Late winter look at plants in the cold building

[lucky1]

Temps inside this winter hovered around 5 to 8 C.

But now, late winter sun shining through big windows is warming the plant room to 15 C.
Much too warm, so had to water everything a lot yesterday:

Nearly used up all the water in Garbage buckets lined with big recycling bags (the building's water lines are drained for winter.)

Things look dry-ish but good:

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/550 ... 506e95.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04550" />

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/550 ... 7b82fb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04551" />

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/550 ... d85f59.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC04548" />

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/550 ... b02465.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04547" />

The Jade Tree is in full bloom:
<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/550 ... 3feaae.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04523" />

Come on, Spring!

Barb

[lucky1]

A few more:

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/550 ... 316469.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC04528" />

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/550 ... 203b58.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04527" />

a ladybug on this Chamaerops humilis:
<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/550 ... c02bc7.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSC04526" />

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/550 ... 2d0221.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC04549" />

Barb

[TerdalFarm]

They look great to me. Really shows the value of keeping 'em in pots to bring in for the winter.

[Wes North Van]

Barb you inspired my wife and I to get a jade plant when I saw a pic of yours over a year ago. Now I learn today that they flower. I had no idea they did that.
Can't wait till ours flowers. How big do they have to be to flower?

[lucky1]

Keeping all my pots indoors allows me to sleep better without worrying during winter

Wes, had the Jade for probably 35 years, can't remember how long it took to bloom.
Probably close to 10 or 12 years maybe.
It flowers every winter for 3+ months.

The trick with these is an unglazed clay pot, succulent mix, if patio is very hot, put in shady spot or leaves will burn and turn red.
Water every 2 wks during hot weather.
Don't be in a hurry to pot up, they like to be tight in the pot.

Winter: south window full sun, cold (unused) room, never freezing temps, water maybe twice in 3 or 4 months.

Finally had to plant mine in a huge plastic pot when it outgrew affordable clay pots.

Barb

[hardyjim]

Looks good Barb!

My Jade has been halved,I guess it got tired of being exposed
(3 times)to freezing temps of mid 20s-or less.
I do have a nice branch off it rooting and it's regrowing from the nubs

Mine was a 10" cutting off a bush in San Francisco,took about 7-8 years to bloom.

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Nice pics Barb. That variegated Spanish dagger has grown quite a bit since I seen it last. Washy`s looking good,as well as everything else. I bet they all can`t wait to be outside.

John

[TerdalFarm]

Wes,
thanks for pointing that out. Now that I think about it, I have never seen a jade plant in flower. That is really special. --Erik

[lucky1]

I do have a nice branch off it rooting

Jim, what did you do before planting?
after drying the branch end to form a callous, did you peel off an inch or two of the "rind" before planting?

We had to prune a big branch to get it through the door last year.
Dried it for 2 wks, then peeled a bit and stuck it an inch into soil, with support so it wouldn't fall over.
I don't know if a 3-foot long branch will root.

John, palms are going out to the roofed patio today.
Hope they can stay there!

[hardyjim]

Nothing,you could run one of those over with the lawn mower and have Jade plants everywhere.
The branches sprout(any size)the trunk,leaves-break the top of and it will put roots out along the whole length!

[lucky1]

I've seen 3-inch broken tips root where they fall, wasn't sure about the big branches.
Barb

[CTPalm]

Jades are easy to root, I had one fall over and break into 30 or more pieces I just stuck all the pieces in soil and every one grew into a new plant. I gave them all away.

Barb - you have a nice one - I did not know they bloomed either. The one I have left is the one that fell over and broke but the main trunk survived and re-grew into a nice looking plant, probably about 13 years old now. Only about 18" tall though.

Paul

[hardyjim]

The leaves will root too if your not careful!

They are prolific little suckers!

[Dean W.]

I enjoyed looking at your pics, Barb. It's good to know it's getting warmer.