The Real Houseplants of New York

Winter is a time for resting indoors, but also, for me to truly enjoy my houseplants. Sure, I appreciate them all year round but it's during the cold gray days of winter, that I am so thankful to have them brightening my days. Here are a few that share my house with me. Thankfully they all get along!

I got this Cyclamen just after Christmas and it's still looking good. I love the heart shaped leaves and the way the flower petals shoot upwards. In nature, Cyclamen go dormant during the warmer months and comes into growth during the cooler, winter months. Another great reason to have one of these in the house - flowers in the winter!

I'm actually taking care of this basket of plants for relatives while they are away and am enjoying having it on my bookcase. I love the mixture of textures and even though each plant has seemed to grow beyond the size of the basket, it still looks appealing. The basket is fillled with a Palm, Syngonium and Schefflera.

Behind the basket on the right are three bamboo shoots. I got these years ago and placed them in a vase filled with marbles and water. They seem to be doing really well. I had to prune one of them because it got too leggy, but the new growth is coming in nicely. Apparently three stalks of lucky bamboo brings the three ingredients for a happy life: happiness, wealth and longevity. Bring it on!

This is a Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina). It started as a simple cutting, which I placed in water until the roots began to grow. Then I potted it up and watched it take off. It's got some new growth on it now, so I think it likes the amount of sun it's getting from this southern window this time of year.

This Philodendron (I think it's a Fiddle Leaf?) has an interesting story. I bought this plant for my husband (then boyfriend) about 12 years ago as a housewarming gift for his new apartment. It was much smaller and more upright then. Despite some neglect and under watering at times while living in his apartment, it continued to survive and grow. Then, six years ago, it came back to me and my care. I decided to split the plant into two separate plants. The other one, not seen here, is of the same size and both continue to look great. This plant never ceases to amaze me. It's one of the easiest plants to care for.  Recently they have begun to grow aerial roots, which are spilling out over the side of the pot. Does anyone have experience with these and/or suggestions on what to do about them? For now, I'm just leaving them alone.

This Areca palm (Butterfly Palm) was once part of a basket of plants that was given to me as a gift. As soon as it outgrew the basket, I placed it in it's own pot and let it enjoy some space. Every now and then one of the fronds dries out, but I just prune it off and the rest continues to grow and sprout new leaves. I love the wispy nature of this plant.

This Codiaeum variegatum (Croton) also started off as a small plant years ago. I liked it's striking mix of colors. In the summer, I put it outside since it really enjoys heat and humidity. Only one year did I have a problem with spider mites, but thankfully it survived and has been pest free since. It's grown rather large and the stems have become big and woody. I'm always fascinated when I go to Florida or another tropical location and see this plant growing in the landscape!

For the first time, I decided to try to over-winter my Geraniums this year. I loved the hot pink color of the flowers and hated to see them die off from the cold. I have to admit, I am pleasantly surprised the plants are doing so well! But I have to be careful with the watering. Too much water or too little water is not appreciated by this plant. But right now, the leaves are nice and green and even sprouting some new growth!

This is another plant that was taken from that same basket of plants I received as a gift. This is actually one of two Syngonium podophyllum (Arrowhead Plant) I have - both from the same plant basket. They just keep growing and growing and need little attention. Occasionally I will prune off some leaves/stems if it's getting out of control or needs to be reshaped. I recently made new plants from these stem cuttings:

This cutting was taken from one of the two Arrowhead Plants (Syngonium podophyllum) I have in my house. I did this cutting just after Christmas 2010, and it's just now starting to sprout new growth and leaves. I love watching the leaves unfold and open. 

These three plants are Chlorophytum comosum 'Variegatum' (Spider Plant with green leaves edged in white), Codiaeum pictum (Croton), and Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum' (Spider Plant with white leaves edged in green). The two Spider Plants are the "pups" taken from their mother plants. The Croton was part of a craft my son did for Thanksgiving (it was the turkey's feathers). They are doing ok, but dry out quickly in the clay pots. I need to keep a careful eye on them.

The purple Oxalis on the top is one of my favorites. I love the color, but I especially love how it closes its leaves at night and "goes to sleep" only to open them up again during the daylight hours. Every spring and summer, it bursts with new leaves and lovely purple flowers. But then every winter, when it goes semi-dormant, I am convinced it is going to die on me. It doesn't and after these years, it's still going strong!

The second plant, off to the right, is Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' or Emerald Fern. This plant also came from a stem cutting and has flourished nicely.  I love the texture of the plant, with it's trailing stems and bright green leaves. My only complaint is that it drops tiny, yellow leaves from time to time. A way of shedding I suppose? Looks like mine is due for a haircut soon anyway.

The third plant is another experiment for me. Like the Geraniums mentioned above, I had this Impatiens outside on my patio all summer. This plant has pale pink, double flowers and was so pretty, I didn't want to lose it. So I wondered if it would be ok as a houseplant during the winter. And far, it seems to be thriving. A few new shoots of growth are making me think it's fairly happy. I guess we'll see this summer if it was worth it!

And there you go! A small tour of the plants in my house.

What's Blooming: July

It's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! Here's what's growing and blooming in my garden this month.

What a difference a month can make! Everything has really taken off and is blooming and growing well, despite the heat and humidity we've had recently.

