Paul,
Orchids are something I've all but given up on. But, maybe when there's more room one day, I'll try again. I have read that "mini" Phals you find in the store are stunted somehow with chemicals(?) to keep them small and they outgrow that over time. I would love to have a true mini (I didn't know there were "true" minis, I just thought the word mini was made up after hearing about the chemicals), they are so darn cute!

I have a couple plants I just purchased that are in bloom. One of which is being camera shy right now so I only have a picture of the other one in bloom.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana:
{{gwi:83239}}

Now for the plants that have started blooming after purchase:

Chlorophytum laxum 'Bichetii'' Has been blooming non-stop since about January/February:

Unknown African Violet (Optimara NOID):
{{gwi:83242}}

African Violet (Optimara 'Manitoba'):
{{gwi:83243}}

Thanks for looking,
Planto

This post was edited by plantomaniac08 on Tue, Apr 8, 14 at 18:43

Okay, the other plant has decided to stop being camera shy. This is not really a "houseplant," but I'm growing my succulents indoors and this one cactus as I fear they will scorch outside.

Thanks for looking.
Planto

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii friedrichii (Plaid Cactus)

My new English-Pelargoni. I like it very mutch.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:83137}}

Paul...You know how I feel about orchids...So beautiful! Does that cross have a name? It's beautiful...

Planto...Marvelous...I love that flower...

Mike

Fin, that's beautiful..

Mike

First the flowers.....

Standard 'double petal' African Violet

{{gwi:83244}}

Miniature African Violets
{{gwi:83245}}

Gasteria Liliputana close up of flower spike:
{{gwi:83246}}

Pelargonium variegated:

{{gwi:83249}}

I shot all with "new eye glasses" (no line bifocal) I also have a thick skin here if out of focus feel free to say something

This post was edited by nomen_nudum on Mon, Apr 7, 14 at 18:20

nomen_nudum,
Those are beautiful! I'm a sucker for purple, so I love your 'double' African Violet. Could you provide a less blurry picture of your variegated Pelargonium? I have a couple outside that I just purchased earlier this year and plan on growing them as houseplants this winter. I'm intrigued by a variegated variety. :)

The eye doctor keeps telling my Mother she needs bifocals, but she just has me read things when we're together it seems. :P

Planto

Thanks Planto, making note to use bottom half of glasses when focusing.

{{gwi:83250}}

I hear you and understand completly, there is one born every minute too.
{{gwi:83251}}

At request of planto:

{{gwi:83252}}

Anouther side

{{gwi:83253}}

Check out this small flower it blooms like clock work even inside during winter Go figure I have a full sun plant that doesn't even need sun.

{{gwi:83254}}
Euphorbia Obesa uncertain to it's gender identity

Nomen,
Thanks for the pictures! I've never seen flowers or foliage like that on a Pelargonium before. I have a couple outdoors that are currently in bloom, I hope you don't mind me sharing. This is my first year growing Pelgargoniums, but I'm planning on growing them as perennials, so I'm going to bring them indoors this winter.

Ivy Pelargonium and Zonal Pelgargonium:
{{gwi:83255}}

Closeup of Ivy Pelargonium ('Global Ruby Twist')
{{gwi:83256}}

Planto

Love the "Global Ruby Twist". Too bad they don't do well outside once the heat of summer sets in here.

Would need a clearer closer shot to be sure, Nomen, but it looks like your obesa might be a girl.

Paul,
Hmm, if you're in zone 5 and they don't do well in your summer, I'm afraid of our zone 8 summer. I might just have to move it once Summer hits. I hope it doesn't die, but if all else, I only paid $3 for it and it was a great plant while it lasted (never know until you try!).

Planto

Planto, you have wonderful pelargoniums. I hadn't seen yet the colouring your Global Ruby Twist has, very beautiful.

Close up:
{{gwi:83257}}

{{gwi:83258}}
Would crossing the two in both directions be worth a try ?

Lii-sama,
Thank you! I never knew "Ivy Geraniums" existed until a month or so ago and just had to pick one up. The nursery I went to also had a red/white one (same flowers and leaves, just substitute the raspberry with red).

Planto

Planto, many if not most of the ivy geraniums do not take high heat (temps in the mid to upper 80sF and higher) well. In this they differ greatly from zonal geraniums. They definitely do not handle high heat + full sun well. In your region, I would suggest making sure that they are shaded during the late morning through the afternoon once you start hitting your summer temps.

Also, be forewarned should you come across the Martha Washington geraniums (sometimes called Regal geraniums) that those prefer MUCH cooler temps than most geraniums (temps in the 60s-mid 70sF). Much hotter and they die.

Still hard to tell about your obesa, Numen. (So difficult trying to get photos of such little things without a macro lens.) I would still say most probably a female. If you haven't already, try posting it in the cacti forum.

