If you want to add container plants to your collection, consider succulents - they come in such a large variety of different shapes, sizes, and colors.
I have many succulents in my greenhouse. They're easy to maintain and are able to survive prolonged drought because they store moisture in their fleshy stems, roots, and leaves. Some types even remove toxins from the air, promoting healthier indoor environments. Last week, my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, potted up a group of different succulents - several echeverias, a cactus, a jade plant, and a Burro's Tail sedum.
Enjoy these photos.
If you like growing plants, but don’t really have the time to care for them properly, I encourage you to consider growing succulents. They’re inexpensive and easy to maintain. And don’t shy away from smaller specimens. Several displayed in similar pots can look great on a table, along a windowsill, or anywhere they can get lots of light.
One type of succulent is the Echeveria, known for its rapid growth and distinctive rosette shaped plump leaves.
Here’s another Echeveria with fuzzy green leaves tipped in red and densely covered in fine hairs giving it a soft, velvety appearance.
Each pot has a drainage hole. A clay shard is placed over the hole to help with drainage. I also like to use clay pots because they allow proper aeration and moisture to penetrate through the sides and to the plant. Ryan chooses the appropriate size container for each specimen. All these are hand made by master potter Guy Wolff.
Before potting, Ryan puts together a suitable soil mix. The right soil mix will help to promote faster root growth and provide quick anchorage to young roots. I use Miracle-Gro potting mix specifically formulated for succulents. Ryan adds more perlite, a lightweight, porous volcanic glass used to improve aeration and drainage in soil and other plant mixes.
Ryan fills the pots with the soil mix, adding just enough so it is filled just below the top rim of the pot. When potting several plants, Ryan works in an efficient production line process – filling all the pots first and then planting.
If the plants seem dry, Ryan dunks the entire root ball into water first and then lets it drain – this boosts hydration before planting and helps in the absorption of nutrients. It will also help the plant become more resilient and better prepared for its new environment.
Ryan places the plant in the pot at the same height it was previously.
Once established, this plant will only need watering when the soil is completely dry.
Next, Ryan plants a barrel cactus, which forms a green, barrel shaped stem with prominent ribs and bright spines. Because the spines are so sharp, Ryan uses a glove to remove it from its original pot.
Just like the others, Ryan places the cactus root ball in water for a boost of hydration.
And then he places it into its new pot.
Here is Ryan potting up another Echeveria. Ryan selects a pot that is slightly larger than the current size of the plant. Terracotta s porous and allows for excellent airflow.
This is called a jade plant, Crassula ovata, a popular succulent native to South Africa. It has thick, glossy, oval shaped leaves that store water.
This is called a Burro’s Tail or Donkey’s Tail, Sedum morganianum. It is a trailing perennial succulent with cascading blue green foliage native to southern Mexico and Honduras.
Because it is a trailing plant, it needs a tall, narrow pot such as this.
These plants store water in their fleshy knob-like leaves making them very drought tolerant. It requires deep watering only when the soil feels dry.
This Burro’s Tail will do nicely in this pot for a couple of years.
Ryan places it on a windowsill in my greenhouse where it will get at least six hours of bright, indirect sunlight per day.
Ryan gathers all the newly potted succulents on the greenhouse floor so he can give them all one more good drink.
These plants will join others in a section of my greenhouse designated just for succulents, where they can thrive for many years.
Pheasants are colorful, fast birds native to the forests of Asia.
I now have 11 pheasants under my care. 10 of them are golden pheasants - several adopted and the rest hatched right here at my farm last year. My newest is a young male silver pheasant, a relatively large bird with a long-tail, silvery white and gray upper parts and black and gray markings. Both sexes also have red faces and red legs. This pheasant is still acclimating to his new surroundings, but he is venturing outdoors and enjoying time with his new friends.
Enjoy these photos.
This is a handsome and impressive silver pheasant. He is still young and will continue to grow until his total body length is about 50 inches including a tail of up to 30 inches.
His markings will also continue to change until he is full grown. He will have a long black crest, with central feathers becoming more white.
Silver pheasants are quiet and mild. This one is also very attentive to his surroundings.
While mostly ground dwelling, pheasants will perch up high to escape predators.
They have four digits on their feet, with the first toe, known as the hallux, typically pointing backward for effective stability and movement. The legs of silver pheasants are red, distinguishing them from other species.
