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February vignettes

February 2, 2020 by ofsmallthings

Inevitably, if you collect plants long enough, and with enough vigor, you will run out of space. My partner and I bought our house two years ago, at which time all my plants and frogs were confined to two walls of a small bedroom. Both of the small spare rooms are now filled to the brim, and the living space is not far behind. It has been a fun challenge, to find plants that are suited to terrariums and open […]

Categories: Blog, Cultivation, Plant Photo Library • Tags: greenspace, growout, house, houseplant, plants, showerplant, takingover, terrariums, vignette, windowplant

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Ardisia mamillata

January 5, 2020 by ofsmallthings

This variable species occurs in China and has at least two color forms that look drastically different. There are green and pink types, pictured below. The growth habit is similar but the pink one seems to have more upright new growth, whereas the green one produces new growth that faces toward the ground. This species can grow to about 8 inches but often stays smaller. It is covered in fuzzy hairs and produces fruits that turn from cream to red […]

Categories: Blog, Plant Photo Library • Tags: ardisia, china, hairy, mamillata, medium, small

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Collecting Begonia Seed

January 4, 2020 by ofsmallthings

This article is meant as an introduction to collecting Begonia seed, primarily for those who are new to identifying flower parts and collecting seed. I have only been doing this since early fall, so take this with a grain of salt. One of the purposes here is to combine information from multiple sources into one article. All information pulled directly from external sources is credited. The following information is what I have found to be true in collecting Begonia species […]

Categories: Blog, Cultivation • Tags: bloom, collection, fertile, flower, ovary, pollinate, seed, seeds

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Begonia aff. versicolor ‘Red and Black’

January 3, 2020 by ofsmallthings

This plant has been sold in Asia under the name ‘versicolor red and black’, however, I have not seen any evidence of flowers to confirm this. It is a newer species to cultivation, whatever it is. It does resemble versicolor in the compact growth habit, but it grows its rhizome in more of a trailing way than other versicolor forms. The leaves maintain their beautiful color, getting darker with maturity. The new growth is a bright reddish-pink, as are the […]

Categories: Blog, Plant Photo Library • Tags: aff., asia, begonia, fuzzy, medium, noid, red and black, small, versicolor

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Episcia lilacina

January 2, 2020 by ofsmallthings

This beautiful Episcia species is unique in that its flowers aren’t the typical orange or red, but a blueish violet. The leaves are beautifully patterned with green venation on dark purple-brown leaves. It occurs throughout central and northern South America, as far south as Colombia.

Categories: Blog • Tags: episcia, gesneriad, lilacina

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Episcia ‘Chocolate Velvet’

January 1, 2020 by ofsmallthings

The name Chocolate Velvet sums up this plant pretty well. Its dark leaves are a dark purple-brown, and covered in fuzz. Flowers are hot pink.

Categories: Blog, Plant Photo Library • Tags: chocolate, episcia, gesneriad, medium, pink, velvet

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Pearcea sp. Ecuador

December 30, 2019 by ofsmallthings

This pretty Pearcea from Ecuador is a newer plant to cultivation. It is fairly compact, especially for a Pearcea, and it is a beautiful purple-brown with tiny pink hairs. It usually stays around eight inches but can get a little taller in certain growing conditions.

Categories: Blog, Plant Photo Library • Tags: Ecuador, fuzzy, gesneriad, hairy, pearcea, pink, purple

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Begonia U400

December 30, 2019 by ofsmallthings

This Begonia was introduced by Don Miller in the 90’s from Penang Botanical Garden in Malaysia. It is an easy grower, and makes a stunning terrarium or house plant, although it grows more vigorously in high humidity. The leaf edges have a subtle pink tint to them, and the uppermost part of the stem where it attaches to the leaf is pink. The leaf veins are dark green, with the rest of the leaf being a striking silver. Despite its […]

Categories: Blog, Plant Photo Library • Tags: begonia, Malaysia, u400

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Vasya’s greenhouse AKA paradise

December 27, 2019 by ofsmallthings

Let me start off by saying that Vasya is one of the most humble and kind people I have ever met. He is incredibly generous with his plants and time. Thanks so much to Deann for inviting me. Even though his greenhouse looks like it has been set up for decades, it is only seven years old! It is E/W facing, and the south wall is shared with the house, meaning that the kitchen window looks out onto the greenhouse! The […]

Categories: Blog, Cultivation, garden, Plant Photo Library, Terrarium • Tags: amaze, greenhouse, paradise, tour, vasya

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