THE POWER OF THE PLANT

 

In June 2021, I posted about the Polka Dot Begonia (Begonia Maculata) I salvaged from the garbage. A change of temperature during shipping had caused the entire box of plants to drop all their leaves. After a couple months of care, the begonia finally grew two small leaves and then remained like that for several months. Now after 6 months of being in my care the polka dot begonia has 7 leaves and is living a complete and happy life. One of the main lessons I learned while caring for Dot is that she doesn't like too much water and prefers to be in a spot with filtered sunlight.  Here is Dottie now:  

Photo: Frank Giugliano My Nanouk has grown with haste. Purchased about 6 months ago, it has gone from a small few inch baby to what you see above. The length is at a foot long with another two to go (if it reaches full length, that is). Its colors are vibrant in shades of greens, pinks and purples and the stems are strong and healthy. By far, the Nanouk is one of my favorite plants to watch grow.  I keep my plant in a well lit room with some direct sun but mostly strong, filtered light by means of a skylight and windows. I typically water her once weekly and let the soil dry out in-between waterings. She  has a strong constitutiuon and can handle being forgotten about every now and then. If I fail to give her water she doesn't shrivel up and die. Luckily I never forgot for more than an extra week.

Photo: Frank Giugliano According to the growth of my Money Tree I should be well on my way to becoming wealthy.  The 2 yo beauty has been growing about a foot each year and its leaves have tripled in size.  As I'm beginning to notice yellowing of the lower leaves (shown below) I decided to transplant  the money tree to a bigger pot. While yellow leaves is commonly associated with overwatering, I don't over water my plants so I have ruled that out.  Money Trees prefer a humid exterior but don't be fooled into thinking you should keep the roots wet. Let your Money Tree dry out in-between waterings. The top should look and feel dry to touch before you water it again. Most people prefer to water theirs once a week although some swear that once a month is sufficient. You'll have to see what works for you. While the money tree is a common indoor houseplant that can grow 3 to 6 feet potted, in its natural habitat you will see them reaching heights of 60 feet. Mone...

​The tough and mighty Nanouk plant was developed in 2012 in Sappemeer, The Netherlands and is sometimes referred to as Fantasy Venice. Nanouk originated in Central/South America until recently when  two selected seedlings of  Tradescantia albiflora  were   cross-pollinating giving us the breed we grow  today. The compact yet sprawling and upright Nanouk is considered a fast grower, typically reaching a height and width of just under three-and-a-half feet. The  leaf varies in shades of green, light purple, grayish green, pink, and cream. The Nanouk grows best in bright indirect sunlight to full sun in temperatures  between 55° and 75°. A s with most houseplants, overwatering is more problematic than under watering, therefore allow the soil to become almost dry in-between watering and then water thoroughly. A good rule of thumb is to start with watering once a week and adjust as needed.  The Nanouk does not need fertilizer as o v...

You'll find several different varieties of Portulaca at your favorite garden store. Years ago the thin leaf portulaca (Moss Rose) was more readily available here in the northeast region, but lately I have seen more and more of the thicker leaf Portulaca with its deeper colored flowers (Purslane and Sunrose) striking shiny leaves.  Portulaca makes for excellent ground cover, as well as an addition to your hanging baskets. It thrives in direct sun and is drought resistant. The plant is made up of over 90% water so it has a mechanism for storing the water during difficult times.  Scientific Name:    Helianthemum nummularium  Plant Type:    Perennial Groundcover Mature Height:    8″-12″ Mature Spread:   18”-24″ Cold Hardiness Zone:    USDA zones 5 – 9 (up to 6,000 ft). In colder climates, Sunroses may overwinter more successfully with a mulch covering. Silver leaved varieties overwinter better than green leaved ones. Water Req...

I received a shipment of Polka Dot Plants ( Begonia Maculata ) which had dropped all their leaves due to the drastic change in temperature; from hot greenhouse to cold air conditioned store. Even though the plant was 'naked' (as you can see above) I decided to buy one and nurse it back to life. I've had it for a few weeks and it is now slowly beginning to strengthen. The small dotted leaf on the bottom of the photo is new growth. I keep my Polka Dot Begonia in a room with lots of indirect sunlight. When I turn the AC on, I usually move the plant to a room that is warmer. I know this isn't feasible for everybody but do your best to keep the temperature steady. I will update this post as I care for the plant and provide more information and pictures of its progress.  Begonia   Maculata True Name: Begonia Maculata Light: Bright, indirect light will promote strong growth and blooms. *Avoid direct sunlight. Water: Keep the soil generally moist, letting the top half inch of s...

The mountains and hiking trails are wonderful here in California. The first time I hiked #WisdomTree I climbed a quarter the way up. My breathing became labored and the altitude had me a little light headed. Being a neurotic I stopped there. On the second try I made it about half way up. I felt accomplished. I had been having a bad week and to me, adding another quarter to the first was an improvement I could live with. In the past I had some lung issues (a #collapsedlung and I was a smoker) Correction, I am a smoker. BUT, this past year I have switched to vaping and I'll talk about that some other time. So on my third trip to The Wisdom Tree mountain trail in sunny California I cleared my mind and looked down at the dirt trail. I kind of had it in my mind that I was't leaving this mountain unless I touched the Tree of Wisdom at its peak. I forged ahead as a man on a mission and barely stopped along the way. I controlled my breathing especially as I got to the higher a...

I recently started a window orchid garden at work. After deciding to brighten up my desk area, I took a walk to The Home Depot where I found lovely orchids of different sizes and varieties. Surprisingly I also bought a couple smaller varieties of orchids right at Walgreens!

He re are the photos I took at my house in the months before the sale. Included are the plants around the house and any photo I could find indoors.

In my opinion, the astilbe is one of the hardiest and prettiest perennial in my landscape. Each year in fills in fuller than the previous and it's colorful plunes last up to four weeks. The green foliage remains all summer long. The astilbe thrives in full sun and tolerates a dry soul now and again. Of course it's best if watered daily especially during the hottest summer months. I have a grouping of three light pink astilbes and a single white plant and a single deep pink.

Late spring bloomers are making their show as the early spring blooms die away. I love watching the layers of blooms, some overlap and some wait to make the show all on their own. As the last anemone flower fades away the astilbes are growing strong stalks which will make a spectacular summer display, the coral bells and climbing hydrangeas are now in full swing while my hydrangea bushes are all waiting for an early summer bloom. I have given the chrysanthemums their first trim as to avoid an early bloom. I work with mostly perennials and in choosing wisely, I have constant blooms from early spring through late fall.