Hello friends!
As I write this it’s snowing outside here in Portland. The weather has been so weird lately and although we’ve had flurries, hale, and freezing rain this week, there’s been no snow accumulation, which makes me very sad.
I mean, if it’s not gonna snow pretty, it might as well warm up outside, right?!
In the spirit of spring, I decided to bring home a new houseplant this week. I have managed to keep all my current houseplants alive for almost a year now, and I’ve had lots of growth, so I think I can handle some more green friends. I’ve even managed to propagate a handful of succulents— something I’ve tried many a times in the past without success— and my little babies are all thriving and doing well. In fact, I gifted a few to some gals from work last month because I just had too many! So that’s progress and my thumbs are looking slightly more grey-ish than black these days.
My new plant is one I’ve been longing after for quite some time, and I know I’m not the only one, as it’s quite a popular little succulent. It’s a String of Pearls! I bought it at a local plant shop in NE Portland and found the beautiful terra cotta pot there as well.
Eventually I want to hang my new plant, but until I find (or make?) a cute hanger, he looks great on the sideboard in my living room and gets a good amount of sun from the large window.
While I’m showing off my new succulent, I thought I might as well introduce you to my other house plants. I’ve got a decent collection going these days, although they’re all succulents.
I’m going to be transplanting my Burro’s Tail soon, because after reading a bunch of info online about Sedum Morganianum care, I’ve realized he’s getting way too much light in his current location (from my grow light) and is too pale. I think he’d be happier in the indirect sunlight coming through my living room windows. Hopefully that will help him take on the deeper, blue-green color that the Burro’s Tail is known for.
As for my “Sticks on Fire” plant, I’m at a loss for what to do! He’s alive and healthy, but ever since the cross-country trip in the back seat of my SUV, he just hasn’t been thriving like he did in the hot Florida sun last summer. I purchased this grow light specifically for this plant, thinking it would help him survive the terribly dark PNW winter. Even with 8 hours of “light” a day, he’s growing slowly and hasn’t recovered any of the red coloring that Firestick plants are meant to have.
He does have some new growth, which is a definite positive, but I really hope he comes fully back to life soon. I wonder if his pot is too small or if he doesn’t like the rock mulch I added? These are the questions I fret over as I try not to kill my most beloved plant.
I do wish I had a picture of him from last summer. He was so gigantic and beautiful.
Sigh.
I should add a disclosure to this post: I am by no means a plant expert, and you shouldn’t take any advice from me on the care of plants, because I am in fact a house-plant-serial-killer at large. There, I warned you.
To end on a positive note, I do have some very cute and very empty vintage planters that need filling. I was thinking of hunting down some non-succulent type indoor plants that do well in low light, so that I can have a few green friends to brighten up other corners of my apartment. Please recommend any that you think would be happy in a north facing Oregon apartment— it’s a challenge, I know.
I’m hoping to fill that large green planter next, as I’ve got the perfect spot picked out for him. You’ll have to wait to see where he ends up!
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