Cape Honeysuckle : Update

 exerpt from Cape Honeysuckle Photo History

Re-potted the Cape Honeysuckle, for better or worse..I found this little unglazed clay pot by accident some time ago, but really didn't have any one tree in mind.

The Honeysuckle was long overdue for a repot, so opportunity met requirement. Because so much time had elapsed since the tray-potting, I had to do more root pruning than I had anticipated or wanted.

He seems like he has come through the "surgery" well & is even shown new growth since I re-potted him (lighter green color leaves in photo)

Because the trunk has an obvious bend, I've always planted this guy offset from center & adhered to that convention with this repot, but I may change my mind.

I will let him rest now, & acclimate himself to the new container. I do like the round shape or perhaps it's just the newness..we'll see as time goes on.

..and the 'chicks' for free..

Back in February, I published a picture of several (7 to be exact) cuttings from the Hibiscus, taken during the initial "cutback". I actually ended-up with 11(pic) & they all rooted!

All of them have buds or have budded-out & grown leaves & appear to be healthy, If these cuttings are anywhere near as vital & strong as the parent plant, they will make fine plants.

I will grow-them-on & report on their progress, from time-to-time.

See the full history @ Hibiscus 'Brilliant' 

 

Just for Fun - Wk 4

 NM Hatch Chilis

Not much to see here..the chili plants have grown, but not remarkably so. The plants are healthy, vigorous & sport a deep green that, I hope, is a predicator of the size & quantity of the fruit they will bear.

No flowers, as yet, but I expect we will start seeing buds on the larger plants. The 2 still in 3" pots will need to be transplanted soon, but there's no rush..probably some time this coming week. I hope to "gift" 1 or 2 this coming week..with the number of new projects coming on-line, I will need the space.

Dwarf Tomatoes 

The tomatoes have doubled in size & another week's growth will mean they'll be crowding the shelf they occupy. I'm not really sure just how tall these bush tomatoes will grow, but I do have floor space, which is probably their next stop.

As you can see, this pot houses 2 plants; I felt like the plants were too young to be ripped apart earlier in their development, but now I wonder if it will even be possible to separate them..I'll give them another week & see how they look.

Like the chilis, I hope to reduce their numbers before they get much larger..maybe next week?

Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila) - Update

Decided to take the next step in this plants development & move the Creeping Fig to a tray. He has been in a training pot for 5 months, so he should be ready. Despite his gnarled & rugged appearance, this is still a young plant with his best years in front of him. What his role might be, however, is up for grabs & will depend on how well he takes to down-potting..can he live in 2-3 inches of soil? Can he handle 2 root-reductions in 6 months? Well, we're gonna find out.

Structural pruning is complete now, for this tree..for better or worse..from here on out, it will be "pinch & grow" as he forms a canopy & grows foliage.

Or, as this is a "creeping" fig (actually a Ficus), he may want to find something to climb. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing how he evolves.

See the full history of this tree @ Creeping Fig or use the Tree Inventory menu

 

Oldest Plant on the Patio

 This space is usually used to introduce a new specimen, but today, I want to re-introduce not only the oldest, but an original 'grown-from-cuttings' little tree that deserves some recognition. This  is one of the reasons I started this blog..to "organize & document"..

April 5 was the 2nd Birthday of "Goldie", a Japanese Golden Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus 'Aureo-marginatus'), the first home-grown specimen in my collection, originally collected from a hedge growing in front of our apartment building.

May 2026

April 2024       

See the full history of this plant @ the Photo/History page: Japanese Golden Euonymus