the diffenbachia is a very popular houseplant and there are a lot of cultivars with leaves spotted or striped from white to yellow or green available. the common name dumb cane is based of the poisonous nature of their sap. the genus diffenbachia belongs to the araceae family and is native to the tropical america.

as indoor plants often used are cultivars of dieffenbachia amoena, d. bausei or d. seguine.

care

dieffenbachias like bright light without direct sun but do also good on a half shady place. if placed to dark they will grow a bit slower and the extreme white colored cultivars will show more greenish leaves.

they can be cultivated in a good regular potting mix which has to be kept constantly moist but not wet. overwatering can cause root rot. they also shouldn’t completely dry out.

a water soluble fertilizer can be given at a half strength monthly during spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter. re-potted or fresh bought plants don’t need to be fed for the first eight weeks.

dumb canes like a warm place throughout the year with a winter minium of 15 °c (59 °f). if sprayed over with water regularly this keeps their leaves free from dust.

1-4: dieffenbachia amoena cultivars, 5: cuttings from d. oerstedii

propagation

dumb canes can be propagated by cuttings.

what makes the prayer plant (maranta leuconeura) special is that it’s folding up the leaves in the evening and open it back again in the morning. if the leaves are staying during the day this can indicate that it’s placed too to sunny or needs some watering.

there are different colored cultivars available.

care

the prayer plant (maranta leuconeura) likes a bright place without sun. if placed sunny, the leaves can bleach. it likes room temperature throughout the year with a winter minimum of 15 °c (59 °f).

it can be planted in a standart potting mix. keep it constantly moist but not wet and avoid “wet legs” such as drying out.

to increase humidity the prayer plant can be sprayed over with water in the morning. this also keeps the leaves free from dust.

a water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in half of the indicated concentration. after re-potting there is no need to feed for about six to eight weeks.

propagation

the prayer plant can easily be propagated with cuttings.

the genus clivia belongs to the amaryllidaceae family and contains six species. the bush lily (clivia miniata), also known as kaffir lily is native to south africa. there are cultivars with red, orange or yellow flowers available.

care

the bush lily likes a bright but not sunny location, a light shaded place will be tolerated.

the soil should be well drained, you can use a standard potting soil mixed with some sand (3:1).

keep it moist but not wet. water running out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. let it moderately dry before watering next.

clivia miniata can be fed monthly during summer, with a half concentrated water soluble fertilizer.

in winter the bush lily can be placed at 12-16 °c (54-61 °f). it now has to be kept moderately dry without fertilizing. blooming time is in spring.

propagation

the bush lily (clivia miniata) can be propagated by seeds. older plants can be divided.

the genus rhipsalis contains approx. 40 species. they grow either epiphytic (on trees), epilithic (on rocks) or terrestrial (on the ground). as houseplants they became popular more and more the past years. the mistletoe cactus (rhipsalis baccifera) is developing small white to yellow flowers.

more info about the members of the genus rhipsalis you can find here: rhipsalis.net.

the chinese banyan (ficus microcarpa) has a lot of names, sometimes it’s called malayan banyan, indian laurel or green island fig. here in germany it’s very popular under the name ficus ginseng. the not so easy to grow housplant is sometimes sold as indoor bonsai.

care

the chinese banyan does fine from bright (without afternoon sun) to light shade. i have two, one placed on a northern window and the other on the south side gets some evening sun. during summer it can be placed in light shade in the garden or on the balcony.

ficus microcarpa needs a medium humidity and likes if sprayed over with water sometimes. this also keeps the leaves free from dust.

it can be grown in a standard potting soil which can be mixed with some sand (3:1).

keep the soil moist but not wet and avoid overwatering. remove water running out of the pot’s hole after a few minutes. let it dry at the surface between the waterings. but it should not dry out completely.

a water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly (half concentrated) and every six to eight weeks if placed at room temperature during fall/winter.

the green island fig needs a winter minimum of 15 °c (59 °f).

to keep the bonsai in shape it should cutted back. if ficus microcarpa is placed at room temperarture this could be done throughout the year. otherwise it can be done in spring.

propagation

propagation can be done by seeds or cuttings.

the genus gasteria belongs to the asphodelaceae family and contains about 22 species, native to south africa. a common name i havn’t found but sometimes gasteria carinata is called pencil leaf or octongue. there are some cultivars available with yellow or white variegated leaves.

care

gasteria carinata does best in bright and indirect light with some morning and/or evening sun. if not variegated it tolerates a half shady place. during the summer you can place it at a rain protected place in the garden or on the balcony.

the soil should be well drained, a standard cactus potting mix can be used. give as much water until it flows out the pot’s bottom hole. 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. re-potted plants don’t need fertilizer for the first eight weeks.

