There is one aspect of fall that I don't care for and that is the bringing in of all the non-hardy plants that need to winter in the house. Basically, it's really difficult to find spots for them as most have grown like crazy since their move outside several months ago.
The Beaucarnea Recurvata (Ponytail Palm) now tops seven feet in height and is planted in a mammoth clay pot that mimics the shape of the the bulbous base of the plant. I haven't been able to locate a saucer large enough to place under it so last season the plant went without watering for six months. Since it stores water in its giant bulb, it didn't seem to mind but probably would prefer monthly waterings.
I departed with all the huge jade plants except for one, which also prefers to stay dry through the winter and sucks up a pretty good chunk of space as well.
The Christmas cactus collection has increased so in addition to a really huge 100 year+ specimen and one about 75 years old, there are two additional plants which are quite large sized as well.
The two oleanders grew by three times over the summer.
The Hoya carnosa is approaching 75 years of age and I try to keep it to about six feet in length... it actually gets a home which is quite suitable for its purposes, hanging from the ledge of one of the lofts.
All the cattleya, nobile dendrobium, non-tropical paphiopedilum, and oncidium returned from summering outside to join the phalaenopsis, vanda, and dendrobium phalaenopsis that summered inside. Also in the orchid family, three very large cymbidiums returned home to roost after they were given away by me and got too big for the person I gifted them to... I got a call and couldn't say no... I couldn't let them be destroyed and I did pay a goodly sum for them originally!
I still have several containers of non-hardy succulents that need to be brought in before the expected freeze overnight later in the week. They should pretty well fill the 18' expanse of bay windows in my studio which I would prefer to keep empty so I can look at glass choices in the light.
I did bring myself to dispose of the majority of the brugsmansias but Inca Sun is way too special and must be brought inside.
The tropical hibiscus plants grew lush planted directly in the soil this summer... I was going to say goodbye to them, but in retrospect they do bloom all winter in the bathroom, so I guess I'll get out the shovel.
That brings us to the photos on this posting... the Tigereye Abutilon was immense from it's time outside this summer and loaded with the most wonderful blooms... it's amazing how much larger it actually was, once seen inside... sad to say, it has now been diminished to two 18" sticks... surely I can find a corner in my studio for that!
Oh yeah... I forgot about those uncommon pelargoniums... why on earth am I sitting in front of a computer... there are lives to be saved!!
Take care, Larry