Paul,
Thank you so much for the information. It has been difficult finding something online to tell me what I should do with respects to caring for it with our summer heat. I have read about the Martha Washington geraniums... I didn't know 'Regal' was a synonym though. Thank God I didn't pick one of those up a couple weeks ago, Lowes had some 'Regal Geraniums' for sale.

Planto

Thanks for E.obesa info Paul female votes 7 male votes 4

Still in flower and new addition here (as of a couple weeks ago) a future foliage treat from Mrs. Cox

I first showed this in Dec. or Jan. - still blooming, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana & wax Begonia with double flowers.

Haworthia.

Another Haworthia.

Caught the Callisia fragrans flowers open this morning. Smells so good!

A lot of small blooms on the Euphorbias...but this overwhelmingly fragrant bloom on the Hoya pubicalyx 'Pink Silver' is a lot more striking. I've been snipping off flowers for about three weeks now :-)

Nomen,
I love that Geranium's coloring.

Planto

Cryptanthus bivittatus
I have a number of these in my large terrariums. They surprised me. Typically, IME, as far as one gets is this:

{{gwi:83259}}

{{gwi:83260}}

At which point the bud/sheaths would just brown out. I assumed that it was just one of those plants whose flowers are small and don't open all the way. However, for whatever reason, this go around things were different:

{{gwi:83261}}

{{gwi:83262}}

Underexposed in this shot -- it seemed to make the details a bit easier to see without the glare off the white.

{{gwi:83263}}

Didn't notice any scent, but I would have needed to climb into the tank to get close to the blooms. Blooms, as seems to be the norm with members of the bromeliad family, are short-lived. I think these lasted about 4 or 5 days.

Who likes pansies,they are on the back porch so in a way they are houseplants,hehe

i have over 20 african violets blooming their heads off!

Complaint I have about small flowering Euphorbias is how the"noramal" hoya flowering seasons will elude me so I borrow the hoya fragrence from a friend.

Thanks for the eye candy from the Cryptanthus bivittatus it's absolutely amazing.

Sedum clavatum.

Purple,
I know I typed up a post regarding your Callisia after you posted your photo, but apparently it got eaten. I see they finally behaved long enough for you to take a picture, thanks for sharing!

Planto

Adromischus Marianiae 'Bryan Makin'

I had just posted this as a new topic, but think its better suited here!

Presenting my 50p Ikea reject Peperonia! It's hard to believe it was half dead last autumn....

My Buddha's hand citron (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis) is opening its first bloom of the season! It is mildly fragrant, but I expect that to increase as they all open :)

Hopefully I'll be posting some fruit pictures later in the year!

I think this is a Columnea. I got it from a clipping from my mother-in-law's plant. She jsut called it a "Goldfish Plant". It's the first time it bloomed for me:

{{gwi:46797}}

Also, this was taken last summer, but this Spathiphyllum is *still* blooming. It's bloomed for almost a year straight!

{{gwi:83266}}

Paul,I just want to say how outstanding that cryptanthus in bloom was. I had NO idea they would look like that and had never even thought to look it up. Just...WOW!

Here's some aglaonema bloomage...

From the other side of the clump.

i am relieved that i found a good spot for my anthurium - 1st for me. it produced 2 new leaves and 2 new 'flowers' (in my care since last december).

then last week i just had to grab this mini wonder - i think it's a tulip anthurium, NOID from costafarms. marbled too!
3 flowers and 2 more on the way.

OoO, nice grab!

Planto

Dendrobium Loddigesii

{{gwi:83267}}

Ping 'Aphrodite'

{{gwi:83268}}

D. filiformis 'intermedia'

{{gwi:83269}}

LOVE the leaves on that Adromischus marianiae , Nomen! Can that one be propagated from a leaf?

Sweet looking flowers on your Columnea, Ashley.

That red Anthurium of yours is the ideal for an Anthurium, IMO, Petrushka. Don't care for most of the other colors and form variations I have seen over the years. (Though that marbled one of yours is definitely interesting.)

Nice loddigesii, Tom. Never been able to bloom one of those. Like your Drosera filiformis too. Been looking at getting one of those. Currently have adelae and binata myself.

A few additional bloomers:

This mini flowers profusely in "waves" throughout the year. Individual flowers are only about 2mm across which makes them a pain to get a good close-up without a macro lens or other magnifier.

{{gwi:83270}}

Love the flowers on this one. It can bloom sporadically through the year for me. Only one flower at this time which is unusual -- normally I get 3. Flowers are short-lived (about a week) which is normal for members of this genus and its alliance in general. Flower has a wingspan of about 5inches (12-13cm). The flowers are always pendant.

{{gwi:83271}}

And my ever blooming pot of pings -- P. moranensis and P. Aphrodite. (Not a very good photo, I'm afraid ...)

{{gwi:83272}}

oh, i love that paph!
my biggest caladium produced a 7" spathe. its 8yr old and is grown strictly indoors.