Miracle Gro Plant Food Spikes

We have a table full of houseplants in the dining room that sits under a very large mirror. The plants are mostly green with the exception of one orchid. Some of them are doing a lot better than others. I have plant food that comes in a container that needs to be measured, then water added to the watering can for both the plants and the orchid. It’s a drawn out affair and it seemed like there could be a better way. So I thought I would try the Miracle Gro plant food spikes to see if using them would make any difference. So two packs arrived the other day. The number of spikes used depends on the size of the pot - more for larger; less for smaller containers. The frequency of adding the spikes depends on the season - more in summer; less in winter. So I followed the instructions. You need to use the green spike to make a hole in the dirt; then insert the plant food tube in to the hole; then cover it with dirt; then water. I guess only time will tell if it makes any difference. We were thinking about replacing a few of the plants because they have seen better days. Maybe we will wait a bit longer to make a final decision. 

Jack’s Houseplant Special Food from Gingko’s

When we moved to our new home in northern Virginia, we no longer had a patio garden. So we created an indoor garden in the dining room by adding a white distressed wood two level console table, several pots, and a variety of house plants. It also provided a place to put a couple of other decorative items we already had from our Capitol Hill condo - a watering can, a few wooden birds, and a metal spider. When we got an orchid as a housewarming gift, it added a flowering element to the mix. As with anything else, plants require care and attention. So we got some water globes to help with watering if and when we are away a few days. Then we thought the plants should have nourishment, and any orchid always requires special care. So we took a ride to Gingko’s to see what we should do. We decided to get Jack’s classic houseplant special food. Unfortunately we probably won’t need such a large amount because we rarely need a gallon of water to manage our plants. At least they were able to break down the big bag of orchid potting mix so we could get the amount we needed. And of course, the orchid needed it’s own plant food. I suppose you could say it might be easier to “just get another one” if the plant doesn’t do well. But we prefer to care for the plants we have so they flourish and thrive, and it takes more than just water. 

Jack’s Classic Orchid Plant food

When we moved to our new condo four months ago someone gave us a double stem orchid plant as a housewarming gift. It was placed on the console table in the dining room with all of our other houseplants. It was the only flowering plant among all the greens. It did really well until it inevitably started to lose the flowers. We’ve had orchids before and never had much luck with them. I think one time we actually had one come back to life. So we read all about the care of an orchid - again - and stopped at Ginkgo Gardens in Capitol Hill to get some orchid food and replanting soil. We needed advice on which food to get - keeping the plant healthy or boosting the blooms. We decided on keeping it healthy because there is a new leaf starting to grow, which gives us some hope. We were told to cut the spent stem all the way to the bottom, move the plant to another spot in the house and trick it into thinking it’s winter - water it less - and keep it there for three months. So today I cut down one of the stems and am waiting for the flowers to fall off on the other. Since we have been giving it five ice cubes every week we will need to cut back to twice a week, convert amount that to water and add the plant food. We still need to figure out the best time to replant it. Isuppose  you could say we are looking at this as an experiment and see if it comes back. All we can do is give it our best and hope it makes a difference. 

A Good Excuse to Go In To Town

We lived on Capitol Hill for thirteen years and moved to Virginia four more months ago. Our new home is only ten miles from DC. So we always take the opportunity to visit the old neighborhood for certain things - medical, dental, and hair appointments. The first two I can do without, but the hair cut is essential! So after our typical morning walk, we went out for breakfast in our neighborhood at Simply Fresh, then drove in to town. Of course, the GW Parkway was closed off so we had to take an alternate route which is why we always leave plenty of time to get there. Because time allowed, we needed orchid and plant food so we first stopped at Gingko Gardens to pick some up. Then it was on to Michael Anthony Salon where it’s always such a great experience. Parking is always a pain, but the walk to the shop was pleasant - purple doors, kids playing in the water, and birdhouses. On the way home we always stop in the old neighborhood to check on the house we lived in for so many years. The huge tree on the west side was finally taken down. The traffic was the usual congestion on the way back which reminded us again why we needed a break from the city. It feels weird being in the old neighborhood, but so very familiar. It’s a nice feeling.