Growing things

[vaneramos]

Danny came down for the weekend. He had to bring homework for his spinning course. He spent more than six hours yesterday at the wheel. At least he is here.

I like working on my own projects when somebody is around. I hadn't specifically planned this as a work weekend, but yesterday I tinkered at Pilgrim's Cross for about 90 minutes, pulling a long passage from some work I wrote during an online writing course last winter, adding it to the introductory paragraphs I've hammered out recently, and revising to fit the narrative voice as it has evolved. It felt very productive and satisfying. I like being alone, but it's easier to sit still and write when I am not.

This morning I got up early feeling cranky and rickety. The routine was a struggle, but it made my mind open and grow limber, like massaging a muscle. This must be the purpose of the morning writing, 100 words and 200 words. I might not make progress on the novel every day, but I will be better prepared to write evenings and weekends.

Saturday morning I picked up a Phalaenopsis orchid at the farmers' market. I haven't kept orchids in years. This one has blotchy deep maroon petals with a hint of yellow at the centre, such a lovely thing. I've been wanting to try orchids in the bathroom window, but now checking on their culture I'm concerned the southwest light will be too intense.

Comments

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

The ones here sit in a south-facing window, and no probs. The hard part is giving them the chill in the autumn that triggers the spike.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Okay! Do they have to be kept cool day and night in autumn? I have baseboards, so it's easy to keep the bathroom cool at night, but it tends to warm up on sunny days even when the heat is set low.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

depends on whether it's a Phal or a Doritanopsis ("Dtps."), does the label say?

But generally - starting in September, nights under 60F will do the trick. Some of them are dead easy, others are persnickety.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

No label unfortunately. I was unaware of Dtps, but it looks like a Phal. I'll post some pics one of these days. Do you have any advice about watering?

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

keep the medium moist but never let it sit in water ... the roots apparently die if they are immersed in water for more than half an hour or so. damp is good but wet is a problem. better to err on the side of less than too much; they are pretty resilient about too little water actually. humidity on the other hand, they will enjoy as much as you can give them.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

P.S. The two scented geranium cuttings I kept are starting to produce new growth.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

the ones here are doing OK ... did you want these?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

No thanks. One of each is enough. I'm fond of scented geraniums, so I'm going to try to pick up a couple different ones.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

these came from Richter's

you could combine that with a trip to Stouffville ... :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Good thinking! I was looking for a reason to go to Stouffville.

[missprune.livejournal.com]

Your new icon is very pretty!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's actually an old favourite of herb-robert, a modest little wild Geranium of which I'm fond.