|
|
My intention was to photograph my amarylis every week once it started to sprout, but with a newborn I admit I've fallen a little behind with my blogging. So here is my amarylis in full bloom. A little late for Christmas, but I've enjoying it none the less!  Add Comment  With winter embracing the garden outside, I'm eagerly watching my amarylis. I planted in over three weeks ago and it's just starting to grow out of the pot. Patience isn't one of my virtues...especially when I my green thumb is coped up indoors. My houseplants pretty much maintain themselves. I've already transplanted all my hoya and pothos cuttings, and there isn't much left to do. Grow amarylis, GROW!!!!!  Before Homeownership can be rewarding, but it can also be a very frustrating ordeal! I love the character of my 60 year old house, but some days, I hate the constant repairs. Our back window overlooks the deck and backyard. It was a lovely big window, but last spring we noticed that the window sill was starting to rot outside. We knew we had to take care of it before risking water damage in the house. We had QSI Windows and Doors come take a look a few months ago and we discussed our options. As much as I loved the big window, I wanted to be able to open it so we opted for two double hung windows with grills to match the rest of the windows in the house. I was a little apprehensive whether I would like it or not, but I admit – I LOVE IT and so do the cats. We had the window sill extended on the inside to give them more room to sit. Since the cats aren’t allowed outside, it gives them the perfect place to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the garden!  After  It’s not often that gardening is chosen as a topic to be portrayed in main stream media. That’s why I was thrilled to watch this video clip from Saturday Night Live. Christopher Walken stars in this short comedy sketch. He’s the host of a fictional gardening show ‘Indoor Gardening Tips from a Man Who is Very Scared of Plants.’ To help ease his fear of plants, he glues googly eyes on all his houseplants. If you’re in the mood for a chuckle, I highly recommend you watch this video clip! http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x50mss_snlindoor-gardening-tips-from-a-man_fun Originally published on the http://www.canadiangardening.com/blogs/  With the nights getting colder, I thought it was time to bring my houseplants indoors. I don’t want to risk my 25 year old ficus (Ficus benjamina) and other tropical plants from getting a chill. Each spring I go through the routine of moving them outside to enjoy a breath of fresh air. They thrive during the summer with all the sunlight. The rain waters them and washes all the dust of the leaves. I’ve never had a problem with any insect infestations, but to make sure I don’t bring any bugs into the house, I give each plant a bath at the end of their vacation. I use a spray bottle with water and a tiny bit of liquid dish soap to coat the leaves, stems, and branches. I gently wash the leaves, and then rinse the plant with the garden hose. Some of the plants need a trim after enjoying a summer growth spurt, especially my ficus. If I don’t trim the upper branches, I can’t get in through the door. Just like the rest of us, some of the plants have a hard time adjusting to life after a relaxing vacation. A few leaves may turn yellow and drop and their growth slows, but for the most part they all transition well. I’m sure my houseplants enjoy fond memories of warm summer days as winter approaches and dream of the day when they’ll be able to enjoy their next vacation on the deck when spring comes again. Originally published on the http://www.canadiangardening.com/blogs/  One of my most treasured houseplants is my Hoya carnosa ‘Snowball’ or simply known as a hoya or waxflower. Native to Eastern Asia and Australia, H. carnosa is one of 100 species in the Asclepiadaceae (milkweed) family. This tropical vine has dark, green leathery leaves that leak a milky sap when damaged. My hoya is probably over thirty years old and has been passed down like a family heirloom. It was originally my grandmother’s plant, who gave it to my mom, who in turn gave it to me. Like clockwork, it blooms twice a year, once in July and again in January. It has clusters of attractive, star shaped, white blossoms with red centres. It’s spectacular when it blooms. Right now, it’s covered with dozens of flowering clusters. I’ve already removed a handful of flowers that have finished blooming. The waxy flowers look fake, but I assure you they are real. Once the blooms opens, they are extremely fragrant, especially at night. I’m not sure why the fragrance increases at night, but the sweet scent easily fills my entire house. I’ve heard of some people removing the flowers because the fragrance is so strong. So what’s the secret to my hoya’s success? Simple–I ignore it. I occasionally water it and rarely fertilize it. I did repot it a few years ago and replaced the soil, but other than that, it just hangs in my dinning room window. The new shoots grow quickly and it isn’t until they’ve grown a few feet that they get leaves. There have been a few occasions where I’ve discovered new vines that had weaved their way through the strings of the blind, with full-sized leaves stuck in between. Unfortunately, the only way to remove them was to remove the leaves and pull the vines through. A hoya will bloom more frequently if placed in direct sunlight, but they’ll also tolerate low light. If you’re looking for an exotic houseplant to grow, consider bringing a hoya home. Notoriously long-lived and hardy, these trouble-free plants are ideal for beginner and experienced gardeners alike. Originally published on the http://www.canadiangardening.com/blogs/ | ArchivesSeptember 2011 CategoriesAll A Gardener's Playground – Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Anja Sonnenberg |
RSS Feed