My Plant Collection

In 2015 I started slowly, but surely, growing my plant collection when I moved into my own studio unit. I always loved cacti, but never really understood how someone could go crazy over plants. Well it's safe to say I now get it. I recently started cataloguing the plants I have (though I did throw the first few labels out unfortunately) and thought I'd start sharing my little babies with you. I recently got a typewriter off Gumtree for the bargain price of $10, and also picked up a massive basket of books from Gumtree as well for free! It seems the stars aligned, because a few of the books were quite old and had a good chunk of pages missing. Obviously they're unreadable so I was going to throw them  out, but when I got my typewriter (the font of which it produces I absolutely love), I got my D.I.Y cap on and decided to use that old book for my plant records.

Cereus forbesii/peruvianus

Cereus is the name given to around 33 different cacti species. Those cacti within the cereus genre are generally columnar in shape and have ribbed stems that usually have large areoles that bear spikes.
  A slow grower, they can reach up to four metres in height, though this can vary depending on the care given to them. They can be kept both indoors & outdoors, though if they are kept in a garden rather than a pot they can grow much larger. Flowers can appear on them as they grow older. These flowers are usually white in colour, though sometimes they may be pink, purple, yellow or somewhat green. They usually only open at night.

Polaskia Chichi

Named after the American amateur Charles Polaski, the two cacti species within this genre tend to be found in the Mexican states of Puebla & Oaxaca, where it's cultivated for it's fruit. They have the potential to grow up to five metres, shooting upright in a cylindrical, tree-like shape. Suitable for both indoors & outdoors, occasionally extra branches can begin to grow from the base. Small yellowish-gran flowers can appear on older plants. They are slow growers & can withstand the cold, however they shouldn't be exposed to freezing temperatures.

Mammillaria Microhelia

A small columnar, perennial-shaped cacti, the 275 species of cacti in this genre can either grow as a single column or form in clumps. The plant can develop cream spines, which turn brown & discolour with ages. In spring they can grow white to purplish coloured, bell-shaped flowers. The cacti can grow up to 15cm tall & 5cm in diameter. Like most cacti, overwatering needs to be avoided & they shouldn't be left sitting in damp soil. It's also recommended to give them a cooling-off period in winter where they are not watered.

Senecio mandraliscae - 'Blue Chalk'

An easy to care for succulent, the senecio mandraliscae has flesh-like, chalky blue, finger-shaped leaves (hence the common name 'Blue Chalk').
  It's a quick spreading plant that will fill any large area with its carpet-like effect. Best placed in full sun or a place with only part-shade, Blue Chalk is quite drought tolerant, however it will grow quicker with regular watering. Perfect for coastal gardens or hanging baskets, the only maintenance needed is to cut off the flowering stalks & any stray branches that don't appeal.

Echeveria yamatoren

Belonging to the Echeveria genius of flowering plants in the Crassulacene family, these succulents are named after the 18th century Mexican botanical artist Atanasio Echeveria y Godoy. The compact rosettes of the succulent can produce flowers that arise on short stems. The succulent will flower & seed over time, meaning numerous offsets can be produced; this process is sometimes called 'hen and chicks'. The bright colour of their foliage, which is enhanced in the cooler months, means that they can add an interesting effect. They are perfect gap fillers for your garden.

Sedum 'Blue Feather'

With over 100 different species of sedum, each varies in height, colour & flower shape.

   The sedum 'Blue Feather' has blue-grey leaves that are perfect for decorating your garden or placing in hanging baskets. With fleshy leaves & stems, the Blue Feather is low maintenance & thrives best if it's kept moist during warmer months & dry during cooler months.

Venus Flytrap - 'Fang'

This carnivorous plant catches insects & spiders by trapping the prey by closing its 'mouth'. This action is triggered by the insect or spider coming into contact with tiny hairs on the plant's leaves as it crawls along them. It's quite a smart plant however, as it will only close up if another hair is also touched within 20 seconds of the first one. This ensures the plant doesn't waste energy trapping objects that won't give them any nutritional value.

  The small holes that are left when the trap closes lets small prey escape. This is supposedly so that the plant doesn't end up spending energy digesting an insect or spider that won't give them much nutrition. If however, the prey continues to move inside the trap, the plant will close higher so digestion occurs quicker.

