Hi Joe,

Do you have arthritis at your age? I am sorry if you do.

I used to do a lot of Pet Assisted Therapy in nursing homes and hospitals twenty or so years ago. I had three dogs and we would do room visitations once a month and dog trick shows once a month. Most of the residents slept through the shows, does that mean my dog pack and their tricks weren't any good? Oh the stories I could tell...

24! A mere child.

A child by age only! Not by experience

And I do have arthritis in my right knee, degenerating cartilage in my left and I think arthritis beginning in my left shoulder.

Our director had a small dog that she brought in all the time, he loved the attention (and snacks!) he got from the residents :P

I believe there are those of us who are born as "old souls." I admire you for asking and researching plants and taking on indoor gardening, instead of hanging out at bars. I admire your compassion for others. I welcome your presence here.

Now, that said, I was shocked when you gave your age, because I thought you were much older. I am guilty of age discrimation just because I earned my grey hair and wrinkles. (Now that I am laughing and rolling on the floor, can someone help me up? Oh my knees just aren't what they used to be....)

I am sorry you have pain, Joe.

Bars are boring and a waste of money! If I want to drink, I'll buy a bottle and drink at home. No driver or taxi needed, and all for less than 2 drinks at a bar! I've never been a "typical" person for my age. I was always the one who spent their money to travel on weekends (I grew up in upstate NY, spent many weekends exploring French Canada).

Even with cars, I'm far from the "typical" person my age... I learned to drive in a 1941 Ford! I prefer to live life rather than waste it partying all night and sleeping all day.

I just miss having plants around, I broke down and bought the snake plant at Lowe's one day. I needed something to help clear the air of the chemical smells emitting from my dark room. It's done ok in the soil I got it in, but it's expanding, so time to repot it. And why not repot it in a mix that will make it happier?

This is my north window in the late afternoon and light is supplemented below for the succulents by a plant light. The bulbs have not been changed in years. I asked my electrician son if it was necessary and he told me yes, that it is not just some company that wants to keep selling me bulbs. Amazon should have some new bulbs at my door tomorrow. This spot is unique because it gets both morning and afternoon light.



This is one of my favorites, "Ruby Red Club Moss - Selaginella - Exotic - Easy - 4" pots" from an Amazon's vendor (Hirt's). I think it is on the dry side, it likes to be wet. It changes color because of temperature variations.



I have several small dwarf sized sanservieria, lucky bamboo and Christmas Cactus on the shelf. The hanging plant I have had since I was twelve. It is pothos or philodendron, and a common arrow head plant that I don't know the name of. (I need to start learning Latin names!) There was a variegated spider plant there that I conditioned to lower light early in its life. It "betrayed me" by scratching my eye when I went to shut the blinds so it got dug up and moved. I have a Chinese Evergreen sitting below, but it has not been there long, so I will have to watch it closely to see if it likes that spot.

I like air cleaning plants too because I have a lot of chemical allergies or sensitivities. I think most plants clean the air to some point. There is lots of info on that on the internet.

Good luck Joe, on your search of low light plants. Keep us posted.

Leda: That's a beautiful moss you have there! I had this plant that I put in a terrarium last year but it has not done well, due to my neglect.

Lin @plantladylin,

Mine is showing a bit of stress. I am not quite sure why. I hope I can remedy the situation, this is one plant I do not want to live without.

It is really beautiful so I hope it perks up and does well for you! I know why some of my plants show stress ... it's their non-caretaker!

Yep, guilty of that too, thinking they can make it one more night....

Maybe you could rig up a timed plant carer? Something that releases a certain amount of water when a timer goes off? :P

Great idea, why don't you invent one? I will buy it. Part of the joy of plants is taking care of them. This plant was stressed, but not dead. I observe my plants often, but sometimes something just happens. This plant is in the window right by my sofa so that I spot it quickly when stressed. It is one of my favorites. I never have counted my plants because I am afraid to know. It takes a full day to water all of them (not including clean up which I do later because of fatigue.)

My animals (including fish) are spoiled as are my plants. I tend to procrastinate at times.

So have you thought about which other plants you want to adopt?

Take care, Joe - happy gardening!
Leda

I'm waiting until a new nursery opens, going to see what they have next month

I am designing a water trough for a planter I want to do behind my couch with small sansiverias, maybe some English Ivy. Basically, water goes in one spot, then goes through a small tubing system to water them all at the same time

I for one, am impressed! It can picture it in my mind.

Seems like it would work better than getting water all over our new couch (when we get it). The water port will be on the side somewhere.

That makes a lot more sense, Joe. I am the World's Best Water Spiller! Putting the water in on the side makes a lot of sense to me. You are an inventor, Joe, and you remind me of my late son who also invented things out of almost nothing. Fond memories!

I think it comes from having to adapt old cameras to new techniques :)

I've had to work hard to be able to use this one.


Before that, I just looked at things and scratched my head

There is an old saying, "Necessity is the mother of invention."

Love that old camera.

Are there alternatives to osmocots? It's a bit out of my budget

Sure, lots of stuff. Douglas fir bark, in fine, medium, and coarse; several types of expanded rock and coarse perlite; coconut fiber, chopped; horticultural charcoal, fine, medium, or coarse (I use only the fine and medium). You can purchase the Douglas fir bark heated or un-heated. Heating it is supposed to destroy pathogens such as mold spores. Some folks will use other wood (rather than Douglas fir bark), but I stay with the fir bark just because that's what I have always used. And for some plants, long-fibered sphagnum moss can be used, and the moss can be mixed with the above. I am sure other orchid growers can name lots of other material that they use. Each of us usually develops a "special" mixture and think it works well.

Big-box stores generally carry several different orchid mixes, and if you only need a small amount, that's an ok choice. If you are growing phalaenopsis, the bag will state the mix is for them and if you grow cattleya/dendrobium/vanda, the bag will have those species listed.