It's no secret that I love gardening and plants of all kinds. I have a particular fondness for potted specimens and over the years, I've amassed quite a collection here at my Bedford, New York farm.
Among my favorites is the alocasia. Alocasia is a genus of rhizomatous broad-leaved plants from the family Araceae. Currently, there are about 90 species native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and eastern Australia. Alocasia is also known by the common name elephant's ear because of its enormous arrow-shaped leaves. Many species are popularly grown for their bold markings and prominent veins. Last week, I added a few more varieties to my greenhouse from Excelsa Gardens in Loxahatchee Groves, Florida.
Enjoy these photos.
Most alocasias are loved for their striking foliage. This is Alocasia reginula ‘Black Velvet’ – a dwarf Alocasia with velvety broad dark leaves and silver veining.
‘Black Velvet’ is one of several Alocasia species native to Southeast Asia, likely from the jungles of Borneo. It was collected during the 1860s by English plant collectors.
Ryan pulled pairs of like pots to transplant my new Alocasias. I like to use clay pots because they allow proper aeration and moisture to penetrate through the sides and to the plant. These pots are made by master potter, Guy Wolff.
Unfortunately, pots do break, but don’t throw away the shards. They come in handy for potting plants.
There is a drainage hole at the bottom of each pot. We place shards over the holes to help with drainage and to prevent soil from falling out.
Here, Ryan sizes up the potted Alocasia with its new pot. When choosing a container, select one that is about two-inches larger than the current pot.
Alocasias prefer soil that is well-draining and loose. Choose a tropical mix with bark, sand, and loam.
Here, Ryan begins to fill the pots with the appropriate soil medium. The root ball will also be surrounded with soil, so leave enough room so the base of the plant can sit just under the rim of the vessel.
Just remember, this type of Alocasia is toxic to both humans and animals. Like all of the Araceae family members, this plant has calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause illness when chewed or eaten.
Ryan removes the plant from its pot and gently loosens the soil around the roots with his hands to stimulate growth.
Once it is in its new pot, Ryan tamps down to ensure good contact with the soil. ‘Black Velvet’ thrives in dappled, bright but indirect light. It does best in north or east-facing windows, where morning light isn’t too intense.
I am a big believer in feeding all plants – if you eat, so should your plants. My houseplants are given Osmocote. Each granule is covered with an organic resin that regulates the daily release of nutrients.
Before going on one of the long tables in my main greenhouse, Ryan gives them all a good watering. When caring for Alocasia ‘Black Velvet,’ water deeply, drain away any excess, and allow around 20-percent of the topsoil to dry before watering again.
Other new alocasias in my collection include this variegated variety. Alocasia odora ‘Variegata’ is a dwarf Alocasia that grows to approximately three feet tall. Every leaf is different, showing off its interesting green and white markings.
Variegated alocasias may also have variegated stems of light green to white in color.
Alocasia sumo is a new hybrid between Alocasia ‘Portora’ and ‘Purple Cloak.’ The dark leaf stems are reddish-black.
This is Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘Lutea’ with its large dark green leaves with bold yellow petioles and stems.
Alocasia tyrion prefers dry environments. When mature, the edges of the leaves are wavy and heart-shaped.
This is a unique and interesting Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘Stingray.’ It grows best in warm, humid conditions and dappled sunlight. The distinctive “tail” combined with the “wings” looks very much like the boneless batoid fish. What are your favorite Alocasia varieties?
A brief trip south to escape the cold winter can be so invigorating - even if it's for business.
If you follow my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48, you may have seen photos from my recent visit to Palm Beach, Florida. Among my commitments there, I was the keynote speaker for the annual Old Bags Luncheon developed by the Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County. The 25th anniversary Silver Jubilee event was held at The Breakers Palm Beach and featured a silent auction of more than 300 brand new or gently used designer handbags. It's the organization's premiere fundraiser - raising money to operate behavioral health and wellness programs, provide family and child services, and raise awareness of mental health issues. It was a very fun and successful event for all who attended.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
I was so honored to be invited to speak at the annual Old Bags Luncheon. I talked about my Sports-Illustrated swimsuit cover, Snoop Dogg, and my 100th book, which I am working on now. (Photo by Michelle Kammerman/BFA.com)
My hosts were the event chairs, Fernando Wong and Tim Johnson, internationally recognized leaders in garden design and landscape architecture. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
The event originally began in 1999 by a group of supporters who donated their gently used handbags for auction. 25-years later, there are hundreds donated – some old and others brand new from retail partners. Here they are displayed in the Ballroom of The Breakers Palm Beach Resort founded in 1896 by business magnate Henry M. Flagler. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
There was even a surprise bag from yours truly! (Photo by Michelle Kammerman/BFA.com)
Here I am with Tommy Hilfiger and his wife, Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger who received the inaugural Fashion and Philanthropy Award.
The morning started with an introductory gathering. Here I am with Fernando and Tim at the “Mimosas with Martha” VIP experience in the Magnolia Room. (Photo by Michelle Kammerman/BFA.com)
The event included small bites passed around to all the guests… (Photo by Michelle Kammerman/BFA.com)
… and of course, refreshments. (Photo by Michelle Kammerman/BFA.com)
More than 550 guests attended the event and crowded around the auction tables to see all the available handbags.(Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
In a silent auction, participants bid for items in writing instead of raising paddles or calling out. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
Everyone was given about two hours to place their bids. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
Here’s my longtime publicist and friend, Susan Magrino, with the Gucci bag she was eyeing.
