the genus tillandsia belongs to the bromeliad family and contains approx. 400 members of which the pink quill (tillandsia cyanea) is the most commonly cultivated species. it’s native to ecuador where it grows epiphytic (sitting on trees). the purple flowers emerge from the pink to red colored bracts and can be produced for 1 to 3 months.

care

tillandsia cyanea does best if located bright but protected from afternoon sun. some morning- and/or evening sun such as a light shaded place will be tolerated. brown patches on the leaves may indicate that it got too much sun.

the soil should be well drained, a mix between potting soil and orchid bark (1:1) can be used. there are special mixes for bromeliads available.

the pink quill can be deep watered, what’s flowing out of the pot should be removed after a few minutes. sitting in water can cause rotten roots. before watering next let the soil become moderately dry.

a all-purpose houseplant fertilizer at half strenght can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter. a half diluted orchid fertilizer is also suitable.

tillandsia cyanea can be cultivated at room temperature the year round and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

spraying it over with water from time to time increases humidity and keeps its leaves free of dust.

the flower spike can be cutted off when it has dried. the old growth will not bloom again. after flowering tillandsia cyanea is showing new offsets at its base. those will maybe rebloom after some months.

propagation

tillandsia cyanea can be propagated with offsets.

the approx. 22 members of the genus gasteria are native to the southern africa. there are some varieties of gasteria disticha available.

care

gasteria disticha does best in bright and indirect light with some morning and/or evening sun. a light shaded position will be tolerated. if placed outside in summer make sure that rain water can easily flow out of the pot.

the soil should be well drained, a standard cactus mix can be used. drench it well, what’s flowing out of the pot’s hole must be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rot. before adding water next allow to dry.

a cactus fertilizer at half strength can be given monthly during spring/summer monthly and if placed at room temperature in fall/winter every six to eight weeks. recently bought or repotted plants don’t need fertilizer for the first six to eight weeks.

gasteria disticha can be placed at 10-15 ° C (50-59 °f) in winter. then the soil has to be kept nearly dry, a fertilizer must not be given.

propagation

the propagationof gasteria disticha can be done with seeds, leaf cuttings or by division.

the leaves of the south african native gasteria maculata are dark green and white mottled. there are some cultivars with white to yellow stripes available.

care

gasteria maculata can be located from bright to light shaded but does best in bright and indirect light with some morning and/or evening sun. during the summer you can place it at a rain protected place in the garden or on the balcony.

it needs a well drained soil with some coarse sand and grit. a standard cactus potting mix can be used. it can be deep watered, what’s running out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rot. before watering next allow to dry.

a cactus fertilizer can be given in 1/4 to a 1/2 concentration. during spring and summer monthly and if placed at room temperature during the winter every six to eight weeks. recently bought or re-potted plants don’t need fertilizer for the first eight weeks.

gasteria maculata can be placed at 10-15 ° C (50-59 °f) in winter. then the soil must kept nearly dry without fertilizing.

propagation

the propagation of gasteria maculata can be done with seeds, division or with leaf cuttings.

fittonias are commonly known as mosaic plant or nerve plant. there is a wide range of cultivars with a colorful fooliage available. fittonia verschaffeltii is native to peru.

care

fittonia verschaffeltii grows best if located bright and protected from direct sun. but it’s also suitable for light shaded to shaded positions.

it can be planted in a regular potting mix. keep it evenly moist but not wet, sitting in water can cause rot. the drying of the soil’s surface will be tolerated, but it shouldn’t dry completely.

a water soluble fertilizer at half strength can be given monthly from spring to fall and every six to eight weeks at winter time. recently bought or repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.

the mosaic plant can be grown at room temperature the year round and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

a high humidity is welcome. to promote denser foliage and shape plants the ends of growing stems can be pinched off.

propagation

fittonia verschaffeltii can easily be propagated with cuttings.

the genus aglaonema belongs to the araceae family and contains about 40 species. some of them are popular houseplants or used as office plants because they tolerate some poor conditions. but if you like to have a healthy and beauitful plant, give it some care. they are native to the tropical asia.

the chinese evergreen (aglaonema crispum) is available in a lot of varieties with silver or light green variegated leaves.

care

aglaonema crispum is tolerating low light but does best if located bright without direct sun. the variegated cultivars will need low to moderate light otherwise they can produce solid green leaves.

the chinese evergreen can be grown in a good regular potting mix. keep it constantly moist but not wet, sitting in water can cause rot. a moderate drying between the waterings is ok, but the soil shouldn’t dry completely.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter. new bought or recently repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.

aglaonema crispum likes it warm (20-25 °c/68-77 °f) and needs a winter minimum of 14 °c/57 °c.

a high humidty is welcome but not needed. spraying it over with water keeps its leaves free from dust.

propagation

aglaonema crispum can be propagated with cuttings or by division.

the red edge peperomia (peperomia clusiifolia) is native to jamaica. there are some cultivars with red bordered leaves available.

care

peperomia clusiifolia can be located from bright (if protected from afternoon sun) to light shaded positions. some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated. for showing its colorful fooliage the variegated cultivars need to be placed in bright light. otherwise the leaves will become green.

a good regular potting mix can be used. keep it evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause root rot. the drying of the soil’s surface between the waterings will be tolerated.

a water soluble fertilizer at half strength can be given monthly in spring/summer and if placed at room temperature in fall/winter every six to eight weeks.

peperomia clusiifolia likes room temperature the year round, with a winter minimum of approx. 15 °c/59 °f. at this temperature range, watering can be reduced and there is no need to feed.

spraying it over with water from time to time increases humidity and keeps its leaves free from dust.

propagation

the red edge peperomia can be propagated with cuttings.

the native to brazil calathea crocata is commonly known as eternal flame. its puckered ribbed leaves have maroon undersides, the flowers are orange/yellow. during the night it closes up the leaves.

care

the eternal flame (calathea crocata) can be placed from bright to light shaded without afternoon sun (to avoid leaf burn). some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated.

a good regular potting mix can be used. it has to be kept evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause rot. the drying of the soil’s surface between the waterings is ok, but it shouldn’t dry completely.

a water soluble fertilizer at half strenght can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter.

spraying calathea crocata over with water regularly increases humidity and keeps its leaves dust free.

it likes room temperature round the year and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

for blooming some weeks of total darkness for 12-14 hours every day can be helpful.

propagation

calathea crocata can be propagated by division.

peperomia magnoliifolia is commonly known as spoonleaf peperomia. there are cultivars with yellow/red edges (cv. “tricolor”) or creme variegated leaves (cv. “green & gold”) available.

care

peperomia magnoliifolia is doing best if located bright without afternoon sun. some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated. but it can also be grown on a light shaded position. for producing its colorful fooliage the variegated cultivars need to be placed in bright light. otherwise they are showing green leaves.

a good regular potting mix can be used. keep it evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause root rot. the drying of the soil’s surface between the waterings will be tolerated.

a water soluble fertilizer at half strength can be given monthly in spring/summer and if placed at room temperature in fall/winter every six to eight weeks.

the spoon leaf peperomia likes room temperature the year round, with a winter minimum of approx. 15 °c/59 °f. at this temperature range, watering can be reduced and there is no need to feed.

a high humidity is welcome. spraying it over with water from time to time keeps its leaves free from dust.

peperomia magnoliifolia “variegata”

propagation

peperomia magnoliifolia can be propagated with cuttings.

calathea warscewiczii is native to central america (panama, el salvador) and can get up to more than 1 m/3 feet tall. its leaves are velvety and dark green with bright green veins and a purple to maroon colored underside.

care

calathea warscewiczii is suitable for bright to light shaded places with some morning and/or evening sun. afternoon sun can burn its leaves.

it can be grown in a good regualr potting mix which has to be kept evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause irreversible root damage. the drying of the soil’s surface will be tolerated, but it shouldn’t dry completely.

a water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter. recently repotted or bought plants don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.

a high humidity is welcome, spraying calathea warscewiczii over with water keeps its leaves free from dust.

it likes room temperature throughout the year with a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

propagation

calathea warscewiczii can be propagated by division.

euphorbia pulcherrima is commonly known as poinsettia or christmas star and is a very popular houseplant especially around christmas time. its surrounded by colored top leaves (bracts) flowers are small and yellow. there are a lot of cultivars available, with red, white, yellow and even green bracts.

care

the poinsettia does best if located bright without afternoon sun. a light shaded place such as some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated. during summer it can be given to a draft protected place in the garden.

it can be grown in a good regular potting soil which can be mixed with some sand (3:1). keep it constantly moist but not wet, water flowing out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause irreversible root damage. the drying of the soil’s surface between the waterings is ok but it shouldn’t dry completely.

a water soluble fertilizer at half strength can be given every two weeks in spring and summer and monthly during fall/winter.

euphorbia pulcherrima likes room temperature the year round with a winter minimum of 14 °c/57 °f. after flowering it can be cutted back. this will produce a more bushier plant.

for blooming around the holidays, the poinsettia needs six to eight weeks of total darkness for 12-14 hours every day, starting around september.

propagation

the poinsettia can easily be propagated with cuttings.