Time for updates - flowers

I got some geraniums as a present for my birthday :) That was a month ago and they are still flowering like crazy.

Also, the Rhododendron scared me when it started to lose the leaves, but new ones are sprouting. This happened to the Camelia plant also - it seems that the plants I get from the flower shops are forced to grow, so they feel the need to change clothes when they get to a new home :)

Dieffenbachia, Peace Lily, Maranta, Hosta, Dacca Palm and Cala Lily, plus some plants I don't know the name for :)

Coffee plant, Camelia and the Hydrangea in the background.

Two begonias and one Impatiens I just got.

The Jasmine is growing, but no flowers yet.

New plants and seedlings

Ok, so I started the seedlings for the cherry tomato two days ago (I'll post a detailed update once they sprout) and went shopping for new plants.

I got a very colorful leafy plant that is supposed to do well in the shade - it's called Maranta (or Prayer plant) because in the evening it fold the leaves as in prayer).

It looks unusual and I like it! 

But the one that thrills me the most is the Camelia! I absolutely love this plant and I sure hope I can get this one to flower (I bought one with lots of  flower buds).

Like I mentioned, I also ordered a few more strawberries from Gradinamax.ro (these are called Ostara) and I planted them outside. I wasn't impressed by the fact that they were basically roots, but it seems that's the way they are stored during the year. Let's hope they will like the weather and that they will grow.

Other than that, I started working on a vertical garden idea but I still have some way to go until I can post pictures (it involves a trellis and a window and some ribbons).

Maybe over the weekend I can finish it so that next week I can post pictures.
Oh, I forgot to mention, I also planted Fresia bulbs (blue and pink) and I plan to plant some ginger tonight (I put it in water for the time being).

Wish me luck!

New plants or why I shouldn't be allowed to go shopping unsupervised :)

So, yesterday I needed milk and bread and I went to the MEGA IMAGE near my apartment. I knew it was a bad idea to go alone, because there is a florist shop there :))

So, I bought a coffee plant, an orchid and two other plants that I think might be Coleus (I asked the florist to show me the plants that don't need sunlight, because I plan to keep these inside my room)..

So yes, I really shouldn't be allowed to go shopping unsupervised :)) (on the bright side, I did remember to buy milk and bread :P).

I am really curious to see if the coffee plant will grow bigger - I always wanted one. 

I am a little scared about the orchid, I never had one and now I have to find the proper feed for it (since they can't be potted in regular soil).

And to also post an update, the onions seem to be doing great, the ones I planted last week started sprouting nicely.

Wish me luck :)

Apartment plants

My mother has an obsession with plants and a very small balcony - which means there are hundreds of plants crammed in there that almost never flower because there isn't enough room or light.
I decided to avoid the same pitfall so I only plan on having a few plants - most of them are saved from failing pots or just so pitiful that I didn't have the heart to leave them there :)

So, at my old apartment (I live in rentals) there was a very tall Dieffenbachia (Dumb cane) that was suffering from lack of care. After I stayed there for a year and took care of it. it sprouted two offshoots and when I left I took them with me and planted them.


So far, they don't look too good - I've planted them in march the the original big leaf died. I moved them in a place that gets more sun, hopefully it will make them develop.


I also have thee types of ivy (I love this plant) but they aren't doing well so far.

The first two types were attached by aphids and I hope they will bounce back and the third type I just got from my grandmother's house (her house is covered with the stuff) so it's not impressive yet.

I can't seem to find the right type of light for it to grow - it's been the same size for months now :(




When I went to Leroy Merlin last week I couldn't resist the temptation to buy some Dianthus (garofite), because I love the way they smell. I bought two different colours, but I chose plants without fully developed flowers because this way they will last longer.

My grandmother has a few patches and in the spring they smell fantastic, so I hope mine will keep also.

The ones I chose have red and dark red flowers. I'll post pictures when they flower :)


The flower I'm most proud of is a saved Hydrangea - my sister got it from her boyfriend and we left it at the office over the weekend. When we came back on Monday, it looked dead - all the leaves dried out and the originally blue-and-purple flowers were dead.

I decided to try to rescue it so i took it home, stripped most of the leaves, moved it to a bigger pot and watered it a lot. I am very proud to report that it's sprouting new leaves (before and after pics)!

My friends also gave me a Rhododendron with white flowers as a birthday present (the flowers look like lilies)  and it's really big :)
I have a feeling I'll have trouble with it because apparently it needs acidic soil, so I have to find some or another solution.
I also have a Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) which was half eaten by the cats, a Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum kochii) and a Cala Lilly. I keep these indoors for now (in the picture below you can also see the Goji plant and the poor ivy) because i don't have room on the balcony  - I have to install some shelves near the windows.

Ok, so far so good - I think i managed to introduce all my plants :))

I'll start posting updates as I go.

Cheers!