Happy New Year

As nice as Monday's photos of Hippeastrum 'Benfica' were, all four flowers weren't fully open then. Here they are now:

All flowers are open; the rear two can be seen reflected in the mirror

The photographer gets into the act. Maybe some day I'll post a picture that includes my whole face, not just an eye. Or maybe not.

And because we are headed into the weekend, it's time for pet photos. Here are some shots of Jenny and Luke back when the plant was still in bud. Jenny was curious about the plant, but Luke was more interested in going outside.

Jenny gives H. 'Benfica' a good sniff. "Oh, it's just another one of those plant things. Nothing to eat. Damn!"

Luke eyes every cat's enemy: A closed door. "Maybe if I jump up in the air, I can grab the knob between my paws and turn." (Believe it or not, he's actually tried that!)

Luke: "Oh, well at least I can look out the window." Jenny: "Hmm, I wonder if the cat is tasty? Better not risk it."

2009 was a difficult year for me, one with a number of personal challenges and losses. But there were bright spots too, one of which was having the ability to share my love of plants here on this blog. Here's to a happy, healthy 2010 for everyone!

It's a Season of Contrasts

I'm on record as saying that I hate winter. And I do. But I cannot deny its beauty. Here is what is going on outside:

My front yard, taken a few days ago during a snow shower

And here is what is going on indoors:

New Monstera deliciosa leaf unfurling

Paphiopedilum flower about to open

Brand new Sansevieria trifasciata leaf, among its older, darker brethren

New Zamioculcas zamiifolia leaf, just beginning to loosen

How's that for ringing in the new, a couple of days early?

Grand Opening

Today it happened, the moment we've all been waiting for: My Hippeastrum 'Benfica' flowers opened up. (Well, okay, it's the moment I've been waiting for--humor me, please?)

Here is where we were on Saturday 12/26: Showing color.

Close-up of the previous shot, showing four unopened blooms

And here we are today, with one flower fully open, with the rest to follow shortly:

Beautiful Benfica: The flash made the red seem a bit lighter and brighter than it is.

The flower color in this photo, taken without flash, is truer to life. I love that rich wine red.

As you can see, I've dressed the plant up in honor of its flowers. I've placed the pot in a coppery wine bucket, and topped it with dried Spanish moss. (Tillandsia usneoides, I assume. It came from the craft store, so it could be faux Spanish moss, I suppose.) The moss is easy to lift when I want to check the soil for watering.

'Tis the Season...

for Luke to hang out under the Christmas tree. All of us here among the leaves wish everyone the Happiest of Holidays, whatever you celebrate. If you aren't celebrating anything in particular: Happy Friday!

Plant Burnout

Every year it seems, I come to a point where I am a bit burned out on caring for my houseplants. I don't imagine that this is much of a problem for those sensible folk who have a plant or two or ten. But for us obsessive houseplant lovers with thee-digit collections, this can be devastating to both one's morale and for the health of the plants. I feel down and overwhelmed, so I slack off a bit on plant care. (I let things go a bit too long between watering; I don't check for pests; I skip routine grooming; stuff like that.) Because I've slacked off, the plants start to suffer, (they wilt; pests appear; the plants look messy) so I feel even more down and even more overwhelmed. It becomes a bit of a vicious circle.

Phalaenopsis and Pelargonium flowers. Photo is for decorative purposes only, as it doesn't really relate to the content of this post.

In order to keep this from happening, or at least not let things get too bad, I've started to look for causes and cures.

