New way to grow Vanilla Orchid, and a wise message at the end
Vanilla planifolia - Vanilla Bean Orchid
🎆 New way to grow Vanilla Orchid, and a wise message at the end
✨ Vanilla planifolia - Vanilla Bean Orchid (they call it also Madagascar, Bourbon, or French Vanilla) discovered a new set up!
✨ I gave this vanilla orchid as a tiny plant last year: "Bathroom with a skylight, add trellis" - classic vanilla advice.
✨ Fast forward to this Christmas - and this thing has gone rogue! It climbed out of the bathroom, marched down the hallway, and claimed the concrete wall by the front door. And yes, it looks very happy doing it!
✨ Every visitor stops. Every visitor stares. And then they notice the sign underneath. Turns out vanilla orchids are excellent at pointing things out.
✨ If you’ve ever wondered where vanilla really wants to grow… this one has opinions. Add something unexpected to your garden - or your house.
Do not throw out your poinsettia - 4 simple tips how to keep it alive for next Christmas
Poinsettia - Euphorbia pulcherrima veriegated leaves
Poinsettia - Euphorbia pulcherrima - white, pink and red
Poinsettia - Euphorbia pulcherrima - white and red
Poinsettia - Euphorbia pulcherrima - in a pot
🎄 Do not throw out your poinsettia - 4 simple tips how to keep it alive for next Christmas
Poinsettias - Euphorbia_pulcherrima - are tender perennials, not one-season plants. After the holidays they naturally fade, rest, and regroup. With a few simple care tweaks, a healthy plant can live all year and rebloom next winter.
🎄 1. Let it rest after the holidays
✦ Flowering ends naturally - faded bracts and some leaf drop are normal.
✦ Prune when bracts fall: cut stems back by 1/3 to 1/2, leaving 4-5 inches.
✦ Wear gloves - the sap can irritate skin.
✦ Move to a cooler, bright spot for 4-6 weeks.
✦ Ideal temp: 55-60°F
✦ Reduce watering.
✦ Water only when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
✦ Avoid soggy soil.
🎄 2. Repot in late spring
✦ New growth usually starts in late spring.
✦ Repot at this stage to refresh nutrients and give roots space.
✦ Use a well-draining, slightly acidic potting mix.
✦ Choose a pot only slightly larger, with drainage holes.
✦ Loosen roots gently and remove old compacted soil.
✦ Water lightly, then place in a bright, warm spot.
✦ Resume regular watering and light feeding through spring and summer.
🎄 3. Adjust care during the growing season
✦ Increase temperature gradually to 64-68°F.
✦ Water more often once growth resumes.
✦ Wilted or curling leaves signal thirst.
✦ Water thoroughly and evenly.
✦ Bright light is key, but avoid harsh direct sun.
✦ Use sheer curtains or a grow light if needed.
✦ Fertilize periodically with a balanced houseplant fertilizer.
✦ Pinch back new shoots in late spring for a fuller, bushier plant.
🎄 4. Preparing for winter color
✦ In fall, poinsettias need long nights to bloom.
✦ Provide 12-14 hours of complete darkness nightly for 6-8 weeks.
✦ This triggers colorful bracts in time for the holidays.
❓ Quick FAQ
Can it go outside?
Yes, in warm months only. Bring it indoors before temps drop below 50°F.
Winter outdoors?
No - poinsettias are cold-sensitive and must stay inside.
🎄 Poinsettias don't die after Christmas - they just take a nap. Give them rest, light, and patience, and they will reward you next year.
Center of the world tree that stops traffic in Florida - now fits in a pot
Ceiba Dwarf Pink Princess
🗿 Center of the world tree that stops traffic in Florida - now fits in a pot
🎥 Ceiba Dwarf Pink Princess
🌸 If you’ve ever visited Florida in winter, you’ve probably seen those unbelievable pink trees in full bloom - that’s a Ceiba (Chorisia) speciosa, also known as the Kapok or Pink Silk Floss tree, famous for its hibiscus-like flowers and fluffy silk pods.
🌸 The problem? The classic Ceiba can grow 40 feet tall.
