Bonsai Care & Feeding

I met my first Bonsai last summer, when S entrusted me with her beloved little Azalea tree while she was on vacation.

Yikes. She was barely out of my driveway when the first panic attack set in.

What if I kill it?

I immediately embarked on the most high maintenance program of tender loving care a plant could ever imagine.

* Each morning I misted her.

* Every afternoon she enjoyed dappled sunlight out on my deck.

* I fashioned a humidity tray out of rocks and saucers so she could breathe easy in my dry, desert air.

* I was like a mother chimpanzee, daily inspecting that plant for bugs. And, I was exhausted...

Then S came home and casually commented: Wow, it looks great. All I do is water it.

Huh???

That's when I discovered that Bonsai trees aren't nearly as high maintenance as they look.

The beautiful Plum Bonsai shown in these photos was a birthday present from a very sweet friend. It's a bright spot in my day, now that winter is upon us.

True confessions: I panicked a bit when I received this plant ~ wondering how quickly I could kill it. But, then I remembered that J never comes to visit me so if it kicks the bucket, she will never be the wiser!

Moisture: The Key to a Happy Bonsai

• Keep your bonsai slightly damp.
• Mist her in addition to watering. They enjoy the feel of a spring rain.
• Misting cleans her leaves and helps moisture absorption.
• Once every couple of weeks immerse the entire plant, pot and all, in a bowl of water. They love it!
• Fertilize monthly with a 5-10-5. (Deciduous Bonsais appreciate a dormant period of no fertilizer.)
  

Thanks, J! It's not dead yet! :))

Freesia

Freesia ~ November

My Flowering Plant of the Month

I've been so busy complaining about being busy that I almost forgot to mention the latest and greatest addition to the sunny window.

Each month, I purchase a flowering plant at the local supermarket when I'm buying groceries. As much as I love cut flowers, I never buy them for myself. Mostly because I'm cheap and cut flowers don't last very long. Potted flowering plants will generally bloom for a whole month. If you're nice to them, they just might bloom again.

Freesia is a delicate flowering plant with a lightly, sweet citrus fragrance. Perfect for a kitchen window. Keep the soil moist and add a dash of 5-10-10 fertilizer for longest blooms. If you're lucky enough to live in USDA zones 9 or 10, you can transplant her into the garden when she's done blooming.

* A member of the Iris family. Lots of beautiful colors to choose from.

October Plant of the Month: Kalanchoe

In My Window

Life, for me, it ebbs and flows. I'm up above, then down below.

That which doesn't kill you, will only make you stronger. My Dad used to say that. And, so do thousands of other people. (Personally, I think it's a load of crap.)

While I was racing around like that proverbial farm animal with her head lopped off, something magical was happening in my window. The snows up here, they last forever. In March, the grey palette of a too-long winter exacts a heavy toll.

I am regaining a sunny disposition, though, thanks to the heroic efforts of my pretty flowering friends.