Can this Phalaenopsis be saved?

Phalaenopsis is a genus of orchids native to southeast Asia and northern Australia, with gorgeous flowers that supposedly resemble moths in the obsolete genus Phalaena (I don't see it myself), hence the English common name "moth orchid" (in French, orchidée papillon). I've been tempted to get one of these for years because they are gorgeous, there are many easy-care hybrids available, and they are considered safe for cats. However, my old apartment, being in a basement, had almost no natural light so I didn't think it was worth the investment.

Now that I've moved, I have loads of natural light, but can't really justify buying an expensive plant this month on top of the expenses of moving. However, look what I found in the "as is" section at IKEA!

Take a look at the price tag!

At 90% off, I couldn't resist the temptation to resuscitate this poor plant.

Since the plant is in poor shape (the growing medium was completely dry and the leaves were shriveling), I decided to completely remove the flowering scape and let it have a good long recovery period before blooming again. I'm not sure what that grey thing sticking out is—a root? Since it didn't want to come off, I'm leaving it on for now. Perhaps a reader who actually knows something about Phals could advise?

Sansevieria trifasciata

Sansevieria trifasciata, aka "snake plant" or "mother-in-law's tongue" in English, plante serpent or langue de belle-mère in French, is a west African perennial commonly grown as a houseplant. It's unusual to see a specimen as large and healthy as this in a mall—this one is in Brookfield Place. (I believe the underplantings are Rhododendron simsii (Indian azalea, azalé de l'Inde) and Hedera helix (English ivy, lierre grimpante). The latter is an invasive plant here in Toronto, which should be confined to indoor plantings like this rather than planted in the garden).

I briefly had a sansevieria, which I picked up half-dead at Canadian Tire because I felt sorry for it. I thought that the leaves would be too tough and unappetizing for my cats to nibble, but I was wrong. There is some debate over how toxic sansevieria is, but according to Plants are the Strangest People's Houseplant Toxicity Series, Sansevieria trifasciata can kill a cat. I've composted mine.

I should mention that I dislike the common names "mother-in-law's tongue" and langue de belle-mère for this plant, since they are a dig at mothers-in-law (the sharp leaves of the plant are supposed to be like the sharp tongues of mothers-in-law). I have had two mothers-in-law and they both are lovely people whom I am grateful to have known.

Hypoestes phyllostachya 'Splash Select White' seeds

Hypoestes phyllostachya, known in English as "polka dot plant" or "freckle face" and in French as plante aux éphélides, is a tender perennial native to Madagascar grown for its attractive foliage, which is dark green densely covered with spots of pink, white, or red.

Usually in polka dot plant is sold as a houseplant in Toronto, however, a neighbour had a very pretty planting under a tree which impressed me last summer.

Plants are the Strangest People reports that polka dot plant is invasive in various warm parts of the world (Australia, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Zimbabwe, and India), so if you live there, please don't plant this in your garden. However it doesn't seem likely to go wild in Toronto. (PATSP also reports that polka dot plants are potentially dangerous to dogs and cats.)

I bought these seeds at Parks, who also sell a pink variety.

Lycianthes rantonnetii

Lycianthes rantonnetii, known in English as blue potato bush, Paraguay nightshade, or blue lycianthes, and in French as arbre à gentiane, is a shrub native to Paraguay and Argentina, with small (2-3 cm) blue-violet flowers.

In Toronto, it must be grown indoors, like this standard at Allan Gardens.

Abutilon megapotamicum

Abutilon megapotamicum, known in English as trailing abutilon or Chinese lanterns, and in French as abutilon du grand fleuve or abutilon grimpant is a shrub native to Brazil with nifty bright red and yellow flowers.

These Chinese lanterns are not cold-hardy and (in Toronto) have to be grown indoors, unlike another plant also known as Chinese lanterns, Physalis alkekengi. I photographed this Abutilon megapotamicum at Allan Gardens.

Pachystachys lutea

Pachystachys lutea, known in English as golden shrimp plant or lollipop plant and in French as panache d'officier or pachystachys jaune, is a tender evergreen shrub with spikes of white flowers emerging from bright yellow bracts.

Here in Toronto, this tropical flower must be grown indoors. I photographed this specimen at Allan Gardens.

Solanum pseudocapsicum

Solanum pseudocapsicum, known in English as Jerusalem cherry or Madeira winter cherry and in French as pommier d'amour, is a tropical perennial related to tomatoes. Unlike tomatoes, its fruit are strictly ornamental; they are poisonous for humans, cats, dogs, and birds.

In Toronto, Jerusalem cherry must be grown indoors during the cold seasons. These plants were photographed at Allan Gardens.

