Breathing

Outdoor plants benefit from rain washing their leaves of dust and pollen; have you ever noticed how intensely green and clean the “world” looks after a rain? Indoor plants don’t have that benefit so gardeners have to fill in. Houseplants benefit from an occasional washing of their leaves with a warm, wet paper towel (or cloth) since they breathe through their leaves; they also benefit from the humidity. And, anything that’s cleaner is usually brighter as well—that means brighter color and that’s almost always good!

My smaller croton plant pictured here has spread out as it has dropped some leaves; new leaves are coming!

My breathing isn’t so good this week—probably a cold, but I don’t think that a wet paper towel will do it for me. I’m resting and praying for healing—quickly and completely.

Seat Upgrade

The rooster plant* is doing well in a southwesterly window; it’s even getting a few more yellow spots on its leaves and one has a long, fine point. However, like other tropical plants they need a lot of humidity. I mist the leaves with water daily but the small terra cotta pot I planted it in last summer dries out too quickly.


Today it gets to upgrade to a larger less-porous pot that will better hold in moisture, and give it room to grow.

The morning sun was most welcome after yesterday’s gray rain but it was only here for a short “visit.”


*So far, I've been unable to find the official name of the plant though I think it’s in the croton family. It’s an offspring of one of my friend G’s plants; her daughter called it a rooster plant and so it is. If you know its “given” name I’d like to hear from you.

Golden Morning

I'm listening to the Weston Priory Brothers gently singing, and looking out at golden-lit pine tops while Cardinals and Blue Jays coast from one bare limb to another. Nameless smaller birds flit higher--in the pine tops, their smooth bellies reflecting the golden morning.

But then I see it; the Mexican Petunia curves up the balcony corner, branches (few as there are) reach through the rails into air, where last night’s incessant rain toppled it. So I run into the cold to right it. Brrr, a sweater isn’t enough; and to think that last night we were “sweltering.” I set the small pot with its giraffe resident up again. And again. Finally I’m hoping that the mono-filament line that gave the hyacinth bean vine height will now give stability to the Mexican Petunia.

The warmth of the morning sun on my indoor garden is more to my liking than the outdoor chill. Now that the pear leaves are gone, the bright light reveals dusty “Lucky Bamboo” and dracaena leaves. Warm water on a cloth or paper towel not only clears dust from the plants’ breathing apparatus but adds welcome humidity. Since dust always dulls color; their colors now shine brighter and that’s (almost) always good.

Snap, Crackle, Pop, & Stripes

Last night’s cold front brought more rain and much cooler temperatures. We prepared for heavy winds by taking the hanging baskets and wind chimes down but thankfully had no problems; sadly, others in the wider area had great damage.

After an initial snap, crackle and pop of rain hitting crisp autumn leaves, this morning’s rain poured at a rare angle, completely saturating the garden.

Tonight a hard freeze is forecast so it’s time to find an indoor spot for the Tropicana Canna. They crave lots of light, humidity and water so wintering this one indoors will be a challenge. A location where the sun back-lights the leaves would be ideal to show off their colorfully striped beauty. It will also need elbow room to unfurl. I will however, wait to bring it in until the rain has had a chance to evaporate so it won’t drip off the leaves onto the carpet—and me.

Firecracker Surprise

As I sat in the sunroom earlier this week reading the Bible and enjoying my surroundings, I glimpsed a spot of color behind one of my Christmas cacti. Was it a bud? I still have my sense of wonder and was delighted to discover two scarlet buds! Hmm, if this one is budding, maybe the other one is as well. Yes, it had a fully opened pink blossom with another close behind!

My Christmas cacti bloom sporadically and always on the side closest to the window; their firecracker blooms can burst open before I know it. The flowers don’t last very long so I have to enjoy them right away. I turned the pots so that the flowers face me; today I brought the scarlet one off its shelf into full view so I can enjoy its full glory.

Last night as I looked through a houseplant book I was reminded that many of my plants like high humidity. They’re getting plenty today with temperatures in the mid to upper 70’s and lots of rain coming!

The pink and scarlet “firecrackers” and a red hibiscus brighten the gray day.