Hello GPODers!
Just a few weeks in the past I shared some pictures I took after numerous snow storms right here in Connecticut (A Snow Day in Connecticut). Although I can all the time discover the sweetness within the pared down panorama and icy patterns created within the snow, I do want a dose of colour to get me via the lengthy winter months. That is the place I flip to indoor crops. A few of these embody winter-blooming classics like amaryllis, cyclamen, and poinsettia, however there are some cacti which have shocked me with their vivid blooms (and no—they aren’t Christmas, Thanksgiving OR Easter cactus). Earlier than we welcome spring with open arms, and my indoor crops expertise their inevitable spring and summer season neglect, I needed to sing the praises of a few of my favourite houseplant blooms from this winter.
The primary flower is a reasonably pink model of a winter basic: the amaryllis. This plant was given to me as a present this 12 months, and gave a succession of significantly spectacular blooms with minimal water and a heat spot in a sunny window.
‘Candy Nymph’ amaryllis (Hippeastrum ‘Candy Nymph’, Zones 8–10 or as a houseplant) has totally double blooms with watermelon pink and white petals which have attractive veining. Every new flower is totally distinctive in its coloring and patterns, making each bud opening an thrilling expertise.
I will probably be making an attempt to place this bulb into dormancy and retailer her via the summer season and fall to get extra blooms subsequent winter (You probably have an amaryllis you’d love to do the identical with, you’ll be able to find out how that’s performed right here: An Amaryllis Encore). If I’m profitable, I’ll doc the method and hopefully have new flowers to share with you subsequent 12 months!
However on to the marginally extra sudden! This thimble cactus (Mammillaria vetula, Zones 9–11 or as a houseplant) virtually didn’t survive 2023, however a rebound of development and even some flowers has inspired me that it isn’t time to surrender but.
This cactus doesn’t historically flower within the winter, however anybody who grows flowering houseplants is aware of you have got a bit extra management over your blooms than you might need outdoors. That is significantly low-effort in relation to cacti, as it is advisable neglect these crops to induce flowering. Cacti want a season of dormancy to supply flowers, that means publicity to return cooler temperatures, much less mild, and even much less watering than their regular schedule. The sooner you begin this dormancy, the sooner they’ll flower. I maintain my cacti in a windowsill and sometimes fall off of my watering schedule, so dormancy is often induced unintentionally.
The opposite cactus that produced eye-catching flowers this winter is one other pincushion cactus associated to the tiny thimble selection above. Mammillaria haageana (Zones 9–11 or as a houseplant) is putting all year-round with its distinctive, darkish brown to black spines criss crossing across the flurry of smaller, vivid white radial spines.
But it surely actually shines when it begins forming its crown of vivid pink flowers. This picture was taken on February seventeenth…
And it completely exploded with blooms only a week in a while February twenty sixth!
These flowers are very tiny, however they’re shiny and supply an encouraging dose of vivid colour earlier than the primary flowers begin rising outdoors. I could not have deliberately induced these blooms, however blissful accidents might be a number of the greatest prizes in gardening!
I hope you loved this tribute to a couple of the indoor crops that stored the rising season going for me indoors. I haven’t sung the praises of my houseplant assortment shortly, so let me know when you’re considering seeing extra.
We are likely to concentrate on out of doors gardens right here at Backyard Photograph of the Day, however right here’s your reminder that we like to see a houseplant assortment as effectively! Whether or not you develop these potted wonders alongside your out of doors designs, or are an condominium dweller who will get your gardening repair solely from indoor crops, we’d like to see the houseplants that fill your cabinets, tables, and windowsills. Comply with the instructions under to submit your pictures through electronic mail, or ship me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
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To submit, ship 5-10 pictures to [email protected] together with some details about the crops within the photos and the place you took the pictures. We’d love to listen to the place you’re situated, how lengthy you’ve been gardening, successes you’re happy with, failures you realized from, hopes for the longer term, favourite crops, or humorous tales out of your backyard.
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The Crevice Backyard: The way to make the proper house for crops from rocky locations
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