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After all my woods and wildflower posts, you might be wondering if I've forgotten all about gardening! Far from it, I actually am already excitedly planning for the year ahead, and am even trying to defy Old Man Winter by growing a few favorites on the kitchen windowsill. These plants are all the more special for the extra care they require, and the joy they bring is a blessing in these cold days! I just bought this African Violet a few days ago, and am hoping it will survive being in my care (I'm not very good with house plants). I've read up on all its needs though, so hopefully it will be happy! Our house is heated with wood so the air is dry and temperatures vary quite a bit. To remedy the low humidity, I have the pot sitting in a tray of pebbles and water. It sits close to a south-facing window during the day so it can get the light it needs, but I move it closer to the stove at night because it's very cold right now!  Of course Paperwhites are a winter necessity! I have a few more bulbs to plant once these get going, so hopefully I'll have a succession of blooms.  I also have 2 pots of Sweet Marjoram. I planted these last spring with the intention of growing them in the herb garden as annuals. However, I only got a few planted out when my dog Nellie's puppies were born, so I was preoccupied with them during those first few especially critical days and got behind in the transplanting process. Many of my seedlings died because the greenhouse was too hot, but the marjoram thrived, while the plants in the garden were sulking! So the rest got potted up and brought into the house. They are a bit leggy now because of the shorter days, but otherwise seem to be doing well and I enjoy their fragrance!  This is my sister's pineapple plant. She just put the top of a pineapple into a container of soil and it has been growing! I think it is in need of a bigger pot soon though.  And finally, I have 4 baby Ipomea nil 'Chocolate' seedlings growing on the windowsill! This is just an experiment with a few leftover seeds. I tried growing them in the garden a couple years ago but they never bloomed. Someone recently suggested that I grow them indoors during the winter, so I am giving it a try!  Are you doing any indoor gardening this winter?
7 Comments
I couldn't live through the winter without houseplants! Lucky for me there was a sunspace (kind of like a lean-to greenhouse) when we moved here and while it can get a bit cold in there, I have succulents, cacti and geraniums that don't mind the cool temps. Because we heat with wood, too, the house can get down to 60 at night, so tropicals don't do so well for me. I can't imagine life without plants either! Your sun space sounds delightful! I'm picturing it as something like Emily Dickinson's conservatory. 😊 My music teacher overwinters her geraniums in the house and they bloom all winter. They are so lovely. Maybe I should get some. :)
Eliza
11/16/2018 01:02:42 pm
Geraniums are very cheerful to have in winter - I recommend them!
Veleria
11/15/2018 11:29:09 am
Takes two years to make a pineapple, but well worth the wait. They get huge. Will have to put in bigger pot as it grows.
So the pineapple really will grow another pineapple! That's exciting! I wasn't sure if it would do that indoors or if it only grew more leaves. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI am a passionate gardener and seed-saver, who also enjoys playing the violin and accordion, running, spending time with my 4 golden retrievers, keeping chickens, photography, and reading. 
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