Plants

Apr

2017

Too many plants… it is somewhat crowded

Plants in the kitchen 2017-04-16. Too crowded. Photo:©nini.tjader.2017

There are too many plants everywhere at the moment. It is somewhat crowded. To use the kitchen table for instance, I need to temporarily move various plants and seedlings.

Crowded with plants. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2017

I’ve had to move around lots of the plants to be able to use space and light as best I can. Some of the orchids have had to take a step down from the windowsill to other plants that need the light more.

Crowded with plants. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

The kitchen table is occupied by tomato-seedlings and some other seedlings. The tomatoes have been replanted once so far. I keep on taking away new plants that keep coming up. The tomato-seedlings all comes from tomatoes bought in the supermarket. They grow like crazy.

Plants. PHoto: ©nini.tjader.2017

Some of the seedlings are flowers that will be placed outside when they get bigger and weather permits.

Wild pelargonia. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2017

It sits low on a low piedestal. To the right of it you see one of the orchids that I had to move down from the windowsill to get more space there.

Plants.Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

Plants. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

And here are some more images of the plants that crowd my kitchentable and the windowsills in my flat presently. Reload page in browser to make images sort differently. Click an image to see a larger version.

White geraniums

Red and green basil

Sweet peas

Olive tree

Plants and seedlings

Plants on the kitchen table

Olivetree

Basil

White geraniums

Plants

White geranium

Red mint and red basil

Geranium, pelargonia of the year 2017

Basil

Musk mallow

Plants

Plants on the kitchen table

Plants

Rosemary

Sweet peas

Parsley

Cobaea scandens

Parsley

Musk mallow

Meanwhile outside there is still some snow in a corner and we are waiting for warmer weather. Not around the corner presently though…

Part of the garden seen through one of the kitchenwindows, 2017-04-16. Photo;: ©nini.tjader.2017

Jan

2017

Orchid phaleanopsis – it is orchid time

Orchid Phaleanopsis. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

Orchid phaleanopsis, the most common orchid in most homes. It is now orchid time. All my six orchid phaleanopis are either blooming or on their way to start blooming. They all bloom about twice a year. They live in the area of my kitchen windows, one south facing, one west facing.

Phaleanopsis orchid Photo:©nini.tjader.2017

Three of my orchids were replanted, roots trimmed, bark exchanged and leca added recently. Three still need to be taken care of, even though they have meanwhile started to bloom. The above orchid is my oldest, the very first I got years ago. It blooms about twice a year every year.

Orchid phalleanopsis. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

My orchids have been around for quite some time. The three I replanted recently I set in glass vases without a hole in the bottom. Leca balls at the bottom, som bark in between the plentiful roots. They get water very seldom and those three I have replanted I check carefully after watering so the water is not drowning them.

Orchid phaleanopsis Photo:©nini.tjader.2017

Phaleanopsis orchids are really easy to care for and very seldom need watering. Mine get water only about every second week or so.

Orchid phaleanopsis Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

To know if an orchid need water, just check its leafs. If they are solid and shiny, it doesn’t need water at that stage. Don’t give it more water then. If leafs feel soft somehow, it needs water.

Orchid phaleanopis flower bud. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

You can also shower them regularly, on leafs and flowers and flower buds. They love that. They take in a lot of what they need of humidity from the air around it. The drier their surroundings, the more they need to be showered now and then.

Orchid phaleanopis buds. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

The above orchid is my newest (just a couple of years) one. It will get yellow flowers. This year it has two stems for the first time. Those yellow flowers use to stand for a couple of months every time it blooms.

Yellow orchid phaleanopis Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

The yellow one is one of the three I recently replanted. It has a dying leaf that looks a bit boring. But, dying leafs should never be removed until they have dried away completely and are easy to remove. Let the nourishing from it go back into the plant before you remove that ugly leaf.

Orchid phaleanopsis Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

You can also check the health of an orchid by looking at is roots. Are they thick and green (or sometimes white-ish depending on how much light they have got) the plant is fine. Are shrivelled and dry and brown? Plant may still be fine, but those roots can be removed/cut off as they have no purpose any more.

