Cold Damage on Tropical Plants
When the first little bit of cool weather hits it’s a nice change from the summer heat. The problem is we forget! We forget to bring in our tropical plants what enjoyed the summer outside. The cold front got things a little more “chilled” then we expected.
Now that a few days have gone by the leaves are starting to drop in bunches or the leaves are black or even greasy looking. Some plants only hold naked branches waiting for clothing, a single leaf is only a memory.
- What can you do?
- Can the plant be saved?
- Will it grow back?
The answer to those questions as with so many things in life - it depends. How cold was the temperature? How long was the plant exposed? What was the health of the plant before the damage?
Some plants only show burned leaves, other may need a severe pruning and others, you need to say goodbye.
For more in depth details of what you can do visit this article on cold temperatures, plant growth and tropicals.
The Exotic Beauty of Kentia Palm
Despite of being considered as a vulnerable plant by the World Conservation union, the Australian native Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) is still one of the world’s most beautiful palms that can be grown either indoors or outdoors. The Kentia palm also known as the thatch palm got its scientific name, Howea forsteriana, from Lord Howe Island in Australia for the Howea and Balfouriana is from Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour (1853-1922), Botany professor and keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. It is characterized by a a slender trunk with slightly raised annular trunk rings and a graceful crown of dark-green drooping fronds. It has a series of arching, feather-like, dark green, droopy leaves radiating from small trunks. These leaves can grow up to 3 meters long on thornless petioles. While the leaves produce an airy and poised look, the finger-shaped leaflets bend downward in a fashionable two-tone look. The kentia palm produces an inflorescence consists of white flowers and dull red egg-shaped mature fruits. Although they are slow growers, Kentia palms can grow to about 6 to 18 metres as a solitary tree.
Kentia Palm is a wonderful specimen palm. Smaller specimens require low light levels while larger ones require more light. During the 19th and 20th century, the Kentia palm is used for interior decoration. Today it is still a popular indoor plant, durable houseplant, and adds elegance to private gardens. Established kentia specimens can be expensive. Some studies show that Kentia specimens are effective on toxin removal just like peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) and dracaena Janet Craig.
Song of India (Dracaena reflexa variegata)
The Dracaena reflexa, commonly called as Pleomele or the Song of India, boasts a bright yellow variegation. When grown as a houseplant, D. reflexa grows much smaller. But this dracaena plant typically grows up to 6 meter in protected areas under ideal conditions.
The Dracaena Song of India slowly grows into an upright bushy plant following a common oval or palm-like shape. Its lanceolate evergreen leaves are spirally arranged on the irregular stems and grow in tight whorls thereby looking stunning en masse. The bold yellow markings that run along the edges of the leaves differentiate Dracaena Song of India from the other dracaenas. During winter, white small clustered flowers appear along with occasional fruit production.
Because of its richly coloured,evergreen leaves, and thick, irregular stems, the Dracaena song of India becomes a favorite decorative foliage shrub. It provides a good focal point various places such as airports and stations, bars and lounges, conservatories, offices, malls, and even swimming pools. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant and a houseplant. Its flexibility in terms of use and purpose, makes D. reflexa Song of India a perfect provider of focal point even in mixed displays and in various landscape designs.
Ficus Silver Cloud
Ficus plants are known for their natural shade in protected areas of most gardens. Although they can be grown outdoors, some cultivars can be grown indoors. Ficus benjamina, also known as the weeping fig, is the most popular houseplant among all ficus varieties.
Ficus silver cloud is another variety of the weeping fig. This graceful tropical plant of dense growth has round green leaves highlighted with creamy-white cloud-shaped portions or streaks, which clearly explains why it is called Silver Cloud. Unlike its parent plant, the Ficus tree, this variety is most of the time seen potted. But just like the other members of the Ficus family, Ficus Silver cloud naturally or excessively drop leaves in times of drought and in sudden changes in the levels of light and temperature.
Although most ficus varieties show shedding of leaves, always remember that this is not one indication that you should overwater them. This will not revive the plant but will actually worsen the problem. See how your Ficus plant shimmer and glow during spring and summer times.
The Rare Beauty of Dracaena medusa
Dracaena medusa introduces a new cultivar of Reflexa, the Reflexa Longifolia sometimes called Reflexa Anita or Medusa. This elegant plant appears beautiful, delicate, and has an unusual look.
The Medusa is characterized by long soft narrow leaves that starts as light green in color and develops into a non-variegated monotone color green. It can grow to about 8 feet and thrives well in areas with low light. Most Dracaena care guide suggests that Dracaena medusa grows well in little water.
Its upright growth makes is suitable for indoor use. Dracaena medusa adds more elegance to offices, reception areas, shopping centers, showrooms, and in any spacious indoor environment. Because of its rarity, this variety of Dracaena is relatively expensive.
