Sunday, December 30, 2007

Indoor Garden

This morning as I was watering my indoor plants I was thinking about all you bloggers that were talking about the enormous amounts of indoor plants that you care for during the winter. I decided that I admire your dedication to keeping such large collections of plants alive and well. I have a measley 24 planters. I guess I have a few more species because several of my pots have more than one plant in them. I have never counted my collection before but I know my collection has fluctuated in amounts and species over the years. This ponytail palm is a funny looking thing. It had been loped off before I bought it and was at such a low mark down price I couldn't resist it a couple of years ago. It has recovered well but it has three "tails" as opposed to the one central one it should have. Oh well. I like it anyway.





These two palms are great for my home. They take low light and neglect in stride. You can actually see that the one on the right has a new frond coming up. Seeing the new frond is like an anouncement of longer days begining.



The Surprise Paperwhites that I potted-up are doing just fine. The one in the glass forcing vase is growing the fastest so far. You can see its roots venturing down into the water in the vase.
Now I am not very happy with the ones in the soil. They are behaving like a group of drunken sailors. I put them into the soil and it looks as if the roots are growing just fine but the roots are pushing the bulbs over. I set them upright daily and by the next day they are flopped down. Any suggestions for overcoming this phenom??


Here I am having trouble with these drunken bulbs and Carol wants us to consider bonsai. As much as I admire bonsai I doubt if a bonsai plant could withstand my haphazard approach to gardening, especially in containers. Perhaps my goals for this coming year should be to keep alive what is now hanging on for dear life.

12 comments:

  1. Hi Lisa,

    My paperwhites usually looked a little tipsy inside, too - down here they can go outside but they still flop all over.

    I've been gone for awhile and will never catch up with all the posts - but have enjoyed your ornaments, the rocks in snow, and the windowbox ideas.

    Did you ever try the water absorbing crystals for the window box? I've had pretty good luck using them for hanging baskets.

    Your walnut tree post made me laugh - oak tree seedlings and sprouting pecan trees appear by the hundreds in my small garden since the ground doesn't freeze here. And don't forget the black walnut is one of those allelopathic plants that inhibit other plants' growth - so watch out where you let one grow.

    Happy 2008 to you, Lisa - I'm so glad you joined the world of garden bloggers!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  2. Annie, I am glad you stopped by.I hope you were having fun while you were away. Thank you for the encouragement.

    I have not tried those Water crystals. That might be a solution to the constant watering of the window box.

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  3. I love all your commentary here Lisa. I was laughing over your 'drunken sailors'. Can't offer any advice but this is a great post.

    Happy New Year!!

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  4. Those paperwhites might sober up with some kind of staking when they grow a bit longer. I received some as a Christmas present in a pot with some tree branches propping up the ultra long stems. Good post.

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  5. I use to have indoor plants but now that I cats, I needed to get rid of them all! Happy New Year to you and your family!

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  6. I have no good advice for the paperwhites. The only thing I can think of is the tops are growing faster than the roots, and are possibly growing toward the light source?

    On the bonsai... actually, most bonsai does better outside, or needs to be dormant in the winter, unless you deliberately choose an "indoor" type plant.

    Come on, think of the tools you could get!

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  7. LOL! Give yourself more credit, Lisa. I'm impressed with what you have going on there. Successfully, too, except for those drunken sailors!

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  8. Great post, Lisa :-)

    Love your palms.

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  9. Lisa, I'm passing to you the Make my Day award, because you deserve it...
    have a nice day

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  10. "Perhaps my goals for this coming year should be to keep alive what is now hanging on for dear life."

    LOLOL Lisa! I have exactly FOUR living things in pots in my house. Two African violets, an orchid, a huge begonia in the basement (that normally lives out by the pool in the summer), and a pot of something...err...green on the table in the family room. So, obvioiusly, I have no advice to offer, nor would I take any advice from me....lol.

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  11. Happy New Year to you too Teri.

    Thanks for the advice Frances. I may resort to trussing them up when the time comes.

    Happy New Year to you too Mon@rch.

    It might be just not enough light Carol. I will continue trying to keep these guys in line.

    As to the bonsai... new tools... Hmmmmm

    Thanks Mary.

    Hi Marvin, Glad you liked the post and the palms.

    I am happy to Make Your Day Verobirdie. Glad you enjoyed the post. I am looking forward to ringing in the New Year with friends.

    Hi Jayne. Thanks for stopping by. I bet you do have all kinds of good advise. African Violets nor Orchids grow for me. :/

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  12. Happy new year to you, Lisa!
    Kind regards, Monika

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