Impulse Buys Are Out in 2003
The buds on my new minature Amaryllis 'Pamela' are about to bloom. I don't typically name my plants but I'm predictably naming this one after Pam Anderson Lee (or whatever she's going by these days). How fitting that the flower is the same red as the Baywatch bathing suits.
I've decided not to do an "End of year plants I've killed within 2002 wrap-up". I just don't have the strength as I am currently mourning what I am predicting is the imminent death of the Vanda orchid. I will never make a stupid mistake like that again. "No more plant impulse buys". That's my mantra for 2003. Between the Vanda, the cardamom and the bishop's cap cactus (Astrophytum) in my desertarium that just yesterday came down with some unknown fungal disease, there has been too much plant death within a short time span. I have no idea how the bishop's cap cactus, which I want you to know I have successfully nourished for YEARS, fell victim to a fungal disease when I haven't watered the desertarium in over two months. I swear that aquarium is cursed. There is plenty of ventilation as the top isn't sealed, yet it developed an odd, white fungus that spread along the top overnight and rotted the plant to the core. I'm very mystified by the whole thing.
To make matters worse I've been searching for months for new cacti to complete my desertarium and now I've got to do a bit of an overhaul to be sure that the mystery fungus doesn't spread through the soil to my other happy cacti.
On the bright side, my staghorn fern is still fighting the scale insect and has recently sprouted three new fronds with a fourth on the way! They are so lovely and covered in tiny grey fuzz (the special cells that suck up moisture from the air). All hope is not lost.
Top 10 Plants in 2001
and
Part 2
posted at 11:50 PM
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