Some overwintering updates. So, year 2 of keeping a couple plants indoors and another...well, I'd say success but given that it's February I can't quite say 100% success yet, but it's looking good. NO bugs! And I didn't treat for pests with neem or anything like that, just used wands. Looks like no root rot either - the other concern I had considering I'm overwintering drought loving herbs.
I worried about my fig tree. All the leaves had fallen and it looked like a dead twig since October. But the memory of how delicious those fresh figs were kept me afloat with hope it may spring to life come April-May. I don't know what's triggering it, but in the last while it is springing to life? Maybe sensitivity to the daylight hours since it's next to the patio door? Some latent time clock in it's DNA that tells it its's slept enough? Anyway, it's looking good. Maybe too good for February and I just hope this new growth doesn't die off when or if the plant realizes there are months to go until summer.
The original
Capsicum flexuosum plant is doing better than ever too (corner plant with tiny leaves). I didn't measure it, but I'm guessing it's close to 3.5 - 4 feet high now. I have given it no food, just the odd shallow drink of water and yet the leaves are such a glossy deep green. I'm kind of amazed at how well it's done; it really is a perennial and it shows the older it gets. It can survive to -15C, though I haven't let it get that cold. The tall straight stem in the window box is all the new
Capsicum flexuosum plants I got for my original plant, various genetics so they can cross pollinate. The newbies have all grown quite a bit too, but this is a slow growing pepper species and the 1st year is esp. slow. I really do hope all these new genetics I brought in will do the trick to get viable pepper fruits. There are little peppers that form now, but they fall off and never mature. After the first year of this pepper I thought why on earth am I doing this? lol I don't even like heat that much, but its proving to be more and more fun as I go along. I didn't think I'd get this far with the experiment. And the seeds go for $1.00 a piece so I may sell some of the seeds if I ever get any. This summer will be my 3rd year with this plant trying to get anything from it, so now I can see why vendors want an arm and a leg for them!
The Lemon Savory and Balkan Mint, not looking amazing, but they're alive and the root systems appear to be doing well. The Iberian White Thyme (not pictured), wow, the scent is really.......powerful.
I'm hoping for seeds from all of them, which will be some detective work. Soooo tiny.
DH's tiny species orchid is blooming and it smells heavenly. Like vanilla. Plant is covered in these little flower clumps.
