GreenWise Gardening 2017
"You never truly know a plant until you've killed it three times."
– Tony Avent
3/24/17:
I've admired wisteria bushes around my neighborhood for years, and this March they're especially outstanding with tons of lavender flowers. I looked up instructions on propagating these from a cutting. It looks to be worth a try, so I've snagged a few stems off a nearby bush.
One flower variety that definitely grows well from cuttings is the geranium. Last fall, I'd taken stems from plants outside the hotel up the street from my house, since these were a different color than any geraniums already in my yard: a bold hot pink. I planted these in a small pot on the bench alongside our lawn. They're finally blooming. The leaves are interesting too; they're dark purple/brown in the center.
One flower variety that definitely grows well from cuttings is the geranium. Last fall, I'd taken stems from plants outside the hotel up the street from my house, since these were a different color than any geraniums already in my yard: a bold hot pink. I planted these in a small pot on the bench alongside our lawn. They're finally blooming. The leaves are interesting too; they're dark purple/brown in the center.
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I am continuing with more spring planting, in between the rainy days. So far, I have moved a few new morning glory seedlings outdoors, stuck the rhubarb starter-roots in two large pots, and sown beefsteak tomatoes (seeds collected from last year's fruit), delphiniums, more columbine, and snap peas.
The peas have not sprouted in 25 days, however. I've noticed signs of squirrel-digging in the planter box. Do they eat seed peas? I hadn't draped netting over that container, since the trellis is too tall to cover with the net. I could try taking the trellis out until there are actual plants to climb up it.
It is wonderful to now see Heavenly Blue morning glories that've survived long enough to grow more than two leaves on each stem. Hopefully these will be okay outdoors; I'll pay close attention to the condition of each fragile little vine. I'm planting them in sunny areas, with short wire trellises purchased at the dollar store.
The peas have not sprouted in 25 days, however. I've noticed signs of squirrel-digging in the planter box. Do they eat seed peas? I hadn't draped netting over that container, since the trellis is too tall to cover with the net. I could try taking the trellis out until there are actual plants to climb up it.
It is wonderful to now see Heavenly Blue morning glories that've survived long enough to grow more than two leaves on each stem. Hopefully these will be okay outdoors; I'll pay close attention to the condition of each fragile little vine. I'm planting them in sunny areas, with short wire trellises purchased at the dollar store.
Clicking on the small images below will bring up a larger version.
Neighborhood wisteria.
Morning glories, new leaves.
Bold pink geraniums.
Indoors, I'm fairly satisfied with the houseplants I have at the moment. The lipstick plant is the only exception: it has slowly been dying out. Perhaps it simply went dormant in the cold temperatures over winter, and will spring up from the two remaining green stems, but in the meantime I added some rooted tendrils of philodendron to this hanging container.
I also recently bought an autumn fern to hang from a less-sunny area. Together with the spider plant, peperomia, maranta, and Thanksgiving cactus, the ceiling beams of our living room and kitchen are nicely decorated.
At my workplace, I've been moved to a desk area under a skylight. I stare up at the ceiling, imagining a jungle of happy green plants filling the 5-foot-tall rectangular cutout that leads up to a glass pane set in the roof. I don't have the authority to make the "jungle" happen, but figured I could bring in a desk plant or two, and am starting with a dracaena.
I also recently bought an autumn fern to hang from a less-sunny area. Together with the spider plant, peperomia, maranta, and Thanksgiving cactus, the ceiling beams of our living room and kitchen are nicely decorated.
At my workplace, I've been moved to a desk area under a skylight. I stare up at the ceiling, imagining a jungle of happy green plants filling the 5-foot-tall rectangular cutout that leads up to a glass pane set in the roof. I don't have the authority to make the "jungle" happen, but figured I could bring in a desk plant or two, and am starting with a dracaena.