Orchid phaleanopsis. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

Watch out for its leafs if it stands close to a window. The leafs can get burn-damage both from cold windows and too much sun and hot windows. It is fairly common and looks like a large dry spot on the leaf. It won’t harm the plant, but it doesn’t look nice. Windows can get really cold in the winter and really hot in the summer. Move those plants so they do not touch the windows.

Orchid phaleanopsis Photo:©nini.tjader.2017

I have always been fascinated by the orchids flowers. Take a close look at them. Sometimes they look butterflies, sometimes their insides looks like small leopards are residing inside the flower.

Orchid phaleanopsis Photo. ©nini.tjader.2017

My orchids do not use sticks to hold them up. That is not how they grow in the wild. They hang.

Orchid phaleanopsis Photo:©nini.tjader.2017

I use one of Ikeas hanging planters for the three orchids that haven’t been re-planted yet. I will probably not be able to use that after they’ve been re-planted.

Orchid phaleanopsis Photo:©nini.tjader.2017

When the flowers are done and finished you end up with an empty flowerstem. It might be tempting to cut that off. Do NOT do that. Keep it as long as it is alive. You might get new flowers on it at a later stager. If the flowerstem dries and dies, then you can cut it off. It is then yellow and dry. If not, let it remain.

Orchid phaleanopsis Photo:©nini.tjader.2017

I love orchids. But I only have one kind, the phaleanopsis in various colors. Maybe I will get some new color and/or new kind one day, but presently six (6) orchids are enough.

Orchid phaleanopisis Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

Dec

2016

Who needs curtains when you have a philodendron?

Philodendron instead of curtains. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Who needs curtains when you have a philodendron? I have this old philodendron plant instead of curtains in my kitchen.

My kitchen has two windows, one to the south and one to the west. There is plenty of light in the kitchen.

The philodendron plant, which someone in one of my FaceBook groups said is called philodendron tuxla(num), has been around for many years. I know it is a philodendron, but there are many in its family so I cannot swear on it being just that kind.

I originally got my philodendron when I lived in Vårby Gård at Bäckgårdsvägen, and it came with me when I moved to my present flat in November 2009. It is at least 15-20 years old by now and was cut down a couple of times in my former flat as I didn’t have any good way to keep it up when it got too tall/long. I have no idea how long I had it in my former flat.

Philodendron 28th December 2010.

This (above) is how the philodendron looked on December 28th, 2010, a year after I moved to my present flat. It was much smaller then than it is today. The philodendron was later moved from that position to the livingroom.

Philodendron in the kitchen. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Some time in 2013 I moved the philodendron from its corner in the livingroom to the kitchen as it didn’t get enough light in the livingroom. Plan was that it should get more light in the kitchen and more space.

I stopped using curtains in the kitchen already in October 2011. They were just in the way and stole too much light. I have shades and half-transparent blinds in the kitchen windows in case I need to protect plants and the kitchen from the sun. But no curtains. I prefer plants to curtains.

Philodendron in the kitchen. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

As soon as the philodendron came to the kitchen it started growing again. I measured it the other day. It is now 3.80 cms long, counted from its pot on the floor. It has got several stems. The philodendron hangs and is fastened on to the curtain-rods, which I kept despite not having any curtains here, and covers one and a half window. It will soon cover the top of both windows.

It just keeps on growing…

Philodendron in the kitchen instead of curtains. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

I guess it also creates a good climate in the kitchen in addition to the greenery it ads.

Philodendron in the kitchen instead of curtains. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

Philodendron instead of curtains. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Philodendron in the kitchen instead of curtains. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Dec

2016

Red amaryllis “Merry Christmas”

Red amaryllis “Merry Christmas”. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

I just realised I haven’t shown you my red amaryllis “Merry Christmas” here. Yes, that is its name. I got four of the red amaryllis (and one white that is documented elsewere).

Red amaryllis “Merry Christmas”. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

It started its life on November the 3rd when I woke up its roots over a glass of water for 48 hours.

Red amaryllis “Merry Christmas”. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

I planted them into a large, round pot that originally came with a tomato-plant. I’ve had this kind of red amaryllis before, last year actually. Then also planted in this pot.

Red amaryllis “Merry Christmas”, 2016-11-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

It started to grow pretty fast.

