My New Phalenopsis

We were in a store. I was at a store computer looking up something  I'd seen online that nobody in the store could find. 

I'd already mentioned that I needed a new yard rake. I said to He-Who-Mows, "Can you find me a rake and get one of those orchids over there on that display? "You mean a sweeper?" he asked. Sometimes we do not speak the same language.

He picked up the first plant he came to. I would still be circling the display, comparing the foliage of every plant and counting the blooms. He did choose a 

pretty color.

I keep orchids in the house, not the greenhouse.

Knowing When to Water

The only house plants I have indoors are a Spathephyllum, a Pothos and 3 Orchids. When the Peace Lily starts to droop I water them all. I take them outside and let water run through the pots and drain before bringing them in again.

The only Orchid that I don't water outside is the one in a tall glass cylinder. Once in a while I take it outside, flood the pebbles in the bottom with water and then turn it on its side and let the water run out.

Last year's bloom.

I keep thinking about taking it out of the glass container and repotting in a regular orchid pot in orchid medium. I wonder if after all these years of confinement it might die of shock? Or would it take hold and start to grow?

Bloom Day in the Greenhouse April 2013

 

Spring is really here! There are still plants to set out and plans to make.

 

Pentas

I ended up with 3 dozen cuttings at the end.

Graptopetalum and Sedum acre in a broken pot arrangement.

Neoregelia Bromeliad and pink Begonias

Fibrous rooted Begonia cuttings

 



I keep reading that Impatiens have fallen to a fatal fungus. I learned years back that in this hot climate, impatiens were going to demand oceans of twice-daily watering or they would faint and fall over. Wax-leaf begonias are a tough substitute.

Angel Wing Begonia

Cane Begonias are also easily rooted. I'm going to try planting some outside in the garden.

The Easter Cactus is a bit late. These are the first blooms open and more buds coming. What looks like snow on the Arrowhead vine is sawdust from a carpenter bee, making a nest under the bench.

Orchids are not really in the greenhouse. They prefer the climate in the house.

Orchids are not as finicky as I used to think and the blooms last for months!

 

Happy Bloom Day.

 

 

 

Bloom Day the Meme -- join at May Dreams Gardens with your host Carol.

Please remember to leave her a message.

On the Inside Looking Out

A cold kept me indoors for a day or two. Today is sunny and promises to be warm. Meanwhile I watered the orchids.

 

 

I am ready to be outside planting again.

 

The two in pots I bought in January in bloom.

The one in the cylinder rebloomed for the first time in years.

 

... and a Pothos.

 

Orchids, Areca Palm, Pothos and a large Spathephyllum are my only house plants.

 

Linking to Flaunt Your Flowers, Fertilize Friday at Tootsie Time. Come join us.

Bloom Day in the March Greenhouse

In the house so you can see the orchid that came into bloom after years of sitting in a glass cyclinder once its first flush was over. It is surrounded by orchids I took courage to buy this winter when I realized the first one had buds forming.

You can see He-who-mows working on the greenhouse doors outside.

Let's join him outside and peek into the greenhouse.

 

 

Appleblossom has a sweet fragrance, noticeable when you walk inside. This is the second year of bloom for Appleblossom. I was hoping for Christmas bloom. My timing was a little off.

 'Nymph' Hippeastrum is new this season. It bloomed for Christmas and again, and now a third time.

Kalanchoe, a great winter houseplant. The next year, I take new cuttings.

 

Photo from earlier in the week before 'Nymph' opened.

 

Happy Bloom Day!

 

My Orchid in Bloom!

It was a Mother's Day present, maybe four years ago. A phalaenopsis orchid in a glass cylinder with stones topped with reindeer moss was lovely in bloom. 

When the blooms faded, I cut off the stalk as directed. The green leaves lasted. And Lasted. I watered once in a while when the stones were almost dry and the moss stopped being green. Years passed. One day last summer I noticed a rough greyish stem that turned out to be an aerial root, soon joined by more aeriel roots.  Finally just after New Year's I noticed there was a green smooth stem. It had a 'mitten' on the end.

Seven weeks passed since I noticed the bud forming. a second bud formed, now a third. This morning the first bloom is almost open, a lovely surprise. I had forgotten how it looked, only that it was white.

Small in comparison to the potted orchids I bought in January, but precious to behold.

 

The greenhouse gets too cool so the orchids bloom indoors.