Once the Silent Auction closed, it was time for lunch. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
Tables were set in cheerful spring colors.(Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
The first course was a chilled pea soup with caviar, crème fraiche, and herbs served alongside a chopped vegetable salad with lemon vinaigrette. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
The second course was pan seared North Atlantic salmon with sugar snap peas, haricots verts, rainbow carrots, and fingerling potatoes.(Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
Dessert was a trio of sweets – a silver white chocolate purse, a dark chocolate lollipop, and a strawberry petit four.(Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
Here I am with my dear friend, Charlotte Beers at our table.
And then after lunch, a Q & A conversation with me and moderator Fernando. It was such a wonderful event for such a special cause. Please learn more about the Center for Family Services Palm Beach County at their web site, ctrfam.org.
(Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
Houseplants and cut flowers bring life to any room, especially during the cold, dreary days of winter.
Whenever I am home, I like to decorate with an assortment of potted plants and cut blooms that provide color and interesting and expressive foliage. It’s an inexpensive way to add beauty and texture to any space. Right now, I have a cheerful selection of orchids, witch hazel, and amaryllis to enjoy in my kitchen, servery, and sitting room.
Enjoy these photos.
I have some of the most beautiful orchids displayed on the counters and tables of my Winter House. Orchids come in a range of colors. Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis, and Dendrobium orchids come in blue, red, pink, white, purple, yellow, orange, and green.
Orchids grow on every continent except Antarctica. They are native to the tropical regions of Asia, Australia, the Himalayas, and the Philippines. The orchid forms one of the largest families in the plant kingdom, with more than 25,000 species worldwide.
Paphiopedilum orchids are often called ‘lady slippers’ or ‘slipper orchids’ because of their unique pouch-like flowers. The size of orchids depends on the species. They can be quite small or very large. However, every orchid flower is bilaterally symmetrical, which means it can be divided into two equal parts.
Sitting in between two ‘lady slippers’ orchids is this blooming amaryllis. Amaryllis are large, flowering bulbs originally from the Andes Mountains of South America. They show off dazzling trumpet-shaped blooms for weeks on end.
Here’s my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, bringing in two Dendrobium orchids into my Winter House. Native to Southeast Asia, the genus Dendrobium is among the largest of all orchid groups. There are more than 1000 individual species that vary in size, bloom color, and appearance. Dendrobiums grow in all climates, from hot, wet lowlands to high-altitude, colder mountains. All Dendrobiums are epiphytes, which means they grow on other plants. In nature, they grow on the branches of trees.
These white Dendrobiums look great on this center table in my foyer. The evergreen canes are topped by a single three to five inch long inflorescence, each one producing four to eight flowers.
Here is a closer look at the graceful floral sprays. The flowers are bright, showy, and fragrant.
Dendrobium orchids also come in white, pink, orange, yellow, purple, brown, and green.
Here is another Dendrobium in pink. Notice the roots on the outside of the pot – these roots creep over the surface instead of growing in the soil.
Dendrobium flowers are smaller orchid blooms. They have a butterfly-like shape and are about three inches across.
These cut orchids are in my Green Parlor. Once cut, keep them out of direct light to prevent them from dehydrating or fading in color.
Fresh cut orchids have an impressive shelf life. With proper care, they can last for weeks.
Here is a potted Christmas orchid. Rule of thumb – orchids that receive a proper balance of light, humidity, and temperature will have healthy bright green leaves. Too little light would make the leaves very dark. The size, shape, and texture of leaves depend on the habitat. Orchids that live in dry climate have large, thick leaves covered with wax, while species that live in warm and humid areas have thin, elongated leaves.
The Christmas Orchid is a lavender-white flowering, tropical epiphyte orchid native to Columbia with succulent light green leaves.
On the other side of the room is this bright yellow and magenta colored orchid. Optimum temperatures for potted orchids in winter are 45 to 55-degrees Fahrenheit at night and 65 to 75-degrees Fahrenheit during the day.
These cut orchid flowers are on the coffee table.
Each stem has about eight to 10 blooms, each light green with burgundy speckled markings.
I also asked Ryan to bring in some of the blooming witch hazel. I have lots of witch hazel at the farm. The name witch hazel is a derivation from the Old English “wice” or “wiche” meaning pliant or bendable. Early settlers used the pliable branches to make bows for hunting. The same forked branches also became favorite witching sticks of dowsers, who used them to search for underground water. Nowadays, witch hazel is often used ornamentally as splashes of color during winter.
When cutting witch hazel, Ryan slits the base of the stems vertically to allow more intake of water.
The slits don’t have to be long – about an inch.
Then he places like colors into a heavy vase of water to keep them sturdy. Witch hazel grows as small trees or shrubs with numerous clusters of rich yellow to fiery orange-red flowers. Common names include Witch hazel, American Witch hazel, Common Witch hazel, Winterbloom, Snapping Hazelnut, Striped Alder, Spotted Alder, Tobacco-wood, and Water-witch.
Most species bloom from January to March and display beautiful spidery flowers that let off a slightly spicy fragrance. The flowers are able to curl inward to protect the inner structures from freezing during the winter. They unfurl again on milder days.
Witch hazel is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hamamelidaceae. There are four types of witch hazel – Hamamelis virginiana, Hamamelis vernalis, Hamamelis japonica, and Hamamelis mollis. All of these produce flowers with strap-like crumpled petals.
This vase is in my Winter House kitchen. Do you decorate with flowers and houseplants? What are some of your favorites?
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