The vast majority of gardeners have now stopped actively gardening outdoors. But that doesn’t mean that all gardening must end. Those of us who have honed our container gardening skills outdoors this past Spring, Summer and Fall are now well-trained in the art of growing things in pots and ready to try our hand at growing things in pots indoors.
To participate in this month’s contest:
- Take a photo of your favorite, most beautiful indoor plant. Any living plant (not cut flowers) that currently lives inside can be the subject of your photo. Creativity in how you take or stage the photo is encouraged.
- Post your photo somewhere online, either on your blog or on a photo sharing website like Flickr. Be sure to post a link back to Life on the Balcony with the photo so that I can be sure that you are not claiming someone else’s photo.
- Come back to this post and provide a link to your photo.
- You have until December 9th at 12pm (noon) California time to enter your photo. I’ll announce the winner on December 10th.
- The contest is open to anyone over the age of 18 who resides in the U.S.
I’ve assembled a panel of friends and family to help me judge your submissions. Our favorite photo will win a copy of The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Gardening Know-How for Keeping (Not Killing) More Than 160 Indoor Plants
While the name of this book sounds stodgy, this is an excellent guide to keeping all sorts of indoor plants alive and well. Every plant in the book has a beautiful, full color photo to help you correctly identify your plants. The tone of the writing is conversational and light while still providing you with the info you need to keep your indoor plants from dying. The book also includes general indoor plant care advice, information about propagation of indoor plants, and troubleshooting help for when things start to go wrong. And the whole thing is organized in a way that makes sense, making the book easy to use.
Basically, if you’ve been looking for a book about indoor plants for “normal people” that has helpful photos and useful information, this is the book for you.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Fern – Here is the link to my post with my entry.
http://pagardening.blogspot.com/2008/12/zygocactus-big-bloomer.html
Thanks for always sponsoring such interesting contests.
What a good idea Fern. I will see if I can get a picture up and come back and post the link. I am interested in seeing everyone’s houseplants this year! Cindy’s cactus was quite beautiful.
Cindy — Your cactus is beautiful, you’ve set the bar!
Tina — I look forward to seeing your plant.
Fern-
Here’s the link to my post on my blooming Lipstick Plant:
http://plants.zachandchristie.com/2008/12/05/lipstick-plant-black-pagoda-in-bloom/
The picture I’m submitting is 4th in the post.
Hi Fern! What a fun contest!!! I would like to enter with my beautiful blooming Fittonia plant which you can see HERE!
Thanks!
Julie
Happy holidays Fern. I’ve started a collection of Sanservieria off the beaten path. Have been discovering a variety of unusual specimens lately. They are well adapted for my home which tends to be dry in the winter and not very bright. Submitting a photo of Sanservieria ‘Futura’, which is a hybrid of the more common snake plant we see around town. This variant has short, curved leaves and grows more round than upright.
Cheers, Robert
Hi Fern,
What a fun contest. I would love to enter my hibiscus. It can be seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/janiejonesmt/3054661310/
Merry Christmas to all!
Janie
Montana
Ephiphyllum oxypetalum are my favorite. The plants are kind of awkward but the blooms are awesome and the fragrance incredible.
Night blooming cereus
Nell Jean
Georgia
Oh, how embarrassing! Typo, right off.
Epiphyllum oxypetalum
Sorry.
Nell — No worries, typos won’t be held against you.
Janie — Thanks for your contribution. Merry Christmas right back atcha.
Robert — I really enjoyed reading about your plant, thanks for submitting your photo!
Julie — Congrats on getting your Fittonia to bloom, thanks for submitting it to the contest!
Zach — Lipstick plant, what a cool name! Thanks for participating.
Good luck to everyone. I am unable to get a picture up but can’t wait to see the winner!
Aw bummer, I’m not a US resident. This sounds like a great book though – I’ll have to add it to my wish list!
Amy — I know, it is a bummer. I really wish I could open up contests to my gardening buds up north and in Australia and the UK, but other countries’ rules are so strict it would be impossible for me to comply with them all.