How to Grow More Plants with Just Water!

 

As gardeners, we can never have enough plants! Instead of spending your hard-earned cash on new ones, why not multiply your favorites for free? Not only will you save money, but you can also swap or share plants with friends—or even give them as thoughtful gifts.

One of the easiest ways to grow more plants is by taking a stem cutting and placing it in water. Some cuttings root remarkably quickly, sometimes in just a few days! Herbs like basil, mint, and thyme are perfect for this. Rosemary might take a little longer, but the process is just as simple. (See photo below of thyme cuttings with new roots )

Other great candidates include sweet potato, Sansevieria, coleus, impatiens, croton, and even roses (though roses can be a bit tricky).

How to Propagate Plants in Water

1. Take a Cutting: Use clean scissors to snip a healthy 4–6-inch stem just below a node.
2. Place in Water: Pop it in a clear jar or glass so you can watch the roots grow. Keep the node submerged but the leaves above water.
3. Wait and Watch: Change the water every few days, and in about a week (or a bit longer for some plants), roots should appear.

 

Once your cutting has enough roots, it’s time to pot it up:

1. Prep the Pot: Use a free-draining potting mix to protect those delicate roots.
2. Plant Carefully: Fill a pot or plug tray, make a hole in the potting mix with your finger or dibber, and gently place the rooted cutting inside. Firm the soil around it.
3. Water and Adjust: Water the plant to settle the soil and keep it in a shaded spot for a few days. Gradually expose it to sunlight to help it acclimate, a process known as 'hardening off'.

And just like that, you’ve got a brand-new plant ready to thrive! Whether you’re multiplying herbs for your kitchen or sharing a vibrant coleus with a friend, propagation is an easy, rewarding way to expand your green collection.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab those scissors and let the stem rooting/plant-growing fun begin!

Happy Gardening!

The Grey-Haired Gardener

The Marvel of Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina

Meet Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina, a tropical vine with a flair for drama! Part of the cucumber family, this fruit goes by many names including striped gourd, snake gourd, or “chichinda” to the locals. 

But no matter what you call it; this plant is a showstopper. Why? Well, one of the fruits from my vine stretched an astonishing 32 inches long! (Zoom in on the photo to see for yourself!)

This vine wasn’t just an experiment; it was a bit of a legacy project. A farmer friend of mine, who sells at the local market, gifted me her last five seeds. In exchange, I promised to return seeds from my harvest. Ever the curious gardener, I planted one seed and sent the other four to the Seed Bank at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

The Vine That Climbed an Orange Tree

Instead of building a trellis, I let my vine climb my orange tree, which basks in full sunlight and doubles as a natural support system. The vine with its delicate white flowers sprawled naturally across the branches.

The fruits begin their journey straight as arrows but starts to curl whenever they encounter obstacles—leaves, stems, or even their own wandering vines. If you’re aiming for perfectly straight fruits, a proper trellis system is your best bet.

The Colorful Finale

As these fruits mature, they trade their green stripes for a brilliant flaming orange hue. It’s a visual treat and the perfect signal for seed saving. True to my promise, I’m saving two fruits: one for me and one for my farmer friend.

 

 

For me, there is nothing more rewarding than sharing the fruits of my harvest. So off I go, taking my harvest to my sister.

Gardening often feels like a collaboration—with nature, with fellow growers, and even with the unexpected twists and turns (literally!) that each plant brings. And with Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina, it’s a collaboration that’s long, winding, and utterly rewarding.

 So, what are you harvesting today?

Happy Gardening!

The Grey-Haired Gardener

Pink Passion Fruit 🌸(Passiflora edulis)

                                                                                                                   

There’s a unique sense of pride and satisfaction that comes with picking something from your garden, especially when it’s something you’ve nurtured from seed. That’s exactly how I feel about my pink passion fruit.

I've noticed that this pink variety is larger than the typical yellow varieties available locally.  The one pictured in the photo below is nearly a full 6 inches!

                                                                                             The beautiful pink passion fruit flower

                                                               Pink passion fruit

It all started with a fruit I picked up at the local market. Curious and a bit adventurous, I kept a few seeds for myself, shared some with my fellow gardening enthusiasts, and sent the rest to the Seed Bank at the University of the West Indies (check out their work here).

Fast forward to today—this is the first fruit to ripen on the vine, with many more in various stages of development. 

Enjoying Pink Passion Fruit

While you can scoop out the pulp and enjoy it fresh, I find the tartness a bit much for my taste. So, I decided to let a few more ripen and whip up a refreshing passion fruit drink.

                                            Inside the pink passion fruit showing seeds/pulp

This is one of my "somma recipes"—as in, I throw in somma this and somma that! 😉

Refreshing Passion Fruit Drink Recipe

Ingredients:

• Pulp of 4 passion fruits * (See note)
• 4 cups water
• Granulated sugar (or sweetener of choice) to taste
• A splash of Angostura bitters (optional)
• Ice

Method:

1. Wash and cut the passion fruits in half, then scoop the pulp, seeds and water into a blender.
2. Blend on high for about 30 seconds, until the seeds are finely broken down.
3. Strain the mixture into a jug using a fine mesh strainer.
4. Add sugar to taste and stir well.
5. Serve over ice with a splash of Angostura bitters, if desired.
6. You can adjust the tartness either by adding more water or more sugar to taste, as fruit size may vary.

