October 1st, 2014- Update and new plants

Hello, plant-minded individuals! I know I haven't posted much of late, but I've been a bit busy. Recently, I started a new chapter of my life, working for a web-app company, Wildbit, leading their customer development efforts for the app Postmark. I've really loved it a lot so far, which is honestly a first. It's a really nice feeling to wake up in the morning and be excited to go in to work.
Anyway. To our leafy friends.
In the past month, my teensy little basil plant has grown tremendously, as have the chives. Before my basil started shooting up so much, I needed basil for a recipe, and they sell basil plants for the same price as basil leaves at Trader Joe's, so now I have 2 basil plants. My succulents haven't really changed that much, nor has the sun rose. It's gotten a bit taller.
The really exciting change I bring to you is the addition of a Ficus Bonsai. I was out at Walgreens last night, just picking up some odds and ends, and I've been eyeing this weird little plant for weeks now, to the point that I was planning on buying it at some point.
I was eyeing it up in the store, and a worker came along and started telling me that they were going to throw it out tonight, and that I could just have the weird little dude if I wanted it at all.
Free Ficus Bonsai. Score.
Now, I've never had a bonsai before. Hell, I didn't even know what this guy was until I spend an hour looking it up and I'm still not 100% sure. I do know that the proper way for him to be potted is probably NOT in rocks that seems to be glued down for ascetic appeal. So, I'm going to try to repot him today if I can.
As I may or may not have mentioned before, I currently live in the Chinatown district of Philadelphia. I've read about a great little store that sells bonsai trees at 10th and Race somewhere, and I think I'm going to go exploring there today, and hope that they have soil and a pot with drainage for repotting. Knowing me, I'll leave with another plant.
Here are some pics of how my plants are doing right now, and of the new Ficus Bonsai.

Succulents and Sun Rose

Basil from Trader Joes

Chives

Basil

Ficus Bonsai

 Thanks for reading, and if you have any tips, or questions for me, leave them in the comments section! Happy watering.
-L

The Succulent Countdown Begins!

One of the succulents I picked up last week is beginning to bloom! I'm so excited. I've never had succulents before, but I really do like them a lot. If anyone knows more about what type of succulent this is, I'd appreciate the info!

Thanks for reading. I'll post pictures when it blooms!

-L

Plant Progress Pics

3 of the 5 plants I purchased as grow kits succeeded- those being basil, chives, and sun rose.

This is them after week 1:

Chives

Sun Rose

Basil

All 3 and my mini cactus!

Currently, the basil has taken off pretty well. My chives are wispy and thin, but getting long, and the sun rose really hasn't changed all that much, but here are some pictures of the 3 as they are today, and my other plants as well!

Weird Cactus (it looks like it's going to bloom soon!)

Sun Rose

Succulent

Avocado seed

Chives

Basil

Thanks for reading! More soon.

-L

In the beginning, there was a dollar store.

When I casually tossed 5 herb grow kits in my cart, I never thought I'd become enthralled with my plants. I would have never guessed that I'd be doing something that calms me and delights me daily. But, here I am. What started as 5 easy to grow kits turned into having fresh greens and baby's breath all over the apartment, hanging plants to dry on my walls, 3 cacti, basil, spearmint, sun roses, and chives.

My family has had plants my entire life. My father would come home from work, eat dinner, and immediately head for the backyard, where he had (has) this incredible vegetable garden. This year, he's growing pickling cucumbers, blueberries, zucchini, rhubarb, green beans, peppers, potatoes, and kale (and I'm sure I missed a few others). My mother, on the other hand, has always been a huge fan of flowering plants. Their home has a beautiful back deck area loaded with butterfly bushes, black-eyed susans, and about 10 more flowering plants that, to be honest, I don't know the name of. 

So, growing plants is something that came naturally to me. And, with my father being the vegetable guy and my mom tending her flowers, it seems fitting that I should be the most intrigued by herbs. I've always found herbalism extremely interesting, and I've always sought out natural remedies to common ailments. Plus, about a year ago I realized a knack for cooking, and have wanted to get a better grasp on proper seasonings. 

This blog is for these plants that have become an integral part of who I am, and whom I'd like to become. I'm going to be posting pictures of the plants I have, any new additions to the family, and I'll have some more posts about little tips I've picked up over the years from my talented family.

Thanks for reading, I'll have progress pictures up soon!

-L