It was a sad day today, I had to put down five of my rescued orchids. They were looking sickly awhile back and I tried to revive them with distilled and Epson Salt misting and cutting back on the watering but it just didn't do any good. Upon looking at them there were no viable roots. They were all blackened and shriveled so no use keeping them. I still have eighteen though so I'm not doing too bad. On a lighter note I have two Red Yucca of eight that have germinated so far, three African Daisy seedlings coming up, one Touch Me Not so far and I transplanted my Bird of Paradise and Desert Bird of Paradise over to regular pots using cactus soil and some Perlite. I also made a mini seed starting greenhouse yesterday out of one of my distilled water gallon jugs and after soaking some Pride of Barbados seeds for a couple of days put them into it and taped it back together. I'm determined to get these to grow! I took my six different Columbine varieties that I got from Burpee's the other day and put them in the fridge. I made little packets out of dampened blue paper shop towels, put some seeds in each one and placed in a 6" x 6" labeled baggie. I'll let them sit for three weeks as has been suggested here at ATP. I've also got some Carnation seeds that I want to start out in the greenhouse but that's for another day as the sun is going down and it's getting colder outside already. Almost time to turn on the heaters in the greenhouses.
A friend pointed out to me that it's very possible that the red, white and purple Hibiscus seeds I'd planted may very well be Rose of Sharon seeds. I guess I'll find out if/when they get going. That's ok though, my wife said she likes Rose of Sharon.
Been awhile, this afternoon I started some Origami Columbine, Asiatic Lily, Lily of the Nile and African Daisy seeds in the old greenhouse. One of my Red Yucca seeds has germinated so far but since it could take up to a year for germination, at least from what I've read, I've got a while to wait for the other seven I planted. My red, pink and purple Hibiscus seedlings are doing well still not 'true' leaves yet but hopefully those will come soon enough. I need to start another pot of the purple and pink as only a few of each have germinated. The Bird of Paradise and Desert Bird of Paradise are doing really well. I had to start more of the Pride of Barbados as they went over two weeks with no sign of germination. Tomorrow I'll be starting some Lantana seeds and some Touch Me Not seeds. I also started some pink and vivid read Oleander seeds yesterday. Hopefully this time some of them will germinate.
Hibiscus Seedlings
Desert Bird of Paradise
Bird of Paradise
Desert Bird of Paradise
Bird of Paradise
So far the Bird of Paradise and Desert Bird of Paradise seedlings are doing well. I had to perform emergency surgery on a couple of the seedlings yesterday as the seed coat had become dried up and stuck which was preventing the seed from opening fully. The surgery was a success and the patients lived! The pink, white and purple Hibiscus seedlings are also coming up though not all have germinated yet. My Pride of Barbados seeds haven't poked their heads up yet hoping they will this coming week sometime. If you look at the photos you can see a couple of tiny Snapdragons starting to make their appearance. My three year old plant in the other greenhouse is getting new growth so if I'm lucky it may bloom again in Feb or March like it did last year. The Orchids are doing well still though I need to get out and trim off the dead and yellowed leaves. I've started misting them with distilled water and 1/2tsp of Epson Salts.
What a Christmas present, the first of the 23 Orchids I rescued from Walmart last June after Mothers Day bloomed fully this morning. Also my Bird of Paradise and Desert Bird of Paradise seeds are coming up and I've one each of Purple, White and Pink Hibiscus seeds that have germinated.
What a great Christmas Present - my first Orchid bloom. There are many more to come I hope
Purple Hibiscus seed poking it's head up. The White and Pink are doing the same. Only one so far
Bird of Paradise and Desert Bird of Paradise seedlings.
Now to keep everything warm and cozy for the winter weather that hits tomorrow night. Right now it's 77 outside and the low tonight will be 55 but tomorrow the high will be 62 and the low tomorrow night 32 and it goes downhill from there until mid-January. I should buy stock in propane, I'm going to be using enough of it for my heaters.