Below are more pictures of its growth and development. The flowers became 20 cm in size in diameter. Heights 60 cms. At first two of the bulbs had 2 stems, the other two one. Now a second stem comes in one of those with one stem. Each stem has had 4 flowers. The flowers are now beginning to die and their most beautiful period is over. I am now only watching it dying… The lifespan is around two months from when you awake the roots of the bulb.

Red amaryllis “Merry Christmas” 2016-12-26. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

I haven’t decided yet if I should try to keep them for next year. If I do, I have to keep it somewhere light, give it water, and let the leaves grow out. Then take it outdoor over summer, cut it back in September and put it somewhere dark without water… Then start over again by end of October/beginning November… I will probably NOT do all this. Too much work.

I love this amaryllis for its very red color and its beautiful large flowers. I will probably have the same kind next year as well.

Click on an image to see a larger version.

Red amaryllis “Merry Christmas”. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

Dec

2016

Plants & Light

Plants & Light. This years red amaryllis on the kitchentable. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Plants & Light

We are at the peak of the dark season. It won’t get any darker now. Winter solstice was yesterday. Now it will only get lighter. But until it does…

Plants & Light. My kitchen-jungle. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Until the light comes back, you have to help the plants and give them some additional light.

Some lights are for Xmas decoration and don’t give all that much light to the plants, other lights for keeping the plants alive over the dark winter months.

Plants & Light. The figtree in the livingroom. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

For the latter I use a lamp called SUNLITE that comes from Venso Eco Solutions. It costs SEK 349, so not cheap. One is used for my figtree when it is indoors over winter. I got the first one about two years ago at a garden fair and used it over winter for the first time last winter.

Plant & Lamps. The olive-tree in the bedroomn. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

This year I got a second one, for my olivetree. This time at a regular plantshop. Both have white shades, but you can get it in other colors.

Plants & Lamps. In the livingroom-window. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

The lamp has a periscope stand that you “plant” in the pot and drag out to desired length. The cord is really long so you can get it into the nearest electric outlet. The light is LED, with specific strength for plant-needs.

It kept my figtree alive the entire winter-period last year and I hope it will do that also this year, as well as for the olive-tree.

Plants & Light. The olive-tree in the bedroom. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

In the bedroom, where the figtree stand, I also have a decorative star lamp in the window, as is usual this time of the year. It doesn’t do all that much good for the plants, but it gives a cozy light.

Plants & Light. The livingroom window. Photo: ©ninni.tjader.2016

In the livingroom I also have lights in the window that are more seasonal than for the good of the plants. They co-work with the plant-light. There are also various candles here.

Plants & Light. In the livingroom window. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

When I shot the pictures we had snow outside. That is long gone now and there is no snow presently.

Plants & Light. The bedroom window. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

Both the plantlights and the decorative Xmas-lights are connected to timers that turn them on and off at the times I set for them. Very convenient.

Plants & Light. The livingroom window, Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

Plants & Light. My figtree in the livingroom, Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

The light is coming back though as from today onwards. I’m looking forward to some more daylight. This time of the year it is really dark.

Plants & Light . My kitchen-jungle. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

Dec

2016

White Amaryllis Alfresco 2016

White amaryllis Alfresco 2016-11-01 Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

It all started on November 1st 2016 when I woke up the roots of my white amaryllis Alfresco by putting its roots over water in a jar. That takes minimum 24 hours. I kept it there for around 48 hours.

White Amaryllis Alfresco 2016-11-03 Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

I then planted the white amaryllis Alfresco in its own pot with earth and gave it some water. Not too much water, just a little to make the earth moist.

White Amaryllis Alfresco 2016-11-03 Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Then you wait and don’t give it any water at all until it starts to grow. It already had a small green top when I bought the bulb.

White amaryllis Alfresco 2016-11-03 Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

I placed the pot in the livingroom and waited for further development.

White amaryllis Alfresco 2016-11-17 Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

On November 17th it had started to grow and I dug out the amaryllis support from storage to have it ready for when the stem would go up. When it starts to grow, it grows really fast.

Below is its further development until today. It grows real fast when it starts growing. In the end it got four (4) stems. Each stem got at least 3-4 buds. It is a very beautiful amaryllis. This is the third year that I am growing this particular white amaryllis.

PS 2016-12-26. I’ve added some new pictures to the gallery,

Click on an image to see a larger versions or as slideshow.

