Wednesday, April 6, 2011

EARLY APRIL OBSERVATIONS




The month of April has arrived once again here in South Florida. It begins the two month period that I call the blow dry months here at the Sandpit garden. April and May here are consistently hot, dry and windy. Just as a blow drier works the warm winds evaporate all the moisture out of the soil and the lack of rain compounds the drying effects. We are in a drought here now and the government has imposed water restrictions. The next two months will require dedicated watering to keep the garden going until June when the rainy season starts up.


I have started getting away from containers for most of the plants and put them directly in the soil. It keeps them at a more constant moisture and temperature and seems to be working better for me. The containers have their advantages but during this time of year will dry out overnight. With the plants in the ground I can stretch a couple of days between watering's which can save the plants when away from the garden.


Anyway since we are speaking of Orchids I found this guy stuck in the middle of some other potted plants outside. This phalaenopsis Orchid is trying its best to bloom for me but I was remiss in watering it and it has been getting too much direct sun.


I brought it inside to get some much needed attention, kinda like Orchid CPR. I hope that it soon perks up and the when the buds on the flower stem open they will show its true form. This bloom was just wilted over itself. How do you say Orchid guilt.



I had last month brought inside some of the other Phalaenopsis Orchids and put them by a window so they get the morning light.


This guy is solid yellow with a tinge of lime surrounding a purple throat. It is quite simple but striking. It has been blooming for over a month now.


The Phalaenopsis like it inside in the air conditioning seems like. These Orchids like daytime temps between 70 and 80 degrees so they are much like people. During the heat you can bring them inside without worry to enjoy their spectacular bloom. They will get to stay inside while in their bloom cycle then get returned outside to the harsh world that is the Sandpit. Plants here have to be tough .


This Phalaenopsis Orchid has been around the Sandpit now for several years. I call it freckles.


It has smaller blooms than some of the others but is my favorite of the Phals that I have.


And speaking of the Sandpit raised beds the Jubilee heirloom tomato plants are looking really good. No sign of disease or other Tomato malady's that seem to plague the tomato plants here. I have been feeding them with liquid tea made from the Comfrey leaves. These are yellow tomatoes and so far so good. Of course by writing this I have probably doomed them but they look good for now.


They are growing amongst the Collard plants and both are competing for space. Maybe that is a good thing and the competition makes them grow better.


That's the sitrep for early April here at the Sandpit garden.


Just a reminder that now is the time to plant some Moonflower seeds. It is my unscientific theory that the Moonflower plants will bend Hurricanes away from your home and garden. Even if they don't the plants are super cool opening their white flowers at night. With Hurricane season just a short time away some Moonflower plant seeds will cost you a lot less than what your windstorm damage insurance deductible in Florida is. Urban legion or not I have never been struck by a hurricane when The moon flower plants were growing at the Sandpit. Believe it or not.


--SANDDUNE--

8 comments:

  1. Your orchids look lovely! And I have found that heirloom tomatoes do much better than the newer varieties.My late MIL loved Moon Flowers and said the same thing.I just may buy some seeds,this week.

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  2. Your orchids are gorgeous. DH and I are thinking of a raised bed for growing veggies.

    What an interesting tidbit about moon flowers keeps hurricanes away. :-)

    Happy Gardening

    FlowerLady

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  3. I know all about orchid guilt. Fortunately, most of the phals are pretty forgiving and will perk up once they are given what they need. Your other orchids are looking great. Isn't it funny to have to bring orchids in for the summer instead of the winter? I'm glad I can leave mine outside most of the year. I'm not good about watering houseplants.

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  4. ChrisC,
    I have been trying to slowly edge toward heirloom seeds and like any garden see what works here in this micro-climate. I think a lot of sucessfull gardening depends on experimenting and observation as every garden is unique to itself. The Moonflower vines are super neat to watch at dusk as the large blooms unfold in front of you eyes.

    Flowerlady,
    This is the first planting of vegetables in these raised beds. I have been really impressed with the results here in the Sandpit. My soil is so poor the raised beds gave me lots of room to add in compost made last summer. I suspect that the more I can improve the soil the better the vegetables will grow so they will only keep getting better. As for the Moonflowers they will not keep the hurricanes away but they will bend them away from your house. Just like like magnetic poles repel each other so is the hurricane and the Moonflower.

    NanaK,
    The Phals only get to come inside when they are in a bloom cycle. I give them very little water maybe a shot glass full per week when they are inside and not being assaulted by the wind and heat as when they are outside. I am hoping the wilted Phal will perk up. Perhaps it just wanted some attention -].

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  5. Gosh your orchids are lovely. I wish mine would flower - maybe they too need some attention. I have also found that things in pots are a real pain. glad your tomato is doing well - I keep trying different heirloom varieties, but so far only the cherry tomatoes survive. Never mind I like them the best anyway.

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  6. Africanaussie,
    I still have a lot of plants in pots but so far have planted out about 1/3 of them. It takes a while to figure out where to put them that gets the right amount of shade or sun so the plants will survive. I keep trying new heirloom types so it is a constant experiment to see what will grow in the weather and soil conditions here. One can only hope that some plant wisdom will rub off from all the trials.

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  7. Hey, Sanddune! I need some moon flowers!!! And I'm still on the hunt for comfrey...where did you find it? Your tomatoes look scrumptuous...mine are producing well - I'm so excited! And your orchids are lovely! Even though the one was neglected a bit, I think I see buds in the background of your photo so I hope you'll be able to enjoy more blooms soon. I'm really struggling with the sandy soil, but hopefully the rains will come and help me out. I like your name for the dry period - the blow dry months! So true!

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  8. Kimberly,
    I obtained the Comfrey from Horizon Herbs. They will send you some root cuttings of the Russian Comfrey for like 2.00 each and after they get established you can propagate them by making your own root cuttings from your plants. And yes the soil in South Florida is a challenge in itself. Adding lots and lots of homemade compost is the route I am on here in hope of reviving the dead soil. It is a slow process but the results so far have been encouraging and the soil [sand] can only get better over time. As for the Moonflower now is the time to get some sprouted I'm thinking.

    ReplyDelete

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