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| The amaryllis bulb, Week 7: Growing nicely now! |
I supposed good things do come to those who wait! My amaryllis bulb, which I thought was a dud, is now growing along nicely. (See the photos above.)
Here is Week 3, exactly one month ago:
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| One month ago (Week 3) |
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| December 30 (Week 7) |
Wow! It appears to have tripled in height, and I can see additional shoots emerging from the bulb. I’m glad I didn’t give up and throw the whole thing out.
Sometimes it is difficult to remember that plants are individuals, and no two are exactly alike. Although I have grown amaryllis bulbs in the past, this one had its own timetable. Each bulb is unique; each has its own schedule of growth. What made this one struggle along and then suddenly flourish? I will never know the answer to that question. I’d like to think I am smart enough to guess. Perhaps Whitey’s biting and tugging at the bulb when it was only a few days planted in the pot damaged emerging roots and set it back. Perhaps it didn’t like being moved from the bright office to the subtle light of the plant room. Perhaps it loves the classical music I play in the plant room. It’s a mystery, and I think that is one of the reasons why I love growing plants so much. Unlike animals, whose behavior we can often extrapolate based on our knowledge of instincts, drives and other forces, plants still hold their own secrets.
This weekend, I took some time to replant several African violets that had grown pot-bound. Some needed to be divided. I took cuttings of several of my favorites and re-purposed old wine glasses (see above) to root them. I just use water and place a bit of foil over the top. The cuttings rest in the water, and should grow roots in a few weeks. By then, I’ll have the grow lights set up in the basement for seed starting, and I can nurture the little plants along for either my plant room or the Master Gardener plant sale in May. It will depend on how well they grow. If they’re really nice, I’ll donate them to the plant sale.
One of the cuttings I’m starting is from this beauty. The flowers are actually a deeper burgundy red than this (the flash faded the color a bit). I like the leaves on this violet; they’re an interesting shape.
I spent time this weekend cleaning and re-organizing the plant room. I dusted the book shelves, straightened out the books, and replaced the candles near my reading chair. I love scented candles and often light one while I’m snuggled into my old club chair, reading at the end of a long day. I also hung up several decorations. In each window I have two suncatchers, either stained glass or crystals. Now in one window I have two of these hand-beaded snowflakes. My sister Ann makes them and sells them as Christmas ornaments. She sent me this one as a Christmas present, but it’s so beautiful, I keep it hanging up year-round.
The plants are snuggled in new pots, dead leaves trimmed, cuttings taken. It was nice to enjoy my house plants for a while, and I made notes on the new violets, orchids and jasmine I want to get in 2014. A good way to ring in the new year!
