MENA Gardens

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Understanding and exploiting your micro-environments is teh win...

[Nasturtium 500]

For sure! OK, ummm two things: I caved and ordered 2 orchids, and my friend bought me two orchids for cat sitting. ORCHIDS ARE COMINGGGGG.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

For sure! OK, ummm two things: I caved and ordered 2 orchids, and my friend bought me two orchids for cat sitting. ORCHIDS ARE COMINGGGGG.

Oh the anticipation......

Our weather is in yo-yo mode:

Last week: arctic cold front kept us between 30 and 45

This week: sunny and warm with highs of 80 and lows of 65

Coming tomorrow: a 50 degree plunge and another week of frigid temps

Redneck greenhouse about to be put to the acid test

[Cathi 5,755]

For sure! OK, ummm two things: I caved and ordered 2 orchids, and my friend bought me two orchids for cat sitting. ORCHIDS ARE COMINGGGGG.

Now I want orchids too. Where did you order them from?

[Cathi 5,755]

The one plant I have that does very well is an avocado plant I grew from a pit. I am jealous of the green thumbs you ladies have. After the first of the year I am resigning from my job and I am definitely going to putt more time and effort into my indoor plants. Do you guys have any suggestions for types of flowering plants that would be good for a novice. My grandmother always had the most beautiful African violets. I'm going to buy a table to put in front of the windows that have sun, but under the windows are big radiators, my house is 102 years old and still has the original ones. I hope the heat doesn't prevent them from growing.

Edited December 5, 2013 by mimolicious

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

The one plant I have that does very well is an avocado plant I grew from a pit. I am jealous of the green thumbs you ladies have. After the first of the year I am resigning from my job and I am definitely going to putt more time and effort into my indoor plants. Do you guys have any suggestions for types of flowering plants that would be good for a novice. My grandmother always had the most beautiful African violets. I'm going to buy a table to put in front of the windows that have sun, but under the windows are big radiators, my house is 102 years old and still has the original ones. I hope the heat doesn't prevent them from growing.

I have never been able to make an avocado plant grow from the pit - it just doesn't work no matter what I do.

Most of the common types of orchids (like phalaeonopsis and dendrobiums) need a temperature drop at night for 4-6 weeks to trigger setting their flower buds - days around 70-85 degrees and nights around 50-60 degrees. So for a year-round location, right next to the radiator is probably not optimum unless you can turn it down at night for a month during that crucial period in the fall or early winter.

Other than orchids (and phals are really pretty easy,) some other flowering houseplants that do well inside in bright areas are: as you mentioned African violets, also Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera,) begonias, geraniums, crown of thorns, and kalanchoe. Peace lily will take medium light.

[Nasturtium 500]

Oh the anticipation......

Our weather is in yo-yo mode:

Last week: arctic cold front kept us between 30 and 45

This week: sunny and warm with highs of 80 and lows of 65

Coming tomorrow: a 50 degree plunge and another week of frigid temps

Redneck greenhouse about to be put to the acid test

Same here! So it was 73 yesterday, today high of 48, and tomorrow high of 31.. low of 14... next week we have lows of 9 and 7 :/ and ice storms! I hate that.

Next Friday is husband's oath ceremony and it's supposed to ice storm again

It is exciting!! I got (all fragrant):

Blc. Mem. Grant Eichler "Lennette," (one of the largest Catts out there!)

Blc. Sea Swirl 'Whirlpool,' (greeeennnnn and a good, large bloom with fringe!)

Pot. Susan Fender 'Cinnamon Stick' x Edisto, (love those colors!)

C. Portia v. coerulea 'Sir Jeremiah Coleman' (blueeeee)

So we'll see how this goes.

[Nasturtium 500]

Now I want orchids too. Where did you order them from?

I ordered from two people-- directly from these people via calling:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/peaandshel/m.html?item=271315706739&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f2bad2373&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

and then via eBay from this person:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/haveno09/m.html?item=251376227128&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

The last one has cheaper shipping and costs and will include a heat pack for $2.50. She's been reallly nice. I can review both purchases for you if you want when they get here.

[Nasturtium 500]

The one plant I have that does very well is an avocado plant I grew from a pit. I am jealous of the green thumbs you ladies have. After the first of the year I am resigning from my job and I am definitely going to putt more time and effort into my indoor plants. Do you guys have any suggestions for types of flowering plants that would be good for a novice. My grandmother always had the most beautiful African violets. I'm going to buy a table to put in front of the windows that have sun, but under the windows are big radiators, my house is 102 years old and still has the original ones. I hope the heat doesn't prevent them from growing.

The heat can create a really dry environment and as FQ mentioned, it can also mess with temperature sensitive plants that need a rise and fall to bloom. In addition to her list, another good bloomer is streptocarpella. Some begonias may do OK as well.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Well the Christmas Cactus did not quite bloom on Christmas Day, but the flowers are about to open. Here they are today:

[Nasturtium 500]

Nice! S. truncata is really a Thanksgiving cactus anyway with bloom period from Sept-Jan

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Mine never start budding until December. I am theorizing that latitude has an effect - because the difference between the length of winter days and nights gets more pronounced the further north you go, and less pronounced the further south you go. So I'm guessing that the nights do not get short enough down here to trigger the bloom cycle until December.

[Nasturtium 500]

Your theory is correct That's why you're on the tail end of the bloom period. I just love them to death. My favorites are the S. truncata x S. russeliana hybrids though-- the S. x buckleyiis and x buckleyii types.

[Cathi 5,755]

OK I'm ready for spring y'all. Tired of the deep freeze, so wanting spring to get here. Does anyone grows their own grapes? I'm thinking of starting some in the spring.

[Nasturtium 500]

I have in the past. Are you starting from cuttings or buying the whole plant? What kind?