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.
Need more light for your growing seedlings? Seedlings in my greenhouse are growing excellently with the addition of energy-efficient lighting solutions from Johnny's Selected Seeds.
My head-gardener Ryan McCallister and I start sowing seeds indoors soon after the New Year begins. We sow thousands of vegetable and flower seeds - all those wonderful seeds I enjoy purchasing during my travels, and seeds I order from my favorite sources. We plant them in seed starting trays and nurture them until they are ready to move into larger pots or outdoors. To supplement the natural sunlight, we set up an area with racks and LED strip lights. The lights are compact, easy to assemble, and provide full-spectrum lighting needs for seed starting and propagation.
Enjoy these photos.
One of my favorite garden supply sources is Johnny’s Selected Seeds in central Maine. I discovered Johnny’s years ago and have been using their seeds, plants, and tools ever since. Johnny’s provides practical solutions for both the home gardener and the professional farmer and uses the expertise from great horticultural masters such as Eliot Coleman.
Here in my head house, Ryan is assembling this LED Propagation Rack Kit from Johnny’s. It includes eight 48-inch LED strip lights, connecting brackets, four hangers, link cords, and a power cord.
The lights are being used for this vestibule between my head house and my greenhouse. Lights are already installed on the left rack. Notice how much more light is provided for the growing seedings.
The 48-inch horticultural lights are durable and can deliver maximum lighting without excess damaging heat.
Ryan begins assembling the lighting panels – no tools required.
The light strips are connected in pairs using the brackets provided. Ryan secures one at each end of a pair of light strips.
These click into place easily and can be adjusted in width to fit various shelf dimensions.
After attaching the brackets, they are easy to slide along the strips to the desired locations.
Link cords connect the two light strips together at one end.
Strip light hangers attach to the center of the brackets.
The hangers will secure the lights underneath each shelf.
And longer link cords connect the paired strips on the other end.
Here’s Ryan ready to hang the lighting strips.
It takes only minutes to assemble and the lights fit perfectly across our shelving unit.
Grow lights are essential for indoor gardening because they mimic natural sunlight providing the specific full light spectrum needed for photosynthesis.
Ryan uses “s” hooks on the shelves to attach the light strips.
Here they are all positioned and ready to use. They hang just a few inches from the plants. LED lights also consume less energy and have longer lifespans compared to traditional bulbs.
For our rack seedlings, we’re also using Johnny’s reservoir trays, which come in a variety of depths and fit perfectly under seed trays to catch excess water.
Ryan arranges the trays and pots to fit as many as possible onto the rack.
Once all the trays are in place, the lights are turned on. We have them on timers, so they go on and off automatically.
These lights will promote healthy growth and maintain compact and robust lush green plants. In time, these plants will move into the greenhouse and more seedlings will fill these racks. I’m so excited for this coming growing season!
It’s always so satisfying to check off time-consuming cleaning chores.
This week, as part of a Winter house project that involved replacing a carpet, moving furniture, and redecorating several rooms, my housekeepers took on the task of cleaning and polishing the brass. Brass is a strong, corrosion-resistant alloy made from a combination of zinc and copper. With its bright golden color, brass has long been used for home furnishings and decorative accents. Cleaning brass takes time and thoughtful effort, but now these pieces are shimmering once again.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Whenever I clean anything in my sink, I always line it with a soft towel to protect the sink as well as the piece being cleaned.
I have long used Wright’s Copper and Brass Cleaning Cream. It comes in small and large sizes – both with application sponges.
Wright’s all-purpose cleaning creams come in a paste like form and is easy to apply with a sponge or soft rag.
After removing any dust, Carlos starts by gently rubbing small amounts of cream along the tarnished surface. Carlos wears rubber gloves to protect his hands from becoming black from the dirt and tarnish.
Carlos also applies cream in the crevices. Tarnish ranges in color from a light yellowy gold to almost black, depending on how long it has been allowed to develop. In addition to using soft sponges and rags, one can use cotton swabs or soft bristled toothbrushes to apply the cream to tight areas.
Once it is completely cleaned, all the cream is removed with tepid water. Carlos rinses it thoroughly to ensure no cream is left on the brass shell.
Then the piece is wiped thoroughly right away with a soft absorbent cloth to avoid any water marks. Enma and Carlos work as a very efficient team.
Droplets of water can get stuck in between the cracks, so always take time to dry every edge and corner.
Enma wipes it down several times until there is no trace of moisture.
Meanwhile, Carlos take on this large brass tray. First it is cleaned of any dust, and then Carlos applies a generous amount of the polishing cream.
Carlos rubs it over and over – notice how the dirt and tarnish come off. Whenever polishing metals, be sure you use a product that is specifically made for the type of metal being cleaned.
It’s looking much brighter and much shinier. Always avoid using highly abrasive scrubbing cloths, metal-bristled brushes, or steel wool; these will scratch the surface of the brass.
And then he wipes it clean and dry. Carlos makes sure to also rest the piece on a towel, so it is always stable and protected.
Here are two more brass shells getting cleaned. All my silver, copper and brass pieces are maintained regularly, so they are never too tarnished when cleaned.
Regular cleaning also helps to maintain a piece’s durability and preserves its natural patina.
Enma dries a weaved basket. This has a lot of crevices where water can linger. The key is to take the time to do it carefully and properly.
And here it shines so brightly after a good cleaning.
And then all the pieces are gathered on a table on my porch before they are once again displayed around my home. Cleaning and redecorating with pieces one already has can easily refresh a space and a room.
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