Stapelia scitula in Bloom

Starfish Flowers

The time is finally here!  The buds have started to open.  I thought the flowers would be a little bigger but they are so cute and pretty that it makes up for their small size :)  Here are a few photos for you to enjoy.  

I now have 2 other varieties of this plant family so hopefully in time you will see their blooms too!

Bill

New Additions to the Carnivorous Plant Collection

3 New Nepenthes Babies

I arrived home from work to find a wonderful surprise :)  A box containing plants!  For all of you gardeners and  Plant nuts you'll understand my excitement :)  These are a few photos of what I received.

Here they are all snug in these Travel box :)  packed very well.

N. ventricosa looks very happy.  I'll remove those black pitchers

N. faizaliana has great red colouring in the leaves.  also looks happy :)

N. fallax looks healthy as well

Here are the 3 babies potted up in there new home.  I love the colour variance between them.

Finally I put them all in a Ziploc bag to keep the humidity high so they adjust well to their new home.  They will be resting under my grow lights for a few months until I see some healthy new growth. 

Stay tuned for more updates :)

   Bill

Cardboard Palm from Seed

Zamia furfuracea

Photo taken by Me at the Niagara Botanical Gardens Greenhouse

So I've seen these plants in the garden centres from time to time and I've wanted one because they are so unique looking.  The leaves are so thick and rough.  Actually they look and feel fake.  So on one of my bored searches on ebay I came across seeds for this wonderful and bizarre plant.

So lets get started with planting the seeds shall we :)  ** Please note that these seeds look like peanuts but they are extremely toxic.  So Please keep these out of reach of children and pets**

First - You'll need some well draining soil.  I'm using a Cactus mix.

Next you'll need:

Seeds

A Seed tray or small pots.  I'm using a self watering seed starter (these seeds can take several months to germinate so self watering helps when you forget about these on your window sill :)

Name tags

Labels and a Marker will help you remember what you planted .
You think it's silly but when it takes a few months for them to sprout you will
forget what they are :)

Check out these seeds!!  I Truly thought I was sold expensive peanuts..lol

DON'T EAT THEM!!!!!

Now for Planting!

You want to push the seeds into the soil about the depth of the seed.   so maybe between 1/4" - 1/2" deep and then cover with soil.

Then you want to water the seeds in well and them cover them to keep the humidity in.  I have a clear lid but you might have a clear bag you can use.  The soil needs to be moist during this time, but not soaking wet.

Water them in well.

The greenhouse will keep in the humidity and stop the soil from drying out too quickly.
If it looks like there is too much humidity building up crack it open to allow air flow.

About a month after planting

Some of the seeds are starting to sprout.  OK OK,  only 2 but it's happening faster than I thought.

Here is one that really wants to grow :)

About 2 months after planting

They are growing really well.  We have some true leaves happening :)

 As you can see there are 2 larger babies and a few seeds just starting to sprout.

 Here is a new sprout.  I think so far there are 5 seeds germinating I hope to see more soon :)

Doesn't this remind you of a butterfly :)  I love it :)

Happy Growing Everyone!!

Let me know what your growing..  I love the interesting and exotic.  a challenge is always fun :)

   Bill :)

Starfish Flower in Bud

Stapelia scitula

I wanted to share this exciting news with all of you.  I bought this plant in the early spring and had it growing under my grow lights for a while.  I then got the courage to place it outside for the summer.  I had it tucked away from direct mid-day sun so that i wouldn't burn it.  I sort of forgot about this plant.  it would get watered with the rain or when i was watering my planters but i didn't look at the plant closely until yesterday.  Look at what i found :)

They are like little balloons

They are all over the stems.  

 

Plumeria rubra Seedling Update

Well it's been a few weeks since we've planted the Plumeria seeds.  They are growing much better than i could have imagined.  I planted 55 seeds and 28 have sprouted!  That's great success considering I bought these seeds from EBAY.  I thought I would be lucky if only 5 would sprout..lol..  Now I will have the issue of where will I put all of these babies over the winter time when space indoors is limited. I'm thinking of expanding my grow space in the basement but that will take some time :)

Here is a photo of all my babies.  Soon I will be transplanting them all into 4 inch pots..  Woohoo!!  My babies are growing up so fast!  Soon they will be going away to college....lol.

