Cold sensitivity houseplants and exotic annuals
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
last year
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beesneeds
last yearken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
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Annuals/Perrenial as House Plants
Comments (43)Rhizo, doesn't look like the Alabama we visited:) The snow-people are extremely creative, beautifully made! Were they built by people who live in AL? If so, it's even more amazing, considering snow is rare. They're very creative. BTW, are you in any of the pictures? Rhizo, I just looked at your, 'See What I Mean,' pictures.. The snow people are still holding up except for the last which look like he/she/it, lol, is bowing. Frosty the Snowman, story. lol BTW hi, Rhizo, Jane, Mike and Tommy. Tommy, Vinca would probably do well indoors..They don't need much humidity, however they need a lot of light, and fresh, circulating air. IMO, since they have thick leaves/stems, would do best grown as a succulent. This is a guess of course, but Vinca wouldn't be a bad idea. They have gorgeous flowers, too. Variegated w/flowers would be stunning. Toni...See MoreWhat was your 1st houseplant? What got you started? How about now
Comments (27)Hi all, My first plant was an African violet. My grandmother was at fault. It was 1979 and I was about 23 years old and in college. I decided I would like to have a house plant and went over to her place to get some pothos cuttings. She grew wonderful looking pothos like nobody I've ever seen since. Anyway she was really thrilled that I was interested in having of houseplant and cut me several good lengths of pothos stems. When we were done with that she took me over to the window and showed me an African violet. She told me that I could take one of those leaves, put it in a glass of water, and that it would grow new plants from the base of the stem. I thought to myself, "no way", but I took a couple of those leaves home, stuck them in a glass of water as she instructed and indeed after couple months little plantlets started to grow from the bottom of the stems. I then planted them in African violet soil and had two plants. I soon took more leaves and started even more African violets. I thought it was such a coup how I was able to produce these "free" plants. Although by the time I bought the pots and soil those plants were not free. lol I then started propagating other plants. I even grew a lemon tree from a lemon seed I had harvested when making lemonade one time. My surprise was that the thing had thorns. Even though I liked my plants I can say that I was really in love with them. That would come later. I graduated from college and married a girl who was in ROTC and went into the army six months later. She was immediately sent to different schools and we traveled around the country to three different places in less than a year. Keeping plants going under those conditions was not very good and I lost a lot of plants, but not my African violets. I wound up in Washington, DC and worked for what was pretty much a white collar "sweat shop". It wasn't uncommon for me to work 60 to 70 hours a week. I needed somewhat of a diversion occasionally though and I found that diversion to be houseplants. I was very lucky to share a corner office with a couple of other people. The sunlight was incredible, and the windows were tinted so that the sun was not too harsh. I bought several starter plants and had them around my desk. To make a long story short I had a spider plant that was just magnificent and I had a Swedish Ivy that was to die for. The Swedish Ivy hung from a 9 foot ceiling and was basically a pillar all the way to the floor. I could not get my arms around the circumference of the plant. Anyway that's when my love of plants really blossomed. I continued to purchase and propagate African violets and had several to give away. My wife, who would eventually become my ex wife, and I moved to Denver. I then became acquainted with other gesneriad cousins of African violets. I went to African violet and gesneriad shows annually and met several people who grew these plants. I love all of my plants but my first love is African violets and their gesneriad cousins. Larry...See MoreYes, believe it or not, I do have ordinary houseplants! lol
Comments (30)Larry! Well I'll be! I remember that now. It was a seed and I had no idea what it was then. I actually thought it was a freak of nature, pinched it off and tossed it! That year I did see one humming bird, and never gave it a thought. You should see that same plant now. I kept in in very bright light and kept it small. Now it's about to bloom again. I'll post a recent picture for you:-) Jodik..You are way too kind. Just remember that I do owe some of my success to you, reiterating over and over again about how important it is to use good mixes, and to others. You have some beauties too and I would love to help you grow more orchids. Some actually do very well in cool dry conditions in the winter. Some need cool to induce flowering while others need cold to rest. I am still finding out about these, Cymbidiums being a species which I just ordered. Fragrant as heck too! Thank you for visiting my threads since you know how much it means to me and of that of everyone ele's. It take ALL teh fun out of growing plants if we can not share them with like minded friends here! Purple, I have yet to take a picture, I was so busy this a.m. I was looking at it and thought I should take a pic tomorrow. Planto, thank goodness is right! I accidently left my cat down in teh basement where I have dozens of expensive plants under lights, and thank goodness he did not knock one over after being stuck in there for hours! I would of killed the one who let him in there and the cat.lol Thanks again everyone, and Purple, please watch for my pic, ok? Mike...See MoreWhich annuals readily reseed for you?
Comments (30)Marcia, Perhaps the morning glories reseeding has to do with the moisture of the soil. I know when I start them from seed, I usually soak the seeds for 12-24 hours. I have on occasion forgotten about them and some rot and others start sprouting and growing in the water. Who knows? The only problem that I have with them reseeding is that they escaped into the vegetable garden and started growing mixed in with the cucumber and beans. I didn't notice until they were pretty tangled and it's such a mess right not. I want to cut them out of there before they set seed because then next year will be even worse. They also came up where I planted some other varieties (Heavenly Blue and Picotee Red(which is pink!) and were smothering them so I couldn't see any of the other colors! I had a snapdragon that self-seeded under our serviceberry tree last year. It was a tall yellow and bent over during the winter and the tip rooted to the ground. The main part died over the winter but the tip grew up tall and strong and made a large plant (there is a picture of it under "S"). Mine is out in the open in a raised bed in the middle of the yard. Go figure! Kimberly...See MoreTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last yearrusty_blackhaw
last yeartapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
last yearTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last yearnicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
last yearTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last yearnicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
last yearlast modified: last yearTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last yearL Clark (zone 4 WY)
last yearnicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
last yearlast modified: last yearbeesneeds
last yearTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last yearTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
last year
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katob Z6ish, NE Pa