This was an early Christmas present for Rick: a cactus and succulent planter for the windowsill of his new office. It includes a plant I've wanted for years, ever since I saw it in my first houseplant book, the indispensable House Plant Expert by DG Hessayon. It's the globe-shaped succulent on the left is Euphorbia obesa, or Turkish temple. Rick was delighted, as I knew he would be, by the hairy cactus at the back: I don't have the label to hand as I type but I believe it's a Cephalocereus, or old man cactus.
It only hit me once I had bought the terracotta planter and the individual plants at the garden centre: why the hell didn't I buy a Turkish temple for myself? Oh well, it just means another trip to buy plants ... I could have bought one of the pre-planted cacti groupings, but they looked cheap and nasty - the stones and sand appeared to be glued on ... not a good sign. Much better to buy exactly the pot and the plants you want, and plant it up yourself.
I did, however, treat myself to this Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis, or Boston Fern, for the bathroom. Up until now this is the only room that had been plant-free, largely due to a lack of suitable plant perches. Given that it's bright, warm but not too warm, and most importantly humid, this should thrive in the corner by the bath. Provided, that is, the fern doesn't end up taking a bath (perhaps this is an appropriate juncture to tell readers that I was known as Accident Perrone (geddit?) in some quarters ...)
Recent Comments