Friday, November 16, 2012

Winter's Potted Plants

These are the potted plants that I am hoping to bring through the winter unscathed. I'll likely have to get a heater for the greenhouse, though I hate to because it uses so much electricity. However, these first few are the little tomato plants on the windowsill in the house. So far they seem to be doing quite well and aren't leggy at all.
That first pot was one that didn't get dropped by the cats so they are a little ahead of these other two that have had to be replanted.
This one only had one sprout.
Next are the hanging baskets and one pot on the porch. The lettuce finally did pop up in the middle hanging basket but any that came up in the other two baskets died right off. I think it was because we were still too hot then. This basket normally looks better than this but it rained yesterday so the leaves are all soggy today.
I replanted those other two hanging baskets with some small red onion seeds. It was mostly a fail as well.
But kale can grow anywhere apparently.
Out in the greenhouse the plants are doing fine. The coffee plants did actually put on a couple of leaves this year despite the cats getting in the greenhouse and knocking them over several times. I put them in the cups because they were tall and when I had read up on their cultivation it said that they have a tap root and need deep pots. Next year they will likely get replanted ...if they make it through the winter. 
This next picture is of a ginger plant. I bought the root from the store and planted it. It is doing just fine so far.
As you can see the lemons on the lemon tree are finally starting to change color. I can't wait to be able to pick one!
This little bonsai is also in the greenhouse. It was given to me last year by my old boss. It has done really well sitting on a table in the backyard this year but now that is it colder I have moved it into the greenhouse, just in case we get a frost.
Last I am going to show you the cats new play toy pansies. They have managed to rip one right out of that second pot.
I would not have thought the kittens would have been so fascinated with them.
These aren't quite all my potted plants. I do have some houseplants; pothos, philodendron, fittonia, aloe and a cactus. Except the pothos and the one cactus, which are in hanging basket, these get dropped by the kittens on a regular basis. I believe it was just a year or so ago when I finally had my house cat free. Now they seem to be my biggest plant predators.

10 comments:

  1. I've never had cats play with plants in my garden. They eat the ornamental grass. And they do dig up the freshly turned soil to use as a bathroom, but never the plants.

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    1. These 4 kittens think those planters are the best toys they ever had. As soon as they run outside one is on top of it just clawing all over like it is alive and he is attacking it. There there are the other kittens down below to attack while your back feet are clawing into the plants in the pots. I have given up. If the flowers live..they live.

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  2. Have you ever given your cats any Catnip (Nepeta)? Most cats get really "high" when they chew it, and they love to roll about in it if you have a big enough clump of it. Maybe you could use some as a decoy to lure your cats away from the other plants?

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    1. They have some toys with catnip in them (little mice).

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  3. You grow your own coffee? That's awesome!

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    1. This is something new this year. It will be several years before they produce.

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  4. Hi Becky! Thanks for showing us these plants! They look great, in spite of the kittens! I would like to have a green house one day that doesn't get blown away with straight line winds. I wonder if I could grow kale in the house? I brought some basil in to see if it will grow. Something to experiment with. Blessings from Bama!

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    1. I have a basil plant in the greenhouse that is just dying off (no pictures of that one). I guess it isn't warm enough for it.

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  5. I'm laughing. Your kittens sound like my chickens!

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  6. Looks great. We're mostly done up up here. I wish I had a green house...

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