A Peek into the Greenhouse as We Anticipate Freezes

I hauled the heaters back in that we'd not needed all through the Holidays. They're plugged in and ready with 6-7 gallon jugs of water in front of each one to collect heat and release more slowly. They're not pretty, so I don't show those.

The prettiest things right now are Begonias.

I kept pinching off rosettes of leaves from Kalanchoe

until I have a total of 20. These largest will bloom soon.

I tried to tie up the tomato plant. Some of it leans against the 

greenhouse wall. I'm afraid some leaves may freeze. All these projects are learning experiences. Will I do better next year? 

He who mows suggested that I use the pantyhose that got all twisted up with other clothing in the washer today and came out as long as I am tall to tie up tomatoes. 

Remember the succulent planter I improvised? Everything looks good. The Kalanchoe is too young and the Schlumbergeras are done with blooms. I don't know if I will be able to hang it as a vertical planter or not.

Claus Dalby featured Calla Lilies on his blog today. He mentioned that they need plenty of fertilizer through the winter, good tip. I hope to see foliage soon where I repotted Calla bulbs that were white and firm. I am hopeful. I've brought Calla Lilies to bloom before but it's been a while back when the greenhouse was new.

I don't know that putting jugs of water in front of my electric heaters is a helpful exercise or not but it cannot hurt. It seems reasonable to me that warm air blowing on jugs of water will heat the water a little rather than all the warm air rising immediately to the ceiling where it is not going to fall back down. When the heater cycles off, heat can slowly leave the water jugs. Or not. What a notion. When the weather warms, I use the containers of water for watering. I water plants individually, not with the hose that I use to fill water bottles. Sun warms water jugs, too. Every little bit helps, in my opinion.

Take Joy in staying warm.

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.

 

Best of February's Bloom Day

Blessed to have flowers for Valentine's of my own growing, and blooms for Bloom Day.

White Shrimp Plant -- really these are 

bracts, the tiny pink blooms come later.

Begonia semperflorens and some Alternanthera.

The Chartreuse Slternanthers has tiny blooms.

Begonias are about the easiest to grow and bloom.

White Kalanchoes got leggy. There's an Amaryllis

in bud. I will know its name when it blooms.

A wider peek at the greenhouse interior.

Purple Heart with Persian Shield behind it in the planter.

Amaryllis bud at upper left is Appleblossom. 

Bottom left is Birds Nest Fern

Persian Shield and its bloom. 

The blooms are on cuttings rooted in water.

Bromeliads above with Alyssum seedlings below.

Purple Alternanthera growing in the 

greenhouse floor is blooming behind a fern.

Last of White Pearl Hyacinths in a nest of Sedum.

Angel Wing Begonia

Bloom Day in the January Greenhouse

Angel Wing Begonia

Wax Leaf Begonia

Another red begonia in front of budded Hyacinths.

White Pearl Hyacinths, promising.

Last of the Schlumbergeras.

Kalanchoes. I think I'll buy a red one.

Tall leggy Kalanchoes starting to bloom.

White Shrimp Plant, rooted and 

blooming in a jar of water.

To see what's blooming outside, go here.

Bloom Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Linked to Tootsie Time Flower Flaunt

Blooms and Potential in the Greenhouse

Another peek into my greenhouse. Begonias are dependable for winter bloom, both B. semperflorens and the 'Angel Wing' cane kinds.

Above on the right is a seedling Cycad.just just visible behind the mug of Alternanthera cuttings in bloom.

At left is the only Agapanthus seedling to survive my care.

At right are white begonias with Spider Plants and Foxtail Fern. Purple Alternanthera is growing in the greenhouse floor.

Alyssum seedlings and ferns. The sword fern has yellow leaves from excessive light but the pot is full of little green crosiers, a haircut is in its future. The Bird's Nest Fern behind is faring okay. It got too big for its space in the house and moved out to the greenhouse where it acts happier.

 

Hyacinths. the purple bulbs bloom pink, the pale bulbs bloom white.

Alternanthera in a mug on the left and a pot of Burro Tail sedum, right.

Hyacinth companions this year are Sedum acre with white and Graptopetalum with pink.

I'm already planning next year's bulbs.

Pineapple Sage Salvia elegans cuttings rooted in a jar.

Behind it is a vase of Persian Shield Strobilanthes cuttings. 

Persian Shield and Purple Heart Setcreasea cuttings rooted in soil in a long container.

Rooting in soil is preferable for most things, I just tend to snip a few cuttings for a vase now and then.

If they root, they get to stay and find a pot later.

Mistletoe Cactus Rhipsalis on the top shelf, Seedling Parsley on the bottom.

Kalanchoes have buds and some are starting to open. All are white.

Last year I started to buy a red. Every little tip will root when pinched.

 Christmas lights are still up in front of the rooster.

Big pots of Epiphyllum oxypetalum are putting on new growth.

 Schlumbergeras almost done with hlooming, right on schedule. 

Reds bloomed for Thanksgiving and light colors bloomed for Christmas.

Year before last I bought this Staghorn fern Platycerium species in winter in a 2" pot. 

The big box stores sometimes have some tropical treasures in January and February. 

I'd like more Bromeliads, as if I need them. Orchids in the sunporch have bloom spikes.

It's cold here, but not like in the northern states or even in Atlanta. We expect a hard freeze on Monday and Tuesday after it rains again. It won't get cold enough for the rain to turn to snow or sleet, for which I am grateful to be that far south. When I opened the greenhouse door this morning after the sun warmed it, Ike the cat came through the narrow opening like a flash, seeking warmth.

October Bloom Day in the Greenhouse

It isn't cold enough for plants to be inside but I am prone to being caught by an early frost, so they are in early except for the cuttings I keep putting off. This is just a sample

I added extras to the Begonia pots: Spider plants and Foxtail Fern.

Schlumbergeras will have buds soon. I root every

little piece that is pruned or breaks.

Last Hurrah for Epiphyllums. These will bloom 

for one night, soon. Maybe I'll remember to look.

Their fragrance is the best part.

White Lantana outside the greenhouse.

Next year I hope for a glorious white garden.

Look closely in the left lower corner. My camera kept focusing on dry leaves and foliage rather than the

beautiful blue Dragonfly who posed so patiently. 

Happy Bloom Day.