An eclectic bunch of plants, out for a bit of early sun...

While I prefer the look of ceramic bonsai (or one-of-a-kind) pots, I grow as many plants in terracotta as possible.
Some plants are in plastic transitional containers.

During the winter, I like containers that fit on my window-sill... ;)

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My containers are all as close to free as I can get. I have a mix of plastic, terra cotta, and ceramic. Some are reused from the garden center. I group them based on how much light I think they need. They really aren't decorative for me at this point. I would like to get there but that involves buying shelves, which I can't afford right now.

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Tiger, I love how you hang the plants from a curtain rod! I've never seen that before and I think it's a great "decoration."

Greenman, you have some great succulents going! I'm seriously thinking about using all clay pots again, like I used to do. I also think the overall picture of the groupings would look nicer in clay pots. The decorative pots I have in there now would look better as stand alone plants, don't you think? Too much color going on in my room for my taste. lol

Heh! I hung them fromt he rod because that's the only place I had! I'm glad you like it! :-)

In summer mine live outside in various groupings. The rest of the year they have to be crowded in my sun room and on the window sill at work.

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I love all your plant stands!

A couple different angles from today...

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I've recently been able to keep these outside, out night temps haven't dropped below 50 degrees last week and this week will be just as nice. Though today its cloudy with light showers.

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Here is a photo of some of my plants last fall.
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I'll get some more photos of all my plants outside when I get home today. I have many more than just those 3 shown! haha :)

Oak, I love your plants! The sun behind really makes the colors and pots pop out of the photo! What plant is the one on the right side of the croton, I love the little flowers and the foliage is so bright!

Tropic, you porch looks wonderful! I really like the plant stands you use in the 3rd photo. I've been trying to find some sort of rack to hold my plants, but I haven't had much luck.

Josh, as always, your plants look great and very happy to finally be outside! haha

Can't wait to see more great pictures! :)

Ashley

Everyone's plants are great!

Ashley, that's a Begonia that I wintered over, it will be going back outside in a month or so.

2/3 to 3/4 of the same plants that were on the deck, inside for the winter. The rest are at work. Many of the plants are tied to keep the stalks/leaves under control so there's space to move in the room.

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Everything is much rearranged now as I'm rooting cuttings and starting a lot of seeds. One huge rolling rack, full of seed flats and added several ceiling hooks. Went a bit overboard, alas. I purport that I am testing a number of annuals to see if they're worth getting again.

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Tropic, your plants are gorgeous with the snow as a backdrop! I'd love to grow a tall plant but I have no idea which one. Any suggestions for an easy one? :)

Oakleyok -- I've only dabbled in the occasional plant until recently so I don't have much experience/advice to give, but I can tell you what is there.

The tall ones in the last picture of the last post are White Birds of Paradise. I dump water on them periodically -- and that's it. They were relatively inexpensive for the size -- less than $30, I'm sure -- and they've grown about a foot or so since I got them last spring plus new leaves. EASY. (And the squirrels didn't spitefully chew them down, like the orange bird of paradise...grrr)

In the second picture of the last post is a Majesty Palm (the fronds are tied together to save space which is why it looks a bit odd) that most folks seem to despise as an indoor plant. It was inexpensive, and though I purposely got a short one it it is almost three feet taller now than when I got it last summer. It's given me no problems at all except when I wasn't watering quite enough at the beginning of winter. Again, EASY.

The tree hibiscus next to the majesty palm is a bit of a pain. If I'd known it wasn't cold hardy I wouldn't have gotten it, and it was QUITE the princess about being watered over the summer. I just gave it a serious pruning a couple weeks ago to improve its shape and it's happily sprouting new leaves all over.

In the work pots (not pictured) I have a green cordyline (or one of the very similar species I can't remember at the moment) that is getting very tall. I'll be interested to see what it looks like when I unpack the work windowsill to bring everything home in a couple months.

I did kill an unknown palm (4th picture in my outdoor post) by repotting it. The picture was taken right after repotting; it quickly died after that.

I have not been as much impressed by my Dracaena marginata plants (I think someone at work snuck them into my office). They just get long and skinny and snake all over, drop all the lower leaves, and aren't as fun. I think they can get tall enough, but at least all the ones I've seen end up looking sparse and silly. Probably because I'm not treating them the way they want to. I do admit they are easy going about care, since I've been rather cavalier about lopping off tops and rooting them.