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

1+2: gasteria carinata var. verrucosa “variegata”, 3: gasteria carinata

propagation

gasteria carinata can be propagated by seeds, division or with leaf cuttings.

the pothos (epipremnum aureum) is a nearly undestroyable indoor plant which tolerates some care mistakes. it’s also known as devil’s ivy or money plant. there are a lot of cultivars available with more yellowish or white variegated leaves. it’s native to southeastern asia.

care

the pothos does best in bright light with some morning and/or evening sun. but it can also placed half shady to shady. if standing too dark it will grow slower and the variegated ones will loose their color and produce mor green leaves.

epipremnum aureum can be grown in a regular potting mix. keep it moist but not wet. overwatering and drying out will be tolerated for some times.

a water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly and if placed a bit colder during winter every six to eight weeks.

there ist no need to increase humidity but if the pothos is sprayed over from time to time this keeps it’s leaves free from dust.

it can be placed at room temperatur througout the year with a winter minimum of 14 °c (52 °f). for a few days 10 °c or lower (50 °f) will be tolerated.

propagation

pothos (epipremnum aureum) can easily propagated with cuttings.

not only because of it’s easy care the jewel orchid (ludisia discolor) became popular more and more over tha past few years. there are different forms available, “dawsonia” has brown and “alba” has green leaves. the south west asian native shows small white flowers between fall and spring.

care

the jewel orchid likes bright light and does very good on a north window. some morning and/or evening sun such as a light shaded place will be tolerated.

ludisia discolor needs a medium humidity and likes to be sprayed over with water from time to time. this also keeps her leaves free from dust.

it can be grown in a standard potting soil. i use a mixture of one part potting soil and one part sand, crushed rocks and orchid bark.

keep it moist but not wet, overwatering can cause root rot. a half diluted orchid 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.

the jewel orchid can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year with a winter minium of 15 °c (59 °f).

1: ludisia discolor “dawsoniana”, 2: l. discolor v. alba, 3-5: l. discolor “dawsoniana” flowers

propagation

propagation of the jewel orchid is not difficult and can be done by cuttings.

the snake plant (sansevieria trifasciata) is a houseplant classic that was forgotten for some years and is now becoming more popular with a lot of new cultivars available. it’s also known under the name mother-in-law tongue. this succulent is native to africa.

there are a lot of cultivars around with more yellowish or white striped leaves. very popular are the dwarf “hahnii” forms.

care

the snake plant does best on a bright and sunny place. especially the coloured cultivars need some more light for building up the variegation. a half shady place will be tolerated. during the summer they can be put in the garden or on the balcony.

sansevieria trifasciata needs a well drained soil. good works a mix between humus or garden soil, sand and crushed rocks. keep it moist bu not wet and allow to dry before the next watering. overwatering (especially on a colder place during winter) can cause root rot.

a water soluble or cacti fertilizer in half of by the manufacturer indicated concentration can be given monthly. if at room temperature at winter time every six to eight weeks.

the snake plant can be placed on +/- 15 °c (59 °f) during the winter. then it needs less watering and no fertilizing.

f. l. t. r.: cv. futura, cv. moonshine, cv. twister, cv. hahnii swirls, cv. hahnii super-marginata, cv. golden hahnii, cv. bantells sensation, cv. gold flame.

propagation

the mother-in-law tongue can be propagated by seeds, division or leaf cuttings.

the first time i saw the silver squill (ledebouria socialis) it remembered me a bit on an orchid. but it belongs to the hyacinthaceae familiy. this beautiful housplant is native to south africa and also known under its old name scilla violacea.

care

growing the silver squill is not difficult. it does best on a bright place with some morning and/or evening sun. but it also grows on a half shady place.

the bulbs should be mostly out of the soil because if completely buried they tend to rot.

ledebouria socialis needs a well drained potting mix. you can use cacti soil or mix some regular soil with sand and crushed rocks.

keep the soil moist but not wet and allow to dry between waterings. when in growth the silver squill can fed monthly in half of by the manufacturer indicated concentration.

1-3: ledebouria socialis “violocea”, 4+5: l. socialis.

propagation

new bulbs can be separated from the parent plant.