Better Know a Houseplant: Euphorbia Milii Splendens

In my first discussion of insecticidal soap I mentioned how it must not be applied to Euphorbia milii splendens, the Crown of Thorns. Mine is currently in bloom for the first time this season, and in this post I introduce this graceful plant and discuss how I care for it - but I might as well cut it short by saying it is very easy to care for. So, if you find yourself intrigued by its spiny stems and striking delicate flowers, go ahead and purchase one, it will definitely add to your plant display.

Plant Anatomy and Functions

Nature is but an image or imitation of wisdom, the last thing of the soul; nature being a thing which doth only do, but not know.
- Plotinus

So, while I am excitedly monitoring and documenting the progress of my seedlings and preparing my container garden for the first transplants (as well as respective posts too, of course, to be published soon - I can't wait to transplant my first veggies!), I also have been working on a number of posts about houseplant care and plant nutrient needs. While at it, I realized how often plant parts and aspects of their life cycle are referenced; and I thought, at this point, it would be useful to post an entry just about that.

In the process, the glossary has been extensively updated, so I will take the chance to highlight that feature of the blog - check it out. The post includes a simple factsheet embedded below and which you can also directly view and download here.

This entry focuses on flowering plants, and it is pretty elementary. But it never hurts to revisit the fundamentals, and it does make for better plant care and gardening to know your botany - well, the bare bones of it.

My Latest Plant Addition: Plumeria alba

Today the plant nursery I deal with finally delivered on a promise to procure a West Indian Jasmine (botanical name: Plumeria alba) for me. The coveted plant, with its beautiful highly fragrant flowers is fairly common in Egypt; however, at the nursery, only very large specimen had been available.
The one I obtained is of exactly the correct size, but alas, I found it to be in a less than perfect condition: the three stems have very little foliage, and they show no promise of blossoming this season.
Nonetheless, I did purchase the plant and dutifully repotted it; it now adorns the easternmost corner of my balcony. I hope I will be able to nurse it into a more vivid state. And who knows, maybe it will reward me with a late-season bloom.

Better Know a House Plant: Punica Granatum Nana

Punica is a dwarf variety of pomegranate. The plant looks like a miniature tree with woody stems, glossy light green elongated leaves, and it produces plumpish teardrop shaped flower buds that are bright red. I have three plants arranged in a trough, and since taking residence in a north-facing balcony about four months ago they have been blossoming more or less continuously.

In this post, I discuss my experience in caring for my pomegranate trees and the conditions under which they thrive.