Some causes

1. I have too many plants. Well, this is the major issue. I fully admit that I have too many plants indoors in the wintertime. Succulents make up one third of my collection, and most of them spend the warm months outdoors. Taking care of them outdoors is a breeze; they can be watered en masse with the hose, if they need watering at all, and just being outside in the summer is a pleasure for me. Indoors, they add a lot of time and effort to my routine, and my house looks overcrowded. Since, so far, I have not been prepared to significantly reduce the numbers of plants, I know that this something I just have to handle with the best grace I can.
2. I have too many high-maintenance plants. While this is not the case right now, having to deal with large numbers of fussy plants that need special treatment (temperatures other than normal household temps, frequent watering, high humidity) has driven me to despair in the past.
3. I have large tasks that need to be done all at once. One example of such a task is when a sudden dip in temperatures in the fall leaves me compelled to bring all plants that have been outdoors back in at once. Making a mad scramble to get things in, making sure that they are free of outdoor insects, and finding a place for everything can wear me down and make me wonder why I bother at all.
4. I have non-plant related sources of stress. Sometimes things don't go well in life. Personal problems of all kinds can sap my energy and make plant chores the last thing I feel like doing.

Some cures

1. I give myself permission to be imperfect. Not all my plants are going to look beautiful all the time. Everything has its ups and downs. I remind myself that most plant tasks can be postponed for a few days without serious consequences. But even if such consequences occur, I am not a bad person if a plant suffers a setback or even it one dies.
2. I give myself permission to throw plants away. If a plant is struggling and it will take more time, effort, and valuable growing space than I think it is worth to save it, it is okay to throw it away. If a plant is buggy, and it will take major work to eliminate the infestation (and there is always a risk that it will spread) it is okay to throw it away. If I just plain don't like a plant, for whatever reason, it is okay to throw it away. Really. Allowing myself to do this has probably been the biggest plant-related stress reliever of them all.
3. I revel in my easy-care plants. Most collectors have a plant or two that looks great no matter what. Barring that, there is probably a plant that looks great right now. I try to enjoy that plant to the fullest. If I can do so without upsetting it, I move it to a prominent spot where I and others can appreciate its beauty. It reminds me why I love plants, that they are a joy, not a burden. That leads me to the following:
4. Relax. I try to make caring for my plants a relaxing activity. I remind myself that this is a hobby I chose because I enjoy it.

By the way, this post was not motivated because I am suffering burnout right now. While I do find this time of year a mite stressful as a plant hobbyist, because these darkest days of winter can be stressful for the plants, I am actually quite happy with the way things are going these days.

A belated Happy Solstice to everyone. Things can only get brighter from here on!

Getting the Point

Okay, I'm giving it another whirl. Every few years, I go out and buy myself a Euphorbia pulcherrima, better known as Poinsettia. I hadn't planned to do it again, but I stopped into a local chain drugstore to buy an eyeliner pencil, saw that they had some nice-looking, inexpensive, Points (nickname used by hort professionals) and decided to take the plunge.

My new Euphorbia pulcherrima with my Christmas tree in the background

I don't buy them because they excite me as blooming plants. I much prefer Hippeastrum and Schlumbergera for my holiday blooming needs. (Actually, I don't have holiday blooming needs--I just love Amaryllis and Christmas cactus.) I buy them because I enjoy trying to grow Poinsettias as regular green plants. I actually think they are very handsome plants when not in bloom. In the past, I've succeeded at this for periods ranging from a couple of months to a year or so. In fact, the only reason that I don't have the last Point I bought a couple of years ago is that it became a low-priority plant at some point, and didn't get repotted promptly. It became root-bound, dried out once too often, and that was the end of it.

Actually, maybe that didn't need to be the end of it. Once, many years ago, I bought my grandmother a Poinsettia for Christmas. This was my generally plant-indifferent paternal grandmother, not the plant-loving maternal grandmother I have mentioned previously. Grandma kept that plant until she died. Under her erratic care, the thing lost all of its leaves, but lived on as a bunch of bare green stems for years. It resembled nothing so much as a mutant Euphorbia tirucalli, known popularly as a Pencil Tree. You've got to love, or respect, or just go WTF at a plant like that.

Since that plant was pink, like the one I purchased today, maybe this one will be my first truly long term Poinsettia success.

