Viewing comments posted by Deebie

I have this plant in my zone 8a garden and I love it. Although a hard frost will eventually blacken the leaves, it will die down for the winter and resprout again in the spring. It will wilt if placed in full sun, but rebounds when watered. This is only my 3rd year with this plant, which I received as a cutting from a generous DG member. This, coupled with the fact that it resprouts from the roots, may account for my bush only attaining a height of about 2 feet without blooms. I have it in my back border in filtered sun, which I have not been able to enjoy much this year because of illness and oppressive heat. So, I'm not sure whether hummers are able to benefit from mine, especially because it blooms so late in the season. This year, I have been covering my bush with frost cloth when we get a threat of frost, and so far, my plant is still green and blooming in December. I will take cuttings and plant some in my front borders, where I can view them from my front windows. They root easily, even in water, and make a great plant to share.

This salvia is perennial in my zone 8a garden and is easy to grow. It thrives despite our heat and humidity, but does require additional water if there is insufficient rainfall during hot dry periods. If faded blooms are removed, it will continue to bloom until frost. Feed lightly.

I have this plant. It is sometimes called Red Edge Peperomia, Peperomia clusiifolia 'Jelie'. I love the floppy, elongated, wavy and variegated leaves, with their red edges. The red is intensified when the plant is growing in a sunny area. No direct sun. It has succulent leaves, so it doesn't need a lot of water; otherwise, it's very easy to care for.

This is a jungle cactus and cannot tolerate too much sunlight. Keep in medium light or in a shady spot outdoors. It has rounded, interlacing dark green stems with rib-like furrows running along the entire length. The white or cream colored flowers have a sweet scent and are produced mainly on areoles at the ends of stems. Rhipsalis cacti have small root systems and do not need large containers. This is an unusual looking plant. It is a fairly easy and undemanding plant to grow.

This plant is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and is great for beginner gardeners. It's sometimes called Devil's Ivy or pothos vine. It should be grown in bright filtered light year round. At low light levels, this plant loses much of its variegation. On older plants that are allowed to climb, the leaves can grow twice as big as usual. Keep plants cut back regularly to maintain bushiness. Root cuttings to make your pot fuller or share them with others. When I don't have room to bring all of my plants in for the winter, I have been known to keep this one in my garage.

I bought this plant because I like the variegeted foliage. But the burnt-orange flowers are also interesting. The plant requires high humidity and bright light when it is kept indoors. During the spring and summer months I hang mine under a tree, where it gets filtered sunlight. Tip cuttings root easily in soil or perlite.

I love this variegated plant for year-round color, especially during the dreary winter months. It looks good potted with white pansies and kale. I take cuttings during the warmer months to add plants to other planters and to share with friends, who always want a piece when they see it. Fortunately, they root very easily. Plants bloom in late summer and early fall, and the leaves turn a beautiful reddish color. I grow it in full sun.

I live in zone 8a and cannot grow this plant in the ground year round. I had trouble getting it to bloom regularlly. I usually place the pot outdoors during the warmer months and keep it in my garage over the winter, but last winter I decided to bring it indoors. To my surprise it started blooming in January. I will bring it indoors during the winter from now on.

For those in colder zones, this plant must be grown in a pot and overwintered indoors or in a greenhouse. It cannot take freezing temperatures and blooms on second year canes, so do not allow the canes to die down to the ground.

Seeds have parachute-like wings that enable them to be easily dispersed by the wind or by hitchhiking on animals, clothing, etc. To keep the seeds from blowing away after they mature and the pod splits, loosely tie the pods to keep them from fully opening, using twist tie.

I enjoy growing and sharing this plant with others. To prevent excessive reseeding, either cut off the flowers to enjoy inside or deadhead the plant after the blooms fade. Dig up unwanted plants in the spring while the plant and rootball are small and share them with other gardeners either here on ATP or locally. Be sure to let them know about its invasive tendencies and how to keep it in control. It's a fun plant for kids, as the flowers remain in the position that they are turned, hence the name obedient plant.

This is one of the few early blooming varieties that grows well in the South. Its double flowers are full and beautiful. Be sure to use plant supports for these flowers as the stems will bend/break because of the weight of the blooms, especially when it's wet.