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!

Under the Lights

I'll probably be starting some more seeds in the next few days so I figured it was time for an update on what I already have growing from seed.

Above you can see a crowded corner.  In the back are my Tiny Tim Tomatoes.  The largest one already has flower stalks and they started opening today.  I'm super excited to have indoor-extra-early tomatoes!  On the right you can see the Brugmansia (37 Days since sowing).  They're growing very well and I think the two plants already need to be separated.  There is a third tiny one but it probably won't grow very much until the others are removed because of the constant shade.  I love the toothed leaves! 

In the front you can see a little Lantana that was started from seed.  It keeps drying out so it doesn't look to happy right now.  The Purple Orach has been growing very slowly.  I don't know if this is typical because I've never grown it before.

Above you can see 9 Datura "Purple Blackcurrent Swirl".  Only one didn't germinate so it was a good batch of seeds.  They are growing extremely quickly and already have long roots out of the bottom.  I think I need to transplant them soon because they are definitely overshadowing each other.

Finally you can see a picture of the leeks (with Adenium behind).  Many are touching the fluorescent tubes so I think I might have to give them a bit of a hair cut.  Does half the height seem reasonable?

Tomatoes & Lantana

Just a quick update.  Some of the Lantana that I started from seed in the fall/beginning of winter have already started to flower!  They took a long time to germinate but have been growing for about two months (kind of slow).  It's really nice to have a tiny plant flower in the middle of winter and I'm delighted that I get to see it every time I check my seeds and seedlings.

Update:  My tomato seedlings have leaf borers!  Leaf borers!  They have two seed leaves and they have leaf borers!  The gardening gods have an odd sense of humour.

 I've also sown some Tiny Tim Tomatoes.  Within a month and a half we should have our first fruit (we'll probably have to pollinate by hand though).  But for now they're just tiny, adorable little seedlings!  I'll probably plant a few more things this weekend, but won't be starting too much until my week off (15th to 20th, Yeah!).  No signs of life from the Ficus auriculata or Brugmansia yet.

Kalanchoe beharensis babies

I took some Kalanchoe plantlets and stuck them in a pot a few months ago.  They've been growing slowly (probably because they are incredibly crowded) and now have plantlets of their own (probably from the stress).  You can see some Lantana started from seed on the right that already has buds forming!

Lantana & Mandevilla

This is the most variety I've seen in the colouration of any of the greenhouse Lantana.



Apparently we have pink, yellow and white Mandevilla.

Lantana Flowers

We have about a dozen Lantana plants in the greenhouse and they have been flowering all summer. As far as I can tell they are all the same species or at the very least are closely related. The flowers are all different colours including red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, white, and any combination there of. In some cases it looks like the same plant has a several different colours of flowers. This may be the result of several plants in the same pot. This variety is growing in the local Municipal Gardens and is one of my favourites. Below are some photos of the flowers from the greenhouses. Even the structure of the flower varies.