Monday, January 19, 2015

Respite from the Cold

At first I wasn't sure whether the title of this post would refer to me or the Tillandsias I've moved in to the shed last week but with the stretch of cold weather we're currently having it's safe to say it would be both.


The temperatures in our area have been hovering between +2 to -2C so the mild warmth and shelter of the new shed makes spending more time there than outside extra appealing. We haven't finished moving plants in there yet (we ran out of those coloured bowls) but the Tillandsias that were previously in the jungle hut are already in and enjoying the respite from the cold. Assuming that they are all actually alive still...

Need to buy more of those bowls from Ikea!
Apart from one or perhaps two the other two still seems to be looking fine and very much alive which is nice considering that all of them have experienced temperatures down to -2C. They have been left out on the table under the canopy of the jungle hut roof until they were moved into the shed last week. That spot is, by virtue of the roof over it sheltered but it is open on all sides and it would not have been spared from experiencing the cold.

Looks totally fine to me
One on top looks fine, the bottom one looks iffy
Maybe ok, maybe not
Naughty me for not moving them earlier but better late than never!

I'm not sure what their exact names are, anyone out there who can give an ID? They are nice mementos of the Portland Fling we attended last summer (fellow attendees would have instantly recognised them!). As you can see they now live on the lotus seed pod vases I bought from the Wisley shop on our last visit

Note the horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum), we were given them and apparently they keep spiders away. I've always thought they were old wives tale but we shall have to wait and see. But it's not exactly spider season at the moment...
Speaking of those vases, I love them (have actually bought them for the shed not the house) but somebody else pointed out that for someone with Trypophobia it would be the worst ornament ever. Safe to say I'm not a trypophobe!

Other plants enjoying the warmth and shelter
Apart from the Tillandsia aeranthos we have in a birdcage these are the only other ones we've got. Hopefully they are all still fine, at least two of them looks like it anyway and they should enjoy the damp and warmer conditions of the shed. And the holes on the vases seemed perfect for them to sit on too!


But look at all those holes, perhaps I should buy more Tillandsias to fill them up!

Mark :-)

30 comments :

  1. If only those horse chestnuts were smaller, your "too many empty holes" problem would be solved. :)

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    1. That also crossed my mind Alan. If only the top comes off it would be perfect for the horse chestnuts too!

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  2. All is safely gathered in ! Such a relief to know everything is safe and warm. We have discovered that we overlooked a pot with a nice large Aeonium in. Sadly it has succumbed to the cold. Our silly fault !We never learn!

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    1. There's always that one pot of tender plant that gets left out each winter Jane. We pretty much do the same every year, oops!

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  3. Those vases are perfect for the tillandsias!! I like them a lot, although I understand why they can be disturbing for some people.

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    1. Glad to hear that Lisa :) but yes some people will find all those holes disturbing...

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  4. And here I was thinking about how attractive those lotus pad containers are! I've never heard of trypophobia and had to Google it. I hope it warms up for you soon!

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    1. Hope so Kris! Have to say until recently I haven't heard of that phobia either...

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  5. You definitely need more Tillandsias to put in those holes. I adore those lotus seedpod vases, they are cool. So no trypophobia here.

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    1. I might a little starter bunch Alison, and then I'll stop from there...try anyway :)

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  6. Ha! Trypophobia, never even heard of it. Glad you got a couple Fling tilandsia, I heard of several people who had theirs taken off the table when they got up to talk to folks...

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    1. They're nice mementos Loree! The big one came with the fab blue dish and thanks to Alan for the other extra one (cross fingers I haven't killed it yet!) :)

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  7. My Fling Tillandsia is still alive, only because I have it near the kitchen sink where it reminds me to give it the occasional dousing. I like seeing lots of holes of the lotus vases. The scattering of Tillandsias seems perfect to my eye.

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    1. Glad to know you see it that way Ricki, same here :) had a closer look at one of them and it's looking worse than it was, perhaps that's a goner already

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  8. I love those vases and they are perfect of tillandsias! After the fling I found some vendors on Amazon that sold groups of them for fairly cheap. They are in my east facing bay window. I can see why you are spending more time in the warmth of the green house...I was wishing for one last week but today the high is 73F. But it will be down again by weeks end. Cheers!

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    1. Hopefully the cold spell won't be that long there Laurin! Tempted to buy a little selection of them just to top up what we've got already. Quite inexpensive on eBay :)

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  9. Plant shopping opportunity! Fill up those beautiful vases.

    My Fling tilly got fried by one of our hot wind events, unfortunately. 35C with 5% humidity proved fatal.

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    1. Tempted to do just that Gail! Shame about the demise of yours but the low humidity must have been the biggest factor rather than the heat alone.

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  10. Had to look up Trypophobia. Those beautiful lotus vases are perfect for your tillandsias and you're right, you do need more. (More plants is always the answer!)

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  11. All very neat, attractive and well organised just like the author no doubt :-) And what is wrong with spiders. They kill and eat all the things you don't want. OK you are not a tripophobe but are you an arachnophobe :-)

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    1. Lol, thanks Don! Not an arachnophobe at all, the horse chestnuts were given to us and thought it's worth a try. Won't be surprised either if we find spiders crawling over them later on....

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  12. Oh I do like those lotus seed vases. I wondered how you would make use of them - you've found the perfect plant to take up short term bed and breakfast accommodation therein.

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    1. I'm glad it became a perfect vessel for the tillandsias even if it's just temporary Anna :)

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  13. I had no idea there was such a thing as Trypophobia!! I love your vases.

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  14. Nice that you have the warm shed for them. I'm just starting to grow tillandsias ... well, I have one. It's not growing very fast, but maybe it needs more warmth and sun. I'm glad most of your plants are OK.

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    1. You might see more growth from your Tillandsia this coming spring :)

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  15. My memories of airplants have up until now been of tillandsia's stuck beside ceramic owls, dogs and ducks etc on mahogany bases ... lotus dishes are far more stylish :)

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    1. Funny you mentioned those Rosie as have the same memories. They've have been overused before in odd ways, perhaps it will continue to be so...

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