I have a decidedly non-green thumb. After years of losing every plant I tried to maintain, I'd pretty much thrown in the towel until last summer when I moved into my new apartment which has window boxes. I didn't want to let the building down by having brown, scraggly plants so I did research on what would be really likely to survive — in a container, in this climate and (the poor things!) in my care. Turns out choosing a practically guaranteed no-fail plant was the way to go — the plantings made it through the winter and are still going strong (and growing!) one year later.
In my case, a little bit of internet research showed that small boxwood plants would be a good choice for my window boxes. Aside from giving the facade a slightly formal and green year-round look that I like, they work well in containers, are ultra hearty, can survive the cold temps and don't require lots of maintenance. I feel ridiculously proud of their survival and now can be found carefully watering and fussing over them (for a total of 10 minutes - its a pretty small garden!) each weekend.
The lesson? If you've been unsuccessful with plantings in the past but are interested in adding some green growing things to your life (and no, that old cheese in the back of your fridge doesn't count) don't fear, just be sure to go with the easy, hearty stuff! We all need to start somewhere and stacking the deck in your favor when it comes to choosing plants is a wise way to go.
Here are a good selection of posts on practically fool-proof plant projects to get you going, build your confidence and teach those of us with (formerly!) non-green thumbs a thing or two:
As shown above, top row, left to right:
1. How To Grow Grass Indoors
2. Homemade Gift Idea: Succulent Planters
3. How To: Plant a Terrarium in a Jar
4. Decorating with Tillandsias
5. How To: Callus Succulents and Cacti
Bottom row, left to right:
6. Grow a Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree in a Container
7. How To: Make Can Planters
8. 10 Colorful & Low Maintenance Plants for Your Window Box
9. Succulent Tea Party
10. How To Start a Plant Collection Garden
Images: Main image: Leah Moss, Gallery images: as credited in linked archive posts
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I was expecting pictures of your garden :(
oh...I wish I had the sunlight for a lemon tree!
S.J.P. - Haha - well, they are just two little windowboxes, but sure, I can take a few snaps and post them sometime soon!
It's great advice to set yourself up for success in gardening through research. That resigned-looking bull staring out dejectedly over the tiny grass patch is hilarious. He looks as if he were beginning a reducing diet.
I have a pretty solid way of keeping living plants : friends move away, and leave me their already established potted plants. I water daily or every other day, and sometimes with a plant food. They are flourishing.
I used to say I had a brown thumb.
where did you get that amazing bull drawing? i love it...
I was totally distracted by the bull drawing too! It took me a while to care about the plant.
Same here, and the drift wood. Really trying to find one of those for my own room!
I can't ever keep plants alive either. I should try out some of those suggestions.
I used to think I couldn't keep plants alive, too. But then I discovered terrariums. I have one of those old glass jars with a hinged lid full of tall, thriving clover. Yeah, clover. I also have an ivy that is somehow still alive, as well as some potted impatiens. They still have blooms after months and months, but they're technically alive, so I call that a win.
Citrus can be grown in containers, but they really do better planted in the good old earth. They tend to look a bit scraggly in pots. I suspect that the nutrients in the pots wash away. I have several citrus trees in my back yard, and they are truly maintenance and bug free. I water them well three times a week and they are in clay soil. For mild to hot California climate I also have a row of podocarpus trees. They are mannerly, non-invasive and trouble free, again only requiring watering and surviving in this heavy clay soil. They take a couple of years to become established, but they are green, green, evergreen - my main criterion for growing stuff. I do not like desertous or deciduous plants. No patio plants, no house plants, no cacti or succulents - ever.
I want that bull drawing. Where did you get it?
Where did you get the bull drawing .please, please, please let me know. Thanks
All-
the bull drawing is actually a dry brush painting that I got in Ecuador last summer. It's by a local artist, named Moreno...and I'm not even going to mention what he sells his work for because you'd hate me. BUT it you ever have a chance to visit Quito, please check him out. He sells his work at Art in the Park at El Parque Ejido on the weekends.