Pedilanthus is an unusual plant with a monstrous name popular in window garden collections. The plant Pedilanthus lithymaloides [ped-i-LAN-thus] and don’t worry about the rest of the name. It is also known as Euphorbia lithymaloides. I have grown the plant for three or four years, and recently I’ve been seeing it in other collections. Not … Read more
The Gloxinia Flower! It is a triumph to plant thick, dry, brown, and barren-looking gloxinia tubers and watch them produce a luxuriant plant with layers of large, oval, velvety leaves topped with a crowning glory of immense flaring, tubular flowers in rich patterns and glowing colors. That’s what happens when you grow gloxinias, tuberous-rooted relatives … Read more
Gardenia plants are both the delight and despair of indoor gardeners. When Gardenias are happy – in bright light and acidic soil – they are shapely evergreen shrubs with: But when your Gardenia may fail to flower, and may even suddenly decide to turn their leaves sickly yellow for any of several slim excuses. This … Read more
Ceropegia plants are a completely fascinating family (Apocynaceae) of dangling or climbing succulent plants from South Africa. The stems are long, wiry, and sparsely set with pairs of plump, precisely-shaped leaves so that the foliage effect is open and airy. The waxy lantern flowers are almost unbelievable – intricately formed like miniature urns, parachutes, balloons, … Read more
Once upon a time, a plant genus called Pothos (POH-thos) had a bit of an identity problem. Not only did one species get renamed to Epipremnum aureum while still being referred to as pothos, but many people began to believe these indoor plants were the only pothos out there. But the remaining pothos plants aren’t … Read more
Over 125 years ago, an interesting little plant was introduced to British collectors as “Usambara Violet,” botanically Saintpaulia ionantha. Today it is lovingly known throughout the world as African-violet. Today the descendants and hybrids of this plant number in the hundreds or thousands of varieties. African-violet clubs at one time outnumbered the total of all … Read more
Try Haworthias for a new take on houseplants. Succulent Haworthia plants are native to South and Southwest Africa. Along with Aloes, the Haworthia genus is a member of the Asphodeloideae family. They adapt well to window sills, artificial lighting, and greenhouse culture. These are the least demanding and give the most of all the indoor … Read more
Please explain why plants need lower temperatures during the night? As plants manufacture and store up food during the day, cooler night temperatures are needed in order to slow this chemical action. Too high reading during the night cause plants to grow spindly, frail, and yellowish. That is the reason why some have such poor … Read more
While gardeners have always been rather partial to flower plants, there is certainly a quiet charm about plants whose foliage is their chief attraction. One foliage plant that I particularly enjoy for its bold shape and veining pattern is Nephthytis triphylla or Syngonium podophyllum. Small plants grow relatively slowly. But when they do start to … Read more
Tradescantia Nanouk (Trad-es-KAN-tee-uh, NAN- ou-k) is a trailing plant and belongs to the tradescantia family. Tradescantia also has prominent flowering members, such as: The handsome plant is a spiderwort species and is native to the United States, Mexico, South America, and Central America. Also known as tradescantia zebrina, the houseplant has a few common names, which … Read more