The Lazy Shady Gardener

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Flower Power: GBBD August 2013

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Potting & Re-potting

I had already placed one of my two Variegated Thread Leaf Agave (Agave schidigera 'Shira Ito No Ohi') into the lower level of my Three Tiers Garden, and have been hunting for just the right pot for the remaining one.

I finally found one I liked (and was priced right!) and got the agave planted and the pot placed out in the garden.

Next I had a couple of Moth Orchids (Phalaenopsis sp.) that were outgrowing their pots. At least a couple of inches of bare stem with several aerial roots were exposed on both.

I found pots that were only slightly larger and gathered white packing peanuts (Moth Orchids are reported to like them), previously soaked orchid mix and scissors.

I removed the existed potting mix and snipped away any dead roots. I was happy to see that most of the roots were in good shape. (I also discovered a buried tag on the one pictured identifying it as the variety Exotic Lady.)

Then I returned the orchids to their pots, buried the roots and packed them in with the fresh orchid mix.

This is only my second attempt at re-potting Moth Orchids, so hopefully it will work out well. Time will tell.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Flower Power: GBBD July 2013

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Dyckia 'Nickel Silver'

I had seen Dyckia 'Nickel Silver' at a nursery recently, but the asking price was a bit too steep. Then I discovered it at another nursery...and the price was right.

And I already had a pot that I pictured it sitting in. I really like the way the grey foliage contrasts with the dark brown pot.

Online data indicates that this variety is one of the more freeze-tolerant of the Dyckias, handling temperatures down to the mid-teens. It likes full sun which, of course, it ain't gonna be getting in my garden - but hopefully it will get enough.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

When It Gets Hot...

On Saturday, for the date of June 29, Austin set a new high temperature of 108 degrees. So, obviously, it was the perfect time to plant some succulents into pots!

I filled a narrow, rectangular pot with Aloe deltoideodonta on the left, Silver Dollar Plant (Dudleya brittonii 'Super White') in the center and Gasteraloe 'Flo' on the right (have not been able to find any online references for the latter).

A small round pot received Gasteria bicolor var. carspetosain in the front, Variegated Indian Corn Cob (Euphorbia mammillaris var. variegata) on the left, Stapelia incomparabilis (very little online information) in the back and a variegated Sedum species on the right (can anyone identify?).

I added Tiger Jaws (Faucaria tigrina) to the pot already containing Golden Tooth Aloe (Aloe perfoliata) as that Aloe has a tendency to lean outwards, leaving most of the pot looking empty. Hopefully the Tiger Jaws will fill in (and I like the matching toothy appearance).

This squarish pot seemed to compliment Flapjack Plant (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora) very nicely.

The pot includes a couple of Ice Plants (Delosperma congestum) which will hopefully survive under the broad leaves of the Flapjack Plant.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Still Planting

Summer has arrived and temperatures are breaking into triple digits, but I'm still trying to get some plants into the ground and then hope to baby them through the remainder of the summer.

A couple of years back, I had planted several Autumn Ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora) between the Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra elatior) and the bed's rock border, but the ongoing drought hammered them into submission. So I decided to try planting five Wavy Scaly Cloakferns (Astrolepis sinuata) as they are rumored to handle low water conditions better.

Before

After

Then I transplanted four Soap Aloe (Aloe maculata) pups along the highest point of the top level of my Three Tiers Bed. I had originally planned on placing a couple of Agaves here, but tree roots prevented me from replacing the original soil with enough good drainage for them.

Instead, I placed one of the Variegated Thread Leaf Agave (Agave schidigera 'Shira Ito No Ohi') into the front of the lowest level tier where one of my Agave 'Blue Glow' had died. I have one Agave left and will likely place it into a pot.