Monday, March 30, 2015

Weekly rosemary update


I've always wanted to grow and train a rosemary topiary but given that my plants sit on my window sills and rely on the sun for light, I'm going to have to settle for a rosemary bush. The rosemar is getting a little bushy but I think I need to trim a couple of more tips to really get a denser bush. One of the branches looks like it's already ready to topple.

Rosemary cutting 1
The first rosemary cutting had developed two roots that were about half an inch long each so it was time to plant it up!

Thursday, March 26, 2015

New growth keeps growing!


After years of killing orchids, it really excites me to see new growth of pseudobulbs and roots. It means I'm doing something right and the orchid is getting the care it needs. On this guy, the pseudobulb is developing and I can see new roots growing. Do you see that bright white root with the green growing tip?

I do wonder about whether or not I should repot this one. There is still room in the pot for growing medium which is why I've kept him in the same pot but there are quite a mass of roots down there.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Getting ready for more flowers!

Ready to open
Over the last couple of days, the bud has grown in size. I think I'll see an open flower this week!

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Rosemary cutting

Rosemary cutting

I cut this spring off of the rosemary plant about two weeks ago. I noticed that there was a root developing yesterday.

Today, when I looked, there were two!  TWO! Yay!

Two roots!

Monday, March 16, 2015

Blooming phalaenopsis


Home Depot Orchid has flowers opening! I expect that big bud you see in the back to open this week.


Friday, March 13, 2015

Twinkle is growing!

New growth!
Can you see the new growth?!?!?! I spotted it last night and I'm so excited. The last time I wrote about Twinkle, I had just pulled off a couple of pseudobulbs that looked like they were rotting and hoped that it was okay and wasn't going to die on me. And now, a new pseudobulb! Yay!

Do you know what a pseudobulb means? It means that I will get more flowers! New spikes will only come from new pseudobulbs. I can't wait.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Miltonia repotting and a rosemary update


Rosemary is growing! When I water it, I water with fertilizer. I saw a recipe that involved grilled shrimp and rosemary skewers. I don't have enough branches to do that yet, but ONE DAY!

I was quite worried about the Miltonia since I was pretty sure it was potted in regular gardening soil. What did I find when I pulled it out of the pot?


Yes, gardening soil. I spent the couple of hours trying to untangle the roots and removing the soil swearing at the people who potted this. Thankfully, the roots look half way decent and a Miltonia can stand a lot of water. But still, DIRT!


Orchid roots need air to breathe. Dirt holds moisture quite well and will usually suffocate the roots. At least, the roots were just sitting on top of the soil. I repotted it so that there's a layer of bark at the bottom and then surrounded it with moss. Hope it will be okay.

I think the leaves also suffered some cold damage when I had it too close to the window. I trimmed those leaves down and applied some cinnamon powder to where I cut.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Little guy


This is Tolumnia Red Berry, acquired at the 2014 NCOS show. It's a tiny little oncidium type orchid. These are new spikes that developed after I brought it home. I had it hanging off of the window but with the winter, I was afraid that the cold from the window would shock it so I had a cute cat shaped wine bottle that I've kept and decided to hang it off of that. It can still sit by the window but won't be sitting right up against the window.

I can't wait to see the flowers again!

And that's it, I think I've finally managed to introduce all of my orchids!

Saturday, March 7, 2015

A paph

A paphiopedilum, otherwise known as a lady slipper orchid. It's my first and only one, bought at that NCOS show in 2012. Officially, it's known as Paph Magic Leopard #1 x Paph Hsinying Glory


The mottled leaf paphs don't need quite as much light as a normal paph so I figured it would be happy in my east windows.

Paphs like to stay moist and wet and don't like to dry out. To be perfectly honest, I have let this paph dry out once or twice going 2 weeks between waterings. Right now, I'm hoping that this guy is still alive. When I repotted it last month, The roots were looking brown but not completely dead. I've tried my best to not let him dry out for too long now.

Today, when I was doing my inspections, I saw what looks like a new leaf. I'm really hoping it is a new leaf and not a leaf growth that has been there all along and I just hadn't noticed.
New leaf growth?

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Flowers opening, rooting rosemary



Rooting rosemary in water

Yesterday, I cut one of the green growing tips off the rosemary plant, removed the bottom leaves and stuck it in water. I've rooted rosemary this way before so hopefully, in another 2-3 weeks, there will be roots developing at the bottom and I can plant it in some soil.

First flower opened

As for the Home Depot Orchid, The first flower has opened. It's now sitting on the corner of my desk so I can admire the flowers.
Second flower opening

The second flower is starting to open as well! I'm really excited to see it go!

Sunday, March 1, 2015

First bloom of the spike!


This is exciting! The first flower of the spike on the Home Depot Orchid is opening!