I'm having a baby!

This is my ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia). I'm very excited. I've had it for nearly two years and it hasn't done a thing. Well, we lost a few leaves right away after transplanting and a few more from Boomer noshing on them. But otherwise, there hasn't been any activity from ZZ. Well, over the past week, a new shoot has shot up! I'm so happy.

Hello Baby!

If you'd like to learn more about ZZ Plants, head over to Plants are the Strangest People.

What's Growing

On Saturday I did some houseplant maintenance. I find that time relaxing and very enjoyable. Until they start to die...sad! But spring is about to spring and usually that means the dormant plants start popping out new growth! I'm very excited to see what the Umbrella Tree (front and center) does this year. Last year it grew almost a foot taller!

The biggest problem I usually have with house plants is the temperature and humidity. The house is almost always cooler than they'd prefer. I'm cheap and don't want to pay too much for the heating bill and in the summer, I can't stand the heat, so the air conditioning is always on. This is one area I need to work, in giving my plants their preferred temperatures. The other item, the humidity, I'm going to try something out. I took a deep, large drip tray and filled it with stones and water, and placed under the heating vent (left in photo above). We'll see how this helps. Perhaps this will help keep the air from being excessively dry? We'll have to see.

Yesterday I brought home two new plants. This one has a common name; Second Chance Plant. Does that mean it will be easy to grow? Doubt it! What I've read states that Calathea Ornata can actually be more of a tough cookie to take care of. The good news, she doesn't want direct sun, so I will have more flexibility in where she lives!

My other new friend is an Angel Wing Begonia. I've been very fascinated with Begonias lately and saw this nice hanging pot at the nursery and had to bring her home with me. There was one strange branch throwing off the symmetry of the plant, so I snipped her back and will try a little cultivation. In the meantime, I've excited to watch this one grow.

I also picked up two pots of established asparagus plants! I need to plant them outside next weekend. They need to grow undisturbed this season. Next season, we get to harvest half the growth. The following season we will have a full crop! This is soo much better than waiting on seeds.