#urbanjunglebloggers

Oct

2017

The livingroom window

The livingroom window 2017-10-23. Photo.©nini.tjader.2017

I have one window and one door to the patio in the livingroom. The livingroom window has a double marble windowsill. The window is west-facing out to the patio. I use that window for various flower pots that change over time with the seasons. Less flowers in the summer, more in the winter and a varying amount of pots in spring and autumn. In the autumn I move pots indoors before winter comes which adds to the number of plants there. In the summer I move pots outdoors which reduces the number of pots. In short: what is in that window change over the seasons.

To get more space for pots and plants I added a sideboard a couple of years ago. Over the cold season I also use some elevated plant-stands in front of the window for some of the larger plants, like the figtree for instance. Under the sideboard I keep the bird-food and some garden utensils that cannot be kept outdoors.

Here are some pictures of how the livingroom window changes over time.

The livingroom window 2017-03-17. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

The red oxalis was just coming awake after winter and looked a bit decimated here.

The livingroom window 2017-06-15. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

In June the red oxalis looked much better. Here I also had moved down the Stephanotis Floribunda from its hanging position as it got too heavy to hang in the window after repotting with fresh earth. The fig trees by this time were outdoors again.

The livingroom window, 2017-07-10. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

The red oxalis kept on growing after being re-potted. And so did the Stephanotis.

The livingroom window 2017-08-05. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

By the beginning of August my two stephanotis switched locations. The one that was here was moved to the kitchen and the one in the kitchen was moved to the livingroom. The largest Aloe Vera which used to sit in the corner of the window was moved to a plantstand in the bedroom and the large corokia cotoneaster which used to be in the kitchen was moved here instead of the aloe vera. The red oxalis just got bigger and bigger…

The livingroom window, 2017-09-19. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

When autumn approached plants started to move indoors. I also managed to sell my large red oxalis. One plant less. The two figtrees moved inside and so did the Australian wild pelargonia and the muehlenbeckia. The Australian wild pelargonia didn’t like to come indoors though and more or less died just a week later. So, it went into the trash. The Devil’s Ivy went into the bedroom to make space for the muehlenbeckia on the ceramic plantstand. The plant-light was put into one of the fig-tree pots and helps them survive the darker season indoors.

The livingroom window 2017-10-09. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

When the Australian pelargonia went into the trash I moved one of the white pelargonias to that spot. That was only temporary though until Ulla came to visit and brought it home to her flat.

I then moved the smaller fig-tree up onto the side-board, but it got a bit crowded there.

The livingroom window, 2017.10-16. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

I didn’t like this (above) at all. Too crowded. So re-arranged again by removing the stephanotis and moving the medium-sized aloe vera closer to the window. Also the muehlenbeckia got closer to the window. The removed stephanotis presently rests on a stool in the kitchen. That’s a temporary place for it. I really don’t know where to put it at the moment. So, below is how the livingroom window presently looks. That’s OK so far. Airy enough.

The livingroom window, 2017-10-23. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

As the chaise longue is up for sale presently, and some people are coming to check it out on Friday, I might change the look here again. If I get rid of the chaise longue I can re-think this corner and make it less crowded.

Jul

2017

Tropicool

Tropicool corner on my patio. Photo ©nini,tjader.2017

The summer challenge of Urban Jungle Bloggers is “Tropicool”. As many of my plants are outdoors over the so called warm (?) season, I choose to have my tropicool place outdoors as well, on the patio.

Tropicool corner on my patio. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

So I take a couple of step out to come to that space. There I can sit under the big figtree (which has lost almost all its leaves at the top of the old branches and not produced new ones yet). It is a pretty protected area even on overcast days, surrounded by pelargonia-plants, the fig trees and my olivetree, to add to the the tropical illusion. It is a nice place to sit and read, pretty cool, and you can hear the wind-chime on the wall.

The tropicool corneer on my patio. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

It is a perfect place to sit and read a book. To take time off from gardening and other tasks.

The tropicool corner of my patio.Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

From here I can see all my plantpots that are out on the patio and keep an eye on how they feel and how they develop outdoors. The arrangement on the trellis on the wall is not optimal. A cobea and lots of sweet peas are fighting for the space. They both live in the same large pot. I should have had only one of them… either the cobea or the sweet peas. The sweet peas are not yet in bloom. I await their fragrance when it will bloom, which will be soon. It is the first time I succeeded to get sweet peas to grow. The cobea blooms much later, if at all, usually by September. The cobea is a fantastic climber and can reach 3 meters in height during one summer.

Notice the small figtree in middle front?

Small figtree in the tropicool corner. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

This is the cutting from the larger figtree that I cut off early spring and placed in a bottle of water. It got roots pretty fast and got planted in a pot then. It is developing fine and it likes being outdoors, sprouting new leaves at every branch. I wish the larger figtree would get new leaves soon too…

The tropicoolcorner at the patio. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

Only the cut off branch of the larger figtree has fresh leaves. But they all came when the figtree was still indoors. The other leaves are getting yellow falling off one by one. I know, that is normal in our climate, but still… Please grow new leaves before autumn comes when the tree go indoors again!

The patio with view to the garden. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

From the tropicool corner I can look out into the garden. I have plants in pots out there as well. The sofa is the most protected space at the patio, as the up-stairs neighbours balcony protects it.

My patio can be really tropical on sunny days and temperature can reach +38C near to the wall. The tropicool corner does not get that hot. If it does you have to leave the patio for the garden…

The tropicool corner of my patio. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

I really should have moved that hose under the chair and the mover at right front before I shot this picture… They don’t belong in this styling…

At the patio. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

I even have plants on the top of the sofa at the patio. From left a small carnation with a divine fragrance, then my ginkgo biloba which has come alive again against all odds. Then two rosemary plants that over winter are indoors. They have both bloomed. The one to the right started blooming in winter and has still not stopped blooming. The bumble-bees love it. I cut both regularly when I need rosemary with my food.

On the patio. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

On the table is a tomato-plant that comes from seeds from a slice of tomato bought at the supermarket. Recently, it has grown a lot and flowers have now appeared. There will hopefully also be tomatoes on it… On its right is a myrtle tree that blooms on and off. On the railing is a smaller tomato-plant with cocktail-tomatoes which I bought ready-grown. When a tomato is ripe there, I pick it and eat as a snack. To its right are two kinds of thyme which I had to move to pots because they got all grown over by my peppermint and mint in the garden.

At the entrance to the patio. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2017

At the entrance/exit to/from the patio and garden I have a pot of red and white flowers called cape marguerites. The white ones are presently on the other side and not seen in the picture. They bloom until the frost takes them some time in October. Just outside are two pots of red yemenite basil which I have each summer for the sake of the bumble-bees. It can of course also be used as regular basil and eaten. But the flowers are nice and the bumble-bees love them so I don’t cut them off to have in salads. Behind them is a large pot with giant verbena.

In the livingroom. Photo, ©nini.tjader.2017

We’ve not had the best weather this summer. Rain, thunder, hail, and sometimes sunny. A day can begin sunny and then the rains and clouds come. And it being sunny is no guarantee for tropical weather or hot temperatures. Slightly warmer… but not tropical. There are few days in Sweden that you can consider the weather to be tropical. This corner (above) in the livingroom is the most tropical I can produce indoors. But it is also a nice place when the weather is uninviting to go outdoors.

Or I can spend time in the kitchen which always is a bit tropical when it comes to plants…

Tropicool in the kitchen. 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

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

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.