Spring Has Sprung

Spring is the best time ever. I have freesia bulbs under planted in my container Meyer lemon tree. For a few glorious weeks my white and red/orange freesia bloom like mad and fill my porch with the light lemony scent that makes me want to live outside for a while. They don't last long so I pick them for inside and for my office as well. Flowers are amazing.

Orchid Rebloom 2014

I've been such a terrible plant mom in the past year so it's amazing, but three of my orchids rebloomed without in spite of myself.

First up: this little rescue from years ago. This is it's second rebloom and of all things it's white this time where is was pink last time! So weird.

Second up: The Epi. Green Hornet that has bloomed every year since I bought it! Each year and new bulb pops up and it blooms. Like clockwork. And damn it's a cute little, weird orchid.

Third up: My Den. Aussie Chip that has been a trooper and rebloomed each year. It's small and adorable.

I moved them away from my fruit on the counter to help the blooms stay on longer. So I have a lovely little orchid garden I can see from my living room.

Who's Got Worms? This Girl!

So I've been worm composting in my kitchen for a few years now. I was doing pretty well for a couple years, then I started extending the time between feedings. The casting starting going anaerobic, got some mites, worms started dying - just a damn hot mess. I had a ton of rich worm muck but just had to start over.

So, $26 later and I had a pound of worms from my local worm lady. Yup, I have a worm lady. I took my mucky worm box outside on my wee little porch and started spooning out bits of muck into all my plants. I rinsed the box out into a bucket and watered everything with the dregs. So now, I had a shiny clean box and happier plants.

New worms had a fresh base of coconut matting (the kind that you use in hanging planters). This keeps them out of the drainage area. I added some veggie peels and shredded newspaper. I am hopeful that I will be a better worm mom this time around. Time will tell.

Office Plant Bloom

Apparently when you buy new plants and repot them into a spacious new pot they bloom - who knew?! My elephant ear and peace lily both busted out a bloom. I've never seen the elephant ear do that before and it only lasted a few days.

Giant Corn Plant

I bought this plant when it was a wee little 4" from Home Depot. It has moved around work with me for over 10 years and I had to keep moving it to a lower place to compensate for the height. Finally, I had to take it home. It was hitting the ceiling and my office mates.

It had a traumatic car ride home.



Yes, it's giant.




And finally, it resides on the air duct where all the giant house plants go when there is nowhere left.

New Office Plants

We've been doing some spring, well winter cleaning and I decided to actually buy some plants! I haven't done this is over a year.

A new peace lily for the corner, elephant ear to fill in the gaping hole where the corn plant left, little blue succulent & a new red succulent to fill in a mixed pot.

Open Letter to My Plants - I Suck.

Dear plants,

I love you, I really do. It's just that I got distracted. I forgot about you. And I'm sorry.

I trained for and ran a marathon in early December and it ate all of my free time for months. I know that's not a good reason to neglect you, but that's what happened. Some of you have survived my marathon journey, a few have been lost and all have suffered.

For those who are still with me, I swear I will take better care of you. Today I watered and fertilized everyone - too little too late, I know but it's a start. I trimmed some of you, removed some dead (well, lot's of) leaves and made sure you weren't infested with bugs.

Porch plants, I know your home loosk horrendous and I promise to clean, organize and refresh out there. Just give me one more week.

Indoor plants, I'll give you some worm compost tea soon and a fresh layer of soil this weekend. I'll move everyone around according to the new angle of the sun, and turn you so you stop leaning weird ways. I will stake your gangly shoots and dust your leaves.

I promise.

Sincerely,
Scribby