What's in bud now?

Here are some photos of what's in bud or in flower in my home :)  I love that i have a large variety of orchids now.  It seems like there is something always in bloom :)  That makes me VERY happy :)

Psychopsis papilio - Butterfly Orchid

Pumeria - Not sure of the variety

Zygopetalum Orchid in spike

Another photo of the Zygopetalum 

Mexican Butterwort has been flowering non stop for months..  

One of the Mini Phal's in bloom.  it's living with 2 of his best friends in a group planting :)

My Fragrant Phal is starting to spike again!  YAY  this plant always seems to want to bloom... this was a lucky 5 dollar find

This Anthurium stays in bloom for a very long time.  usually this plants bloom will last 3-5 months before they fade and die. this flower is about 2 months old,  notice the dust.  

Another Phal that really likes to bloom.  I has been in bloom for about 6 months.  it's imperfectly perfect :)

My first Success with growing Carnivorous plants from seed

Drosera capensis

Cape Sundew 

I really wanted to share with you a few photos of my new seedlings of Drosera capensis.  If you have followed me for a while you'll know that i have been trying REALLY hard to propagate carnivorous plants seeds for a while with no success, UNTIL NOW!  :)  I was given these seeds from a friend and he guaranteed me that they would grow.  I thought that was a big guarantee considering my track record.  but i planted them as per his instruction.  Sprinkling them over some wet peat moss and making a little greenhouse for them.  Then i waited.....  and waited...after about 3 weeks i started to see life :)  WOOHOO SUCCESS!  So here are some photos of what they look like now :)  They are just starting to get the traps on the leaves :)
  These are in a small 4"pot zoomed in  they just look like moss on the surface of the soil until you zoom in :)

You can see the tiny leaves with the trap hairs on them :)  They are so cute :)

Plumeria - Seed Planting

Starting the next generation of life :)

Growing seeds can be a lot of fun.  Seeing the new life emerging from the seed is exciting and rewarding, But on occasion your little babies fall and shrivel up :( causing lots of heartache.  Today we'll plant some Plumeria seeds.  They are a plant that I've grown and fallen in love with over the past few years.  I have never grown them from seed but I've been assured that it's very easy.  The only down side is that it will take a few years for the plant to grow and mature enough to flower.   Well Lets get to it :)

First lets look at what a Plumeria looks like.

These are some of the Plumerias that I'm currently growing in my garden

Picture of this Plumeria flower was Taken by Francisco

Picture of this Plumeria flower was Taken by Francisco

Pictures of these Plumeria flowers was Taken by Francisco

Now to the good stuff :)  Planting the seeds :) 

Materials we need:

1. Plumeria Seeds
2. A Seed starting Tray with humidity cover
3. Soil (use your favourite brand of well draining soil)
4. Water

Step 1.

Fill your seed tray full of soil (Make sure to break up any large clumps)

Step 2.

Figure out what end is up with your seed :)  The seed resemble those of maple trees.  for all of you fish lovers out there they also remind me of a Bata Fish :)  Check it out!

when your planting the seed you want to grab the "fish" by the tail.... Like this :)

And then you want to ram its head into the soil...lol..  still leaving the tail sticking out :)  Like this.

be gentle but firm. try not to break the tail :)

as you can see I have a few planted now.

Step 3.

Watering!  

Water in your seeds.  They want to be constantly moist but not soggy.  check on them regularly so they never dry out.

Step 4

Cover the seeds to keep in some humidity and place them in a warm spot with bright indirect light until they sprout.  growth can start in as little as one week but usually its a little longer.  Be patient :)  Here's a photo of my happy seeds in their little greenhouse :)

I will keep you updated as to when these little guys sprout :)  I will check them daily.

I would love to hear some of your seed sprouting stories :)

  Bill