Another view

Speaking of eyeliner pencils, I actually have a plant-related anecdote regarding one. I bought my Sansevieria hargesiana back when I lived in New York. Though I never thought that the light coming through my west facing window was all that strong, it was apparently strong enough to burn my plant. I was embarrassed by the small, straw-colored burn patches, so I actually colored them in with green eyeliner.

Sansevieria hargesiana about three years ago. I had removed the damaged growth by then. I've placed it outdoors and it has never gotten sunburned again.

That is probably a first. Plenty of people dress up their pets, but how many apply makeup to their houseplants? What was that that my stepson calls me again?

Updates, We've Got Updates

I really thought that my Hippeastrum 'Benfica' flower, the subject of this post, would be open by now. It, however, has other plans. I am consoled by the appearance of a second flower bud, seen peeking out from behind the taller stalk. I will post pictures when the flower finally opens.

Hippeastrum 'Benfica' as of this morning

In other news, I am sad to report that while several of my coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) plants are doing fairly well under my light set-up, (see posts here and here) popular favorite 'Tilt-a-Whirl' is no longer. The plant lost quite a few leaves, then just sort of rotted out.

"Foxy" my Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii' is still hanging in there, and has put out a second new frond. (Original post here, a previous update can be found in the second coleus link above.)

Flowers vs. Foliage

Every now and again at the Garden Web House Plants Forum, someone posts a thread inquiring about people's taste in plants. One question asked is whether we prefer plain green foliage or variegates, another popular one is whether we grow house plants mostly for their flowers or for their foliage. It isn't hard to figure out where I stand on this issue. After all, this blog is called "Life Among the Leaves," not Life Among the Blossoms."

The two pots of Hippeastrum 'Orange Sovereign' make eye-catching accents in this grouping. But my favorites in this picture, without question, are the foliage plants, particularly the Dracaena reflexa 'Song of India'

I do love flowers. Few things bring me more joy than seeing my outdoor garden in full bloom. In fact, I tend to err towards flowers outdoors--I don't have enough foliage interest going on there. It is something I intend to work on. Also, I do grow a few houseplants strictly for their flowers: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hippeastrums, and Phalaenopis orchids all have exquisite blooms and rather dull foliage. I think the foliage of epiphytic cacti, like Schlumbergera and Epiphyllum is interesting it its own right, but I don't think I'd be as interested if they didn't bloom as well.

Epiphyllum 'David W. Grant'

As beautiful as the Epi bloom above is, to me it pales in comparision to the foliage of this Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora'

But for the rest of my plants, flowers are strictly a bonus--a sign that the plant is healthy. (I've heard that sometimes sick or dying plants bloom as a last-ditch attempt to reproduce, but that hasn't happened to me yet.) Beautiful or intriguing foliage is what I look for when I go plant shopping. Oh, and as to that variegated vs, plain green thing: I covet variegated plants of all sorts, but I think the most beautiful plant I've ever seen was a healthy, shiny, deep green Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig'. Second place goes to a well-grown Homalomena 'Emerald Gem.' Both plain green, they just seem to embody the essence of "planthood" to me.

In Praise of Succulents: Sedum Edition

How do I love Sedums? Let me count the ways:

1. They are easy to propagate, in a variety of ways: Stem cuttings, single leaf, and seeds.

2. They come in a variety of foliage colors and types: Green, red, gold, and purple; variegated or plain; needle-like, flat, or rounded; shiny, matte, or glaucous.

Sedum rubrotinctum

Sedum nussbaumerianum

3. They have a variety of growth habits: Upright, creeping, and trailing, with leaves in clumps, clusters, or rosettes.

Sedum morganianum 'Burrito'

A bowl full of a Sedum variety I've never ID'd. It started as a small plant in a dish garden I bought years ago.

4. They have a variety of flower colors: Yellows, purples, and pinks--both dark and light.

5. There are tender species and hardy species, so I can enjoy Sedums both indoors and out.

Sedums in my outdoor garden: The red-leaved plant is Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood;' the low growing plant with yellow flowers is Sedum kamtschaticum, I believe; and the upright plant with the yellow flowers is Sedum reflexum. These were all grown from a package of mixed seed. I had to identify these on my own, so consider all IDs tentative.

