Japanese Aucuba Cutting, Transplanted

After months of growing in a round water-filled bottle, the Japanese aucuba cutting that I transplanted into its own container appears to be taking to its new home.
I’d let this cutting’s roots grow a bit longer so they were actually conforming to the shape of the bottle. But I’m confident that the long, strong roots will [...]

Japanese Aucuba: Cutting Has New Leaves!

In late September of last year, I took a cutting from my Japanese aucuba plant and placed it in a small bottle of tap water, hoping it would root (nothing else added but TLC). It’s been almost 7 months later and now is forming new leaves at the base. I’ve done nothing with it yet, but will be transferring it [...]

Christmas Kalanchoe: Closer To Bloom Time!

Oh, it’s going to happen, hopefully soon! If you click on the photo, you’ll see many salmon pink “dots” peppering these plants – these are future flowers. The kalanchoe are happily residing underneath a mature Japanese aucuba. Trying to steal the act in the top center is an epidendrum orchid! All of these plants are in the [...]

Japanese Aucuba: Roots from Cutting!

On September 27, I placed a cutting of my Japanese aucuba into a small bottle, in an attempt to propagate it (see my previous post). It’s been about 1-1/2 months later and I am happy to report that this cutting is very clearly rooting! Click on the photo for a better view of the very [...]

Kalanchoe Container Garden!

It’s hard to believe but my kalanchoe (aka Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and Christmas kalanchoe) container garden is looking mighty fine at the beginning of autumn – and it only started with two plants I bought a few years ago. Look at them now! I can’t wait until Christmas, when the flowers should be making their appearance.
I [...]

Japanese Aucuba Propagation

For the empty space by my shaded front door area, I think it might be nice to plant more Japanese aucuba. Also known as Aucuba japonica, Japanese laurel, spotted laurel, and gold dust tree, this beautiful, shade-loving shrub is already under my kitchen window. For balance, and to provide a lovely match to my home’s new yellow stucco, the [...]

Japanese Aucuba Pruned!

I recently pruned my front-yard Japanese aucuba, also known as Aucuba japonica, Japanese laurel, spotted laurel, and gold dust tree. As shown in the photo, new brightly colored leaves are already forming. Vibrant!
HOW TO: To prune my Japanese aucuba, I used a lopper. A photo and description of how to use a lopper for pruning can be [...]

It’s All About Foliage!

Two beautiful plants that I have growing in the shade highlight the lovely color combination of green and yellow. It is a striking contrast of colors. The first is English ivy, also known as Hedera helix, variegated type. It’s growing in a hanging container, and it’s been easy to maintain, just watering once a week.
The [...]