Joanne McKinnon Garden Photography

Archive for the ‘Houseplants’ Category

Richters Herbs packaging

Yesterday, I’ve received my second order of the season from Richters Herbs. As you can see from the photo, great care goes into securing the plants for shipping. I opened the box immediately and placed the plants in water. All three are in good condition and the blooms assures me that I’ve received the right plants. The plants are Hardy Chicago Fig, Brilliant Geranium (pelargonium) and Scarlet Unique Geranium (pelargonium).

Last fall I placed this pelargonium upside down in a thick paper bag. When stored this way, I take them out once a month to let them soak in a bowl for about an hour. Then back it goes in the paper bag.
When the temperature stays above 12C, it will be planted directly in a flowerbed.

Over wintered pelargonium

I brought this pelargonium out of storage about 15 days ago. I’m surprise it survived. Last fall, when I lifted my still blooming pelargoniums, I had to decide, which would be potted up to over winter as houseplants. I ran out of sunny spots before I was done. Some were placed upside down in boxes. Then I ran out of boxes and places to store them. So I decided to try over wintering the rest upside down in thick paper bags. The idea is to take them out about once a month and let the roots soak in a bowl of tepid water. That method usually works fine for me.

I lost track of two bags when they got covered by accident, so no soaking since last October. Most of the plants had dried and died. They did have some green left but not much. All three plants were pruned and placed in water for 2 days. When the time came to pot them up, a few things were added to the potting soil: Lime, alfalfa, bone meal and a pinch of granular fertilizer. All three survived and are producing new leaves.

One is a Hollywood Star and the other two are Horizon Coral Spice. All were started last winter from seeds from Thompson & Morgans World Top Six Mix

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Caroline Schmidt pelargonium

Original name of the Wilhelm Langguth sold today in America. Caroline Schmidt was created in Germany in 1898. Mrs Parker is a sport of this pelargonium. A photo with leaves is in the Pelargonium Collection . In this photo you can see that a small part of the bloom is in a different shade. According to my research, this is how Mrs Parker first appeared. In Wikipedia, Sports are described as prone to reverse to its original form.
So far my Mrs Parker still blooms pink.

Pelargonium Postcard

Pachypodium Lamerei

Often sold as Madagascar Palm, the Pachypodium Lamerei is a stem succulent from the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family.
An easy care houseplant but a bit tricky to repot. Making a band with folded newspaper can be a great help. Mine is in a clay pot by an east facing window. Pests and dust can be easily removed with a soft spay.

They are widely available in the cactus section of most large stores. But you can also start them from seeds. You can order them online from: Rare Seed Source or Amazon.com

Another reason for growing a Pachypodium is that they can bloom. Something I look forward to seeing myself. I did find a close up of one in bloom on Wikimedia Comons. The photo was submitted by Gürkan Sengün.

You can read more about the preservation and cultivation of the Pachypodium species by visiting the Pachypodium org. site.

Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents

Desert Rose

I purchased this Adenium Obesum two years ago while searching for a tough indoor bonsai. Native to tropical and subtropical eastern and southern Africa and Arabia, it can withstand dry indoor air. I kept mine indoors this summer, we had too much rain for this type of plant.

Soft scale on Desert rose

When the time comes to water it, I bring it outdoors for a shower. The soft spray helps rid the plant of soft scales and dust. Then I let it dry a bit in the sun, it can rot in soggy soil. If you’d like to read more about this exotic houseplant, visit the Tropica Nursery site. They have a section dedicated to Adediums, it includes information on cultivation, propagation and lots more. For photos of Desert Roses in bloom visit:  Top Tropical

Amazon.com