Unopened Sedum 'Autumn Joy' flowers

What more could I want, except more of them?

How to Beat Holiday Stress

There are no plants in these pictures (I don't count the dried Eucalyptus) but I decided to share them anyway:

I'm sure Peppermint understands that while napping in the box of decorations is not the best way to help me trim the tree, it is one of the best ways to put a smile on my face.

A Mixed Succulent Bowl

As I mentioned in my Haworthia bowl post, mixed succulent plantings can be tricky. Subtle or not-so-subtle differences in preferred conditions among various plants can cause them to languish when planted together.

However, I do have one bowl that has lasted for a few years with only minor changes:

Clockwise from the top left: Aloe gariepensis; an Echeveria agavoides cultivar; Crassula mucosa; Echeveria 'Black Knight'; Echeveria 'Lola' (three of them); Crassula ovata.

The Crassula ovata was originally larger; I cut the taller part of the plant off and let the newer branches at the base remain. There was originally a Crassula lycopodiodes in the spot now taken by the Crassula mucosa. The C. lycopodiodes grew too large and dominated the bowl. The original rosette of E. 'Black Knight' is looking a trifle haggard, but there are two healthy offsets at its base ready to take over if I need to cut it back. So all and all this planting seems to be sustaining itself nicely.

Bird of Paradise

Like many houseplant enthusiasts, I've tried my hand at growing plants from seed. If you go by percentages, I'm quite unsuccessful, since I've probably sown several dozens of seeds over the years, and I have only produced six adult plants. Four of the six, two Streptocarpus and two Sinningia speciosa (aka Florist Gloxinia) all of which achieved blooming size and flowered, fell victim to the Mus musculus problem we had in our basement a couple of years ago. Gesneriads are yummy to mice, apparently.

I have also bragged about my seed-grown Monstera deliciosa in the past, particularly on my web pages.

Monstera deliciosa. This picture was taken one year and two days ago; the plant is much bigger now, and will probably take over the house some day. By the way, has anybody seen my cat?

But I don't believe I have ever written about my Strelitzia reginae, or Orange Bird of Paradise. I sowed the seed about six years ago. Here is how it looks as of today:

My Strelitzia reginae. At this stage, it has developed into a clump of six growing points.

The plant has had a rough time. It had spider mites one winter, and I had to cut off several damaged leaves. Then I didn't acclimate it well the following summer when I put it outdoors, and it got sunburned. It took more than a year for the Bird to recover from both these indignities. It certainly isn't the prettiest plant I own, and it may never bloom. But I'm still kind of proud of it.

Nice and Easy

Even though I am an inveterate plant collector by temperament, there was one particular collecting bandwagon that I resisted jumping on: Hoyas.

I remember when Garden Web first created a Hoya Forum. It was immediately extremely popular, and remains so, unlike a lot of their forums dedicated to a single genus or family. The people who posted were enthusiastic, no, passionate about these plants. More than one person described waiting impatiently for new plant shipments to their local big box stores, and expressing huge disappointment if there were no Hoyas. New mail-order sources were shared, and as I understand it, they sold out of plants quickly. On the House Plant forum, when anyone would ask for suggestions about what sort of new plant they should buy, Hoyas were always suggested, usually by multiple posters. Hoya, Hoya, Hoya, it was all about the Hoyas.

My six Hoyas. This a rare thing for me--a completed collection. I like the plants I have, but I'm not looking to add any more. Click this, and all other photos, for larger versions. This shot in particular is much clearer when seen full sized.

Okay, I thought, they are nice enough plants, but why is everyone so excited? One thing that was mentioned frequently was the scent of the flowers. So the next time I was at a nursery and came upon a plant in bloom, I sniffed it. Well, the fragrance was nice, but not all that noteworthy, at least not to me. The leaves, again, are nice, but with the exception of Hoya carnosa compacta, (also known as Hindu Rope or Krinkle Kurl, among other variety names) not at all unusual or eye-catching.

