Boston Fern

Common Name:
Boston Fern

Light:
Bright light

Water:
Keep moist.

Boston ferns have been a favorite house plant for years. They have a lush growth habit and are easy to care for. They can get quite large in size and can be divided if they get too large for your home. They will burn in direct sun and need to be kept moist. During the summer they have a habit of drying out fast so you will probably have to water them pretty much everyday. They don't mind being root bound and don't have to be re potted very often.

Rattlesnake Plant

Common Name:
Rattlesnake plant


Light:
Sun to light shade


Water:
Keep moist

Rattlesnake plant is native to Brazil. The foliage is very stunning. The top of the leavea are light green with dark grean spots and the undersides are a burgandy/maroon color. The leaves are also kind of wavy. Like bright light but not a lot of direct sun. Keep moist but not soggy. Can grow up to 4 feet. Flowers later spring to early summer. Likes to be misted several times a week to keep the humidity up around it. To propagate just remove from pot and seperate the root ball. Lovely plant to own. Any questions just ask!

-Ducky Layne-

Shamrock

Common name:
Shamrock

Light:
Bright

Water:
Moderate





Shamrock sleep at night and their leaves fold up then unfold when it's day time again!






The Shamrock grows from a bulb underground and shoots up new from the ground. It has about foot long stems with 3 leaves on top. There's purple, green, and black shamrocks. They like bright light too much sun and they will burn, not enough and they won't grow. They like to be moist but not soggy. They grow better if you let them go rest during the winter. You can either put the pot somewhere dark and just forget it until winter or you can do what my great grandmother did and dig them up and put the bulbs in a paper sack and kept them in the vegtable cooler over winter. They also get little flowers on them as well! Any questions just ask!!

-Ducky Layne-

Pony tail palm, Ponytail palm

Common name:
Ponytail palm

Light:
Full sun

Water:
Moderate, let dry some between watering.








Ponytail palms are interesting easy to care for houseplants. they have a bulbous base and have a long trunk when they get older. They can be slow growing. If you give them good light, the right watering, they should grow pretty decent. They like full sun so a east or west window should be good. When watering be sure to let the top inch dry out before watering again. They don't mind to be root bound. I have seen 6 foot plants that have been in the same pot for 20 years and are doing fine. I have also see plants that have busted through the side of their clay pots! So I think repotting every couple years will be good. If they don't look that root bound just give them fresh soil and put them back in the same size pot. Make sure to put rocks or broken clay pot pieces in the bottom to help with drainage. Any questions just ask!!

-Ducky Layne-

Begonia

Common Name:
Begonia

Light:
Bright light

Water:
Low to medium

Wax begonia with white flowers



Wax begonia with red flowers.



Tuberous begonia.



Cane begonia.


Dragon wing.






There are hundreds of different kinds of Begonia's. Some you can find every year sold as anuals (wax and tuberous begonia) but can be kept year around. Some are harder to find and are'nt sold just anywhere (cane begonia). Some begonia's are bushy some vine some get tall some stay short. They are pretty easy to care for. I've found that and East window is the best place to keep them. Too much sun and they will burn and too little and they will get stragly and finally die. Let them dry out some between watering, but not completly. It's best not to get water on the leaves becuase it can spot some of them. The tuberous begonia's will rot easily if watered too much. You can also give your Begonia left over coffee that's cooled off once and awhile. It will make them grow like crazy.


-Ducky Layne-

Heartleaf Philodendron

Common Name:
Heartleaf Philodendron

Light:
Bright light

Water:
Moderate

Origins:
South America



The Heartleaf philodendron has thick dark green heart shaped leaves. It prefers bright light. East windows have always been good for my plant. If it does'nt get enought light it will slow in growth and get spindly and have smaller leaves. If it gets proper light the newer leaves will be more of a burgundy color. They are fast growers given the right light. They seem happiest in Eastern exposure. They don't like to be too dry so don't let it go too long without water. I keep mine moist but not soggy. I mist mine once and awhile to raise the humidity and it seems to like it. They have little aerial roots that can cling to walls if you want it to climb a wall. It does'nt seem to mind being in a small pot. They are wonderful plants and grow fast. If you want to propagate just cut about a piece off and stick in some water until a good root system forms and then plant in it's own pot. Any questions just ask.

-Ducky Layne-

African Violet

Common name:
African violet
Light:
Bright indirect light
Water:
Moderate




















African Violets are wonderful little plants. They don't mind being root bound and will flower every couple months if given the correct care. A North or east window is the best place for these little plants. Any direct sun burns the leaves. If you don't have a North window then bright indirect light from another window. It's best to not let them dry out but don't keep the soil soggy either. When watering water them from the bottom. If the leaves get water on them it can cause spots and the leaves can rot. Propagating is simple. I have a post on propigating if you would like to check it out. They have beautiful little flowers on them. The flowers come in several different colors. Dark purple w/ white edges, pink, light purple, burgundy, white, etc...When potting I recomment using African Violet potting soil. They have a special mix just for them. They also have special plant food for them. Any questions just ask.

-Ducky Layne-