Repotting and maintaining overgrown vine plants

I returned to the greenhouse after having been away for almost 8 weeks (spent in Palm Springs). The day before, Wednesday, I sent Curator J... an email to give him warning I would be arriving, and to give him the opportunity to cancel my arrival if the conditions at the greenhouse prevented my working there at this time - I have been concerned since A... is still on medical leave that Curator has too much on his plate to shepherd volunteers through the morning. But, he replied to my email indicating that volunteers are welcome.

Curator had a list of plants on the “vine bench” for me to prune and move, this bench is located in the middle of room C3. B also had a few ideas for pruning a viney bush-like plant attached to the metal trellis in room 3 on the wall separating it from room C2.

I spent the majority of the time working on the vine bench in C2. I repotted two of the plants which had become root-bound and top-heavy. One of the vines had become so entwined in its tomato-cage that I had to use heavy metal shears to cut the cage apart. I prefer to build tripod teepees rather than use tomato cages for this reason. Teepees are easy to take apart or adjust without damaging the plant.

Since the spring has arrived, many of the plants are in full bloom. One cactus in particular, Disocacuts aurantiacus, has abundant bright orange blossoms on dangling, prostrate cactus stems (see google photos for this date)

Curator J asked if I wanted an ID badge. I said yes, it would be helpful to get in and out of the various greenhouse rooms since the doors are self-locking when they close. A valid ID badge is required to unlock the doors to the Collection, Display, and Staff rooms. This week I’ll arrange to register as a student at the U of M in order to get an ID badge. Ugh, I imagine I’ll have to submit a photo for the badge.

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I celebrate learning this about cycad plants

I didn't know that the cardboard palm - Zamia furfuracea - is a cycad. It isn't a palm tree (don't judge me, I'm not a botanist). But it also doesn't look like the other more familiar types of cycads with their fluted upright palm-like fronds. I didn't know it is said to be the second most commonly cultivated cycad, after Cycas revoluta . I didn't know this plant is unrelated to the common ZZ plant - Zamioculcas zamifolia - although they have a similar appearance. Before today I didn't know any of these things, but now I am happy to have learned them. From the parking lot I walked to the U of M Conservatory greenhouse in near-zero F weather. Stepping into the tropical spaces was a joy of its own. But being able to learn new information and experience new procedures was a compounding factor. Joy squared. During my 3-hour volunteer shift, my initial task was to clean the parasite critters (mealybugs and scale) from the stems and leaves of the cycad, Zami...

Mobile indoor green wall

Finally, after three years... my plant vines have grown and spread to be green wall that I had hoped for. I'm not sure it would have taken as long if the plants were in a more humid, sunny climate, et cetera. But given our indoor Minnesota location - even with a southwest exposure - the vines have needed that amount of time to climb the six feet from the base to the top rungs of the metal grid supporting them. The result has been worth the effort. And to be honest, I didn't have to wait three years to begin enjoying the green wall. The vines were already attractive when only half way up the trellis. A metal grid is filled with mix of Epipremnum aureum cultivar "Marble Queen", Epipremnum aureum aka golden pothos, and Philodendron Brasil . Architecture of the green wall The initial intent of the project was to grow a green wall, in an apartment, that could be moved around to be able to clean underneath, and also to provide a mobile room divider for our open-plan loft....

Strung out in the greenhouse

The assignment for my four-hour volunteer shift at the University of Minnesota Conservatory greenhouse was clearly listed on a whiteboard, with my name attached. Since most of the tasks involved working with strings of overhead cables or air tubing, much of my shift was spent at the top of a ladder. Vining plants are limited to only a few of the many benches in the greenhouse. Steel cables are strung above the benches to support their growth. Because many plants grow in a small space, part of the challenge is to untangle and separate the vines so that they don't strangle each other. Not many of the vines are blooming at the moment, as it is winter. However, Thunbergia grandiflora is producing a few lovely blue flowers (its tendrils grow clockwise, hence the common name Bengal clockvine). It's a popular houseplant, but it has become an invasive weed in parts of the world, like Australia, especially around waterways. Thunbergia grandiflora; notice small brown scale insects sucki...

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