In 2015 I started slowly, but surely, growing my plant collection when I moved into my own studio unit. I always loved cacti, but never really understood how someone could go crazy over plants. Well it's safe to say I now get it. I recently started cataloguing the plants I have (though I did throw the first few labels out unfortunately) and thought I'd start sharing my little babies with you. I recently got a typewriter off Gumtree for the bargain price of $10, and also picked up a massive basket of books from Gumtree as well for free! It seems the stars aligned, because a few of the books were quite old and had a good chunk of pages missing. Obviously they're unreadable so I was going to throw them  out, but when I got my typewriter (the font of which it produces I absolutely love), I got my D.I.Y cap on and decided to use that old book for my plant records.

Cereus forbesii/peruvianus

Cereus is the name given to around 33 different cacti species. Those cacti within the cereus genre are generally columnar in shape and have ribbed stems that usually have large areoles that bear spikes.
  A slow grower, they can reach up to four metres in height, though this can vary depending on the care given to them. They can be kept both indoors & outdoors, though if they are kept in a garden rather than a pot they can grow much larger. Flowers can appear on them as they grow older. These flowers are usually white in colour, though sometimes they may be pink, purple, yellow or somewhat green. They usually only open at night.

Polaskia Chichi

Named after the American amateur Charles Polaski, the two cacti species within this genre tend to be found in the Mexican states of Puebla & Oaxaca, where it's cultivated for it's fruit. They have the potential to grow up to five metres, shooting upright in a cylindrical, tree-like shape. Suitable for both indoors & outdoors, occasionally extra branches can begin to grow from the base. Small yellowish-gran flowers can appear on older plants. They are slow growers & can withstand the cold, however they shouldn't be exposed to freezing temperatures.

Mammillaria Microhelia

A small columnar, perennial-shaped cacti, the 275 species of cacti in this genre can either grow as a single column or form in clumps. The plant can develop cream spines, which turn brown & discolour with ages. In spring they can grow white to purplish coloured, bell-shaped flowers. The cacti can grow up to 15cm tall & 5cm in diameter. Like most cacti, overwatering needs to be avoided & they shouldn't be left sitting in damp soil. It's also recommended to give them a cooling-off period in winter where they are not watered.

Senecio mandraliscae - 'Blue Chalk'

An easy to care for succulent, the senecio mandraliscae has flesh-like, chalky blue, finger-shaped leaves (hence the common name 'Blue Chalk').
  It's a quick spreading plant that will fill any large area with its carpet-like effect. Best placed in full sun or a place with only part-shade, Blue Chalk is quite drought tolerant, however it will grow quicker with regular watering. Perfect for coastal gardens or hanging baskets, the only maintenance needed is to cut off the flowering stalks & any stray branches that don't appeal.

Echeveria yamatoren

Belonging to the Echeveria genius of flowering plants in the Crassulacene family, these succulents are named after the 18th century Mexican botanical artist Atanasio Echeveria y Godoy. The compact rosettes of the succulent can produce flowers that arise on short stems. The succulent will flower & seed over time, meaning numerous offsets can be produced; this process is sometimes called 'hen and chicks'. The bright colour of their foliage, which is enhanced in the cooler months, means that they can add an interesting effect. They are perfect gap fillers for your garden.

Sedum 'Blue Feather'

With over 100 different species of sedum, each varies in height, colour & flower shape.

   The sedum 'Blue Feather' has blue-grey leaves that are perfect for decorating your garden or placing in hanging baskets. With fleshy leaves & stems, the Blue Feather is low maintenance & thrives best if it's kept moist during warmer months & dry during cooler months.

Venus Flytrap - 'Fang'

This carnivorous plant catches insects & spiders by trapping the prey by closing its 'mouth'. This action is triggered by the insect or spider coming into contact with tiny hairs on the plant's leaves as it crawls along them. It's quite a smart plant however, as it will only close up if another hair is also touched within 20 seconds of the first one. This ensures the plant doesn't waste energy trapping objects that won't give them any nutritional value.

  The small holes that are left when the trap closes lets small prey escape. This is supposedly so that the plant doesn't end up spending energy digesting an insect or spider that won't give them much nutrition. If however, the prey continues to move inside the trap, the plant will close higher so digestion occurs quicker.

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posted by The Noise in Wonderland . 2/13/16 .