what makes pachyphytum bracteosum such an attractive houseplant are its green grey leaves and the purpelish flowers shown in spring.

care

pachyphytum bracteosum does best if located bright and sunny the year round. a light shaded place will be tolerated. during summer it can be given outside. but please make sure that rainwater can run out of the pot because wet legs will cause root rott.

a standard cactus soil or a mix between humus, sand and gritty (2:1:1) can be used. from spring to fall this succulent can be deep watered. whats running out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. before adding water next allow to dry.

a cactus fertilizer at half strength can be given from spring to fall. fresh bought or recently repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.

for showing its inflorescence in spring, a cold winter location may be helpful. pachyphytum bracteosum can be placed at 5-10 °c (41-50 °f). at this temperature range it has to be kept nearly dry, a fertilizer must not be given. if placed at room temperature during winter, give it as much light as you can.

the leaves of pachyphytum bracteosum are breaking off very easily. so be careful when re-potting.

propagation

propagation can be done with seeds or leaf cuttings.

the genus platycerium contains approx. 18 members but only a few of them are used as indoor plants. they are native to the tropical regions of south amerika, africa, south east asia, australia and new guinea. some of them grow epiphytic (sitting on trees) or lithophytic (on rocks). platycerium bifurcatum is commonly known as staghorn fern or elk horn fern.

care

the staghorn fern grows best if located bright but protected from afternoon sun. some morning or evening sun such as a light shaded place will be tolerated.

the soil should be well drained. i’m using a mix of orchid bark and potting soil (1:1). but it can also be cultivated in pure orchid bark.

from fall to spring platycerium bifurcatum can be deep watered. what’s running out of the pot must be removed after a few minutes because wet legs will cause rotten roots. before adding water next let the soil become moderately dry.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly from spring to fall.

during winter the staghorn fern likes to be placed at approx. +/- 15 °c/59 °f. it now has to be kept nearly dry and must not be fed.

the staghorn fern has two types of fronds: the upright, forked and green are fertile. the sterile ones are used for storage and shouldn’t be removed. as the fern ages they turn brown.

peperomia meridana is available with green and yellow variegated leaves. a common name for this native to venezuela plant i havn’t found.

care

peperomia meridana 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. 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 rotten roots. the drying of the soil’s surface between the waterings will be tolerated but it shouldn’t dry completely.

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

peperomia meridana 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

peperomia meridana can be propagated with cuttings.

calathea roseopicta is commonly known as peacock plant. there are a lot of culitvars available.

care

the peacock plant (calathea roseopicta) does best if located bright without afternoon sun. some morning or evening sun such as a light shaded place will be tolerated. but too much sun can cause leaf burn.

a regular potting mix can be used. keep it evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause rotten roots. the drying of the soil’s surface between the waterings is ok. but it shouldn’d dry completely.

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

calathea roseopicta welcomes a high humidity. to increase the level it can be placed in a saucer, filled with water, small stones or pepples. but make sure that the pot is not sitting right into the water. spraying it over daily may also be helpful.

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

calathea “medaillon”

calathea “rosastar”

propagation

progation can be done by division.

crassula muscosa (syn. lycopodioides) is native to south africa and namibia. the branching succulent is commonly known as rattail crassula or watch chain. it’s available with green or variegated leaves.

care

crassula muscosa does best if located bright with some morning and/or evening sun. a light shaded place will be tolerated. during summer it can be grown in the garden. but make sure that rainwater can easily flow out of the pot.

the soil must be well drained, a regular cactus mix can be used. i’m using a mixture of potting soil, coarse sand and pumice (2:1:1).

crassula muscosa can be deep watered. what’s flowing into the saucer must be removed after a few minutes. wet legs can cause rotten roots. before adding water next allow to dry.

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

crassula muscosa can be wintered warm or cool, between 10-15 °c (50-59 °f). at this temperature range it has to be kept nearly dry and must not be fed. a cool winter location can be helpful for blooming in spring.

propagation

crassula muscosa can be propageted with seeds or cuttings.

calathea zebrina is commonly known as zebra plant. this name is based on the zebra stripped leaves. its inconspicuous flowers are shown in springtime.

care

the zebra plant (calathea zebrina) can be placed from bright to light shaded but does best on a bright position without afternoon sun. some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated. too much sun can cause leaf burn.

it can be grown in a regular potting mix. keep it evenly moist but not wet. sitting in water can cause rotten roots. the drying of the soil’s surface between the waterings is ok but it shouldn’d dry completely.

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

a high humidity is welcome. to add moisture to the air the zebra plant can be placed in a saucer, filled with water, small stones or pepples. but make sure that the pot is not sitting right into the water. spraying it over daily can also be helpful.

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

propagation

calathea zebrina can be propagated by division.

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.