8th April - Getting back to 'normal'

 Today I did an opening shift at work. First one since returning. So now I've done all of the different regular shifts again. Finally feel like things are getting back to normal. Well, aside from the fact that tomorrow is the start of Easter break activities and the falconry! School breaks are anything but normal!

My bosses were kind enough to give me an extra half hour to get the opening procedure completed in case I felt the need to go slower than normal. And to top that off, I was allowed home a half hour earlier too.

It was a good day though. When I wasn't on the admissions desk, I was helping set up for the break by replacing some of our table adverts with new ones for the fun fair, the Falklands 40 exhibition, the Fort Talks, the May Half Term and a general what's on leaflet. Those and the A4 posters on the backs of bathroom doors. I also helped put out boards to advise children where to find hidden flora and fauna around the galleries.

After work, I had a quick sit down with a coffee with Dad before we took Misty for her walk. Had dinner, had a shower, then started to do the Indoor Gardener badge work I was going to do yesterday before I remembered the Leaders Meeting.

The research I did was for the miniature rose and the Purple Shamrock I already had before I bought the rest recently.

So here we go. This is what I learned this evening.

Oxalis Triangularis (False or Purple Shamrock) (Info taken from wikipedia)

• Perennial, meaning it'll live for more than 2 years (We've had ours for maybe 4 so far?)
• Leaves and petals close at night, when the plant is disturbed or if it is kept in harsh sunlight. Ours lives on the bathroom windowsill where it gets sunlight in the afternoon so it tends to stay open all day but really wakes up with a water.
• On the note of light, they prefer bright indirect sunlight and cool indoor temperatures, around 15ºc. Our bathroom is usually around that, though obviously the shower does tend to make it a bit humid. Hmm, maybe I should put my orchid in there...
• Can grow up to 50cm tall (ours has remained a compact small size but has plenty of leaves and some lovely small flowers)
• Thrives in average potting soil with good drainage.
• Only needs watering when the topsoil looks dry and doesn't need water in the winter.
• Needs fertilising every 2-3 weeks. Diluted houseplant liquid fertiliser is good.

Miniature Rose, unknown variety. (Info taken from Masterclass website)

• May need extra mulch or protection in winter as the roots of a miniature rose are closer to the surface than regular roses
• They need to be in an area where they can receive 6-8 hours of sunlight. Our poor rose has lived on the bathroom windowsill since I got it for Christmas. I didn't trim it back as much as I should have and it's been reduced to three little stumps. 2 of them now have shoots on them again so I haven't killed it entirely. I think it gets enough sunlight and it'll certainly get more as the days lengthen.
• The pot needs to have drainage holes.
• Well-draining, loamy soil (I had to look that up. Means fertile soil of clay or sand containing humus, which I also had to look up, means dark organic material that forms in soil when plant and animal matter decay. Look at all this learning!! Wait, where was I? Oh yeah, soil) Peat moss can be added to keep the soil light and to assist with root growth.
• The soil needs to be kept evenly moist. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Pale yellow leaves indicates the plant may have had too much water.
• Requires fertilising monthly during growing season, early spring to autumn. Organic or inorganic fertilisers are effective. Start once the plant stops producing new growth in the spring and apply every 2-3 weeks until early August.
• Needs deadheading (clipping of dead flowers and leaves) weekly to encourage new blooms, and needs pruning annually.

Orchid watering (Info from WikiHow)

• Best water to use is collected rainwater.
• Only need to be watered when they begin to dry out but before they're fully dry.
• It needs it less frequently when it's cool than when it's warm.
• If the potting mix  looks dusty and dry, it's a sign it might need watering.
• If the pot feels light upon lifting it, that's another sign it might need watering. The pot will feel heavier when it has sufficient water.
• Using a finger is another good way to determine how dry it is.
• The best pots to use for an orchid is a terracotta one with holes.
• A temporary method for watering is to put 3 standard sized ice cubes onto the soil, making sure they don't touch the leaves. As they melt, they'll water the plant but it's not ideal for long term plant health.
• Run the pot under a tap for about a minute and let it all seep through the holes.
• It's best to water it in the morning or afternoon in order for any excess to evaporate before it gets dark. An orchid will start rotting if water sits on the plant over night.
• Orchids are used to a humid environment so misting is a good method. Spritzing the plant a few times a day will mimic the dampness it likes. Drier environments need more than warmer. If the plant feels dry it may need more misting but don't let water collect on the leaves. Dry them if necessary.

Ok, so there's today's research. Hopefully this covers aspects 2 and 3 of the badge.

And now, my five

• Understanding bosses. Giving me an early start might have meant a really early morning for the first time in a long time, but it meant I had more time to unlock the site on my first time back and it meant I could go home earlier. Which is always nice.
• Hearing a woodpecker drilling for the first time in real life. That's so awesome! I associate the sound with Midsomer Murders though.
• Keeping busy preparing for the Easter festivities at work.
• A nice hot shower with Premier Praise on my speaker.
• A quiet lunchbreak so I can play my Switch!

Catch you later!