Easter cactus buds

rhipsalis (Easter cactus)

Yesterday I noticed that my Easter cactus is getting ready to bloom. It totally missed its proper blooming time last year but it looks like this year I may actually see the flowers on Easter. I don't know whether the plant didn't appreciate my almost not heating the house last winter or I have been better at watering this year. The photo is not very clear but it's constantly cloudy outside and this was the best light I could get.

Aspidistra leaf

aspidistra elatior (center)

This is one of the very few leaves left on my aspidistra. Despite it being named cast iron plant due to how tough it is, withstanding both shade and lack of watering, I haven't had any luck with it. The leaves keep drying at the ends and ultimately dying, so the plant usually has more rhizomes than leaves and needs to be strategically hidden from view, with only that one or two healthy leaves peeking out. From what I've read, other people experience similar problems, so it may have to do with the variety.

The white spots on the leaf are characteristic of the variety, they are not disease. I like to think it's Milky Way because I like the name and I think it matches my plant, but I'm not sure because the plant - or rather its remnants - must be about a dozen years old. I haven't done research on what a pure breed Milky Way is supposed to look like either.. for instance some people say that it's supposed to have both stripes and spots. Although I seem to recall that my plant used to have them both when I first bought it, young and perky, with a bunch of tall, healthy leaves. 

Mistletoe cactus - flowers

While I was waiting for the buds on the bigger cactus plant to open - which isn't happening - I discovered some actually opened on a smaller one. The reason must be heat coming from the lamp I use over my kitchen sink.

Rhipsalis baccifera (cassutha)

The flowers are the size of a fingernail and slightly pink inside. Unfortunately all pictures I took of the pink inside came out blurry.

Mistletoe cactus

Rhipsalis baccifera (cassutha)

I think these are flower buds on the mistletoe cactus in my kitchen window.

A scary philodendron

Dealing with another philodendron today, repotting. I bought it as the variety Imperial Green. The size of this plant is beginning to scare me. I photographed it on a chair to give you an idea - it's almost as tall as I am when it sits there. The leaves are the size of two human hands, and that's not counting the stalks. With stalks, the ones at the bottom are as long as my arm.

I am having problems placing it because it needs both lots of indirect light and space. The leaf blades are quite fragile, it's easy to tear them so they shouldn't be touched when you pass by the plant. They also shouldn't touch other plants, especially thorny ones. I initially kept it next to a tall euphorbia and the leaves got permanently scarred. Once you tear or pierce a leaf, it's not going to heal but go dry and ugly around the wound.

But even though my plant is scarred, it still makes a strong statement. If it grows some more it might actually drop the lowest, most damaged leaves. It's my second largest philodendron (after monstera deliciosa) and I plan to grow it as long as it fits inside my apartment. It looks like it's going to share a west facing window with the monstera because they will have best light there. I hope I'll fit in the room with them.

Philodendron cuttings

I took cuttings of my kitchen philodendron, which has totally outgrown its window. In place of one pot I now have five. I have no idea where I'll keep them if they take root. Perhaps I'll get rid of the mother plant, which has cold damage from touching the window pane. I decided to plant the cuttings directly into the soil instead of first rooting in water. I mixed some rich potting soil 1:1 with a very light orchid soil I had left over, I hope they like it. I've never rooted philodenedrons before. It seems weird to do it in late October but apparently there is no time of the year when they are guaranteed to root better than at other times. So I did it this afternoon - outgrown as it was it would only get worse during the winter.

Now the kitchen window looks empty and I have little privacy from the street. I'll have to put some other plants there.. I like the jungle look - lots of foliage of different shapes and sizes - but it's not easy to achieve because my apartment, and in particular the north-facing kitchen, doesn't get very much light. I think I'll try rotating plants from other rooms.. each plant will spend a couple of days in the kitchen with insufficient light and will then be replaced by another and returned to a brighter spot.