Cryptanthus bromeliads are more commonly known as “Earth Stars” and “Starfish plant”, a name they received because of the shape of their foliage. These mostly tropical plants are found in humid forested areas. Over 1,200 different varieties are cataloged worldwide and make great terrarium plants. Many flaunt beautiful foliage ranging from dark green, bright reds, […]
Archive for the ‘Bromeliads’ Category
Earth Stars (Cryptanthus)
Posted by Hugh on February 18th, 2025
Posted in acidic soil, Bromeliads, Container garden, Cryptanthus, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Humidity, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness 
No Comments »What’s New At Your Local Florist Shop
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2022
What’s New At Your Local Florist Your local florist shop…that is often the first place you think of when gifting something green and flowery to an ailing friend. Besides the standard florist shops, most supermarkets contain a florist department. Check out the recently published USDA Floriculture Crops Report. It lists most of the potted plants […]
Posted in African violet (Saintpaulia), Amaryllis, Amaryllis (Bulb), Annuals, Anthurium, Begonia, Bromeliads, Bulb Crops, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Chrysanthemum, Dianthus (Pinks), Ferns, Ferns, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Geranium, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Lily (Lilium), Norfolk Island Pine, Orchids, Ornamental Pepper, Paperwhite narcissus, Poinsettia, Purchasing Plants, Salvia, Sedum, Southern Appalachian Region, Torenia (wishbone flw.) Comments Off on What’s New At Your Local Florist ShopHouseplants Improve Your Home Atmosphere
Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2020
Houseplants decorate as well as clean the air at work and in homes or apartments, particularly when windows are closed over the winter months. Doctors tell us that an environment filled with lots of plants help to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve mind function, particularly our ability to concentrate. Here are six easy […]
Posted in Bromeliads, Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), Dracaena, Ferns, Foliage plant, Fragrant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering iris, ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas) Comments Off on Houseplants Improve Your Home AtmosphereTips On House Plant Nutrition
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2019
Fertilizing tips for your house plants vary according to the individual plant’s need, home or greenhouse environment, and the season of the year. Key elements that house plants require are nitrogen, phosphorus (P) and potassium or potash (K). With few exceptions, tropical plants are low constant feeders, meaning using a water soluble fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro™, Schultz™ […]
Posted in acidic soil, African violet (Saintpaulia), Bromeliads, Calthea, Dracaena, Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia), Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Orchids, Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), Peperomia, Philodendron, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Thanksgiving cactus, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Tips On House Plant Nutrition“Got The Winter Blues”- Go For A Walk At A Garden Center
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2018
Tired of being a shopping mall walker this winter? Instead, visit a local full service garden center. This is a garden center that is open year round and generally does not include the big box stores unless you live a southern climes like Florida, Texas, Arizona, or California. Stores are likely to have walkways, likely concrete […]
Posted in African violet (Saintpaulia), Anthurium, Bromeliads, Calamondin Orange, Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia), Ferns, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, Paperwhite narcissus, Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), Purchasing Plants, Rubber Plant (Ficus), Snake plant (Sanservieria), Staghorn fern, Tillandsia, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Umbrella plant (Schefflera) Comments Off on “Got The Winter Blues”- Go For A Walk At A Garden CenterCrypts (Cryptanthus) Are The Easiest Bromeliads To Grow
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2018
Crypts (Cryptanthus spp.), members of the bromeliad family, are an ideal low care choice for house plant collectors. Currently, there are over 1200 varieties of Cryptanthus species and hybrids available today. Compare to other bromeliads, which grow in trees or rock outcropping, crypts grow in soil or rock ground. Plants prefer an airy, porous, moist soilless media favored by most […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bromeliads, Cryptanthus, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Crypts (Cryptanthus) Are The Easiest Bromeliads To GrowFirst Days Of Fall…. Bring In Your House Plants
Posted by Hugh on September 30th, 2017
The final days are summer are over. It’s time to move your tropical plants indoors before night temps in the low 40°F arrive. These plants thrive outdoors in summer temperatures and high humidity, but cannot survive being left outdoors. Container plants such as Ficus (rubber) trees, orchids, Norfolk Island pines, scheffleras, bromeliads, gardenias, palms, and […]
Posted in acidic soil, African violet (Saintpaulia), Aphids, Bromeliads, Container garden, Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Millipedes & centipedes, Mites, Norfolk Island Pine, Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), Pesticide recommendations, Philodendron, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Sanitation, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Umbrella plant (Schefflera), Wind protection, winter injury Comments Off on First Days Of Fall…. Bring In Your House PlantsHouse Plant Basic Care Tips
Posted by Hugh on September 12th, 2016
Tropical house plants decorate homes, restaurants, shopping malls, and work environments (USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11). Many will grow in medium to low light areas of your home, work, and where flowering plants do not perform. Here are some basic house plant tips: They languish in areas where temperatures are below 55 °F. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Arrowwood (Syngonium), Bromeliads, Calthea, Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), Container garden, Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia), Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Mealy bugs, Mite susceptible, Mites, Philodendron, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Potting Mix, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Rubber Plant (Ficus), Sanitation, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on House Plant Basic Care TipsHouse Plants Purify Indoor Air
Posted by Hugh on December 30th, 2015
Yes, house plants do indeed clean, filter and purify the air of various toxins and pollutants. Back in the 1980’s the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)conducted tests to determine the best house plants that helped purify indoor air in homes and work environments. If humans were to traveled to inhospitable planets, humans would inhabit biospheres full of plants scrub […]
Posted in Arrowwood (Syngonium), Banana (Ensete spp.), Bromeliads, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Norfolk Island Pine, Orchids, Philodendron, Poinsettia, Poisonous or toxic, Rubber Plant (Ficus), Staghorn fern, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Vine Comments Off on House Plants Purify Indoor AirTriggering Flowering Response In Bromeliads
Posted by Hugh on December 21st, 2012
Bromeliads flower only once. Their brightly colored flowers are mostly “bracts” or modified leaves. Small flowers are nestled within these attractive bracts. Once a bromeliad has flowered it no longer produces new leaves. The colorful bracts (flowers) may last 3 or more months and are cut off once it looks unsightly. Several months later, new […]
Posted in Bromeliads, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Regional, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Triggering Flowering Response In Bromeliads
