Kitchen Window Box

By Guest Blogger Jenny

A certain planty-blog-owner ordered me to take a picture of my kitchen window and joked "bet you can't get any more plants in there!" Joke's on you.

Since this picture was taken I have added 3! The window is magic. I attribute the majority of my plant success to good light and this window has it. The sun sets on that side of the house and so it gets really nice afternoon sun.

Packed in there are pepperomia, two cactus, two spider plants, a few succulents, and no less than 6 orchids. The window magic coupled with humidity from hand washing dishes in the sink below have helped many of the orchids rebloom a few times.

Iono orchid

Technically, it's an Inocidium Popcorn "Highland".

Every year the Sacramento Zoo has a Bloomin' Crazy plant fest which I end up working. It is evil. I always walk around (usually with my mom, but she was busy this year) and say hi to all the exhibitors and vendors, vowing not to buy anything.

In 2007, I bought my spaceship orchid that I blogged about so I always go back to the Orchid Society to brag about the fact that I haven't killed it yet. They tried to talk me into buying something new, but I only have one area on my kitchen windowsill that loves orchids and violets. So ha! No more room!

Their response: freakishly adorable tiny orchids. Damn them all!

This is the larger of the two I bought and it's still only in a 1 1/2 pot with super small, feathery blooms. Lots of them.

I am such a sucker...and like I alluded to earlier, it's only one of the two I bought. That one is coming up soon. Oh, and even better, they suckered me into buying tickets to the orchid show in April because they will have even tinier ones there!!! I hate them.

Emo Ficus - FAIL?

By Guest Blogger Jenny

I've had this ficus for about 6 or 7 years. It has always lived at work. I got it because it was a cool purple color. At first it was happy. We were happy. It's limbs reached up toward the sky (and leaned slightly toward the big window). A co-worker liked it so much he took a cutting of the ficus and grew his own (which I hear is doing quite well).

I thought I was attentive enough. Watered weekly, potted on fresh soil, gave it offerings of dead fishy bodies of the office bettas that's didn't make it (as fertilizer). Of late the ficus has become very weepy and curled. Like a sulky suburban teenager that hates its parents. I repotted it. I continue to water it. Open the blinds for it during the day. Nothing. I'll have to see if my co-worker wants to adopt it.

It has become clear that it no longer enjoys my company.

Free Iris, Roommate for My Parsley

As you probably know by now, I work at the Sacramento Zoo and each year we host Bloomin' Crazy a plant festival and sale. Usually my mom comes out and we make our rounds, asking questions, chatting and buying plants. This year, I was on my own, but I did make some time between work to take a tour.

There were lots of great groups, but the Rare Fruit Growers were just awesome! They let us try Pomelos and Kumquats...one of the Pomelos was very rare and delicious. Anyway, one of the ladies with them loved irises and gave one away to any staff that came and asked. How cool is that, free iris!!!

She gave me all sorts of instructions. Plant with the foot facing north. Lots of drainage. Don't let the sun hit the roots if it's in a pot. Of course, I haven't followed any of the instructions and if she finds this blog, I will be slightly ashamed.

So, I potted it with a small flat leaf parsley plant cause I didn't have a pot to spare. The foot is currently facing in a south easterly direction, but I have kept the sun off the roots by accident, because it's not summer yet.

I have no idea what kind or color it will be, but I am already doing better than my coworkers who got one...no one else has planted theirs yet. See! Pale green thumb...it happens every time.

Over the next few posts, I'll share what other things I apparently just couldn't live without that day.