Segment 3

#7] Artillery Plant

#8]  Baby Sun Rose

#9]  Baby Tears

Segment 2

#4] Anthrium-Tropical

#5] Aeodium-Succulent

#6]  Alocasia-Shield Plant  Tropical

Plant Tour Segment 1

I am going to do a plant tour with photos of all the plants I have in my sunroom  and show about 3 plants per day until there is none left.  I am dedicating these segments to Raingardener,  sorry I cannot do a video for I don’t have the software for it.    Today I am showing 3 plants :

#1)  African Violet -Pink

#2)  African Violet-Purple

#3)  Teeny Bopper Trailing Violet

Entire Collection of Indoor Plants

Can anyone guess how many plants are in my indoor collection?  are you getting dizzy,  maybe fainting…I know sometimes I do,  Ha ha…  So many plants,  so little space..

Collage number 2

This is my second time using the collage from Picasa,  seems fairly simple.

Propagating Coleus

Coleus is the easiest plant to root, just cut about an inch off from the stem (no more than 2 to 3 leaves on it) and place it into a small pot with soil, water it lightly and place it in either artificial light or an east facing window. After about a week or so it should have roots already.

I start new plants quite frequently because it’s a good idea to constantly pinch back coleus for they grow a bit leggy. Pinching off tips also makes them branch out more and grow thicker stems. Never let the coleus flower in the fall season before bringing it indoors, they can decline. This plant from the photo above I took a cutting off and it was only an inch tall with just 2 leaves on it around 2 weeks ago. The key on growing coleus indoors is not to water them to often, keep them drier unless the season is late spring and summer.

Orchids

Orchids are very simple to grow indoors,  they require bark chips instead of soil.   They’re natural habitat is growing on trees in different forrest and some jungle areas.   Water them only once a week,  let water run through their pots for a few minutes.   Always use room temperature water never cold,  and they should be potted in a clay pot that is made for orchids you can see the narrow slits all around the pot they do this for better drainage.   Feed them only orchid food read the directions on how often and how much to feed them.  Once a month is about the normal feeding.

Cymbidiums is the largest of all orchids,  they prefer cool nights to encourge blooming.

Dendrobens

Oncidiums

Miniature Twinkle Oncidium Orchid-Fragrant

Sherry Baby Oncidium-Fragrant

Cattalya Orchids

Phalaenopsis Orchids

Vanda Orchids

Lady Slipper

Orchids prefers bright indirect light,  and loves humidity.  Humidity trays is a must on all orchids to thrive.   If the foliage starts to turn yellow easy up on the watering.  Don’t let them sit in water,   let them drain well.   When the roots starts to come out on the sides or top of pot it’s time to go up a size or two,  use orchid bark chips only.

Jewel Orchids is the only variety that I grow,  they are known for their foliage more than their blooms.  This variety prefers to grow in soil,  and they do bloom once a year like other orchids,  sometimes twice.  They tend to grow in clumps and comes in many different colors.  Lucida Discolor is other name for this variety of orchids.   During the winter season indoors ease up on watering them,  keep a little on the drier side.

Macro Photography

I use a canon powershot A630 for photographing plants and flowers,  it costs me about $250.00.   It has Macro setting built in,   you can get very close and clear shots of just about anything.  I also have the canon powershot S3 IS with an image stabilizer and a 12x zoom.  I use a tri-pod to keep the camera from moving,  the more still the camera is the better the photo comes out.

This little rascal was at least 200 yards away when I took his picture.

Even through glass their is no reflections,   I always set the camera for a 2 second delay to get the best shot.

Close up of a crocus.

Close up of Fittonia

Takes great outdoor shots -Sun Rise scene  in Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Another sun rise scene

A Red Rose close up

Pin cushion plant has one of the smallest leaves and berries,  yet this photo makes it look larger than actually size.

A close up of Baby Tear plant.

And you can also focus on one flower and blur the others,   I focused on the very first flower you see, the ones in the background I slightly blurred.

Large Terrarium

I just bought this large jar that is used to store food,  I found it at walmart for $12.00 what a bargain.  It is about 22″ height and 8″ diameter.   So I placed an artificial plant inside because I wanted to place it in the front room which barely gets any light.  I also put dear moss, fountain rocks, some branches and a tiny vase in it.   I think it looks natural and great on my cherry wood cabinet.

Progress on Propagation

I took a cutting from a Epsica about 2 weeks ago,  it did take root and now it is a separate plant.

I kept it a semi closed Terrarium,  I don’t fully close the top of terrarium because too much humidity will rot the plant.