A native of southeastern Brazil, Easter cactus (Schlumbergeri gaertneri), formerly Hatiora gaertneri, is a tropical succulent cactus. It is often confused with Thanksgiving (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas Cacti (S. x buckeyi) both of which have very difference flattened stems with rounded or spiney-edged scalloped foliage. In the wild, this tropical grows almost shrub-like on trees or rocks. […]
Archive for the ‘Interior (house) Plants’ Category
Easter Cactus
Posted by Hugh on February 26th, 2024
Posted in acidic soil, Easter Cactus, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Succulents, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips 
Comments Off on Easter CactusGrowing The True Christmas Cactus
Posted by Hugh on December 25th, 2023
Despite its name, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera buckleyi) is an epiphytic plant that grows on trees and rocks in habitats that are generally shady with high humidity. This tropical member of the Cactus family (Cactaceae) is not a true cactus. Tiny roots may cling to the plant or rock that it’s growing on. It is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Light requirement, Mealy bugs, Non-native, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Thanksgiving cactus, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Growing The True Christmas CactusPrecise Care For Calatheas
Posted by Hugh on January 24th, 2023
Calatheas, also called Peacock plants, are among the most beautiful of foliage house plants, but their care can be challenging. Plants prefer low to medium bright spot in your home and look their best away from direct sunlight. The key to success is high room humidity and are best paired up with similar tropical favorites […]
Posted in Calthea, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Humidity, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mites, Non-native, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy) Comments Off on Precise Care For CalatheasGrowing Jewel Orchids
Posted by Hugh on January 12th, 2023
Jewel Orchids (Ludisia discolor) are native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Compared to the tree-climbing epiphytic Phalaenopsis and Cattleya orchids, Jewel Orchids are terrestrial plants that grow on tropical forest floors. Jewel orchids are grown primarily for their spectacular dark and colorful veined ovate foliage and secondarily for their flowering. Jewel orchids grow in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Interior (house) Plants, Jewel orchid (Ludisia), Landscape ideas, Orchids, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering Comments Off on Growing Jewel OrchidsRaise The Humidity Around House Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 28th, 2022
Tropical plants thrive in a 70-75° F room temperatures during the fall / winter months. Frequently, the central heating system is running at maximum warmth and results in low room humidity. The lush foliage of many tropical plants suffers leaf edge burn and tip dieback caused by low humidity. Here are nine (9) methods listing […]
Posted in Anthurium, Calthea, Container garden, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Ferns, Foliage plant, Humidity, Landscape ideas, Orchids, Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Raise The Humidity Around House PlantsWhat’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 ShopHeartleaf Iceplant (Aptenia)
Posted by Hugh on April 26th, 2022
The world of succulents is a treasure trove for many cool garden plants that attract many collectors, including house plant enthusiastics. Heartleaf iceplant (Aptenia cordifolia), also called Baby sun rose, is a non-hardy succulent or evergreen ground cover. This herbaceous subshrub is indigenous to South Africa and favors a Mediterranea- like climatic conditions (in USDA […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Ground cover, Heartleaf aptenia, Heat Tolerance, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Heartleaf Iceplant (Aptenia)After The Holidays Poinsettia Care
Posted by Hugh on December 26th, 2021
The gift of a poinsettia means you should enjoy the beauty over the next three months or more. Your poinsettia should be warmly wrapped to protect from chilling outdoor temperatures from the garden shop to your home or apartment. If applicable, carefully unwrap the protective sleeve around your poinsettia to prevent injury to leaves and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Photoperiod (Daylength), Phytophthora ramorum, Planting tips, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Powdery Mildew, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on After The Holidays Poinsettia CarePoinsettia Care
Posted by Hugh on December 21st, 2021
Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) have become a symbol of Christmas and the winter holidays. Their colorful bracts (most people call them “flowers”) are actually modified leaves. Red remains the most popular color, but select from white, pink, burgundy, marbled, speckled and new “tropical shades”. Buy a healthy poinsettia! The small yellow flowers in the center of the […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Container garden, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Planting tips, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Potting Mix, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Wind protection, Winter flowering, Winter Protection Comments Off on Poinsettia CareElephant Ears In The Garden
Posted by Hugh on May 11th, 2021
If gardeners want to add some tropical punch to the garden, elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) and a close botanical cousin (Alocasia) are one of the first plants that I recommend (USDA hardiness zones 7b-10). Also called ornamental taro, plants take off and grow rapidly after spring planting (when all threats of freeze injury have waned). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alocasia, Annuals, Colocasia, compost, Container garden, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Wind protection, Winter Protection Comments Off on Elephant Ears In The Garden