2016-11-30

2016-12-04

2016-12-06

2016-12-07

2016-12-09

2016-12-10

2016-12-11

2016-12-12

2016-12-15

2016-12-17

2016-12-19

2016-12-23

2016-12-26

Nov

2016

Creative Plant Pots

Creative plant pots? Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Creative Plant Pots? That is the subject for the Urbanjunglebloggers task for November. Do I have any creative pots? Not really… Can creative plant pots be the way you use pots for your plants, or does it have to be the look of the pots themselves?

Creative plant pots? Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

If we talk about the use of the pots rather than the look of them, then I will show you mine. The above ones are from IKEA and called BITTERGURKA. You can hang them one under the other. I have two connected and could have three if I give up the space on the windowledge under it. (Just beware that the plants are not too heavy and that they initially hang on something that can take the weight of the connected pots).

The pots is for hanging plants. But, as I my orchids do not grow upwards but to the sides and downwards I came to the conclusion some time ago that they are better off placed in these hanging pots. And the three I’ve put there love it.

Creative plant pots? Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

My other three orchids are to be moved into these glassvases in the near future. Presently they live in those semi-transparent boring plastic pots that all orchids are sold in. The two vases in front are from IKEA, the one in the back is a cheap find at the shop of the Salvation Army the other day. I will follow up with a post about how and how it looks when done with the re-planting.

Creative plant pots? Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Most of my plant pots are simple and white without any decorations whatsover. My idea of plant pots is that they should not be what you see first. First should be the plant itself. The pot should be as uninteresting as possible. The above one is somewhat an exception with its pattern of a hanging cloth. I have no idea where I got it from.

Creative plant pots? Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

This (above) is what I like. White. Simple. No adornments…

Creative Plant Pots? Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

This big, white, but lightweight, pot with its own plate I got from a neighbor when they moved north summer before last. They didn’t want to risk it when they moved. This kind of pot comes in several colors and sizes and some variations as well. It is usually sold at various fairs or at the ceramics shop where they are made. It comes from STUREHOFS KRUKMAKERI. I love it.

Creative plant pots? Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

This one (above) is not very creative, I agree. It is where my large climbing plant in the kitchen lives. it covers one and a half window presently. The plant pot is from IKEA and is one of their very first self-watering plant pots. They don’t do them in black any more, only white. Today it is called FEJÖ.

Creative Plant Pots? Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

In the living room the pots do not get any more creative than in the kitchen… But, you can add things around them that makes the arrangment more creative.

Creative Plant Pots Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

The plant in the middle for instance has a stand under its simple white pot that is not as simple as the pot. I found that stand in the garbage where I previously lived and have used it ever since.

Creative Plant Pots Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

In my livingroom window and the sideboard there I put various decorative items in between the plant pots to make it more interesting to look at. The glass candle holder above is from IKEA.

Creative Plant Pots? Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Otherwise, my plant pots in the livingroom are white and simple… The one above for hanging plants comes from HORNBACH. it is smart as comes with metalwires to hang it up. Makes it strong to hold the plant in it. It also has a structured outside that I like.

Creative Plant Pots? Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Usually my plant pots do not get more interesting than this white one…

Creative Plant Pots? Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Or this dark blue one and the big white one with my largest cactus. The latter is from IKEA (not sold any more) and has an irregular shape in a triangular form. That is creative, right? I is perfect for the cactus as it is rather wide.

Creative Plant Pots? Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

My smallest cactus – babies from the big one – has a flowershaped plant pot in green, Makes it stand out beside my white ones… I don’t know where I got it from. Have had it for years.

Creative Plant Pots? Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

So, if the pot is white and simple, you can always decorate the plant itself with a metal colorful butterfly on a stick, right?

Creative Plant Pots? Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

My olivetree also got a butterfly and a dedicated plantlight to survive the winter indoors. The plant pot is one of those I use most: simple and white with a plate just as simple and white. Can be bought in most stores that sell plant pots.

Creative Plant Pots? Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

My plant pots do not get more creative than this. My plants have the lead role, not the pots they live in. I like them white and simple, but they may come in different shapes. Is that creative?

