Small Flower Vases

This colorful syrup dispenser is one of my favorite small flower vases holding geraniums, phlox and wild germander. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Small Flower Vases

Let’s face it, sometimes we don’t have huge armfuls of flowers to make bouquets to enjoy in our homes and offices. Especially this time of year, when record hot temperatures and a drought are challenging our gardens, we’re lucky to find a bloom here and there to bring inside.

added my little handblown bee for the finishing touch! (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

That’s when small flower vases come in handy, and they don’t have to be actual vases.

What you’re looking for is something small enough to fit on a table or shelf that will highlight one or two flowers.

here are some other pitchers and containers with handles that make charming flower vases. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Syrup and Creamers

When I stop by thrift stores and yard sales, I look out for creamers and syrup dispensers. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes so I scope out ones that will fit nicely on a desk or table without taking over the space.

These small vessels are perfect for making small fresh flower bouquets. At times all I find growing in my garden is one or two flowers. With a little greenery those can nicely make a pop of freshness.

toothpick holders make excellent small flower vases. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Crystal Toothpick Holders

If you like something more formal, keep an eye out for crystal toothpick holders. I’ve found two sizes, both excellent for tiny bouquets. The only issue is you need to keep an eye on the water level or they can easily go dry.

Personalized Gift Ideas

Over the years I’ve also collected these small vases to give as gifts full of flowers. Especially for hospitals and friends recovering from surgery, the smaller flower arrangements are easier to manage.

Regardless of size, keep several sizes handy so you can enjoy flowers inside all year around!

Charlotte

When to Cut Daffodils

Cut daffodils still in bud when flower colors are starting to show. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

When to Cut Daffodils

Friends have told me over the years that they have a hard time deciding when to cut daffodils to bring inside so here are a few tips.

When walking through your garden, look for the daffodils that are bending over. Check the stems. You will find some daffodil stems have been bruised by weather. Those are the ones you should cut since the damaged stems won’t be able to feed the top flower.

Once inside, trim the dry part of the stem off so the fresh stem can take in water.

Bruised stem daffodils are perfect candidates for cutting to bring inside. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

My second tip is look for daffodils getting ready to bud. Cutting daffodils in bud form will give them a longer vase life. You want to cut the buds after some flower color is showing, not when the buds are still all green.

Once flower buds are in water, they will open when inside and exposed to warmer temperatures.

Look for daffodils showing color in their buds. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

As you search for buds with color, cut the ones that may be lying on the ground. Not all of them break where they bend but their stems may be damaged. That way you won’t feel as bad cutting the flowers, and you leave standing flowers to enjoy in the garden.

These yellow daffodil buds are ready to be cut for an inside bouquet. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

So how early should you cut the buds?

Wait until the stem is fully extended and the buds are starting to show color.

These daffodil buds need a little more growth before being cut. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Once inside, place them in water and replace the water every day or every other day.

One more note: don’t mix daffodils with other flowers, they have a toxin that will kill off other blooms.

If you want to mix them, let daffodils sit in water for 24 to 36 hours first so the toxins can drain. Replace the water; then mix other flowers with the daffodils.

only a few daffodils to bring inside? place them next to a mirror to double the size. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

If you just have a few daffodils in bloom, cut them to enjoy inside. If you place them next to a mirror you will double your daffodil supply.

There are few flowers that brighten up a room than a bouquet of bright daffodils!

Charlotte

Pruned Flowers Bouquet

This bouquet is made up of flowers that were pruned. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Pruned Flowers Bouquet

Most of us think of cutting fresh flowers for a bouquet but have you considered using the flowers you deadhead or otherwise pruned?

As you trim your flowering bushes and potted plants, save those with flower buds, flowers and even flower seed heads to include in a bouquet or two of cut flowers for home decor.

This little bouquet was made from flowers I trimmed off of geraniums and vinca potted bushes. They were getting too lanky so needed to be trimmed back to grow bushier.

The red roses were trimmed from a discarded climbing rose branch.

And the light pink vincas were from another bouquet that was destined for composting until I realized I could add them to this flower grouping.

To best group these flowers together, find a flower vase that accommodates the shortest stem and then cut the rest to match. Cutting the stems also gives the flowers a fresh stem for taking up water.

By themselves they were not exciting but grouped together these discards make a lovely splash of color in my den.

And imagine making a bouquet of plant trimmings for someone who may be in the hospital or otherwise away from their favorite garden!

