I have a few cacti & succulents along with 10 orchids, 9 of which I got from Lone.

I have a venus flytrap (which I am amazed is still alive) and some cuttings from a horsetail plant that are rooting. Yay!

We also have ferns, ficus, and a vine-like plant. But those don't really count because my Dad takes care of them, not me.

I have 3 cats and an English Pointer and Alaskan Malamute that share the house with us. There seems to be nowhere that I can grow a plant that they will not chew/dig in/pee on except for one fishhook barrel cactus.

Um- guilty as charged- Houseplants.
My husband is always so pleased when the weather turns warm and he can see through the windows again. I have far too many- but they are tough cookies- with a strong will to live to last at my place....
Julie

I'm again trying to overwinter my rosemary indoors which, in the past, has always seemed to dry up on me and once it gets crispy it won't come back. This year I've vowed to keep it well watered and misted and so far so good. I'm also trying to keep several scented geraniums alive til spring--I've never had a lot of luck with them indoors because my windows are all east and west. I'm also experimenting with growing my lemon grass indoors and it's got quite a bit of new growth. I think forced air natural gas heat, like I have, is a bit harder on the plants and dries them out more. I just have to be diligent with the misting!! Oh, I'm also trying to keep my lemon verbena alive and although the growth is weak, it's still hanging in there.

I have found that supplemental light is needed to keep the life force flowing in my tender perennials as I over winter them- I have also learned to use an oversized saucer 1/2 filled with pebbels under those moisture loving plants. I try to keep the water level equal or just below the pebble line- so the roots don't stay soaked but natural evaporation will help keep a little extra moisture right around the needy plant.
These trick may work for you r others as well-
Bes of Luck!
Julie

I just bought a lucky bamboo yesterday, my luck was not there for the first two. This will be the last try. I could go to the bamboo forum, but I figure I will ask here first since we are talking the same climate.

Any suggestions on how to keep it alive?

Pauline

Hi Pauline,
Well, "Lucky bamboo" isn't really bamboo at all, it's a dracena.

Don't keep the plant in water, put the cutting in a pot with soil and take care of it like any other house plant. This plant can tolerate low light, but will do much better if you give it good light. In low light, this plant will just slowly fade away.
Good luck,
Mike

Thank you Mike, I will do that. I have a very sunny spot for it.

Pauline

I wonder if anyone's experimented with partially covering moisture-loving plants with something to keep the humidity high. Kinda like some people do with seed starting.

Hard to do it attractively, I suppose...

Try a terrarium with the top ajar, Leaves. Although if I plant a terrarium, I find it much easier to just keep it sealed and forget about having to water it. If you need something big, how about an aquarium, or quite simply: sheets of glass or plexiglass glued together in a box shape (or octagon . . .).