This one doesn’t! Ceiba hybrid Dwarf Pink Princess stays compact - about 8-12 feet in the ground and even smaller in a pot.
And unlike seed-grown trees, this one blooms right away because it’s grafted! No long wait.
🌸 In winter, it drops most of its leaves and explodes into thousands of soft pink flowers. Same wow factor. Just a fraction of the size.
Perfect for small yards, patios, balconies, or anyone who wants a show-stopping winter tree without committing to a giant.
🌸 #Fun_facts: the ancient Maya believed the Ceiba was the sacred tree at the center of the world, connecting earth to the sky.
🌸 So yes… You can officially say you’re growing the center of the world in your backyard.
9 tropical vegetables to grow indoors, or how to have garden-fresh produce all year
9 tropical vegetables to grow indoors
🌱 9 tropical vegetables to grow indoors, or how to have garden-fresh produce all year
Cold weather does not have to mean the end of homegrown food. According to Southern Living, vegetables like lettuce, carrots, and radishes can be grown indoors during winter. The downside is that most of these are annuals - you harvest once, then start over.
Tropical vegetables work differently. Many are perennial, long-living plants that grow well in containers and keep producing for years. Grow them indoors year-round, move them outside in summer for extra sun and growth, then bring them back indoors before cold weather. With enough light and regular care, these plants can provide fresh harvests in every season.
✅ Tips for growing tropical vegetables indoors
📍Place plants near a bright window or supplement with grow lights for steady growth
📍Use containers with good drainage and quality potting mix
📍Keep plants away from cold drafts and heating vents
📍Rotate pots and prune regularly to encourage fresh, tender growth
📍Feed regularly with natural Sunshine Boosters - they are formulated for edibles
✅ Tropical vegetables to grow indoors
🌿 Gynura procubens - Longevity Spinach, Cholesterol spinach - a fast-growing leafy green often called a superfood. The tender leaves are used fresh or lightly cooked and can be harvested repeatedly. This plant stays compact, handles containers easily, and regrows quickly after cutting.
🌿 Sauropus androgynus - Katuk, Tropical Asparagus. One of Southeast Asia’s most popular leafy vegetables. Katuk produces edible shoots and leaves that are cooked in soups and stews. It grows well indoors and rewards regular harvesting with constant new growth.
🌿 Cymbopogon citratus - Lemon grass: a tough, productive plant that adapts well to container growing. The stalks and leaves are used for teas, soups, and flavoring. Indoors, it grows more slowly but stays productive, especially when moved outdoors in summer.
🌿 Lippia dulcis - Aztec Sweet Herb, Sweetleaf: a low-growing herb with naturally sweet leaves. The foliage can be eaten fresh or used as a sugar substitute in teas and desserts. It stays compact, tolerates pruning, and performs well in pots indoors.
🌿 Piper sarmentosum - Vietnamese Pepper, Lalot: grown for its aromatic, edible leaves rather than peppercorns. The leaves are eaten fresh, cooked, or used as food wraps. This plant stays manageable indoors with light pruning.
🌿Piper nigrum - Black Pepper: the true black pepper vine. Grows well indoors as a container vine with support. It prefers warm temperatures, steady moisture, and bright filtered light.
🌿 Piper auritum - Root Beer Plant, False Kava-Kava: close relative of Piper methysticum (Kava-Kava) known for its large, fragrant leaves with a spicy, root beer-like aroma. The leaves are used for wrapping foods and flavoring dishes. Best grown indoors with room for its bold foliage.
🌿 Piper betle - Betel leaf: a traditional edible and medicinal leaf used widely in Asia. The glossy leaves are harvested continuously and used fresh or as wraps. This vine grows well indoors with warmth, humidity, and a small trellis.
🌿Piper longum - Indian Long Pepper, Pippali, Bengal Pepper: A tropical pepper relative grown for its elongated spice fruits and edible leaves. Slower to fruit indoors but easy to maintain as a leafy spice plant in containers with bright light and regular feeding.
Tropical vegetables make indoor gardening more rewarding because they do not stop after one harvest. With containers, light, and basic care, these plants can become long-term food producers that move seamlessly between indoors and outdoors - keeping fresh flavors within reach all year.