Aspidistra elatior flower
Aspidistra elatior is one of the popular foliage plants in Victorian times because of their ability to survive under adverse conditions and their remarkable ability to withstand abuse and neglect. Nowadays, they are commonly known as Cast Iron Plant because of their tough and resilient characteristics. This popular houseplant has evergreen leaves as its main features. Although it is in leaf all year, this ovate glossy-leaved plant occasionally bears flowers and fruits just beneath the soil line.
In early summer, specifically January to April, the Cast Iron plant produces small, fleshy, bell-shaped, cream-colored flowers with maroon interiors. Aspidistra elatior flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Slugs, snails. These flowers are usually produced at the soil level.
The Extraordinary Spathiphyllum Allison
Recognized as the Desk Plant of the Year 2007, Peace Lily (Latin name Spathiphyllum) continues to spread its popularity through another one of its kind - the Spathiphyllum Allison. This new Peace Lily has a shiny, tough, dark green, oval leaf that narrow to a point.
Just like other Peace Lillies, it periodically produces long-lasting star-shaped (pointed) flowers that start out from pale green to creamy white as they open. A closer look at each bloom will let anyone see a candle-like object nesting in a plume.
Spathiphyllum Allison may be a prolific bloomer but it definitely requires little water and low light. Its flowers shimmer in the light thereby making it a spiritual symbol of Christmas. The Spathiphyllum Allison plant makes a great gift plant as well as an attractive indoor foliage plant. But its most important aspect is its ability to purify the air from dangerous matters. Overall, the plant looks uniform but changes sight constantly thereby making it a friendly ideal desk plant.
Brighten Your Day with Anthurium Lady Jane
The spectacular Lady Jane anthurium is a South American species and one of the world’s most popular tropical ornamentals. This easy-to-care ornamental plant, also known as Flamingo lily or Painter’s Palette, has an attractive glossy dark green foliage with large, fleshy, arrow-shaped leaves and bright red or pink spathe flowers. Its fruits are red, ovoid shaped berries that are clustered along the spike.
Lady Jane is prized for its compact size and colorful, continuous blooming. Its flowers can last up to 8 weeks thus making it an important source of commercial cut flowers. It is also an outdoor plant in the tropics, a houseplant elsewhere, and One of the most spectacular flowering plants which can be grown in pots. Even when it is not in bloom, this Anthurium species grows well in a bright windowsill thereby making it a beautiful foliage plant.
Cactus and Succulents - Growing at Home
Cacti and other Succulents, botanically belong to the succulent family. Succulent plants find their native habitat in dry desert areas where the rainfall is low, yet the plants can still survive.
Growing Conditions at Home
As you would expect almost all cacti and succulents do best when kept warm, quite dry and in a sunny area.
Cacti especially when grown indoors like a south window, but most varieties will tolerate more limited sun, provided that light comes from an east or west window. As a general rule, the more sun the better they like it.
Water A Critical Part of Culture
Watering cactus and succulents is perhaps the most critical and important part of succulent culture. Just looking at the the conditions they experience in nature will tell you they must be treated differently from your other houseplants.
Late spring and summer months are the seasons of maximum growth, which is then followed by a by a period of dormancy or “rest period” when they hardly grow at all.
In the summer, especially if kept indoors, cacti and succulents can be watered just like your other plants — in other words, they should receive enough water so that the top of the soil does not feel dry to the touch. When winter rolls around, it is a different story.
During the winter period, water sparingly, give the plants just enough water or moisture to keep the soil from completely drying out. The plants are almost dormant, they cannot take advantage of the water, and overwatering will just lead to the roots rotting. With cacti grown in small pots, which includes most indoor varieties used as house plants, watering from the bottom is usually a better choice. This allows the moisture soak up through the drainage hole until it wets the surface of the soil.
These plants are extremely susceptible to stem rot and any water left standing at the base of a saucer can increase the chances of rot. Some varieties like Mammillaria can cover the top of the soil surface making it difficult evenly water the plant down to the roots.
When your cacti or succulents hit the point of repotting, wait until their active summer period before stepping the plants up. They need to be in a growing state to handle the change in environment.
Alocasia amazonica - Straight from the Rainforest to Your Home
Originally from the jungles of Southeast Asia,the Amazon elephant’s ear (Alocasia amazonica) is one of the most striking and unique houseplants. These fleshy, truly tropical plants are sometimes called the Elephants’ Ear plant or African Mask. Their dramatic waxy, two-tone, arrow-shaped leaves are accentuated by whitish or pale green leaf veins. This standout, lush perennial plant can be grown from underground corms and loves lots of warmth, humidity and water.
Under favorable conditions, Alocasia amazonica can reach 2′ in height and a spread of a foot or two. It blooms occasionally and can send up pups which fill out gardens quickly to form a dense clump.
