Nighttime Greenhouse Peek

 Nighttime temperatures are changing rapidly. Today's high was 75º and work can pick up.
This afternoon I raked pine straw that was falling like rain in front of this morning's wind.

 Summering outside was good for my Staghorn fern. It tends to look sad by winter's end, a vacation under trees and good rainfall gave it new life.

 Underneath the the Staghorn are cuttings. Purple Heart looks good, Persian Shield is kind of sad and I think the Porterweeds will be to discard, despite one being secure in the soil as if it is putting on roots. There are more cuttings, in water. They do not look so weary as these.

Another Tradescantia with finer leaves, new this year from my Alabama friend Kathy, hangs off the shelf on the East wall. The inevitable tomato plant crawls across the the topmost shelf. It's been trimmed and has a single fruit so far. The ladder is from where I put in new light bulbs. I wish there was room to leave it.

Tomato on the north wall has blooms, no fruit. I am hopeful.

 

I like the new light bulbs. No globes because of the weight.

Anytime after next weekend Hyacinth bulbs can come out of the refrigerator to rest in little pots and grow roots. I hope for Christmas bloom. Usually they bloom after Christmas because I can never get bulbs soon enough. These are a new 'speriment at maturing bulbs in their pots to see if they'll set buds for a second year. Other bulbs are on order for later.

Moving Out

Spring is here. It's time to move big pots out of the greenhouse. Epiphyllum oxypetalum -- I have six pots -- and mixed pots of Spider Plants, Foxtail Fern and Waxleaf Begonias needed to go outside despite the offhand chance that they might have to come back for a night or two if late frost threatens.

Buffy helped load the little truck with pots of Begonias and friends.

I threw in a couple of Cane begonias for color to get them out of the way.

Some fine tuning and transplanting yet to do, but they are

safely in place under a big Red Cedar in semi shade.

 

I am contemplating painting the bench. What do you think?

 

Moving leggy Epiphyllums in wind was tricker. One bot flew off the

tailgate that I left open during loading. Two long branches had to be

secured with a bungee cord. I finally got them all in.

One of the pest control crew rode along.

Epis spend summers on a rough bench with an old headboard for support,

leaning among Philadelphus and Gardenia that shade from late evening sun.

Only two stems broke; they'll root for more plants needing homes.

I look forward to the first buds signaling big summer blossoms.

Now to find places to plant out rooted cuttings including Purple Heart.

It lives up to the name T. pallida in shade, becomes bright purple in sun.

 

According to Yang, Pennisi, Son and Kays, T. pallida has been judged exceptionally effective at improving indoor air quality by filtering out volatile organic compounds, a class of common pollutants and respiratory irritants. Maybe I'll just more the yellow pots into the house.