This plant is in quite a small pot but somehow survives well - Queen of the night (Epiphyllum sp. I think) usually flowers at night and the flower fades early morning... but this one flowered late afternoon after some rain. What a beauty she is, in the Western Cape, South Africa. I understand that they are not indigenous here, but are quite commonly cultivated. Who in this community sees these?

We live near Waldor Orchids in Linwood, NJ. They are often featured in the Philadelphia Flower Show. Here's my favorite orchid from them which is blooming now.

The other day some questions came up about what to do with potted tulips when they had finished blooming. It sort of depends on what you want to do with the tulips. Below you can find some tips depending on what results you want when you have potted tulips. Hope this helps! ✂️ 𝟏. 𝐃𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤? Yes… but not all the way down right away. - Go ahead and remove the spent flower head (this is called deadheading) - Leave the leaves and stem in place 👉 Why? Those green leaves are still working hard, sending energy back into the bulb for next year’s blooms. Only cut everything back once: - The leaves have fully yellowed and dried out 💧 𝟐. 𝐃𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐛𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠? Nope—not if you’re replanting right away in a pot. - You can gently lift them and replant immediately - No drying period needed in this case 👉 𝐃𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐟: - You’re storing bulbs for next season (like over summer) 🌱 𝟑. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐔𝐬𝐞? Tulips are picky about one thing: drainage Use: - A high-quality potting mix - Bonus points if you mix in: Perlite or coarse sand (for drainage) 👉 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝: - Heavy garden soil (too dense for containers) - Anything that stays soggy 🪴 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 - Choose a pot at least 2–3 inches wider - Place bulbs so the top sits right at soil level - Space them slightly apart (not crammed together) - Water lightly after planting - Keep in a bright, cool spot (not intense heat) 🌼 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐩 (this is the game-changer) If you want blooms again next year: Tulips need a chilling period (cold dormancy) - If left in pots above ground in warmer zones, they may not rebloom well - Options: Leave outside if winters are cold enough OR move bulbs to a fridge (in a paper bag) for 10–12 weeks in fall

January can feel a little… beige. The garden beds are sleeping, the patio pots are quiet, and even the sun seems to clock out early. But here’s the good news: 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰-𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬. They don’t need blooms to look stunning. In fact, the right leaves can make your home (or plant nook!) look like you hired a designer. Below are some “𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞” foliage plants that look polished even on your most tired winter day. Plus quick tips to keep them looking their best. 𝟏) 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬 (𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐍𝐞𝐨𝐧, 𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: trailing vines instantly soften shelves, bookcases, and corners. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: give it a bright window if possible, but it handles medium light well. Let the top inch or two of soil dry before watering. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: put it up high and let it spill down — instant “plant stylist” vibes. 𝟐) 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 (𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝:: upright, sculptural, modern. It’s basically living decor. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: water sparingly (seriously). It’s happier a little dry than a little wet. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: looks amazing in a simple pot with a clean shape (white, black, or terracotta). 𝟑) 𝐙𝐙 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: glossy, structured leaves that always look freshly wiped. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: low water + tolerates lower light better than most plants. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: a ZZ plant on a side table = instant “grown-up” plant corner. 𝟒) 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 (𝐀𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: gorgeous patterned leaves — silvers, greens, and even pinks/reds in some varieties. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: one of the best options for medium-to-lower indoor light. Keep it evenly moist (not soggy). 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤:: use it as your “color plant” when everything else is just green. 𝟓) 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐧 (𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐟, 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥, 𝐞𝐭𝐜.) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: lush, soft, and elegant — like pothos’ slightly fancier cousin. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: bright indirect light is best; water when the top inch dries out. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: it looks stunning in a hanging planter or in a pot on a plant stand.

I just bought two rose plants yesterday! I'm getting ready to put them in their temporary pots today. The plan is to put them in half barrels later in the summer with some herbs. So much fun!