Time to Move

Before the weather decides to go south, it is time to bring in my orchids. This is no small undertaking as there are quite a few. Thirty-two to be exact. Well, thirty-four, but one has an ant colony that is trying to relocate as I’ve ‘flooded’ their nest to encourage it and one looks like it is diseased and I think I’ll not worry about it. The ant colony one there is hope if the ants just pick up their eggs and head off for any other place outside. I’ll keep it submerged for the day.

The routine is to lay ‘puppy pads’ on the floor as a precaution against accidental drips, place big plastic trays to catch water on top of them, next, place the two stands I have and last, pile the orchids where they best fit, after they have spent some minutes submerged in a bucket (three available) of water to hydrate and encourage any moths that had been hiding in the orchid bark mix to leave.

My son, bless his heart, came and helped me with all the moving. It was a great help. Normally my lower back is tired at the end of all the hauling. (I know, lift with the legs.)

We (okay HE) also wrestled two other large porch plants in; a pencil cactus and a Croton that the realtor (previous owner) left as a gift when we bought the house. The croton may be my longest lived houseplant! Those two are now residing in the dining room by the west windows while the orchids are in the living room south bay window.

I could try and save an asparagus fern or two…I’ll think about that. If the winter does not get too bad (like -8F last year) the asparagus ferns should be okay outside. I don’t worry about the geraniums…I never have much success as they get too leggy and it is just simpler to get fresh next spring.

Time to batten down the hatches. I’m ready for the winter…plant-wise.