots.

00085cr7.jpeg

 

Pink Million Bells (Calibrachoa):

They love the heat- be sure to place them in full sun- even 4-5 hours of afternoon sun during the hottest part of summer. Great for containers and hanging baskets since they have a vining habit.  Keep soil moist, watering 2-3 times a week.  Attract hummingbirds. Continual flowering from spring to fall.  When watering, try to keep water off the leaves.

Pink Million Bells

 

Dragon Wing Begonia (Begonia sempervirens):

Full sun to shade- grows 12 to 15 inches tall and 18-24″ wide.  May grow taller in deep shade.  Water regularly keeping water off leaves and flowers.

Ashley and Dragon Wing Begonia

 

Pineapple Lily (Eucomis Comosa ‘Tugela Jade’):

Topped in August with 18″ flower spikes that are chartreuse in bud and open into white flowers.  They will come back year after year and spread if left alone.  They are slow to emerge in spring and usually appear after other flowers are already showing new growth.  This perennial likes full sun with some shade at the hottest part of the day.  The flowers are followed by green berries- grows 18″ tall and 1 1/2 ft wide in clumps.  Needs moist, well drained soil.

Eucomis pole-evansii #2

 

Orange Avens (Geum coccineum ‘Cooky’):

Plant in full- partial sun, attracts butterflies.  Low-maintenance perennial growing 18″ tall and 16″ wide.  Clumps will need to be divided every 3-4 years to keep plants healthy, prune back hard after blooming to encourage health of foliage.  Needs well drained soil.

 

Geum (avens)

 

Frosty Begonia:

This was an impulse buy- at $1.50 I couldn’t resist the lovely leaves.  I am not sure that this plant is a frosty begonia- I am headed back to the plant place again on Friday- so I will ask for more info while I am there.  For now, I have this plant in part. sun on the front porch.

 

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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These sprouts are out of control!!

  By Rachel | February 17, 2012 - 3:26 pm | Random
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Ok, I don’t know what to do.  Seriously.  I have never had sprouts lay on their side less than a week after I have planted the seeds.

Do you replant them deeper in the soil?  Could that kill them?  Do I have to stake each one?  Because honestly- that’s not going to happen.

Has anyone else had this happen to them?  I would love some help or advice.

I looked up some things on the internet, and it looks like the seeds probably got a little too much sun, and a little too much water.

Disappointing- but there are more seeds, so I am going to try again, and work on keeping alive the sprouts that look strong and healthy.

Anyone with more gardening experience want to weigh in on this subject?  Would love to hear some more feedback.

 

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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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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Plants, Plants Everywhere!!

  By Rachel | February 10, 2012 - 8:15 pm | Random
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Hyacinth bulbs

Oh, I love spring!  I get so excited when I think about all the new flowers soon to be blooming inside and out.

Our home is full of plants, I seem to get a new one either given to me or bought when I see a 2 or 3 dollar deal on an interesting looking plant at a store- well, about every few weeks.

I am slowly climbing to 20 plants- I think I am about 2 shy of that mark.

I love watching things grow, and now that things are beginning to bloom outside, I feel this surge of energy and excitement- the same anticipation I get each spring- watching the trees and flowers bloom once again- how they emerge from hiding and fill the barren winter landscape with color.

Today we went and bought tulips, hyacinth, and two different kinds of Lily.  Lily of the Nile and Flax Lily.  I will spend some more time posting more info. about these plants as I learn about them.

I hope that you will take some time to “smell the roses.”  Enjoy the sunshine, and the beauty of God’s creation all around us.

Tulips

 

Green Lily in back is Lily of the Nile- Verigated Lily in front is Flax Lily

 

Tulip Lineup- 10 in all.

 

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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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...

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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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