Around the Basement

So it was rainy and really cold all day and I didn't leave the house.  I spent most of my day working on job applications and school assignments.  I did get a chance to transplant my Datura.  In the hopes of conserving room I put them in 4" pots in pairs.  I noticed the lower leaves were beginning to turn yellow.  I think this is because they were getting way too large for those little nine cell starters.  I'll also start fertilizing them.

 This week we're suppose to get temperatures up to 21C (70F)!!  I'm super excited.  I'll actually be able to leave some plants outside and not have to bring them in for the night.  I think I might start soaking some castor bean seeds tomorrow.  I gathered a bunch of from the municipal gardens last year before they cut down the stalks.

Warmer temperatures are a relief for the basement plants.  They've survived, but really don't look too happy.  Below you can see a few photos.  The window sill has some dwarf cavendish bananas and Yucca rostrata.

The little green frame thing below only cost $15!  It even has a clear plastic overcoat to keep things warm outside in the spring, but I've kept it off so the plants can get enough light.  The burnt looking plant is decorative ginger that I started from seed.  The grow lights were too bright so I've moved it here and it stopped growing.  The light is a bit low but I think it's mostly due to the cooler temperatures.

My Hippeastrum seedlings are also still holding on.  Growth has been very slow but I expect it to pick up when I start putting them outside.  I really hope I get some interesting flowers!

Ginger Blooms

The UWO Greenhouses grow several different varieties of ginger.  Some have decorative flowers but one of the more interesting varieties has interesting seed pods.  The out orange portion peels open to reveal hundreds of bright red seeds.  I've actually collected and sprouted some of these.  I'm not sure if they'll look like the parent or have hybridized with the other plants.  I'll just have to wait and see!

Ginger (Brachychilum horsfieldii)



Ginger (I'm not sure of the variety)

Seedling Update

Just a quick update on some of the seeds I started this summer.  Some really need to be transplanted so I might have to buy a new grow light to make room.

Chinese Evergreen - bottom-left (looks like a green spike), Clivia - bottom-middle, Ginger - bright green, Coffee - right

Seedling Update

Here's just a quick update of the seedlings:

Adenium arabicum

Coffea arabica

Ginger (front) & Clivia (back)

Germination Update

Here are the latest photos of the seeds I've been germinating. It's been warmer and sunnier the last few days and the Ginger and Laburnum have started to sprout. The Baobabs have also done very well and four have now sprouted. I won't be back at the greenhouse until Wednesday next week so I hope to see a lot of new germination and growth.

Adansonia (4 out of 7 spouted so far, 10 Days)

Ginger (nothing for several weeks but I think the warmth of the last few days spurred germination, they're small along the right not the Clivia seed, 23 Days)

Laburnum watereri (3 out of about 20 sprouted so far, this one just sprouted and is in front of the tag, 10 Days)