I'm sure someone far more experienced can give you much better advice. :-)

Good morning! Here are my plants outside in my patio. Most of them are small but hopefully my elephant ears will begin to grow quicker with the longer days and I'll have a bigger plants this fall. Also, my Brugmansai cuttings are coming along nicely, the leaves are huge! These plants will soon get very bushy and hopefully will bloom! :)

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I'll be rearranging the plants within the next couple of months. I plan on buying a plant rack to hold most of my succulents and cacti. I also need to figure out how to drill holes into my outside overhang so that I can have hanging baskets as well.

Tropic I love your plants, especially the birds of paradise! The leaves are stunning. I might need to get one of those simply for the foliage! :)

Ashley

OMG!!!!!!

Everyones plants are sooooo beautiful!

Josh, you plants look like little people! So stinkin cute!!

Ash, wowowowow

Tropic dream, I have a question for you if I may? What is the palm like plant in the second picture down, far back right side? I LOVE it. Where did you get it? Hook me up please..;-)

Oakleyok, great post and pics!

Tigerdawn, I still see more room on your sill for another beauty..:-)

Thank you everyone for such a pleasant thread..:-)

Mike

Mike, that's a Majesty Palm in the corner of the room, fronds tied up so they don't take up as much space for the winter. I'll untie them when I move it back outside in a couple months.

I've been reading back threads in this forum and have seen a lot of vehement denigration of Majesty Palms as plants in general and especially indoors, but I've had a very positive experience with it (well, other than it growing taller than I wanted already). It's quite happy with the benign neglect I've been giving it.

I got mine at Costco for ~ $23. Home Depot has some right now for $10 or $12. Today I was floored when I went into Costco and they had a huge shipment -- not only is it way too cold to have these outside (ask me about the blizzard in April last year that destroyed many of my new plants) but the darn things are well over 10 feet high! The couple White Birds of Paradise they had looked like dwarfs next to them, and they were at least 4 feet high. I have no idea who they think is going to buy them, at least until the weather warms up. I can only imagine how much taller they will be after a summer outside. I think our summer climate (humidity) is to their liking, and we do keep our house warm and at around 40% - 50% humidity in the winter.

So, it's readily available and relatively cheap, but most people would caution you against getting one. I've had a good experience with mine, though.

Yes, all these plants are looking good, indeed!

Ashley, you've amassed quite the collection...! Your Schefflera is awesome (and very tidy!).

Thanks, Mike! I love that description! Like "little people." I certainly treat them
better than some people I know! Ha! ;)

Josh

Here are my plant groupings:

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Lary, beautiful!! What in the world are those red flowers? Your violets must LOVE those lights and set up. Great setups? Did you make them yourself? Great idea!

Jojo....I have an idea for your elks horn..lol

Tropic_dreams, I never knew that majesty palms could grow so nice indoors..Great work!

Hi Josh!! Write you soon..:-)

Mike..-)

Very, very nice!

Josh

Hi,

The red flowering plants are geraniums.

The plant stands are made from baker's shelves that I found a few years back. I purchased and attached 2 foot, 2 bulb light fixtures to each shelf. It works pretty good. My gesneriads do very well on them.

Larry

Hi Larry, I saw your set up on the AF forum and I have questions.

I think I have the same light as you do, is your's a 24" grow light for plants? Do your AV's get enough light? They sure look like they do. :)

In the second picture, what kind of upper shelf is that? It would sure look nice in my utility room where my grouping is. Is it screwed on or is it a stand?

Hi Oakleyok,

Yes, I did show my shelves in the AV forum. Are you talking about the shelf in the third photo with the geraniums? If so, what you are looking at is a garden window. The shelf was part of the whole package.

Larry

AWESOME pictures everyone!! Thanks for taking the time to share them! Really enjoyed seeing everyone's plants.

I've never heard of a garden window. I need to look it up online, or get a white metal shelf to give me an extra ledge. Great idea!

Below is a link to a garden window or greenhouse window company.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Window

Wow Larry! Great plants and setups! I love the garden winbdow idea.

Ashley