Indoor Gems Fall 2021
Growing flowers indoors brings me so much pleasure at this time of year. First of all, I’m always surprised to see my Thanksgiving cactus blooming it’s pretty head off! It’s botanical name is Schlumbergera truncata. Most flowering cacti sold at this time of year as Christmas cacti are actually Thanksgiving cacti. You can tell by the pointy saw-toothed projections on the stem segments. Christmas cacti have more rounded segments.
My cuttings of Hisbiscus eetveldianus ‘Jungle Red’ (Maple Leaved Mallow) are looking great! I grew a starter plant of this cultivar into a standard tree that is spending the winter in my husband’s office. I took cuttings to root in my house so that I can share some with friends. The plants have deep wine leaves and sultry wine mallow flowers in winter! The only downside is that the flowers bloom for only one day, but the new flower buds are interesting.
I love the pendulous fuzzy catkins on Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant) that bloom all year! The flowers can reach nearly a foot long! Only the female plant has catkins, so purchase one in bloom. I take my plant outside in the summer to hang out on my deck with my other annuals.
One of geraniums, Pelargonium zonale 'Daredevil Snow', blooms all winter.My white Thanksgiving Cactus has such interesting anthers and fuschia pistal.
My cuttings of Hisbiscus eetveldianus ‘Jungle Red’ (Maple Leaved Mallow) are looking great! I grew a starter plant of this cultivar into a standard tree that is spending the winter in my husband’s office. I took cuttings to root in my house so that I can share some with friends. The plants have deep wine leaves and sultry wine mallow flowers in winter! The only downside is that the flowers bloom for only one day, but the new flower buds are interesting.
I love the pendulous fuzzy catkins on Acalypha hispida (Chenille Plant) that bloom all year! The flowers can reach nearly a foot long! Only the female plant has catkins, so purchase one in bloom. I take my plant outside in the summer to hang out on my deck with my other annuals.
One of geraniums, Pelargonium zonale 'Daredevil Snow', blooms all winter.My white Thanksgiving Cactus has such interesting anthers and fuschia pistal.
I grow plants for many reasons: to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty, or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow.
~ David Hobson
~ David Hobson