Great pictures, they look like happy plants.

That's a library if I recall correctly? They add a lot to the warmth or welcoming aspect of it, good job.

Thanks all!
Yes library and we get lots of compliments. And the occasional finger stuck in a pot and frowning and "this plant needs water!" LOL

I sometimes do that too and offer to give it a sip if they want me to since they're so busy.

...but I doubt you've been letting them get *too* dry.

4/30/2018

purpleinopp said: I made this pot yesterday, literally, out of chicken wire & window screen. It has Aglaonemas, Begonia 'Beefsteak,' Peperomia clusiifolia, Tradescantia 'Baby Bunny Bellies,' and T. sillamontana.

For anyone wondering how long a pot made of chicken wire and window screen can last, that "pot" is just now starting to come apart. So, 5-6 years.

I would have to look back through older pics to jog my memory about what plant was originally the primary plant in this pot. After years of trying different things, there is finally a good show of Callisia elegans in this pot. And a Coleus teaching me how it can be a dangler. And a couple of volunteer ferns. I don't know of any ferns within sight. Those spores do travel.

Are you going through a phase? I've tried so many plants as "groundcovers" in combo pots, but few have been as satisfying as wax Begonias and more recently, Streptocarpella. I seem to be going through a "Begonia base" phase, @ the base of taller plants.

Less pots, less work

thay all look very happy!

Interesting, Mrs H.! I never thought about using Sans sort of sideways like that. I like it!

Nice combo, Mrs H.

This is starting to fill in, assembled a couple months ago, some rooted plants, some cuttings.

Forgot I took pics of this too, Schefflera, Streptocarpella, and purple waffle (Hemigraphis.)
With & w/o flash

Chartreuse and purple is a winning combo in my opinion

Nice combinations, Tiffany.

Those all look great:)

Thank you very much, Sally, Loretta, and Humoldt! : )

When the weather finally stopped freezing at night, I brought these combo succulent pots out. Had them on the patio for a week and then put them under a north eve when they got only early morning and late afternoon sun. Didn't pay attention for a two days of high winds and very low humidity....

And now some are fried. Oh pooh. This is why I usually avoid plants that can't stay outdoors all year. Pretty as they are, I'll be finding new homes for them this year.

I can relate, Zoe. I am in the process of kicking things out plus I have a few new plants that have been coddled by the growers. It doesn't take much carelessness to ruin something.

Very pretty, Zoë!

A little sunburn is usually only a temporary change in appearance. I get a lot of that when moving plants from inside to out. Both from thinking it's not too much sun to start with, and from mis-remembering where shadows are before the trees leaf out. I don't expect most plants to look the same all the time. That would be less interesting to me, always noticing "Yep, it looks the same." Going to see anything new or different that plants are doing gets me up off of the couch at least once a day.

I don't know how to coddle a plant, beyond putting it where I think it will be happy, giving it water before it gets too dry, and protecting the tender plants from freezing temps. I guess in the case of moving them I could be more proactive about using a lawn chair or something else to make some shade, but burning isn't usually noticeable until it's too late.

When I decide not to care for a plant anymore, I let it go by grounding. When they can't hack it there anymore, they compost themselves. I can understand not wanting to make a particular effort. Only so many hours in a day, space in a garden or inside by a window, and energy in a body. And SO MANY cool plants to try and see if they will accept the available conditions and grower's style/schedule. A lot of them won't.

Even though I pay attention to details on plants, I'm definitely not a coddler. In this climate in my small garden conditions, things either work or they don't. I can't be moving plants around during the day to keep them from burning. Sigh.