Monday, February 8, 2021

The late winter mantel—a houseplant installation

As our wet winter combined with COVID induced isolation continue to keep me home and not connecting with "real people," I find myself watching more online entertainment. Occasionally I venture into the world of houseplant influencers and Summer Rayne Oaks videos. I watched an episode in which she did a houseplant consultation for a condo owner, he had a strange built in planter sort of situation under an extreme overhang. I'm not explaining it well because I don't really remember it clearly, but it did set my mind to thinking about a different sort of mantelscape based on these planters I spotted during a quick walk through Little Baja, here in Portland...

Those long, thin, concrete planters were 12, 18 and 24 inches long. I played around with how to get the best coverage on our mantel and came up with this, two 24 inch and one 18 inch, then filled them with plants that have low-light requirements like ferns and begonias.


The plants include (left to right) Blechnum spicant (deer fern), a Rex begonia hybrid, and the spotted leaves belong to (lord help me I fought using this stupid name) begonia ‘My Special Angel’ hybrid.

Cryptanthus 'Black Mystic', Callisia fragrans, Microsorum musifolium and then a pair of begonia leaves that I rooted from NOID plants in the garden, and finally Adiantum venustum.

Microsorum musifolium (crocodile fern) and one of those NOID garden begonia leaves

Adiantum venustum, Rex begonia hybrid, Blechnum spicant.

I wanted a little height at the center of the mantel so I brought in a tall dark cement planter and it supports a couple of tillandsia.

Blechnum spicant, Callisia fragrans and Cryptanthus 'Black Mystic'.

Cryptanthus 'Black Mystic', Microsorum musifolium, and a rhizomatous Begonia 'Midnight'/

Yes, another rooted begonia leaf from the garden...(these came from the nursery dept at our local Fred Meyer—an "everything" store). Since the coldest temperatures of the last two years are predicted for later this week (maybe as low as 23F—which is really concerning because of just how warm it has been) I think I'll be cutting more leaves to bring inside and root...

This one is just so crazy colorful...

So that's a look at the planters, and plants—which I really love!

However... the week I put them all together and placed them on the mantel was just so dark—lots of cloudy overcast skies—I started to scheme on giving them each little clip-on reading lights to help alleviate the darkness. And so it was...

They're each rechargeable, with their own little USB cords.

There are three brightness settings, and three different colors of light; mixed...

Warm...

And white...

Hopefully the combination of the three lights with their three temperature settings, along with the natural light that comes into the room from our large window, will be enough to keep these plants happy for months...

—   —   —

Weather Diary, Feb 7: Hi 50, Low 41/ Precip 0 

All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

23 comments:

  1. I love this! It adds so much greenery which is really needed in February. Love the veined leaves of the Microsorum and the reading lamps are a cute touch. Another winner.

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    1. Thank you, we had a really sunny day right after I took these photos and the different foliage really popped! I was tempted to upload new photos but never got around to it.

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  2. Very nice as always and the clip on lights gives them the extra highlight they need. What did you use to seal the drainage holes btw?

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    1. I didn't, I want to be able to take them outside this summer and even though the concrete does breath I still wanted them to drain—so instead I cut a narrow piece of plastic and laid it down under the planters. I figured this was better too in that the entire length of the bottom of the planters gets a little wet when I water and it will protect the painted surface. I do have to be careful not to water too much!

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  3. This is just perfect! In addition to the beautiful selection of moisture loving plants and those great cement planters, I love the addition of the little clip on lights. I had the same question as Mark and Gaz about protecting the mantel; that’s my biggest challenge with indoor plants over winter. I have used plastic myself but still worry a bit about ruining a nice paint job.

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    1. My mantel paint job is 15 years old and has been through many crazy plant experiments, it stopped being nice a long time ago!

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  4. This is another wonderful mantelscape, Loree! The clip-on lights were a brilliant addition (pun intended). I still feel there's a book in your mantelscapes and other indoor plant vignettes, especially given the tremendous enthusiasm for indoor plants these days. Maybe you could call it 'Houseplants - Elevated: Taking your Indoor Garden to the Next Level' ;)

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    1. Oh... that's good Kris! Perhaps there is hope...

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  5. Where did you get the clip-on lights?

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    1. Amazon:
      https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P56HL3J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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  6. Cement planters don't always evoke warmth, but when filled with your selection of plants they are merely the vessels for beauty of color and texture. They are perfect, especially with the addition of the lights! They would be perfect in a library as well. I envy the selection of pots and plants in Portland. Let us know how the plastic works!

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    1. We are so lucky here with our many fabulous nurseries!

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  7. Isn't Callisia fragrans the so-called "false bromeliad" great? I love massing plants like this and just finished an elaborate scheme for massing rhipsalis and other epiphytes instead of growing them in pots in various locations -- not quite ready for prime time like your arrangement though! And of course mine is a bit rustier...

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    1. I adore Callisia fragrans! I discovered it during the Austin Fling and Lori Ann was kind enough to gift me some cuttings before we left. I can't wait to see your new creation!

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  8. Gorgeous! Perfect display of color and textured plants. The added lights are a stroke of genius. Those are pretty astonishing begonia leafs, (I laughed at the cheesy name!) and very cool that you are able to root them.

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    1. That colorful leaf even has a metallic sheen to it. So cool!

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  9. This is so beautiful. I love the lighting.

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  10. Another mantel success! I love your choices of texture and color - those begonias are esp. gorgeous.

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    1. I can see why some folks end up being begonia collectors.

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  11. Wow, great combination of plants, and the containers work so well in that setting. Very nice.

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  12. That is beautiful Loree. The lights are the perfect touch!

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