Grammatophyllum Leopard Spot Orchid

It is nice to see some new orchids coming to the local plant dealers.  This is the first Grammatophyllum I’ve had or seen.  Outside this plant wants light shade, which indoors means a bright, sunny window. Temperatures can be as hot as 105′F These grow outside in Houston but it’d really be much happier if you [...]

Just Released! Version 3.0 of the Miles per Gallon and Gallon per Mile Calculator for iPhones

Miles per gallon or gallons per mile? Calculate both. The miles per gallon and gallons per mile caluculator remembers your last six calculations so you can see if your milage is improving or worsening. It also saves your last ending mileage so you have less data to enter to get your answers. English and Metric settings. Saves [...]

Just released! Version 3.0 of the Lucky Numbers Machine for iPhones

All new for iPhone OS 3.0 is a newer, more user friendly interface. Get your lucky numbers for today’s lottery, simply enter the low, high and quantity of numbers you require. It remembers your choices and will forever more select your lucky numbers with one touch. If you have a date that is near and dear [...]

Growing cactus and succulents in Houston

I recently attended a talk at Mercer on growing cactus and succulents in Houston. If you haven’t attended any talks at Mercer do consider it. They’d love to see you and I learn a great deal each time I attend. Most cactus prefer drier environments than we have in Houston. While they all [...]

Five favorite plants for difficult areas in Houston

All plants do well in great soil with the right amount of sun and water. Home landscapes rarely give us the right location with out a great deal of time and money. Sometimes it’s just easier to go with the flow. Here are easiest plants, that I’ve enjoyed for your most difficult areas. —————————————————————————— Shade/Dry plants Snake [...]

Cactus and succulent house plant growing

One of the things that makes cactus and succulents great house plants is that they don’t mind the dry air in homes and offices. If you can get them enough light you’ll find they are some of the easiest house or office plants to grow. Cactus and succulents differ only slightly. All cactus are [...]

Staghorn Fern ( Platycerium bifurcatum )

I’ve grown staghorn ferns off and on as houseplants. When I went on a garden club garden tour in April I saw several growing in people’s gardens outside. Once settled in they will grown outside here. Some were mounted on boards and fences, I decided to try mine in a tree nook. Staghorns [...]

Stapelia Hirsuta

I saw my first stapelia at the San Antonio botanical gardens and it was love at first sight. But it was in a green house so I only thought of it as an indoor plant. Later I ran into some in hanging baskets at the Conroe Extension office, again in a green house. [...]

Pleurothallis tripterantha orchid

There are over ~ 2000 species in the Pleurothallis family. The tripterantha are easy to grow  and bloom year round. Because Pleurothallis tripterantha remains tiny and prefers temperatures between 60′F and 85′F it’s a great plant for terrariums. Light should be shade to bright light, no direct sunlight. These are epiphytic rain forest plants, found in Central and [...]

Bear’s paw fern (Phlebodium aureum ‘blue star’ )

Cabbage Palm is rated for zones 9b to 11 so should do well here in Houston. It prefers light to full shade, slightly dry soil ( for a fern ) and should reach 3′ in height and 1′ across. Water is not a problem can adapt to moist or wet soil. It is usually grown [...]

Wavey cloak fern ( Cheilanthes sinuata )

Wavey cloak is a smaller fern reaching about 12″ in height and about 12″ across. It is hardy 7a-10b so should do just fine here in Houston. Unusual for a fern it can take full sun to light shade. More information to follow as I find it or figure it out.

Maxillaria tenuifolia orchid

This is an epiphytic orchid that prefers cooler temperatures, down as low as 40′F but can withstand temperatures up to 100′F.  That said Maxillaria orchids will be happiest between 55′-70′F making it perfect for indoor growing if you can keep the humidity up. Give this plant as much light as you can, find your brightest window [...]

Brazilian Candles ( Pavonia x Gledhillii )

This was a March Mart find this year. The stamens of the flower are a dark purplish blue, the red petals are really striking. In time this plant should be covered with blooms. It’s only been in the ground a few weeks as I write this. Once settled it should bloom [...]

Houston Art Car Parade Photos

Mother fern aka Oriental chain fern ( Woodwardia orientalis )

I brought this home from March Mart last year, thinking it was an Australian tree fern, but then it never got any taller. These things happen. While it is not a fast growing fern it’s certainly been trouble free. It’s been stuck in a corner with little to no sun and moderately dry soil. [...]