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.
Lots of fun color. Pink, yellow and blue, plus some chartreuse sweet potato vines.
My favorite container! Basil.
Peppermint swirl dianthus with some trailing blue flowery thing.
The snow killed my rosemary. Here's what's left. One stick! I transplanted it, removing some of the exhausted soil and added some oregano and decorative grass.
I bought one too many of the decorative grass, so it's in a lonely pot by itself for now. There is one remaining pot--currently it's home to some tubers that may or may not grow again this year. If they don't sprout in a few weeks, we'll re-purpose the pot and start another container.
