Just added an updated clip of a short segment on YouTube. It's light-hearted and informative. Sometimes African violets stop blooming. Here's one reason why and how to relax about that.
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Sunday, January 11, 2026
Friday, February 23, 2024
Newest Video Upload of "The Indoor Garden" 90's TV series
The latest video upload of the "The Indoor Garden" TV series is now on YouTube. It's a full length episode, about 27 minutes long. It features four men with various houseplant issues. It's done in a casual and entertaining way. You just might pick up some new tips if you watch it :)
Friday, March 18, 2022
How to Grow the Psychedelic Rex Begonia
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| Rex begonia |
One
of the most stunningly colorful plants I have yet to encounter is the
Rex begonia. Although it does not like too much direct sun, when sunlight hits the leaves,it, its iridescent colors are dazzling. To those of us
not used to living around such vivid plants, this species of begonia may appear to be
something out of a science fiction novel. This one lives in my living
room and its wondrous colors brightens up the room; its colors are a
delightful complement to the other colors in that room. It even blooms from time to time with a sweet light pink single-petaled flower.
The
first Rex begonia to be cultivated was discovered by a botanist in 1856
in Assam, a north eastern state in India. Since then, many, many
hybrids have been produced. The one you see in your nursery is a
hybrid of the first one used for cultivation from India.
Care Instructions--
- Prefers very bright indirect light. A north window is perfect. An few hours of direct sun is ok. Strong afternoon sun may be too much.
- Water thoroughly as soon as the top is dry.
- Fertilize regularly.
- It likes a warm room with some humidity. Misting daily is helpful, if your home is dry. Placing pebbles in it's saucer and keeping it filled with water just below the bottom of the pot will also help provide some humidity as it evaporates.
- Prefers temperate temperatures
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***See a variety of video clips on houseplant care from my 90's TV series, on YouTube:
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Wednesday, January 6, 2021
The Sweet Wire Vine
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| Muehlenbeckia complexa |
I was invited by my neighbor to come over and look at her plants to see if I could offer any suggestions. She recently bought several at a local plant store. This small and sweet slice of life was sitting on her kitchen counter.
It's called a Wire vine or Maidenhair vine. With tiny soft green leaves on creeping, twining reddish-brown stems, this smallish plant can add a touch of freshness wherever it is placed. It can be pruned as needed to keep it compact. It should divide quite easily if it's root-bound and you still want a small plant.
This is one of the 'forgiving' plants, as I call them, meaning they can recover from setbacks beautifully. If they have a setback or are doing poorly, cut them back quite a bit, remove dead leaves and stems, and it will grow into a lovely plant again, if their care is corrected.
This can become a lovely hanging basket if you'd like. I hope that it blooms for you! It has greenish white flowers that show up as small spikes.
Its botanically known as Muehlenbeckia complexa. Its natural habitat is New Zealand. It can become quite the thicket outdoors, if not managed. It is used decoratively to cover walls and fences in New Zealand.
Care Instructions:
- Bright indirect light, direct morning sun or some late afternoon will be best. Full sun may bleach the leaves.
- Water thoroughly when the soil surface is good and dry on top.
- A plant in a 4" diameter pot should require about 1/2-3/4 cup of water. Test to see how much your plant needs by observing how much water comes out of the bottom of the pot. A little bit of water should drain out of the bottom hole to show that it was thoroughly soaked.
- A plant in a 6" (15cm) diameter pot should be watered with about a pint (or almost a half liter) of water
- A plant in an 8" (20cm) diameter pot or 10" (25cm) diameter hanging basket, will use about a quart of water, when necessary.
- Regular fertilizing keeps them looking their best and may induce them to flower more than without it.
- If they are trimmed back some, from time to time, you will have a fuller, lusher looking plant. Every few months, cut a few of the vines back a little, just below a leaf.
- Longer vines can be cut back to the length you desire.
- They do appreciate some humidity. A daily water misting can be helpful. With the right light, a bathroom or kitchen can be a great room to keep them in.
~~~~~
***To watch short video clips from the 1990's "The Indoor Garden" TV series, click below:
©2021
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| ©2021 |
The Fascinating ZZ plant
My newest neighbor was graciously showing me around her house when I saw this. She had recently purchased this healthy specimen of the curious ZZ plant. She has it in a perfect spot. It's in bright indirect light and with minimal attention, it should be living with her for years.