I just didn't get it. But having had an inexplicable plant passion or two of my own, I stopped wondering about it. Just like other things in life, certain plants just move certain people, and Hoyas didn't do it for me.

But just as I couldn't work up a passion for Hoyas, I didn't have anything against them, either. I've used the word "nice" a lot in this post, and I like nice plants. So one day, four years ago, when I shopping at one of my favorite nurseries, I picked one up. It was a variegated H. carnosa variety in a two-inch pot. Here it is today in a 10-inch pot:

Hoya carnosa 'Krimson Queen'

It's been nice. I have found it attractive and easy to grow. It loves my east window and does well going almost dry between waterings. Now that it is large, it does bloom, and the flowers are interesting, and they have a nice, subtle fragrance.

So, over the course of the four years, six Hoya plants came into my life. (There was a seventh plant, a small H. multiflora, which died. The leaves were less succulent than those of my other Hoyas, and apparently, it needed more water than it was getting.)

Hoya carnosa 'Rubra'

Hoya curtisii leaves. The full plant is shown directly in front of the 'Krimson Queen' in the group photo.

Hoya kerrii has nice, heart-shaped leaves.

Another variegated Hoya carnosa.

So there you have it. I never sought them out, I was never excited about them. But if I saw a plant I liked, I bought it. What can I say: they're nice.

Leaves and Luke

Luke knows he doesn't belong on the table. I know Luke doesn't belong on the table. Heck, even the Monstera deliciosa and Philodendron bipinnatifidum behind him know that he doesn't belong on the table. But he's so cute that I had to take pictures.

Hippeastrum for the Holidays (or Not)

Okay, I'm better now. (Not really; I'll be teetering on the brink of despair until April, but I must soldier on.) How about something a little more seasonal:

Hippeastrum 'Benfica' flower bud. I actually still have a tag for this one. What can I say; it's new.

It is my first "Amaryllis" bud of the season. Actually, this plant could be the only one that blooms anywhere close to the holiday season. For the past couple of years, I haven't been forcing my Hippeastrum bulbs. They are in the coolish basement, true, but I haven't cut back their foliage, or placed them in the dark. I have skipped this because I noticed that the bulbs were getting progressively smaller. I hoped that a couple of years of holding on to as many leaves as possible, year-round, would help them store up energy.

Without forcing, many of them bloomed in spring last year, in April and May. I don't mind this at all; I'll take those beautiful flowers at any time. A few didn't bloom at all. That's fine, as I assume they will eventually, when the bulbs have been replenished.

I'll be sure to post pictures of H. 'Benfica' when it blooms. It'll be a dark red. I have another of these, and when it bloomed, it was stunning.

And to anyone who is wondering, given my post yesterday, and my opening sentences today: I don't have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I'm pretty much my usual self, mood-wise, during the winter. I just really hate winter weather.

I Need a Little Summer--Right This Very Minute

I am not a winter kind of gal. In fact, I hate the season with a passion. I hate the cold, I hate the dark, I hate the ice, I hate the snow. And it did snow here today, just a little. So, in the fine spirit of seasonal denial, I'm going to share some more pictures from the Chicago Botanic Gardens, and pretend that it is July, or August, when these pictures were taken.

From the Sensory Garden: Sedums and Kalanchoes in the foreground, Celosia, Tagetes (Marigolds), and Tibouchina in the background.

Close-up of Kalanchoe thyrsiflora from the plantings pictured above

From the Bulb Garden: Dahlia cv.

Nymphaea from I'm not sure where. (There are waterlilies in different places in the gardens, and I forgot where I took this particular shot.)

From the Tropical Greenhouse: Orchids and other Epiphytes

A pergola near the Enabling Garden

And as I've written previously, I always stop by and say hello to the ducks. Apparently, being well-groomed is quite important to them.

As always, click the pictures to see larger versions.