Sharry Baby Joy

Today while watering the bathroom plants,
I noticed my poor Sharry Baby Orchid has what I think is a spike!!

(spike=bloom=J.O.Y.)

Last year, after my Sharry Baby Orchid bloomed, I re-potted her in a semi-hydro method.
I was having problems not over watering her,
and was worried I would kill her,
semi-hydro was supposed to take care of that.
I just used a plastic food container,
with drain holes about half way up, and clay pellets instead of soil or bark.

Perfect.
Then I put her in my sunny kitchen window,
because I had read they like a lot of sun.
AND I wanted to make sure she was enjoyed.
(and remembered:).

Her leaf tips spotted up,
but in bright light that is supposed to be ok.
(Yellowing came later)


THEN her once smooth, fat bulbs started shriveling!!!
Not ok.
Not ok at all!!
So she went back to my well lit bathroom.
(I apoligized profusly! And, much to my pleasure, she graciously forgave me:)

Since then,
while in the bathroom,
her new leaves are thick and green,
and new blubs have been full and plump.
 (a sign of a happy orchid)



So, with the excitement of the possible spike, I treated her to a nice shower (to remove the layer of dust).
I trimmed off ALL the yellow, dead, or ugly.
Told her I loved her, as I took her picture,
then came to share my Sharry Baby love on my blog!!


See it? See the all exciting spike????
(on the left, the tiny little point:)



Oh Sharry Baby, how I love thee...
Let me count the ways...


Fertlizer Friday At Tootise Time

Sharry Baby (Orchid) Is A Bloomin'!!

I bought my Sharry Baby Orchid with one spike.
Since then it has put another spike out under my care (insert big smile here).
Now she be a bloomin'!!

This orchid blooms on the 'spikes'.
This orchid, also is a beginner orchid (although I have managed to kill one before).
I said 'no more' but caved and ordered this beauty off of Ebay.
I moved her from the bathroom, where she gets perfect light, to the living room so I can admire her.
We will see how the lighting in the living room works.

I switched her from a bark potting mix, which I never can tell if I'm watering enough, or too much, to clay pellets.
Its called Semi-Hydro.
She was root bound (see below left), but because I didn't want to shock the plant and mess up the upcoming blooms, I just stuffed it all in the new pot as is.
After the blooms are done, I'll take her out, loosen up those tightly wound roots, remove ALL of the left over bark, and repot in my clay pellets.

She really seems to be doing great!!
Fat 'bulbs' are desired, and let you know if your orchid is getting enough water.
My Sharry has some lovely fat blubs:)
She has also put on some new growth since I got her (insert another BIG smile here).

First bloom of my Onc. Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance'
Its about the size of a nickel, and hopefully the first of many along the spike!!
(I'm working on figuring out when is the best time to photograph it:)

W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L!!!

Have a great weekend!!!!

FF: 6/1/12

While the hubs is working out in west Texas, we are staying in a neat little guest house, with a nice front porch.

Front porch of our little guest house, home owner's cool rockers and table. 

I was planning on bringing my orchids (that sit in the kitchen window planter box at my mom's) because I water them daily and didn't want my mom to have to do it for me. 

Peek-a-boo frog holding mini Sharry Baby orchid in planter box.  Notice the shriveled up orchid to the right of it?  That is my big Sharry Baby orchid that I nearly killed during our move last year. Since the little one bloomed and the big one survived, I really wanted to keep an eye on them
(and daily tell them how much I love them:).

Mini Sharry Baby Orchid re blooming for me!!! The blooms lasted a very long time.  3/12 

Kitchen window sill planter at my mom's 3/12

Mom said to take the whole thing so she wouldn't have to worry about it.  So, I did.:)

Peek-a-boo frog planter that holds mini Sharry Orchid

Behind this planter box is my newest purchase, an perennial  vine, Mexican Flame Vine.

Mexican Flame Vine Senecio confusus, Mormon Tea in front

The orange is amazing.  Nursery guy said it likes water, sun, heat, and is not hardy below 30 degrees. 

I also brought two 'grow boxes' from my uncle's estate.  I just couldn't resist them, then I couldn't resist planting them, knowing I would have to bring them 8 hours on the road to where we are staying.  (I'm on a veggie kick and I can't stand the prices.)  This is my first serious food gardening, and I say it's going well.  I have two more planters to bring next time we come.  Wind whipped, I lost a few leaves, but the blooms are still on the plants.  They are planted with zucchini, summer squash, beans, and greens. 

Silver beacon ground cover and privet from Maryland

Since they are self-watering pots, I decided to try starting some cuttings.  This side has silver beacon vines, and privet my son helped me gather when we went for a walk together in Maryland.
(Yes, I FLEW home with these cuttings in my carry on bag, why wouldn't I?)

thornless locust trees

On this edge are baby Thornless Locust trees from home. I want a grove of these. Love the precious babies leaves. I'm thinking of using bush cuttings to prop up my bush beans. 

