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| This is a bromeliad. Its a tropical plant that comes from the Southern US and South america, so it wont grow in cold climates...they like lots of water so they wont do well in arid areas either such as the desert. They store excess water in their leaves, sort of stockpiling so they can use it all. My fishy has a particular fondness for bromeliads, so we have about 10 different kinds. The pic here kinna sux, but you get the idea. |
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| This next one is a Cattleya Orchid. My fishy loves orchids more than he does bromeliads... only problem is Orchids are touchy to grow. Very difficult to cultivate and need certain conditions to make it. They grow in moss not dirt or soil, and need special orchid food besides. They like their beds well drained and if ya dont keep em in special baskets that allow water to completly drain, theyll drown. Bright light, not full sun, these suckers will grow under flourescent light indoors. We have 3 cattleya orchids, 2 vanda orchids (those are most expensive but way worth the money) and 4 dendrobiums. The orchid you see above blooms alot and stays in bloom for close to a month, give or take. |
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| Here are a mere two roses from my garden which has10 different rosebushes in it. The one in the very front is called a tropicana, known for its peachy orange/pinkish color. The one behind it is a climbing don juan, red in color. Climbing means that it will get very tall and will virtually spread everywhere if you let it. Roses ar pretty hard to grow since theyre native to cooler climates (as opposed to Florida, where I live) They have to be pruned to bloom alot and need fertilizer bi monthly...but the smell of them is to die for. We have lots of roses as I mentioned before... Purple, orange, red, yellow and pink mixed, light pink... you name it. Roses are a pain in the butt... thorny...ya know? We originally put them in as boobytraps to protect my property from people who may try to break in. If the thorns dont get em, my dogs will..lol. |
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| This next one is realllly awesome! Its called a butterfly calendium and it's a tree, tho mine is fairly small still. I dont know if you can really see the blooms on this since the pic is kinna horrid, but they resemble butterflies, even have little antennae on em. Theyre purple and white, and this tree is pretty hard to find, and once ya do youll prolly pay through the nose for it. I paid about 30$ for mine and it was very small. They also have a bush type you can buy if you have no room for a tree. Its gorgeous though, highly recommended. |
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| This is a Dendrobium Orchid, which has purple and white flowers on it. Dendrobium orchids are the cheapest orchids you can buy, and the easiest to grow. If you want to have orchids but you dont know what your doing, this is the one you buy before you spend 50 bucks on a vanda and kill it. This gives you good practice and lets you get your feet wet before plunging into other kinds of orchids. Theyre beautiful in real life, these pix dont do em justice at all. They bloom quite frequently and in masses, but unfortunately only come in 3 colors: purple, white and purple and white mixed....lol. |
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