I hope so, I'm getting very desperate right now. Thank you for responding for my plea for help.

Stapelia gigantea is a happy camper on the deck.


and Dischidia pectinoides blooms in the cage. The tiny blooms are cleistogamous.

Ursula, that Dischidia is a pretty thing, in a wacky alien sort of way . .

Dogpack, a picture of your bamboo would be helpful. I have lots of bamboo out in the garden, and don't need to do a thing for it except prune out the dead stems. But the types of bamboo grown in pots, and as indoor plants are different than what grows outdoors here. Also there is hardy bamboo that will "run" away if you plant it out in the garden. You'll find it sprouting up everywhere if it gets away on you. So we need to see if we can ID what type of bamboo you have.

As Carol says, clivia are shade plants, and up there in Annapolis, you should keep it as a house plant, indoors in winter, but it can be outdoors under a tree somewhere in summer. They like loose, humusy soil, like what they'd have under a tree in their natural habitat. You only need to fertilize them with a timed release pellet fert in the spring. They are known as one of the most durable indoor plants you can have. Very easy care, so don't lavish a lot of TLC on it, that might kill it with kindness.

Oh yes, and for your orchids, there's tons of good advice from experts in the Stickies at the top of the Orchid forum list. But I do think you might want to re-do your potting efforts right away if you put any soil in with them. Dump them out, rinse the soil away with a hose, maybe, and put the rest back in the pot loosely. Here's why:

Orchids' roots really need to breathe, so what you buy at the garden center that's labeled "orchid mix" is just chunks of bark, perlite, lava rock and other chunky stuff like charcoal. Looks completely wrong, coming from a regular plant perspective, but it works! Phals especially like to have their roots dry out between waterings, so there's got to be good air flow around the roots as well as all around the plant. That's why you'll also see pots especially made for orchids that have extra holes in the sides for air circulation.

Phals also like their crowns to slant sideways somewhat, so that when they get rain or watered from above, the water doesn't sit in the crown of the plant.

I was sick for a sort time, now back again.
I appreciate all the help. So far the clivia are happy now that they are in pots with extra holes which I drilled with my hand tool which is like a drumel but sears brand. They have plenty of drainage and holes along the sides of the pots for air circulation.
My phals are happy also. They seem to like my watering routine now, the pots they are in, and just clinging to the bark which is holding them upright and secure but not acting like soil.

Now all I have to do is figure out what is going on with my Norfolk Island Pine which is going brown. It was happy all winter, spring and most of the summer.

Oh well, our plant family friends seem to sometimes challenge us when it comes to taking proper care of them. My research hasn't helped because so far according to the information I'm doing for the plant what it needs. Any ideas or places which might shed some light on why browning of the needles is happening is appreciated, thank you.

If you could show us a picture of the Norfolk Pine, that would help.

IF not, is it in a pot? How big is it? They can only stay in pots for so long, then they just get too big and need more depth of soil. They are naturally a big tree.

Also try posting your question on the Tropicals forum, as well. Lots of knowledgeable folks over there.

Darn Ursula, your Stapelia is a few weeks ahead of mine!

A friend gave me a piece of one of her succulents, but she can't remember what it is - and wouldn't you know it has buds? Anyone have any ideas?

Perhaps we will be able to tell better when the buds are open. The left one looks like a Stapelia, but the right one is maybe, perhaps a Huernia?

Ursula, I believe you're right - we had rain for several days and one of the blooms finally opened - the rest shrivelled.

The stapelia bloomed either early this morning or late last night. The flies are in heaven!

That looks like Stapelia gigantea.

My Dischidia ruscifolia must have enjoyed the outdoor vacation.


I reduced the number of my Euphorbia x lomi ( Thai Giants) duplicates, since I needed the space for the larger Dendrobiums, but I am not giving up this large pinkish/reddish one.


Frerea indica is a smallish leafy succulent with cute blooms


And Matelea cyclophylla will go again dormant soon

Ursula, thank you again. Huernia is spot on - it's still developing little buds and I put the stapelia back in its home so it could get the morning sun.

Picked up some new begonias this weekend that are going to join the other few varieties I have.

I would like to resurrect this thread, but this is getting way too long. So let me start a new one.
See you here
The thread "What other plants/houseplants do you grow 5" in Orchids forum