An Evening About the House: Part I By Catherine on 9/09/2007 08:20:00 PM
Hello, internet, how've you been? It was a Very Exciting Day today, because I have two rescue missions on my plate. The first saddens me to no minor degree-- the cats killed my orchid. I treated it like a queen and it responded in kind, until I discovered this morning that Ray and Dixie took down the curtain nearest to the pot and knocked off the remaining blossoms.That brings me to to my first mission: Revive the orchid. I read somewhere that after the blossoms are gone from an orchid stalk, you cut it back down and it will then grow another. I'm not taking any chances though, and plan to acquire a book on the subject ASAP, some orchid potting soil (as it really should be replanted in a larger pot, damn decorative florist jobs that look larger than they are...), and whatever mineral mix for food one is supposed to use to make sure it stays healthy. If I am serious about it, that means keeping a thermometer inside so that I can turn on the heat if it gets below 60ish degrees... But let's see if I can make it start growing first. This will have to wait until later in the week.
The second mission was much easier, and I did the whole thing tonight, complete with photojournal. The story begins with a neglected potted palm plant from Ikea, many many moons ago. He's a sturdy young man, but I daresay my neglect thus far in his adolescence has severely stunted his growth. For just about six months now, my little tropical-looking friend has lived in the same teeny, flimsy pot and dry, un-nutritious soil from Sweden, or wherever it was shipped from. So today, Adam and I went to the 9th Circle of Hell and bought the materials with which to save the tree. Now it has a huge pot, with a bunch of room to grow. Only problem now is finding an unobtrusive spot for the thing.
These two missions will require a bit of learning and concentration, so I'm excited to start, especially on my beautiful orchid. The little bit of research I've done so far shows signs that my plant is growing a keiki, or baby plant. My orchid shows signs of the root system developing independently of the rest of the plant, or beginning to at least. If that's the case, after awhile I can cut it away and replant it in a pot by itself.
Orchids are definitely a worthy hobby. This is all part of a new plan to occupy my whole afternoon each day productively, in order to cut out TV and procrastination. Tomorrow I'll bring gym clothes to work and change after the bell, and go work out in the center of town. Then, hitting the library for some orchid research and a good novel. It will be good to start.
One more thing about the palm tree. I have named him Sal Paradise. And when he gets big enough, I'll sit under him.
Namaste, suckas.