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. Money Tree with y

​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 ver-feeding can lead to brown leaf tips. If you do want to f