Eye Candy For Winter

The approach of winter always draws me to houseplants. Something green to fill the house and another attempt at trying some of my favorites. Plants shouldn't come to the house to die. Hopefully these won't this winter but dare to make it till spring beautiful and thriving.  My Home Depot gift card from my birthday was spent along with a few other things form the nursery. Jade, ficus, coffee plant, and a piece lily joined the family along with another amaryllis.

I believe this is a coffee plant it had a tag but no name. This is my first time buying one of these. I love the green foliage.

Thought I'd start with a small ficus not a large tree. If it dies, I won't feel as bad. Hopefully it doesn't die. They'll drop their leave easy with too much water, too little, cold drafts. Let me stop. Don't want to stress myself.

A beautiful peace lily but I've lost count of how many I've killed. My strategy this time. Don't water it yet till the leaves start to droop some and then sparingly.

Those are cloth filled pumpkins in soft pastel blue and white. The good thing is that they don't rot and I can use them every year.

Brought in the dracaena from the porch last weekend. This should not be fussy. Lets see. Heat is not on in the house yet.

My goodies from Primex Garden Center. Winter Aconte, grit, amaryllis, and 3 plant sprays that'll hopefully keep my plants healthy and insect free this winter.

Thought I'd have to order these on line but they were at the nursery. Keeping squirrels from them so I can see the blooms will be an adventure.

Amaryllis black pearl. These are a nice size but the ones for almost 30 dollars were the largest I've ever seen. Didn't want to pay that price but I think I'll go back and get one this weekend. I want to see how large the blooms will be on a jumbo bulb. Hopefully I won't make any other purchases when I go. But, maybe some pansies. I haven't bought my normal share of them this fall. All the rain and heat has kept many at the supplier. Those I have seen didn't look too good. It's time for them though. I was disappointed to read that many apples won't be available for picking at Linvilla Orchards this season due to all the rain. That's sad. Apples are my favorite fall fruit. I'll still be searching for my favorites Ambrosia and Jonah Gold which have replaced my old favorites Winesap.

My princess had to have something. The last time I planted some she wasn't impress but can't stay off anything else I bring to the house.

Sprayed one plant. Didn't smell good. I'll try the systemic granules.

And what's going on with the other houseplants? Look at that dracaena. It didn't come here looking like that. This weekend I'll tidy her up and give her a trim cutting off the brown tips and put some pebbles under the pot with water for humidity. I really like her and hope she'll grow new foliage and survive. How can I forget the name of the plant next to her. Can't remember at this time but she's doing well and in I think her 3rd year. That's good for me. It's a ZZ plant. I remembered. That's a picture of me holding my nursing diploma over 30 years ago when nurses still wore caps. Where has the time gone?

Neon pothos is having a hard time. They say you can't kill them but you can. Each one is different. She'll get tended to this weekend also and I'll put some granules in the soil. If there's some insect cause her to sulk we'll see. There's a different one hanging in my kitchen window that's struggling also and a variegated one on the plant shelf under light.

Rattle snake plant has thrived since I brought it home. Good to see something is doing well. It's grown 10 new leaves any maybe could go into a larger pot but I'll leave it alone. It grew without a larger pot so maybe it's okay.

The satin pothos has actually done well since I bought it. It's lost a few leaves but not many and is growing new one. That's a good sign although she may have to be moved when the fire place is lit.

Have you started to bring your houseplants in? I have 2 on the sun porch. Asparagus fern and a bromeliad which I though would die after blooming but has grown a large healthy baby over the summer. I'm afraid to remove the baby. Fall bulbs are waiting to be planted. Maybe by November or when I feel in the mood. I'm waiting for my bulbs from Color Blends so I can force my hyacinths but think I'd better start the ones I bought from Home Depot. Placed grit or pea gravel on top of most of the houseplants. It actually does help prevent fungus gnats from laying eggs in the soil if they're in the house. My lemon plant also has to come inside although it needs repotting because the roots are growing in a mass from the bottom of the pot. Not a good idea to repot during this time but I'm going to. It's done well and loved being placed outside on rainy days. Maybe in a few years it'll give me some lemons. The smell of the blooms alone are worth it. Yesterday I had to remove corn from my corn stalks. The squirrels discovered it and have been eating away. Corn kernels all over my steps in the morning. Solve that and removed it. Would have loved to see their faces when they came back looking for it. Hope they don't start taking chunks out of my pumpkins. What can you do. They have to eat also. Critters are a part of gardening. Hope you're enjoying Autumn.