A December Peek at Tomatoes and Hyacinths and Things

We've moved into typical Gulf Coast December weather, where there's fog at night and mist in the daytime. He-Who wonders about these things could not decide why we had no tomatoes in the fall.

Sure enough, as soon as night-time temperatures fell, we commenced to see small tomatoes.  Pollen fails in heat. There are tomatoes that set fruit in hot weather but few are indeterminate types, which are necessary for continued growth and fruit set over months, even years.

Tomatoes are sharing space with Thanksgiving Cacti in bloom.

Holiday Cacti are sharing space with Hyacinths. My hyacinth trials using last years' bulbs that were allowed to grow on in their little pots were a success considering that many of them did set buds and bloom again after chill; a failure as far as size.

 They have as great a fragrance as ever despite the small size and sparse blossoms. The bulbs will go into the garden after blooms fade.

Arrowhead vine and Foxtail fern keep company with Chlorophytum and a bromeliad decorated with a begonia flower.

Areca palm culm that I pulled out of the big pot by accident has made another plant. Rooted Persian  Shield with Purple Heart and Purple Jew are crowded in with Begonias and Dark Alternanthera that grows in pots and in the floor at will.

Still outside awaiting a freeze to encourage dormancy are potted Agapanthus.

Inside, I'm waiting for the sun to shine. Maybe I'll make a fruitcake today.

Alternanthera 'Purple Knight' forced to make room for a Better Boy

Alternanthera is a grand foliage plant. The smaller cultivars make great edgers, fillers and contrast material.

"Purple Knight' is usually a weaver among tall stems. I used it last year with leggy purple/pink roses.

The greenhouse has Purple Knight seedlings from years back rooted in the floor under the south bench. It filled the south side of the building. Temperatures over 100º encourage it in bright sunshine and plenty of moisture from the mist system.

I figured it shades the few little cuttings and seedlings on the shelf underneath it, so I let it grow. With fall coming on, it has to be cut back to the ground.

This tomato cutting in a bucket needs the corner space.

It tends to grow up and out until unrestrained it could fill a 75 cubit foot space: 5'x5'x5' and is in the way in the middle of the greenhouse. 

This corner must be freed for the Tomato.

Despite the heat, nighttime temps got low enough to set fruit.

Blooms keep coming. I hope for  more fruit set.

I don't know how I'll fit everything in when time comes. Amaryllis can hang out in the tool shed while they dry off awaiting time for Christmas bloom. A host of Christmas Cactus and their relatives will vie for shelf space along with some potted Calla Lilies that have stayed green but found it too hot to bloom. The Bromeliad Bunch will take up considerable room. My Bird's Nest Fern is bigger than ever, don't know if it will stuff under the lowest shelf where it was happy last year. 

I put off taking cuttings. Shrimp Plants are a must; Persian Shield may be fewer. Pineapple Sage might just be one big pot, it's been such a water hog this summer waiting for fall bloom. I'm considering how many Pentas I can squeeze in. Oh. Where will I put the pots of Begonia, Foxtail Fern and Spider Plant trios? I potted them up together last year to save space. Maybe others will have to bunk together this year. Wonder what else could share containers? 

I gave the Cat notice that traveling space to get to his favorite perch will be shorter and narrower this time.  I was hoping for a little tea table and a couple of chairs. 

Last February

When the Greenhouse Gets too Hot for Growing

We are very near to the time when nothing much can survive in the greenhouse except maybe Alternanthera dentata Rubiginosa.

Last year I just let it grow and cut it back in late Summer when it was time to bring in plants.

A few cuttings on the floor under mist. 

Temperatures in the greenhouse generally are 10 degrees hotter than the outside with a vent fan and mist trying to cool it. Plants on the floor have a better chance.

 Neoreglia pups freed from the mother plants.

I was trying to decide if I should try to save the mother plants and then I remembered how much space they take up when winter comes. Surely I can make do with 14 young Bromeliads. These six have brightened up in dappled shade under a fig tree.

Three Gerbera seedlings and some 

Mistletoe Cactus that broke off and needs rooting.

Thyme extras, seedlings.

 Peeks at the planted Herb Circle. Lemon Grass, Marigolds, Thyme, Parsley, Garlic Chives and Oregano. Dwarf Marigolds?

The patio table got a faux zinc finish on the rusty top. 

White Echinacea outside the greeenhouse.

Some Calla Lilies got a bigger pot.

They all need bigger quarters.

Cycad seedling has two new fronds, photo bombed by a Rhipsalidopsis. 

In the background are some rusty plow parts I dug up.

Joining the Meme at Tootsie's Friday Flaunt.