Although the soil should dry out quite a bit between waterings, it should not be neglected. ZZ's are tolerant of sitting pretty dry for awhile but watering it as soon as it's ready is best.
This is a fairly new specimen on the houseplant market and has turned out to be very popular. I've seen this often labelled as a Zamioculcus zamifolia. My most trusted source for houseplant information, when I've been unsure is Alfred Byrd Graf's comprehensive "Exotic Plant Manual". His picture of the Zamioculcus zamifolia, an African native, is different and shows a plant similar to this with more yellow showing in its veins.
If I ever find out for sure, I will list this plant's official last name. Even experts don't know all the answers every time but should develop a good sense about their subject. They should also have good and reliable resources when questions come up.
I do believe this is a Zamioculcus because of the bloom I've seen on one. This species does have a reputation for being a very hardy houseplant and I hope your's lives with you for a long time!
Care Instructions--
- Bright indirect light, direct morning sun or a touch of direct afternoon sun should be best for it.
- Water thoroughly when the soil is dry is about 1" (2.5 cm) or more below the soil surface. The ZZ plant pictured here is in a 8" (20 cm) diameter pot and should take about a quart of water when necessary.
- In a 6" (15 cm) diameter pot, water with about 1 pint of water, when necessary.
- In a 10" (25cm) diameter pot, water with about 2 quarts of water, when necessary.
- Fertilize regularly for best growth.
~~~~~
***To watch short video clips from the 1990's "The Indoor Garden" TV series, click below:
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| ©2021 |
Monday, August 24, 2020
Aglaonema Schismatoglottis roebellini
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| Aglaonema Schismatoglottis roebellini |
This particular Chinese Evergreen has a name that we always enjoyed pronouncing for curious plant buyers at the first plant store I worked at in the 1970's. We pronounced it as Shish-mu-glottis. That is the horticultural name of this plant. Its botanical name is Aglaonema crispum.
Most plants are sold under their botanical name. I do not why official names in botany and horticulture sometimes vary. Scientists often disagree on things. Common names sometimes vary from area to area and it is up to the discretion of the grower which common name to use. You can call this a Chinese evergreen. Quite a long time ago, one of its common names was Painted droptongue!
What is most helpful to a plant owner is how to care for it so that it will live with you for a long time. The family of Chinese evergreens has the reputation of being among the hardiest of houseplants. With regular good care they rarely have problems. If their care is off-track for awhile, they usually recover well.
My friend, Suzy, graciously allowed me to take this picture of her plant when I stopped by for a visit.
Care Instructions:
- Chinese evergreens tolerate fairly low light but bright indirect light or right in front of a north-facing window is best. Some direct morning sun is good; full afternoon sun is too much. The leaves will fade in color with too much light.
- Aglaonemas in 8" (20cm) diameter or smaller pots should be very dry on the top of soil or up to about 1" below the soil line before watering.
- Water with up to a pint of water for 6" (15cm) diameter containers.Use about 1 quart of water for Aglaonemas in an 8" (20cm) diameter pot
- Plants in 10" (30cm) diameter containers or larger can dry out up to about 2" below the soil surface. Water with about 1-1/2 to 2 quarts for a chinese evergreen in a 10" (25cm) or 12" (30cm) diameter pot.
- Plants in a 14" (35 cm) diameter pot should dry out about 2" or more below the soil surface, then water with about 1 gallon of water.
- Fertilize regularly for best growth.
- Dust or clean the leaves with water occasionally. The spring can be a great time to get houseplants outdoors for a gently washing. A shower in the bathtub works, too.
- The stems root well in water.
- The plant can also be divided by taking the plant out or the pot, and gently pulling apart and separating the root ball into two new plants.Repot each plant section into separate containers..
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***To watch short video clips from the 1990's "The Indoor Garden" TV series, click below:
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| ©2020 |
Saturday, March 21, 2020
A Tribute to the Plants of the Amazon
The link above will take you to YouTube for this short poem I wrote for a show we taped at the National Zoo's Amazonia exhibit. I think you will enjoy it.
This clip was videotaped in 1992.
©2020
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