Some people think that the color of winter is white because of the snow. My green season is because of all the plants grown in my house.
I will start planning my conservatory in the fall.
Amaryllis bulbs require special treatment at this time. First, I stop watering the plant. Withdrawing the plant seems rough, but if I want to bloom in the winter, I have to do it.
Then I take the Amaryllis pot into the cool cellar. There, the leaves wither and the plant becomes dormant. You must rest for at least 2 months. I waited until Christmas to wake him up. In this case, water is sprayed on the waiting bulb.
The amaryllis is coming out of my basement and they are around my house. They love to be in the light when they grow up.
At this point, the amaryllis needs more time before it blooms again, but I can wait. It already makes me happy to see green grow out of a light bulb.
Many winter houseplants came from the open.
I put summer geranium in the cellar last winter. Without water, it also became dormant until he woke up in the early spring when the leaves began to show. This year, after talking to knowledgeable friends, I kept geranium in my upstairs bathroom.
Once it is not dormant, it is actively growing. The leaves are not bright green due to lack of sun, but it seems to be enough to continue. It even bloomed around Christmas or two. I think those red pieces were my gift.
Last fall, a friend of mine, Bridget, presented me with a large Boston fern. He took it out of his garden and handed it to me. We both had crosses for the beautiful fern to survive the change of landscape. He just got to my house where he’s waiting for spring now.
The fern is beautiful green, although it is not very exposed to direct sunlight in winter.
I was told that my fern should be well watered and away from the heat guns. I seem to like the upstairs bathroom. Today, its neighbors include the aforementioned geranium, amaryllis, and a spider plant.
I need things to grow in my house in the winter. Green is essential for me.
Last year, my son Russell gave me an AeroGarden Harvest – Indoor Garden with LED Growth Light. It came with a selection of different pods: basil, curly parsley, dill, thyme, Thai basil and mint.
I fell in love with that inner garden so much that I bought a second one. I have a lot of different lettuce plants and a basil. I often walk past my two gardens, cut off a few leaves, and count. I don’t have to wash away the household dust, or so I think about it while munching on my greens.
For Christmas 2020, I got four orchid plants. Currently, these houseplants are not blooming, but I am confident that more flowers will appear in the future.
I have some plant seeds waiting to be sown, but I think it would be too early to plant them in the soil. Some of the friends who live further south began to awaken their seeds. In the past, when I started early, I only got a stalk with a few leaves. Then they’re dead – I’m far from being an expert, but I’ll try.
As I wrote about my houseplants today, I can’t believe how much there is. They are spread over two floors of the house where I can admire them – and don’t forget to sprinkle them.
I have four-legged hairy friends, but I also have a lot of green friends. Each makes it easier to survive the winter. My cats and dogs make me laugh. The plants are a reminder that spring is coming again, even though it is below zero today.
I suggest a growing plant to get you in the middle of winter.
Susan Manzke, Sunnybook Farm, N8646 Miller Rd, Seymour, WI 54165; sunnybook@aol.com; www.susanmanzke.net/blog.