The Morning Glory vines have finally taken off. They started out very vigorous indoors and then when I put them outside, they seemed to take a while to climb and look healthy. But now, they are climbing everywhere and some pink and purple buds are starting to appear.

I honestly thought my flower boxes were going to have some more space this year. But my Impatiens and Geranium cuttings have really done well. I love the deep purple Salvia and the bright yellow Zinnia.

The white Angelonia augustifolia (Summer Snapdragon) looks great here next to the pink Verbena. I love that lone pansy still holding on, despite the heat and sun!

The pink Impatiens are my cutting plants I created this spring. I am so happy with how they have bloomed and flourished! The hot pink Geranium is also a cutting and I think it looks nice peeking out above the purple Pentas.

I overwintered this Geranium plant for the first time this past winter. Last month, I honestly didn't know if it was going to bloom at all. But look at it now! It is like a hot pink explosion of color!

Probably planted too many annual Dahlias in this container, but oh well. They still look good and are enjoying all the sun. The yellow chiffon Superbells are getting crowded out though.

Another plant I overwintered inside was my Croton. What started as a small little desk plant has morphed into this huge beauty outside my front door. Just two weeks ago the new growth appeared and now it looks so healthy and happy.

I repotted the Columbine seedlings to a bigger pot. I doubt they will bloom this year, but there is hope for next year. I see some traces of Columbine leaf miner on some of the leaves. Anyone have experience with those? Simple removal of the leaves should help, right?

I love the color of this trailing Geranium. I looks like its peering through the vines.

The Ferns and Hostas I planted last month seem to be doing well, with the exception of the  Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) on the left. For some reason, it just flopped open and has been like that for the past few weeks. It's being well watered and fertilized. Anyone have any ideas what's wrong with it? I've seen a few new fronds, so I know its ok, but it just doesn't look great. The Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) on the right, by contrast, is looking very happy and lush.

The Lady-in-Red fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum) is also doing quite well and I like the stark contrast in color and leaf form of the Tradescantia zebrina.

In the backyard, the shade plants are also doing well. Under the maple tree, the Impatiens and Caladium are looking great. The Caladium on the right is not as large as the other two, but I think it's because it gets a little less dappled sun than the others.

This is the Impatiens' mother plant from which I took the cuttings. Blooming profusely.

These cute little pink begonias were in another box mixed with Coleus. But they were getting crowded out by the Coleus, so now they are in their own box and looking much better. I love the delicate pinkness of them.

The other two flower boxes filled with Impatiens and Lobelia have also come into their stride.

Hopefully everything will continue to do well despite the warm summer we are having here on Long Island. Next month I hope to see some Black-Eyed Susans I planted as well as more Morning Glory flowers.

Many thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the monthly Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.

Spring Flower & Garden Show

Every year, Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, NY transforms their showroom to a gorgeous display of landscape plants and flowers right as old man winter is starting to release his grip. The annual Spring Flower and Garden show is the largest and most popular flower show on Long Island. For many local gardeners, this flower show is the official beginning of spring. 

Each year has a different theme and to be honest, I think some have been better than others. This year's theme is "Garden for Life: Discover Health and Wellness through the Joy of Gardening"  - how gardening can enhance your life, your neighborhood and the planet. I thought it was fantastic. 

There were four different garden displays: the Relaxation Garden, the Easy Garden, the Earth Friendly Garden and the Learning Garden.

The Relaxation Garden was like a tropical oasis in your own backyard:

Filled with Palms, Bromeliads, Croton, Gardenias, Orchids and other tropical plants, it was soothing just to look at it. An outdoor shower was on one end and a naturalistic seating area with a chiminea on the other. 

On the other side of the shower was a delightful and beautifully decorated fish pond, complete with water lillies, orchids and ferns:

I found myself imagining taking a rest on this love seat, breathing in the sweet scent of the nearby Heliotrope, and looking up at the magical colors of the stained class "ceiling" above:

The Easy Garden focused on planting the right plant in the right spot to make gardening easy for anyone. One half of the display showcased plants that enjoy and brighten up the shade:

Hostas, Coleus, Begonias, Ferns, Hellebores and Hydrangeas were among the many different colors and textures that enjoy a shady spot. 

The other half of the Easy Garden displayed plants that enjoy bright, sunny spots in your yard:

Knockout Roses, Salvia, Viburnum, Forsythia and Snapdragons were among some of the many plants displayed that enjoy a more sunny location.

The Earth Friendly Garden featured clever and innovative recycling ideas. Using sneakers as planters, an old dresser as a potting station and sunken tires as stepping stones, it enforced the idea that recycling and repurposing items into the garden can be fun and whimsical as well as economical.

My favorite was the artistic piece above the shed. At first I thought it was a clock, but then on closer inspection, I realized it was created using various colored gardening gloves with a bird house in the center. 

The Learning Garden was full of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables you can grow in your own backyard. The aim for this garden was to inspire families to get out into their gardens and plant their own food together. 

All in all, I thought it was a great show. I loved the theme and loved to see how different each of the gardens were. They provided a great many ideas, but even more so, it was a wonderful place to spend a few hours and daydream while the weather is still chilly outside.

Hicks Nurseries can be found at:
100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury, NY 11590
www.hicksnurseries.com

The flower show is from March 7-23. Check it out!

Wordless Wednesday: Hints of Spring

Signs of spring were spotted in a greenhouse display recently! Love the plant and color combinations here.