SENIOR LADY: CHEAP PLANTS THAT GROW FAST!

CALIBRACHOA

I have a few annual plants that I must have 

in my flower garden.  They are Dusty Miller, 

Red Begonia, and Coleus. I could only find 

Dusty Miller in 5 inch cups this year.  I have

 learned to be careful when buying the Dusty

 Miller plants. I must pay attention to the tag

in the pot.  Their silvery fuzzy leaves resemble

 Lamb's Ear.  Last year I bought the Lambs Ear

 by mistake. The Lambs Ear plant has some

medicinal properties. Some herbalist grow it

 in their herbal gardens. I love the Begonia

 and Coleus plants because they come in

colorful varieties. I buy three varieties of

 each plant to add to my container garden. 

These three types of plants grow as perennials 

in very warm climates.

A lady in the garden center showed

me two of her favorite plants. She

said they were hardy and cheap.

Both of these plants were less than

$5 in a 5 inch pot. I was not familiar 

when these plants. These plants had

 very pretty blooms. I decided to buy

both of   them for my porch.

CALIBRACHOA:

Needs full sun &  moist soil.

Doubled in size when rain

water used.

PORTULACA:

Needs full sun & hardy to 32 degrees!

Plant doubled in size with rain water.

Cuttings do well when they are added 

to moist soil without rooting in water.

I bought this Christmas cactus from a grocery store

Floral department. It was in a 5 inch pot for $4.99.

I repotted it in a small hanging basket. It barely 

stayed alive during the winter months. It was 

growing very slowly. I place it on my porch after 

the last frost. It was placed in an area that received 

part shade. This plant began to thrive and grow fuller. 

I took cuttings off the cactus since it was growing so

well. I layered the cuttings in a rectangular planter.

I'll probably keep them in this planter until next 

spring. I'm growing them inside where there is

bright light.   The cactus in the hanging basket

will be brought inside before the temp drops

below 50 degrees.  I'm not concerned with getting 

it to bloom again. I really enjoy seeing the various 

shades of green on this cactus.

Plants at the garden centers get more expensive 

each year. They have a sale on them in the early

spring. Unfortunately, I find out about the sale

too late. I no longer get the weekly sales paper.

Plants that used to come in 4 and 6 pack pots,

are now available in 4 or 5 inch pots. I have to

visit several garden centers if I want my plants

in 4 or 6 pack pots. I'll keep searching for sales 

each season for my favorite garden plants and

flowers.