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 feeded 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 easter cactus (hatiora) can easily be propagated with leaf cuttings.

cut off one or two parts of the sprout with a sharp and clean knife. the cuttings can be planted with or without drying before. if you let them dry, put them on a light shaded place for a week or so.

the cuttings can be planted in a regular cactus mix or a mixture of soil and sand (50:50). keep it moist but not wet and allow to dry between the waterings. put the young easter cacti on a bright but not sunny place at a temperature > 20 °c (68 °c). to increase humidity you can put a freezing bag over the pot. it has to be aired daily.

there is no need to fertilize for the first three months.

after two to four weeks the easter cactus will show new sprouts. now the freezing bag can be removed.

at the moment i’m working on the propagation by seeds:

the sometimes called plover eggs, adromischus cooperi is a south african native. the leaves of this dwarf succulent can get 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) long. it belongs to the crassulaceae family.

plant care

adromischus cooperi likes a bright and sunny place, light shade will be tolerated. during summer it can be placed in the garden, but make sure that rain water can run out of the pot’s hole. because “wet legs” can cause root rot.

the soil should be well drained with some gritty, sand and a bit humus. a regular cactus mix can be used.

the plover eggs need to be good watered, what runs out of the pot should be removed after a few minutes. before watering next the soil must dry.

adromischus cooperi can be feeded monthly with a half concentrated cactus fertilizer.

if you can give em enough light, it can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year. during winter the plover eggs can be placed at 10-15 °c (50-59 °f). then keep it nearly dry and don’t feed.

propagation

adromischus cooperi can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

the genus frithia belongs to the aizoaceae family and contains two species. both, frithia humilis and frithia pulchra are native to south africa. the beautiful succulents can be recognized trough its blooms and are sometimes called baby toes or window plant.

growing frithia

frithia does best on a sunny place throughout the year. they are opening their blooms in the afternoon sun.

they need a well drained and gritty soil with only a small part of organic material. don’t put them in to a regular potting mix. i’m using a mix of pumice and a little bit of loam free garden soil.

in their natural habitat they have some summer rain and so they are not shy of water. they need to be good watered when they’re blooming, what runs out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. between the waterings allow to dry. during winter they should kept nearly dry.

a half concentrated cactus fertilizer can be given monthly during blooming time.

frithia can be cultivated at room temperature the whole year through, with a winter minimum of 14 °c (57 °f).

1-3: f. humilis, 4-6: f. pulchra

propagation

frithia can be propagated by seeds.

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.

care

the mistletoe cactus does best on a bright to half shady place with indirect sunlight. during summer it can be placed sun protected in the garden or on the balcony. it can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year with a winter minium of 15 °c (59 °f). if it’s placed too cold the leaves can turn into red.

rhipsalis baccifera needs a well drained soil, i use a mix between humus, sand, crushed rocks and a part of orchid soil.

keep it moist but not wet and allow to dry between the waterings. water running out of the pot’s hole should be removed after a few minutes. “wet legs” can cause root damage.

it can be feeded with half concentrated cactus fertilizer monthly and every six to eight weeks during spring/winter.

propagation

the mistletoe cactus can be propagated by seeds or cuttings.

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 poinsettia (euphorbia pulcherrima) has a lot of names, here in germany it’s very famous under the name christmas star. sometimes it’s called mexican flame leaf or winter rose. there are cultivars with white, yellow, green or multicoloured bracts available.

care

poinsettias like it bright with indirect sunlight. if they should bloom for the holidays they need a six to eight week of darkness for approx. 12 hours every day, starting in september. during the summer you can give them a place without afternoon sun in the garden or on the balcony.

they can be grown in a regular potting soil or a mix with a part of sand. keep the soil moist but not wet and water when it feels dry. overwatering can cause irreversible root rot.

a water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in half of the manufacturers indicated concentration.

poinsettias can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year. the minimum winter temperatur is about 14 °c (57 °f).

stems could be cut back if they become to big.

propagation

euphorbia pulcherrima can be propagated by 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.