houseplants

Aug

2019

On my windowsills

The western kitchenwindow 2019-+8-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

In my opinion, windowsills are for plants and flowers. Makes the rooms nice to be in.

At this time of the year, the content on the windowsills is in transition between summer and autumn and there are far less plants there than in the cold season as some of them live outdoors during the warm season.

Kitchenwindows 2019-08-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

In the kitchen

My kitchen has two dinws. One to the south, one to the west. In the kitchen I use plants instead of curtains. One of the plants is my huge philodendron that follow the curtainrod over both the windows. It starts in its pot on the floor though. I’ve had that one for many years by now and it started its life in my previous flat.

The southern kitchenwindow, 2019-08-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

In the southern kitchenwindow I presently have two hanging plants and smaller ones on the sill. There are one small cactus (that grows really slow), three Saint Paulia grewn from leaves, and one Thai Basil to the right which you cannot see in this picture.

The western kitchenwindow, 2019-08-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

In between the two dinwos I presently have a kind of cactus on a high stand, then cuttings from fig trees and Saint Paulia and a regular basil. Two hanging pots with tradescandia (two different kinds). And a potus hainging up there as well.

Hanging plant in the kitchenwindow. 2019-08-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

In the corner between the two windows in the kitchen, 2019-08-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

In the livingroom

In the livingroom I have one west-facing window beside the door to the patio.

Livingroomwindow, 2019-08-17.Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

I recently re-organized the plants in the livingroom-window and moved one of the hanging plants from the kitchen to here. There was more room in the window here than in the kitchen. I also led the Monkey Face monstera upwards when I gave it a larger pot and new soil as it was becoming very long.

I have a bench in front of the window to be able to have more plants there. The lamp on the bench is from Ikea, but the bulb in it from ICA Maxi (grocery store).

Ficus. 2019-08-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

The above ficus is from cuttings from my neighbour. It is fast getting big now so it too got new soil and a new pot.

Monkey Face monstera in the livingroom window, 2019-08-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

On the floor in the corner of the livingroomwindow I have a hug tradescantia. Had to get a new plantstand for it from Ikea. It still reaches the floor from the stand…

Tradescantia in the livingroom, 2019-08-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

In the bedroom

I have one small window in the bedroom.

Bedroomwindow 2019-08-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

The bedroomwindow is pretty empty presently On the sill, behind the curtains, are my cactus plants. The I have a chests of drawers in front of the window that I also use for plants, but mainly wintertime. At the moment there are only two aloe vera here. Wintertime some of my pelargonias live here.

Cactus and haworthia in the bedroomwindow, 2019-08-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

In just a month or so I will have to solve the problem of where to put my figtrees and pelargonias that have to come in from the patio. Which to keep and which not and where to place them. Meanwhile they are just fine outdoors.

Apr

2017

New Beginnings

New beginnings with new stems and leaves on my figtree. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

“New Beginnings” is this months theme for the Urban Jungle Bloggers . Just the right theme for this time of the year when talking about the plantworld.

Part of my figtree. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

At the end of March I decided I had to cut my figtree. Something I have never done before and have no experience with. I decided to cut at least one of the stems that grew straight out and made the plant larger than I wanted it to be. So I cut off that branch and dived it into two pieces after consulting the internet and some plantgroups on FaceBook.

One part of the cut off branch had no leaves and was put directly into soil in a pot with a plastic bag around it. I kept notice of what was up and down of that bit of stem before planting it. It just took a couple of weeks until it produced a small green thing on the stem. I hope that will be a new beginning for that piece of figtree…

Figtree cutting. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

The top part of the cutting I put in a decorative vase with water. All leaves except one soon fell off, but on the cut branch in the water small white growth appeared pretty fast.

Part of my figtree. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

I hope those small, white things that appear on the cutting in the water are new roots?

With a bit of luck I will get two brand new figtrees after cutting off that branch.

New branches on the figtree. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

The new branches and leaves are growing just fine (and fast) on the tree itself.

My figtree is, against all rules, kept indoors over winter, in regular house warmth. I give it extra light by a special plant-lamp. It loses some leaves over winter, but not all. When the branch got cut, it immediately produced two figs… If it is anything like the last time it did that, it will take a couple of months to get ripe and will be almost inedible.

Figs on my figtree. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

Also one of my old cactuses is showing new beginnings. (Reload page to get images to sort in another order, click an image to see a larger version).

Apart form those two new beginnings I am again, against better knowledge, sowing all kinds of seeds. I am usually not very successful in that, but I keep on trying. Those are for outdoor plants though and will be covered in another post later on. Those are tomatoes and some flowers.

White geranium, cut down. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

I cut down my white geranium to get more plants and to give the old one a new beginning. This is the only one I kept indoors over winter as I simply didn’t have space to keep more of them. This kind answers well to get cut down and made more plants from and did so this year as well.

geraniums, pelargonia, whitegeranium, new beginnings

New beginnings of the white geraniums. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

One of the small cuttings died since I shot this picture, but I will get at least three new white geraniums. These new beginnings will all get their own larger pots when they get big enough and I am sure that they will survive. They live outdoors on the patio over the summer.

geranium, fragranced geranium, new beginnings

Fragranced geranium. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

The above is a fragranced geranium that also is a cutting from last years geraniums. It was two from the beginning, one died. This second one is growing though. The cutting started off in a glass of water where it got lots of roots. Only some time in January did I move them and put them into soil. Then its twin died, but this one survived. It needs more light to grow better. This spring has been poor of light and warmth, but hopefully that changes soon.

Ginkgo Biloba Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

If the Ginkgo Biloba will get any new beginnings is doubtful though… Since I shot this picture two more leaves have fallen off and it is down to one rather withered leaf. I cannot yet see if the plant is dead or alive.

My oldest and largest aloe vera is very much alive though with lots of babies. Need to remove those, but waiting for warmer weather so I can take it outdoors. It is hard to handle it indoors as it is so big and heavy.

Aloe Vera with babies. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

(And then there are the tomatoes…)

New beginnings. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

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

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.