Charlotte

Picking Daffodils

A vase of daffodils will easily brighten any room. Here, Ice Follies. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Picking Daffodil

Some of my daffodils got an early start on spring this year, blooming almost a month earlier than they have in the past. I was good with that; there are few things that easily brighten a room, or spirits, than a bouquet of fresh daffodils.

Friends have told me over the years that they have a hard time deciding when to cut daffodils to bring inside so here are a few tips.

When walking through your garden, look for the daffodils that are bending over. Check the stems. You will find some daffodil stems have been bruised by weather. Those are the ones you should cut since the damaged stems won’t be able to feed the top flower.

Once inside, trim the dry part of the stem off so the fresh stem can take in water.

Bruised stem daffodils are perfect candidates for cutting to bring inside. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

My second tip is look for daffodils getting ready to bud. Cutting daffodils in bud form will give them a longer vase life.

They will happily open when inside and exposed to warmer temperatures.

Look for daffodils showing color in their buds. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

As you search for buds with color, cut the ones that may be lying on the ground. Not all of them break where they bend but their stems may be damaged. That way you won’t feel as bad cutting the flowers and you leave standing flowers to enjoy in the garden.

These yellow daffodil buds are ready to be cut for an inside bouquet. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

So how early should you cut the buds?

Wait until the stem is fully extended and the buds are starting to show color.

These daffodil buds need a little more growth before being cut. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Once inside, place them in water and replace the water every day or every other day.

One more note: don’t mix daffodils with other flowers, they have a toxin that will kill off other blooms. If you want to mix them, let daffodils sit in water for 24 to 36 hours first so the toxins can drain.

Happy spring!

Charlotte

Re-Blooming Moth Orchids

favorite white moth orchids. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Re-Blooming Moth Orchids

You’ve probably seen these in your local grocery store floral section and home and garden store. Maybe you were given one as a gift. Moth orchids are a favorite gift flower for major holidays from Christmas and Valentine’s Day to Mother’s Day.

I love giving moth orchids as gifts myself because they are easy to grow and, with a little exposure to cool conditions, will re-bloom year after year.

Valentine’s Day gift moth orchid, love the polka dots! (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Moth Orchids Background

Phalaenopsis Blume, commonly known as moth orchids, are a genus of about 70 species in the Orchid family.

Orchids in this genus have long, coarse roots, short, leafy stems and long-lasting, flat flowers arranged in a flowering stem that often branches near the end. These orchids are native to India, Taiwan, China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia with the majority in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Sign of new growth, a new moth orchid stem with buds. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

I was given my first moth orchid a good 15 years ago or so. Since then, I keep a little stable of continuing-blooming orchids around the house. They not only are long-blooming but they are easy to grow.

Don’t Over Water

The biggest challenge is over-watering. If your moth orchid still has decorative foil around the pot, discard the foil and give the pot a saucer.

Some of these moth orchids are promoted as getting two ice cubes a week. I personally prefer not to give my tropical orchids something cold. I give them a splash of water once a week out of a room temperature watering can. If I had to guess, it’s closer to 1/8th cup of water.

Another option is to immerse your orchid in room temperature water for a few minutes, then let the water completely drain out of the orchid pot.

Indirect Light

Blooming moth orchid flowers will last longer if they are kept out of direct light.

In between blooming cycles, the orchids like indirect light as well. Mine seem to do well in southeast windows.

Cool Temperatures

Once they’ve finished blooming, I also move my moth orchids to the basement where they get indirect southern light. The basement is also cooler than the rest of the house and that cool period triggers new growth.

Give your orchid fertilizer only after it’s bloomed. I give mine half the recommended amount.

This is the 4th time these white moth orchids have re-bloomed. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Bug Management

Sometimes in winter some of my moth orchids will get aphids. A warm water bath following by a towel trying is a good start. Then I spray with alcohol to remove anything I missed.

Although there are a variety of different-colored moth orchids, the white ones are often used in TV studio and staged home decor.

Another white moth orchid currently in bloom. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

This white moth orchid is another re-blooming one I’ve had for many years. To keep track of colors, I cut up an old blind and have the colors marked on the blind piece and snuck into the tree bark.

Not all of them, it’s still fun to now know what color will re-bloom until it does.

Charlotte

Cyclamen Care Tips

A white cyclamen gift keeps me company in the kitchen. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Cyclamen Care Tips

I can’t remember the last time I had a blooming cyclamen but I’m back in the fan club with this white variety now keeping me company in the kitchen.