Sip, savour, and enjoy the fruits of your labour! 🥂

 

Note:

The pulp freezes very well so you can collect the fruits, scoop out the pulp/seeds and freeze for later use. Simply thaw and follow the directions as above.

 Happy Gardening!

The Grey-Haired Gardener

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Start a Home Garden?

 

Hello!

Have you ever thought about starting a home garden but quickly brushed off the idea? Maybe you’ve said, “I don’t have the time,” or, “I can’t keep a plant alive.” Well, here’s a little secret: You can do this. And once you do, you might wonder how you ever lived without your little patch of green.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom looking for a rewarding hobby or a retiree seeking a new adventure, home gardening offers benefits that can enrich your life in ways you never imagined.

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Let’s dig into why getting your hands a little dirty could be the best decision you make this new year:

1. Health Benefits: Growing Wellness

Home gardening isn’t just about growing food or flowers; it’s about growing you.

• Fresh Air & Sunshine:  Do you know that if you are spending 20 minutes outside, you can boost your vitamin D levels, improve your mood, and lower blood pressure? It’s like nature’s free therapy session. 
  
  
  
  
• Physical Activity: Tilling soil, planting seeds, and pulling weeds—these activities can burn calories and keep you active without feeling like a workout.

• Nutrition at Its Best: When you grow your own veggies, you control what goes into the soil. No pesticides, no nasty stuff—just fresh, wholesome food right from your garden to your plate.    

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2. Environmental Benefits: A Greener Thumbprint

Gardening is one of the easiest ways to make a positive impact on the environment.

• Less Waste: Grow what you need and eat what you grow. You’ll save on packaging and reduce food waste.

• Pollinator Haven: Your garden can attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, helping to sustain local ecosystems.

• Lower Carbon Footprint: Growing your own produce means fewer trips to the market and less reliance on food transported over long distances.

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3. Psychological Benefits: Blooming Minds

Gardening is a fantastic way to nurture not just plants but also your sense of peace and purpose.

• Stress Relief: Digging in the dirt has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Something about connecting with the earth just makes life feel a little simpler.

• Social Connection: Share your bounty with neighbours, swap tips with other gardeners, or simply enjoy the smiles your garden brings.

• A Sense of Accomplishment: Watching something you planted grow into a vibrant plant or juicy tomato is immensely satisfying.

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Final Thoughts

Starting a home garden is more than just growing plants—it’s about growing yourself, too.....

Let’s turn your backyard (or even your balcony) into a little slice of paradise.

Let’s grow together,
The Grey-Haired Gardener 🌱

 

The Frangipani and Its Uninvited Guests

 

Photo of a bunch of beautiful yellow frangipani flowers in the garden

Frangipani (Plumeria) plants are the crowning jewels of my garden. Their vibrant blooms, with brilliant bursts of color against lush green foliage, breathe life into the backyard. But as much as I adore these plants, it seems I’m not their only admirer!

A particular set of guests—the larvae of the moth Pseudosphinx tetrio—love my frangipani even more. These striking caterpillars sport black bodies with yellow rings and a reddish-orange head, a vivid color palette that serves as a warning to predators:  as if saying “Stay away—I’m toxic!”

On their rear end, they flaunt a black, horn-like structure, adding to their intimidating look. At around 4 inches long, they’re hard to miss once you spot them. 

And their appetite? Absolutely insatiable. In just days, these voracious feeders can strip a mature frangipani tree of all its leaves. Sometimes, their presence is only betrayed by the telltale mass of frass (faecal matter) scattered beneath the tree. If food runs low, they’ll even gnaw on the tender tips of young stems.

Oddly enough, I’ve never seen the adult moth. Described as brown with grey and white markings, it seems to live a far more discreet life than its flamboyant larvae.

Despite their ravenous tendencies, these caterpillars add an intriguing layer of drama to my garden. Watching nature’s interactions—even the ones that nibble on your favorite plants—reminds me of the delicate balance at play. After all, every garden comes with its own wild stories!

Happy Gardening!

Pepper cracking explained.......

 

If you’re new to growing hot peppers and anything like me, you probably get super excited when the plants start flowering. It’s the first sign that soon… you’ll be picking your very own peppers!

But as the fruits mature and you’re anxiously waiting for them to turn that vibrant red colour, you might notice something unexpected: small cracks or stretch marks on the surface. This phenomenon, often called corking, is nothing to worry about.

Corking happens during growth spurts when your pepper plants receive an abundance of sunshine, rainfall, or fertilizer. These  more than ideal conditions can cause the fruits to grow so quickly that the skin can’t keep up, resulting in tiny splits or ruptures.

While excess nitrogen tends to produce lush foliage, it’s actually an overabundance of potassium and phosphorus—the nutrients that boost fruit production—that’s likely behind these cracks.

These markings usually appear as concentric rings or vertical lines running from the stem to the tip. Jalapeños are the most common peppers to show corking, but this season’s extra rainfall has even brought these marks to my pimentos (seasoning peppers).

 

(Photo showing brown markings (cracks) on the pepper fruit)

 

If you’re wondering whether these peppers are safe to eat, the answer is a resounding yes! So go ahead… pick a peck of peppers!

(I couldn’t resist that one 😉). 

Happy Gardening!