Pheasants have surprisingly good memories and can recall the location of their nests even after traveling long distances.
Silver pheasants are known to be gentle natured and tame. I’m looking forward to watching this one grow.
The silver pheasant joins my group of golden pheasants. This is a male peach golden pheasant, strikingly rare in its coloration. Males have a lot of white set off by a light, shiny golden breast and body and a full peachy ruff.
This is a female peach golden pheasant – much duller in color.
This is a male yellow golden pheasant. The yellow is a color mutation of the red golden pheasant. It was originally developed in the 1950s. To maintain the yellow coloring, these birds need shaded areas to protect their feathers from the sun.
These are also females – they are smaller and lighter than the males, and have shorter tails.
Many females show a mottled brown pattern all over the body.
I hatched several females here at the farm. They adapt easily and are known to thrive in various environments.
All my outdoor birds get a good supply of seeds. Pheasants also eat insects, berries, and plant matter – they are excellent foragers.
Pheasants are very curious and alert.
These pheasants enjoy watching the farm activity. Being near my stable, they get lots of visitors.
They also prefer to run rather than fly and can reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour if necessary to escape danger.
Here, the pheasant is greeting two of the peahens in the adjacent enclosure.
They also like to go into their natural made shelters. This one is made out of branches and twigs.
These birds, with their gorgeous colors and interesting characteristics are a joy to keep and nurture. And, well cared-for pheasants can live 15 to 18 years.
I love container plants and over the years have amassed quite a collection of potted specimens.
Walking through my greenhouses, one sees potted plants of all sizes - gorgeous giant agaves, palms, and other tropicals that I display outdoors during summer. And smaller tabletop container plants that I bring into my home whenever I entertain. These plants look beautiful arranged in my enclosed porch, set on various surfaces in my sitting room, or lined up as centerpieces on my dining room table. Among them - lush ferns with their interesting frond shapes and textures. My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, just potted up some new additions.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
I never turn away from small plants. They are inexpensive and can be very useful in multiples when decorating. And then in time, they grow to be large, lush specimens that can be displayed outdoors during summer.
These small plants are sized up in appropriate pots. I’ve been using Guy Wolff pots for many years – he makes every one of these by hand.
Before potting, Ryan puts together a suitable soil mix. The right soil mix will help to promote faster root growth and provide quick anchorage to young roots. I use Miracle-Gro potting mixes.
I also add Osmocote Plus, a controlled-release fertilizer designed to feed and support plant growth.
Ryan thoroughly combines enough of the elements in a trug bucket, so he can fill all the pots.
Unfortunately, sometimes pots do break, but don’t throw away those shards – save them and repurpose them.
Each pot has a drainage hole. A clay shard is placed over the hole to help with drainage. I also like to use clay pots because they allow proper aeration and moisture to penetrate through the sides and to the plant.
I always encourage my team to work in a production line process – it is fast and efficient.
Meanwhile, Ryan carefully dips each plant root ball into a bucket of water so it is well hydrated. The plants were quite dry, so this gives them a nice boost before planting. They will also be watered again later.
Just a few seconds in the water is all it needs. The water bath will help in the absorption of more water and nutrients. It will also help the plant become more resilient and better prepared for its new environment.
Then each root ball is placed into a cardboard box to drain slightly until it is potted.
Ryan fills the pots with the soil mix, adding just enough so it is filled just below the top rim of the pot.
Ryan places the plant in the pot at the same height it was previously.
Potted ferns are considered easy-to-care-for plants when given the right environment – well-draining soil, dappled light, and regular but light fertilization to keep them strong and healthy.
This is a baby bird’s nest fern. These are slow growers, but under optimal conditions such as warm temperatures, high humidity and bright, indirect light, these plants can unfurl new fronds every few weeks during the growing season.
Once potted and backfilled, Ryan presses down slightly on the soil to ensure there is good contact between the plant and the potting mix.
Ryan gathers finished potted plants and takes them to the greenhouse for another thorough drink.
Ferns look beautiful when grouped together. Try to pot them in similar pots, so they look best when displayed in multiples.
These newly potted ferns will do very well inside the greenhouse where they can be monitored regularly along with the other plants.
And remember, potted plants don’t have to be large to look remarkable. Small container specimens can add a touch of vibrancy to any space.
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