Rhododendron simsii

Rhododendron simsii, known in English as Indian azalea and in French as azalé de l'Inde and azalé de Formose, is an evergreen shrub from Asia grown for its masses of pink, white, red, or mauve blossoms.

Not surprisingly, Indian azalea is not hardy enough to withstand Toronto winters. It can, however, be grown as a houseplant, and spend summers outside if desired. I photographed these azaleas at Allan Gardens. And of course, there are hardy azaleas available.

Adiantum aethiopicum

Adiantum aethiopicum spp, known in English as common maidenhair fern is a tropical perennial fern native to Africa, New Zealand and Australia. The fronds have delicate fan-shaped leaflets on black, hair-like stems.

In Toronto, this maidenhair can be grown only indoors (I photographed this speciment at Allan Gardens); however, there is another beautiful maidenhair fern, Adiantum pedatum, which is a Canadian native growing across the country from Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia.

Agave multifilifera

Agave multifilifera, known in English and French as chahuiqui, is a succulent with a rosette of dark green spiky leaves ornamented with curly white hairs on the edges. Like all agaves, it dies after flowering and producing fruit.

This is another hot-climate plant that Torontonians must grow indoors. The plants above were photographed in the succulent and cactus greenhouse at Allan Gardens.

Echinocactus grusonii

Echinocactus grusonii, known in English as "golden barrel cactus", "golden ball", or "mother-in-law's cushion", and in French as coussin de belle-mère, is a fast-growing roughly spherical cactus native to Mexico. Golden barrel cactus can reach a diameter of up to a metre. Although it is popular in cultivation because it is easy to grow, it has become rare in its native habitat. The flowers, the remains of which can be seen in the photo above, are yellow.

In Toronto, golden barrel cactus may be grown as a houseplant or in a greenhouse. This photo was taken in the Allan Gardens conservatory.

Cleistocactus winteri

Cleistocactus winteri, known in English as "golden rat tail", is a low-growing, sprawling cactus native to South America. It has showy reddish-orange or fuchsia flowers (which I have never seen in real life, but here are some images courtesy of Google).

In Toronto, golden rat tail is grown as a houseplant or in a greenhouse, like this specimen at Allan Gardens.

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea, known as bougainvillée or bougainvillier in French, is a genus of woody vines native to South America, whose insignificant flowers are surrounded by very showy coloured bracts, in pink, red, orange, yellow, white, or purple.

Bougainvillea is not hardy enough to survive Toronto winters outside, but it can grow outside in the summer and move indoors for the winter. My dad grew a lovely bougainvillea as a houseplant. The specimen shown is in a greenhouse at Allan Gardens.

Euphorbia milii

Euphorbia milii, known in English as "crown of thorns", "Christ plant", or "Siamese lucky plant", and in French as couronne d'épines, couronne de Christ, or épine de Christ, is a viciously thorny shrub native to Madagascar. The small flowers are surrounded by red, pink, or white bracts.

This is another tropical which is nowhere near hardy enough to grow in Toronto, except as a houseplant or better still in a greenhouse (this one's in the Allan Gardens conservatory). Because it's poisonous and the thorns would be hard to live with, I think I'll just admire it from afar.

Rosmarinus officinalis: in bloom!

Rosmarinus officinalis, known in English as rosemary and in French as romarin, is a tender woody perennial native to the Mediterranean region. Its fragrant, greyish, thin, needle-like leaves are used as a culinary herb. The flowers are pale blue.

Rosemary is not hardy enough to survive Toronto winters. It can be grown in the garden as an annual, which I tried last year. It never got very large, 30 cm at best, and of course it's dead now. Rosemary can also be grown as a houseplant, though some find it a struggle. My first boyfriend managed to quickly kill the rosemary plant he tried growing in his dorm room for sentimental reasons, probably a combination of insufficient light and too much heat in the winter. (I married him anyway.)

The rosemary plant at my parents' house on the other hand lived for years. It too never got very big, about 30 cm, and never bloomed. My budgie enjoyed nibbling on it.

The rosemary in the photo is the biggest, most beautiful rosemary plant I have ever seen, and the first time I have seen rosemary in bloom in real life! It's growing in the Allan Garden's conservatory. I'm not sure if it's even possible to grow a rosemary plant this big (well over a metre) in Toronto without a greenhouse.

If you want to see it in person, after entering the centre greenhouse go through the door on the left to the next greenhouse (the one with the pool and the statue of Leda and the swan). The rosemary is in the centre bed.

Ambitious indoor gardeners in Toronto may be inspired by this goregous rosemary bonsai! If I had a sunny window I'd like to try this myself.