I couldn't pass this cutie up. This is my souvenir, meet Sonora, the groovy one. 


Have a groovy Fertilizer Friday.

FF: 7/20/12

 What would have me up before the sun??? 

 THIS!!  New plants, and new soil!!  (I went shopping:)

  Also trying to 'play' in the dirt before THIS 

Grandboy Kale, 19 mos old

 woke up. 
Didn't happen. 
SO after grandboy, Kale, had some breakfast, we went back out to the front porch to do some 'dirty' work.  Ok, not really work, but we did get good and dirty. 

Kale models the Scheurich Sprayman aka Grandma's new toy

 Mr. Kale stayed on the porch while I re potted. 
First playing with this super cool watering can-sprayer thingy.
Kale demonstrating how NOT to use the watering can:). 
Shortly after I had to put it up, because SOMEONE was chewing on it. 
Little beaver boy.   

 Mr. Man enjoyed watching the machinery from the work site next door.  Wish this little guest house had a glass door so I could leave the wood one open and he could watch the activity all day. He is able to catch some action from a side window.  Poor tortured soul. 
 
 Then we upgraded to a dog water bowl full of water and a cup.  This lasted the longest. 

Horse herb, ???, strawberry, squash, Pigeon berry and Horehound along back

 I decided to add my new treasures to this grow pot (which is so cool).  It is a self watering pot. I brought three with me, but since the homeowner already has a garden, and all my food plants were murdered died, I don't think I will be using two of them. 

 The pooches watched from inside, until SOMEONE started pouring water on the screen door, and I had to close it.  Poor pooches.

 When we went on our road trip to Wisconsin, I saw one of these at Target, and bought it for a souvenir.  I decided it would make a nice 'salad bowl'.  (I have a smaller one with succulents back at home)  I'm going to try salad greens in the summer.  They are not recommended here in our hot weather.  We'll see-won't hurt, that's for sure:). 

Today's players:
 At the Lowe's clearance rack I found:
healthy rosemary (which I needed)

And three different verbena (which I wanted;)
We have a solid red and purple at home. 
These are hardy in our neck of the woods. 

Shampoo Ginger

 I hope these live.  They were in one of the pots hubby DID NOT water while I was away.  Shampoo Ginger. 
Mail order. 
Cha-ching.
Boo hoo.
Boo hoo. 

 Took him a while but, he finally sat in the bowl.  Fun, fun, fun!

Added: purple and lt green sweet potato, verbena, coleus, Mexican flame vine.

 Ta-Da!!  Over planted, and I don't care.  I'll be taking it home this fall and putting it in the yard, so right now it is 'intense' planting.  :)

Orchids up front

 Now to my sad sad orchids. 

 My mini Sharry baby, who bloomed so well for me this spring.  No medium left.  how long can the poor dried up thing function on nothing?  So shriveled.  :(  I'm trying a new orchid 'soil'  we will see how it does. 

 My other Sharry baby.  I took a deep breath, and just ripped all the shriveled parts off.  All that was left was these three tiny babies.  :(  At our old house (before we moved to mom's) this was in my bathroom, and was thriving.  Then it got neglected and it is barely surviving. 

 Currently I'm using the bottom of a plastic cup, later I'll switch to one of those small clay pots.  *sigh*

 I put them back in the planter they sit in, used the cut off part of the red cup as a 'brace' for the orchid.  Nothing else holding it up.  *sigh*  Like I said, I hope they like the new orchid soil. 

 That stack a pot thing in back (REAL hard not to put my new flowers in it, but its only for edibles:), window box planter, and dumb cane.  Had to move that dumb cane before the sun REALLY hit it. 

 Went thru my seeds.  Can't decide what greens to plant in the salad bowl.  Other than mescalin, spinach, kale (the plant not the grandchild) beets, rocket, any suggestions?   I've got lots of spots.

New watering can, and tomato starts that go in the garden

 One more look at my new watering can.  First, its purple.  I love purple.  Second, its thick plastic.  Third, it has a SPRAYER on it!!!  Fourth, its see through!!!  Fifth, its got a nice handle for hanging. 
And sixth, its cool looking:) 
Gonna enjoy this one. 
{Silly son asked why someone would want a sprayer on their watering can!!  I have failed as a mother.;}

 Back inside everyone was frolicking on the bed.  Oh, the silliness!!

 The dumb cane (b-day present from hubs) was upgraded to this cool planter.  (Just plopped in)   But, I'm going to have to remove all that plastic wrap and ribbon, it hinders my watering skills. 
(and we don't need that hindered:). 

 Pretty birds. 

Tired baby.  He is so wore out.  Water does that for some reason.  Kale likes to suck his thumb and rub a 'silky' when he is tired.  Here he is using Reba's ear, she doesn't mind. 

Hope your Fertilizer Friday is fabulous.