Cyclamen is a member of the Primrose family, and grows around the Mediterranean. The species that has achieved houseplant status, Cyclamen persicum, originates from Persia, present-day Iran. The philosopher Plato described the plant as far back as the 4th century BC.

The small plants have very interesting heart-shaped marked leaves and flowers sitting on top of long stems.

When I was growing cyclamen a few years back, I remember I was most successful growing them in the east window with indirect sunlight. I also marked them as the leaves died off. The plant needs a couple of months of rest before starting a new growing cycle.

Another challenge is over-watering. Water only when the soil feels dry to the touch but don’t let them sit without water for long, they like to have consistent moisture.

Once blooms fade, leaves start turning yellow and fall off. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Yellow leaves can be caused by a couple of issues. Too much water will prompt leaves to lose their green color. The leaves will also turn as the plant starts to fade.

Flowers will also develop seed heads, which I cut off so the plant doesn’t exhaust itself.

Once the leaves die back, give the plant a rest for 1-2 months, then start watering again to see it re-bloom.

Charlotte

Fresh Catnip

Catnip is an easy to grow herb cats enjoy fresh or dried. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Fresh Catnip

It’s midsummer where I live in the US Midwest. If you haven’t started growing your own fresh catnip to make into gifts, there’s still time. You can either start it from seed or pick up a starter plant from your local home and garden center, I saw some at two home and garden centers earlier today.

Catnip, Nepeta cataria, is a common herb and a member of the mint family. I’ve successfully grown it for years in my limestone hillside garden. It grows in most soils and is easy to grow from either seeds or starter plants.

Effects of Catnip

According to PetMD, about 60% of cats respond to catnip. Cats have an extra scent organ called the vomeronasal gland in the roof of their mouth. This special pathway allows scents that are collected in the nose and mouth to be carried to the brain.

Nepetalactone is the oil that’s found within the catnip plant’s leaves that can cause behavioral changes in cats. Catnip scent mimics feline sex hormones, so cats enjoying this substance will often display behaviors similar to a female cat in heat. Both male and female cats can experience the effects.

With dry catnip, cats may show overt signs of affection, relaxation, and happiness. Other cats will display active behaviors, such as playfulness and sometimes even aggression. For cats that have a positive experience with catnip, it can help reduce anxiety and even relieve pain. Some veterinarians have recommended using catnip to help with separation anxiety if a cat will be home alone for an extended period of time.

Quality Field Testing

All of my cats have enjoyed dried catnip over the years. They seem to know which are homemade toys with dry catnip and which ones are store-purchased. They also like to roll in the catnip drying basket so I keep it high and off the ground.

With fresh catnip, they have developed a taste for a tiny spring or leaf every day. Once they have their treat they seem relaxed and settle into a morning nap, the inspiration for my sleeping cats quilt design.

I don’t give them more than a couple of leaves at a time so they don’t get a tummy ache.

Catnip Gifts

You can buy dried catnip, too but I prefer to raise my own without using any chemicals. I harvest the leaves through spring and dry them in paper-lined baskets over my refrigerator. Once dry, I store the dried leaves in a glass container for later use.

Interestingly enough, I learned a few years back that bees also love catnip so I am encouraging any and every plant to grow wherever it settles. I harvest leaves before it flowers to get the strongest catnip, then the bees get the flowers. Once the flowers turn to seed, they then will grow more catnip plants. I haven’t had much luck so far timing trying to collect the seeds before they get naturally dispersed.

James A. Mess, top, and Etta Girl, bottom, enjoy a fresh catnip sprig daily. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Catnip leaves have also been used to make tea, and the flowers are said to relieve coughs. It’s also a main ingredient in some natural bug sprays. 

Catnip Gift Ideas

If you have several plants started, you can pot each plant for a gift to another catnip-loving plant. When planted outside, they are perennials so they will come back from year to year.

Once dry, you can make small jars of dried leaves as gifts. Add a tag explaining what it is and how to use it. Every Christmas I make felt toys full of dry catnip for friends and family. If your cats don’t respond to store-purchased catnip toys, try freshly-dried catnip and see if their reaction changes. Many store toys have old dry catnip that has lost its scent.

This winter I am going to try to winter the catnip pot over inside, maybe in a hanging basket. We all know that poor catnip plant will not safely make it inside if if I keep it low to the ground and within easy paw reach!

Charlotte