Now that we are officially in the Christmas season, it's time to once again continue our quest for a true Christmas cactus. But, you might be asking as you look at the picture of my Schlumbergera truncata blooming now, why would you go on a quest looking for something I already have? Let me explain. Technically, the Schlumbergera I have pictured blooms around Thanksgiving, with no assistance from me other than watering it. It is a Thanksgiving cactus. You probably have one in … [Read more...] about The Quest for a Christmas Cactus
houseplants
An Easy and Dramatic Houseplant
One of the easiest and most dramatic houseplants to grow and keep alive is the Bird of Paradise plant, Strelitzia sp. It's also easy for people to recognize, especially when it's in flower, like the one pictured is. Yes, that picture was taken outside, thanks for noticing that. I took it back in 2008 and I'm guessing it was at the local zoo, but I can't swear to that. Oh wait, yes, I can swear to that because I included it in a post I wrote back in 2008 titled When a Gardener Goes to … [Read more...] about An Easy and Dramatic Houseplant
Forcing Lily of the Valley Into Bloom Likes It’s 1897
Let's force some Lily of the Valley into bloom like it's 1897. That's the year Lizzie Page Hillhouse, one of the Lost Ladies of Garden Writing, wrote her book, House Plants and How to Succeed With Them. She included a chapter with instructions on how to force Lily of the Valley into bloom. She starts off with the botaical name, Convallaria majalis. Order Liliaceæ. Fortunately, the taxonimists have, so far, left the botanical name alone but they did decide to move it to another family. … [Read more...] about Forcing Lily of the Valley Into Bloom Likes It’s 1897
The best thing about younger people buying houseplants
Algaonema 'Cutlass' The best thing about younger people buying houseplants is now everyone is selling houseplants. That is great news for older people like me who have always had houseplants. Back in the day—and I'm going back maybe five years—it seemed like the only places you could buy houseplants were the floral sections of the big box stores, plus some of the larger hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot. Plus florists sold a few. Even garden centers, which often had huge dropoffs in … [Read more...] about The best thing about younger people buying houseplants
A Dull Houseplant Equals Big Trouble
I read in a book by Thalassa Cruso called Making Things Grow: A Practical Guide for the Indoor Gardener that the Chinese Evergreen was a dull plant, as houseplants go, but they were coming out with some new variegated and striped varieties. That was in 1969. Fast forward 50 years, and look at the Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonema, now! (Pause. Yes, I am also having trouble believing that 1969 was over 50 years ago. A topic for another post...) Now the Chinese Evergreen is making a … [Read more...] about A Dull Houseplant Equals Big Trouble
The Truth About Houseplants
Get some houseplants, they say. It will improve the air quality in your home, they say. Well, I say, get some houseplants. Period. Because as it turns out, houseplants don't really improve the air quality in your home, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology called “Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality: a review and analysis of reported VOC removal efficiencies.” Now, don't think for one minute that I read that … [Read more...] about The Truth About Houseplants