Plant pots in the living room window. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Nov

2016

Kitchenplants in November

My kitchenplants in November 2017. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

The kitchenplants in my kitchenwindows look their best in the morning, provided the sun is shining. This time of the year is usually dark and gloomy with very little daylight. So, when there IS som daylight I try to use it to shoot some pictures. In November the Xmas decorations etc are not up and around yet. They will be very soon. Those days when the sun shines – long in between – the light in the kitchen is beautiful in the mornings.

My kitchenplants in November 2016. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

I cannot get enough of that light.

My kitchenplants in November 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

The plants in the kitchenwindows vary over time. This is the situation just now. Some die, new ones are added, some move from these windows to other windows.

My kitchenplants in November 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Plants in my kitchenwindows in November 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

I’ve got six (6) orchids. Three of them nowadays are placed in the plant-hangers, two in one of the windows, and one has moved onto the plantstand where I earlier had the muelenbeckia (now removed and in the trash). All six of the orchids will soon bloom. Flowerstems and buds are on their way.

Kitchenlants November 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Before the orchids open their flowers I will have re-planted them, cleaned their roots and placed them in some new pots. (I’ve been collecting/assembling some nice glass vases for this purpose). All my orchids are growing horizontally and have huge bundles of roots, some alive, some not.

My ginkgo biloba above is losing leafs presently and some of those that have not fallen off are getting somewhat yellow. I guess that is normal? I don’t think it is supposed to be green the year around.

Kitchenplants November 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

The hanging plants – including three of the orchids – are those plants that look the best presently. Despite the normally grey and dark November-light. It is only this light when the sun is out and it is morning.

Kitchenplants November 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

I’ve restarted the above plant. Its stems got all naked and had leaves only at the end of them. So I simply reduced their lengths and put them into new soil. They get roots very fast and now look just fine.

Kitchenplants November 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Its green relative has never looked better. I love it the way it looks just now.

Kitchenplants, November 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Even this small plant is looking good. It even got “flowers”, lots of them.

Kitchenplants, rosemary. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

One of my two rosemary plants – which both live outdoors during the warm season – is still having flowers. Both seem to be at good health indoors so far.

Kitchenlants, white pelargonia November 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

I only kept one of my pelargonias when it was time to move them indoor. Simply didn’t have space for all of them. The one I kept is the white one. I kept the smallest of them. It keeps on getting new flowers…

Kitchenplants November 2016. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

And this one… I divided it into two in the spring and they are both thriving and throwing out long arms with flowers and leaves. They’ve become really big.

Kitchenplants in November, 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Oh, almost forgot about this one. A fragranced pelargonia. I’ve been waiting for it to grow roots for weeks. Now they come, at the darkest period of the year. If it survives the rest of the winter I’ll have one more pelargonia for next year.

Kitchenplants in November 2016. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

The above picture of one of the kitchenwindows was shot last week when the snow was still there outside. All white and adding light. All the snow is gone by now. It has all melted.

I love that light in the kitchen in the mornings. So do my kitchenplants.

Oct

2016

Still life “desert”

This months assignment from Urbanjunglebloggers is Still Life “desert”. So I assembled the few desert-like plants I have and took out some old items that I associate with desert life.

In the images you can find a camel adornment from Turkey (hanging blue thing above), a beduin drum, a wall-hanging of wool from Tunisia hand woven in the desert grottos of Matmata, a camel of olive-wood from Israel.

And the plants of course. Aloe Vera of different sizes and two different cactuses. The smaller cactus above come from the bigger one in the same picture. It produces “babies” which I sometimes put into their own pots. As for the Aloe Veras… I have a larger one in the livingroom which is the mother of all the Aloe Veras that Ive kept. I’e given away one to my neighbor and one to friend Ulla. The Aloe Vera is a tropical plant though and not a desert plant… I somehow associate with deserts though because of the thorny edges of their leaves…

Still life “desert”. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

I kept switching positions between the camel and the drum…

Still life “desert”. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Here you see both my cactuses at the same time. And the camel of course. The cactus nearest to the window I’ve got years ago from from friend Monica who is no longer with us. The seconds one, closest in the picture, I got when it was one very small round plant. I don’t know how long Ive had it. A couple of decades at least.

The woven wool wall-hanging I got for my father when Janne and I visited Tunisia in 1979. It is now mine.