Everything is covered in snow, but I’m actually more excited about how my plants are doing than most of the summer. My houseplants are blooming. Specifically the Swedish ivy (Plectranthus australis to be precise) that I have had for three years and have not seen a single bloom on it until now. The goldfish plant (Columner gloriosa) also has a few blooms, although it had more several weeks ago. Then it came under the wrath of my scissors and got quite a haircut.

Both plants are amazing hardy and vigorous houseplants, but they took three years to flower. I think they didn’t get enough light until this year,  now that I have nice sunny south facing windows. The flowers make me exceedingly happy. I only have three houseplants (and that’s enough for me), the two mentioned and a Ficus that hasn’t grown more than two inches in almost five years. The physiology of that plant might as well be plastic.

I do not take wonderful care of my houseplants. I had more. Last year they sat in the window sill behind a curtain in my cold bedroom. I froze them. They looked like this after I cut off the dead stuff:

When I moved, I decided revival was not worth it. So they were re-potted in the trash. The houseplants I have remaining can apparently take a little cold. My care included watering them, often much later than I should have, occasionally throwing fertilizer on them (slow release about once a year), giving haircuts when they get too big. I don’t repot anything, because I like the pots they are in. It’s too much work too, besides houseplants actually like being root-bound.

Hmmm…I was just reading up on goldfish plant and apparently it needs a little “extra care.” I disagree, since I haven’t given mine any, and it is doing great. Here’s some more pictures of my beloved houseplants. I was having fun with the goldfish plant: