the blushing bromeliad (neoregelia carolinae) is native to brazil where it grows epiphytic (sitting on trees). there are a lot of cultivars available with white striped, red or orange leaves. its nestled deep in the crown sitting blossom is not very showy.

care

the blushing bromeliad (neoregelia carolinae) does good on a bright location with partial sun (morning/evening). light shade will be tolerated. if placed too dark, the variegated cultivars can loose its colors.

it needs a fast draining soil. there are special mixes for epiphytic plants available. but you can also use a mix between some humus, orchid bark and a bit gritty. keep it moist but avoid overwatering. let the soil’s surface dry before watering again.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given every four to six weeks.

the blushing bromeliad likes to have some water in its crown. spraying it over with water increases humidity. it can be placed at room temperatur throughout the year with a winter minimum of 14 °c/57 °f.

propagation

neoregelia carolinae can be propagated with offsets.

the fiddle leaf fig (ficus lyrata) is native to africa. its dark green and glossy leaves can get more than 40 cm/16 inches long. but there are smaller cultivars available.

care

ficus lyrata likes a bright location with partial sun (morning and/or evening), light shade will be tolerated. it needs room temperature throughout the year with a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

a regular potting mix can be used. keep it moist but not wet and avoid overwatering such as drying out completely. drying at the soils surface is ok.

a half strength water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in winter (if placed at room temperature). if placed at 15 °c/59 °f it must not be fed. a re-potted plant don’t needs to be fertilized for the first eight weeks.

the fiddle leaf fig loves to be sprayed over with water regularly. this also keeps its leaves dust free.

ficus lyrata “bambino”

propagation

the fiddle leaf fig can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

the burro’s tail (sedum burrito) is an easy to care houseplant, native to mexico. it’s suitable for a hanging basekt.

care

the burro’s tail likes a bright and sunny place. during summer it can be placed outside, but give it back when the temperature is falling below 10 °c/50 °f constantly. make sure that rainwater can easily flow out of the pot.

the soil should be well drained, a regular cactus mix or a mix between humus, sand and gritty (2:1:1) can be used.

during spring/summer sedum burrito needs to be good waterd, what runs out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. overwatering can cause rotten roots. before adding water next allow to dry.

in spring and summer a half strength standard or cactus fertilizer can be given monthly.

for blooming in spring, sedum burrito should be placed at 10-15 °c/50-59°f during winter. now it has to be kept nearly dry, without fertilizing. if placed warmer give it as much light as you can.

propagation

the burro’s tail can be propagated by seeds, stem or leaf cuttings.

the genus cotyledon belongs to the crassulaceae family and includes about 10 species that are primarily distributed in south africa.

plant care for cotyledon papillaris

cotyledon papillaris does good on a bright or light shaded place with partial sun (morning and/or evening).

it can be planted in regular cactus soil or a mix between humus, sand and gritty (2:1:1). drench the soil and remove water flowing out of the pot after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rotten roots. allow to dry before watering next.

a half diluted cactus fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer. when placed at room temperature every eight weeks in fall/winter. cotyledon papillaris can be placed on about 10-15 °c/50-59 °f at this time. then it needs less watering, a fertilizer must not be given.

propagation

cotyledon papillaris can be propagated by seeds, stem or leaf cuttings. before potting the cut end should dry out for 2-4 days on a bright but not sunny location.

the rubber fig (ficus elastica) is a houseplant which was very popular in the 1950′s. its leaves can get more than 30 cm/12 inchs long, but there are cultivars with smaller or variegated leaves available. it is native to india and indonesia. other common names: rubber plant or indian rubber bush.

care

the rubber fig can be placed from bright to light shaded but does best on a bright location with some morning and/or evening sun. for building up their colored leaves the variegated cultivars shouldn’t be placed to dark.

a good regular potting mix can be used. keep it moist but not wet and avoid overwatering. drying at the soils surface will be tolerated but it shouldn’t dry completely.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly (spring/summer) and avery six to eight weeks (fall/winter). if placed a bit cooler in winter it needs less watering and must not be fed.

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

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

propagation

the rubber fig can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

this snake plant (sansevieria raffillii) has glaucous leaves with dark mottling. its native to kenya.

care

sansevieria raffillii does best on a sunny to bright location throughout the year. if placed outside in summer, make sure that water can flow out of the pot. bring back inside if the temperature is falling below 10 °c/50 °f constantly.

the snake plant needs a well drained soil, a regular cactus mix can be used. it need to be good watered, whats flowing out of the pot should be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rotten roots. allow to dry before adding water next.

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

sansevieria raffillii likes can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year with a winter minimum of 14 °c/57 °f. if wintering colder it needs less watering and no feeding.

sansevieria raffillii var. glauca

propagation

the snake plant can be propagated by leaf cuttings or division.

euphorbia “diamond frost” is a cultivar, based on e. hypericifolia. the easy to care houseplant is becoming popular more and more. here in germany it is sold as balcony plant.

care

euphorbia “diamond frost” is suitable for a sunny, bright, light shaded or shaded location. if placed sunny to light shaded it can be a non stop bloomer. on a shaded place it shows less flowers.

a regular potting soil or a mix between humus and a bit of sand (3:1) can be used. keep it moist but not wet, drying at the soils surface between the waterings will be tolerated.

in spring and summer a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly. if placed at room temperature during fall/winter every six to eight weeks. on a colder winter location there is no need to feed.

euphorbia “diamond frost” can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year but can be wintered at +/-10 °c/50 °f. then it needs less watering.

propagation

euphorbia “diamond frost” can be propagated by cuttings.

the weeping or benjamin’s fig (ficus benjamina) is one of the most popularest house and office plants. there are a lot of culitvars with white or yellow variegated leaves available. the small ones can be used as indoor bonsai. its tolerating some poor growing conditions, but if you like to have a beautiful and healthy plant give it some care.

the weeping fig is native to asia and australia and can get till 30 meters (100 ft) tall in its natural habitat.

care

ficus benjamina does best in bright light with some morning and/or evening sun. but it also grows on a light shaded place. for building up their colored leaves the variegated cultivars shouldn’t be placed to dark. during summer it can be placed in the garden, but bring it in if the temperature is falling below 15 °c (59 °c) constantly.

a good regular potting mix can be used. keep it constantly moist but not wet and avoid overwatering or drying out. drying at the soil’s surface will be tolerated.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly or every six to eight weeks during fall/winter. if placed colder at this time, there is no need to feed.

ficus benjamina likes to be placed warm throughout the year with a winter minumum of 15 °c (59 °f). to keep its leaves free from dust spray it over with water or give a shower. if becoming too tall it can easily be cutted back.

fresh bought or relocated plants sometimes drop some leaves but are producing new, if they have adapted to their new surroundings.

1-2: ficus benjamina, 3: f. benjamina “variegata”

propagation

the benjamin’s fig can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

that the easter cactus is now called holliday cactus is a bit of a marketing thing. because of this name it can be sold for more than only four to six weeks a year. the name easter cactus belong to its blooming time in spring. there are a lot of cultivars available, mostly based on hatiora graeseri, in nearly every colour you want.

the members of the genus hatiora (syn. rhipsalidopsis) are native to brasil, where they grow epiphytic (on trees).

care

all easter cactus care infos you can find on my hatiroa site –>

easter cactus vs. christmas cactus

easter cacti can easily be differed from christmas cacti (schlumbergera) by their leaves and flowers. there are hybrids between both species available (image 4).

propagation

the easter cactus can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

what is sold under the common names christmas cactus, thanksgiving cactus or holiday cactus are mostly hybrids (crossings) based on schlumbergera truncata. there are many cultivars available, flowering from white to yellow, orange, red, pink or bicolor. in their natural habitat (brazil) the members of the genus schlumbergera are growing on trees (epiphytic) or rocks (lithophytic).

all the information about care and propagation of those lovely cacti you can find on my schlumbergera site –>

1-5: schlumbergera hybrids, 6: schlumbergera x exotica “knuth” is a crossing between s. opuntioides and s. truncata. its flowering in pink.

christmas cactus vs. easter cactus

christmas cacti can easily be differed from easter cacti (hatiora) by their leaves and flowers. there are hybrids between both species available (image 4).

propagation

the christmas cactus can be propagated with seeds or cuttings.