Sorry I havent been here much, im still depressed over not being in gardenweb, no offense but this site isnt the same, it doesnt have nearly the amount of people gardenweb has. Well, anyway, i wanted to share this enteresting plant which i learned is in the Maranta family, and its leaves fold up at night. I brought this at lowes for 5 dollars, its gorgeous




*noite:this photo is at night

Sorry you cannot get on GW. I like it here better though. The people are nicer. When you are looking to talk about houseplants also check the container forum. Many of us use them in our summer containers which are nothing more than houseplants.

I have that plant and it is my favorite. I have had it for 5 years. It does not like to dry out or the leaves get brown on the edges. I feed it all year even when I bring inside for the winter. Once every two months I give it a tablespoon of epsom salt in a gallon of water drink which I mix with the fertilizer for that month.

The epsom salt seems to bring out the colors.

I think the people here are far nicer than GW too.

Cinta - that is gorgeous! Have you put that one in the database?

Carolyn22 said:
Cinta - that is gorgeous! Have you put that one in the database?

No I never think of putting plants in the database. I guess I am not use to thinking about submitting my plants.

Cinta

You should - that plant is stunning. I am sure you have other gorgeous plants that would be good representatives for the db.

Im jealous. I thought my plant was a true beauty

Rhamel, you do have a beautiful plant. Mine was picked up at Lowes just like yours. 2 years ago. I have talked to people that grow it in Florida and it never gets as pretty as what we can do with it in a pot living indoors so many months.

At one point I thought it was dead because it was down to one leaf. I did not realize how much water and fertilizer it required to grow like a weed.

Beautiful plant. Can't imagine a nicer bunch of folks than you will find here.

teengardener!

teengardener & Cinta: Wow, beautiful Stromanthe plants you both have! I've lived in Florida for 46 + years and I've never been able to keep a Stromanthe alive for very long! Great growing you two!

teengardener: I don't know a thing about GardenWeb, why can't you be at that site anymore?

I'm another one who is extremely biased when it comes to gardening websites. I've been a member at another gardening site in the past and I've never looked back since joining ATP! Everyone here is extremely kind and always willing to share their knowledge! There were many people at the former site I belonged to but I became discouraged when I'd come across a lot of bickering and ego and down right nastiness ... you won't find that here.

Lin, it has been pushed as a landscape plant for Florida. I have several friends in Florida that have said the same thing you said. It either died or it did not look good or it always looked like it wanted to die.

It grows so well in our weather I have separated it at the end of summer and gave starts to my friends because when they see it in the summer they want it.

I've seen beautiful specimens in the southern part of Florida but they don't survive in ground during winters here on the central east coast. I've tried growing it as a container plant but just haven't had any luck, I think it requires more care than I've offered like needing to be watered more than once every four or five weeks.

If I ever see one of these for sale, I'd get it, don't think I ever have!

plantladylin said:I've tried growing it as a container plant but just haven't had any luck, I think it requires more care than I've offered like needing to be watered more than once every four or five weeks.

That is how this one went down to one leaf and almost died. I am not one that water houseplants. I have 100s but they have to chase me down and push a water can into my hand. This one I put it in a pot with no drainage holes and that seemed to work with my NO WATER PROBLEM.

Also, as I stated above it is a hungry plant. Probably because of all the white in the leaves it needs more fertilizer than other plants and the epsom salt helps.

Here in North Fl., I've seen them at the RAM…Riverside Arts Market…under the I-95…Fuller Warren Bridge…. They don't look near as nice as the one you have,Cinta…That is gorgeous!!! Good going!!!!/growing!!!!!

Rhamel, I have never looked at mine at night to see what it does since they are outside. It looks like I will be planning a field trip tonight! I am excited! Thanks for sharing that tidbit.--- I got knocked off a forum (non- plant) before and thought it was an unfair reason. But I found a substitute to keep me busy. It took a short time since I,too was so involved there, but now I don't miss it at all. Stick around ATP it is pretty nice in here. It's the first place I come to in the morning.

Cinta! Pretty, pretty Tricolor! Now I am motivated to give mine the attention they deserve. For one, a larger pot. They are in a pot and in the ground so I can pull them for winter protection if need be. But they need a big, no, a BIIIIIG pot.

Yes this place is very kind, yes i found it at lowes and couldnt resist. I water it alot and will start a epson salt routine to get more color

Cheryl, the first time I saw the leaves move I jumped up and started running. I thought something was under the leaves.

It was evening and I had it up on a table beside the seating area. I have seen prayer plant move but the leaves are more of a slower movement. Maybe because the leaves are bigger on this plant why it looked more aggressive.

That is why it is on the patio floor. I did not know for a few weeks that it is the leaves reacting to the light. It even does it through the day if the sun changes or cloud move over the sun.

I went out with my flashlight and watched my Tricolor sleeping. It was so cute, and so red! Thanks for letting me know about that. I never would have seen it unless I threw another outside party. And that hasn't happened since my dd got married 2 years ago. Boy! That was work! Having 60 people in my yard brought out the Garden Perfectionist in me! And then I was so busy during the party trust me, I wasn't exactly looking at all my plants!

Here are my babies who live outside and need a bigger house and need regular watering and want to be fed and basically need more attention from me. The first one gets more mottled sun than the other. Notice the color difference? Interesting.




The shadier one:




This is what it looked like last year when it got all my love and attention. Hmmmmm I've learned my lesson!

Cheryl, has it ever flowered for you? Mine almost flowered two years ago when we had an exceptional hot summer it was in the 90s for 2 months.

Mine seems to like sun and lots of water seems to give me better color and growth. But my sun and your sun are different strength plus the length of time my plant gets to stay outside in the sun. In the winter it is in a shade position in the house. At that time I keep it moist but not soaking wet. In the summer it is soaking wet every day in full sun.