Christmas cactus

Common name:
Christmas cactus

Light:
Bright light

Water:
Low to medium

Origins:
Brazil









Christmas cactus is usually sold around christmas time at the box stores. I usually wait until they go on clearence and then you can get a nice plant for 50 cents to a dollar. They are not a desert cactus, but a rainforest cactus. So they need more water than normal cactus. I let mine dry out between waterings. They can bloom year around if taken care of right. They like a pourus soil so don't let them sit in water. They like light but don't need a lot of direct sun. Too much is bad for them but they do like bright light. Mine always do good in the East window I have them in. They can get quite big but it takes some time for that. Any questions just ask.

-Ducky Layne-

Jade Plant

Common Name:
Jade Plant

Light:
Sunny window

Water:
Very low

Origins:
South Africa

My mom's Jade plant.



My little Jade plant. He's so cute in his red flower pot!!





Jade plants are wonderful little plants. They have fat little leaves which the store water in. Which they use for dry spells. They are good beginner plants because they can go awhile without water. They leves will get wrinkly if it gets too dry. They are also easy to propagate just break off a piece and place it in moise soil of a glass of water. New plants will grow from just a single leaf also. If a leaf falls off into the pot just leave it and after awhile a new plant will grow. It takes awhile for a new plant from a leaf though. They like sun also so give them a lot of light. A West window is good for them. Any questions just ask.

-Ducky Layne-

Aloe Vera

Common Name:
Aloe Vera

Light:
Bright

Water:
Low

Origins:
South Africa



Aloe is a succulent plant that has medicinal purposes. Breaking off a leaf and rubbing the gel like stuff inside it will cure sunburns. It's also a beautiful little plant that will fill a pot as it shoots up new from the soil. It does'nt mind being root bound. It does'nt need a lot of direct sun. Too much direct sun will give it a tan and loses it's pretty green color. If this does happen just move it away from the light a little and it will turn green again. It's best to let it dry out between waterings as the leaves store water. Pot in a sandy soil mix like a cactus mix and a pot with good drainage. Any questions just ask.

-Ducky Layne-

Madagascar Dragon Tree

Common Name:
Madagascar Dragon Tree

Light:
Bright indirect light

Water:
Low

Origins:
Madagascar










He's really grown since I put him out this spring!



Madagascar Dragon tree is a wonderful plant. They usually come in a pot with several trees. I bought mine as a little $2 plant in the annuals at WAL-MART during the summer. They do lose their bottom leaves as they grow so if your plant looks healthy besides that then your doing good. They have long slender dark green leaves with red edges. It like bright indirect light. Does well in an East window. I let mine dry out before watering again but not bone dry. The leaves will droop a little when it's thirsty also. They can grow into nice sized trees and don't take up a lot of room. Their trunks don't get very big and they don't have wide spread foilage. They don't mind being in the same pot for a long time.

-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-

Kalanchoe

Common name:
Kalanchoe

Light:
Bright light

Water:
Low

Origins:
Madagascar












Kalanchoe is usually sold around christmas time. They have think fleshy leaves. They are succulents and need to dry out some before watering again. A easy way to tell when they are ready to be watered again is the leaves will get thin feeling. They like lots of light so put them in an east or west window. When they flower they get long stems with a cluster of little flowers. Theres several colors of flowers. There's also several different types of Kalanchoes. Some are more shrubish while others vine. Some have big leaves some have small one. Some have smooth edged leaves while other have jagged edges. They really are wonderful plants.

-Ducky Layne-

Wax plant

Common Name:
Wax plant

Light:
Brigtht light

Water:
Moderate

Origins:
India and South China












Wax plant is one of my all time favorites. They are kind of slow growers. In the summer time they shoot out new stems from the base of the plant that can get very long. You could plant it in with a small trellis or something for it to wrap around and grow up. If it's close to something it can wrap around and grow up it will. It likes a lot of bright light but not a lot of direct sun. Let it dry out a little bit between waterings but don't let it get completely dry. I let mine get on the dry side then sit it in the sink and soak it. It gets flowers on last years growth in cluster. The flowers are star shaped and come in pink, white, and yellow. Once the flowers fall off the little stem it shoots out for the flowers don't cut it off because it will continue to flower year around on it. It will keep flowering in that spot. It has a pretty strong smelling flower. I don't know how to describe the smell. It makes me think or a spicy floral smell. It's an interesting (I have'nt decided weather I like the smell or not)smell. The flowers are kind of waxy. I have an old variety that came from my great grandma's plant. They live forever and just get better with age. I also have a little varigated one that I bought last summer at a florist shop. It's really an amazing plant. Any questions just ask.

-Ducky Layne-