This Week In Houseplants

Featuring a Calathea that actually wants to live and the best charity shop purchase EVER

I began writing this article thinking that a rhizome from the Calathea I got for my birthday in 2020 is responsible for this fella popping up unannounced in my Philodendron brasil:

And then I realised it’s actually WAY more likely that it came from the tiny baby one I used to keep in the terrarium. And apparently totally forgot about.

Still, it’s been a good year since the terrarium was dismantled and this fella just popped up this week.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND FOR A FIVER:

FIVE POUNDS.

I love it so much. Dave was carrying it round Tesco on the way back and so many people complimented it.

It was meant to be - when I took it to the counter to pay the guy said ‘I only just put that out’ in a really confused voice . Yes mate, because it’s the most incredible thing ever, you put it right in the window and IT WAS A FIVER.

It’s currently a Calathea recovery unit.

Speaking of Calathea recovery, my Orbifolia is springing back to life:

As is my little Alocasia Amazonica:

Want to know what happens when plants get too much light:

This:

I mean, it also has a couple of thrips but it needs to tone down the variegation. That’s supposed to be a Philodendron brasil. There’s *some* green on the leaf (peep that sliver of green down the edge) but I’ve moved it back from the window because frankly, another plant needs the light more.

Also that baby Calathea will frazzle there. I have no plans to separate the two plants because I have another Calathea Velvet touch and have no desire to have a second BUT I’m going to try to keep both the brasil and the velvet touch alive. Whilst the Calathea can’t hack Philodendron care, the philodendron will be fine with Calathea care. I can’t remember the exact soil mix but I’m guessing it’s whatever was in the terrarium cut with a lot of LECA so there’s no reason that they can’t both thrive. We shall see!

The Amydrium medium silver is doing so well. Hopefully fenestrated leaves will be along shortly.

The Thai is back in soil and has been allowed to crawl. We shall see how it progresses (if it progresses). The pot is currently overkill so I’ve balanced my prop box and Monstera seedlings on the parts that aren’t in use.

This Monstera is in a north-facing window that’s way colder is putting the Thai to shame.

Looking for cheap pond plants? Dave shoved some watercress in the pond and it grew SO quickly.

Literally just a bag of watercress from the salad section in Tesco. It’s flowered and everything:

excuse the algae sheet. It helps protect the bugs and stuff in the changeable weather

And that’s it for this week! See you next time!