#which is probably why people suggest planting them high but I'm a dummy and didn't do that

[ghostlyfoliage]

Several of my plants are starting to bloom, but my Strawberry Begonia may be the one I'm the most excited about (right now). I've been watching this weird little stock push out. I've seen very few photos of the blooms and they're very small, but unusual.

Also pushing out flower stocks is my Dieffenbachia, Maranta, African Violet, several of my Haworthias, and my Silver Squill. It's definitely spring!

Also, my Colocasia is finally making an appearance. I've been waiting for them to sprout for two months! I decided to pull the top dressing off and expose the top of the tubers to encourage them more. While I was in there I noticed that all the baby bulbs (saved from the one I over-watered to death) are very much alive and have swelling buds too!

I also felt that one of the large bulbs was soft and totally freaked out that somehow it was dead on arrival and just rotted. I forgot that the bulbs do have a significant layer of dry material that protect them... so I dug in and lifted the bulb. It's sprouting from the bottom, roots and nodes. Apparently I planted it upside down. OOPS! But because it's also rooting from the bottom (with healthy roots) and underneath the dried sheath that has softened it still feels solid through the center... I apologized to it, placed I back, and wished it hopefully a healthy life. 😅

#the Colocasia pot is also an excellent example of how fast-moving soil mites are harmless #i did also put some rove beetles in there more recently just to be on the safe side cus I'm a nervous nelly #but while they are very much taking their time they all seem to be ok #I'm very excited for things to sprout and to watch this pot fill up #i swear I did not plant six bulbs in a pot to be disappointed #it's a big ass pot of you hadn't guessed #idk 20in or so? #i wanted a big ass pot with a ton of elephant ears #I really loved watching the other one grow but I've been trying to be patient with this one #no over-watering I've been watching the soil moisture with a moisture meter and have only added maybe a cup of extra water twice #because I'm just worried they're not getting enough #but clearly patience is key #Colocasias have this weird thing where the bulbs are prone to rot but the roots can handle a ton of moisture #which is probably why people suggest planting them high but I'm a dummy and didn't do that #i planted them submerged to get good contact to encourage lots of roots #eventually I'll probably lift them up but for right now they're just gonna have to handle it till they get some size #ideally I think I'd like 1/3rd submerged and then covered with bark or mulch to hide the tubers #probably could leave them exposed... they're actually kinda cool looking.