Ken--thanks---What i need is to stop propagating everything!
There are more in other places--like in EVERY room!

Compulsion IS a disease..... G.

Tell me about it, Gita. I have over 1000 tropical plants!

I am about to go out and air-layer a few branches of my "Mother" Fiddle Leaf Ficus, a 25+ year old plant. I have sold almost all my air-layered fiddles, so its time to get a few more. 99% of what I have are outside now. They will all have to be brought inside in late October-mid November.

I see I came to the right place. So far this spring I have about 40 succulent starts, 18 different spiders and several Davallia's.

I used to do a lot outdoors and have a green house but health issues have limited my mobility. Looking at what folks are doing here has inspired me to do as much indoor as I can. I have to build something for my tender succulents as it does get below freezing here.

Hi! My name is Peter and I'm in Strathmore Alberta Canada. I've got maybe 30 plants, most started from just small 3 inch pot specimens. I like larger plants and some of my plants aren't traditional indoor plants. I also have a cooking herb garden in my closet. That makes it sound like I grow pot. No I don't. I really do have a herb garden. I also have things like Nostrum and Gladiolas in the house. Not your typical indoor stuff.

@Peterthinks

Now that's what I call a VINE. Great growing there, Peter.

Peter--WELCOME to the "addictions " to plants Site!!!

That is one old Diefenbachia you have! How long have you had that?

I too have quite a few of "not the usual" houseplants. They all go from "house"
to "garden" during the summer. They sure love it. In my house--in winter,
most of them just exist. BUT--they ALL DO!!! That is the amazing thing.

Here is my list of unusual plants I have had for many years already.
Most of these have lived so long due to me propagating them...over and over....

--Two Brugmansias "Dr. Seuss" (the champ of champs) and the "Maya" as well..
--The below-- will fall in the "Orchid Cactus Family"....
***Ric-Rac cactus // ***2 Epis. One a NOID-- but a spectacular bloomer!
The other Epi--has been ID'd as "Ackermanii" Not positive--but I don't know any better.
-- A Brazilian Plume flower.
--Pregnant Onion....(an older one is about to open one of her blooms)
--Used to have a "Climbing Onion"--but it died many years ago due to no drainage in pot...
I am a lot smarter nowadays......
---Many different colors of Holiday Cactus--thanks to JB. She was our teacher some years ago.
She is still an active member of this site.
--One TRUE "Christmas cactus"--thanks to "Birder" who shared some cuttings.
--Red and white Easter cactus.
***Many of these oddball plants I got starts to around 2005 or 2006, in trades on DG.

--In the garden--several not-so-familiar plants. The most unusual was growing out
an almost 10' tall. massive Red Amaranth. last summer!
And--a couple years ago--I got an Acalypha" and grew it for 2 years. Wowsa in the leaf colors!
Then it went to LA LA Land, as it was not really hardy in my zone (7a).
It was very interesting learning some things re this plant.
Like--the Chenille Plant is in the same family.......... ???

Overall--I stick to the same old--same old....but then--many of my oddball plants--
have long become "same old--same old".....

Gita

Hello Everyone!

My name is Lauren and I am in love with all thing plants but especially houseplants! I am gradually turning my small apartment into a jungle. I love succulents even though they end up being ugly and leggy where I live but I am addicted to propagating them. I am also experimenting with my first vegetable garden this year (its not going so well it is so dry this year and unfortunately my plot doesn't get enough sun) I also was trying to fix my gross patchy grass lawn by over running it with clover but it doesn't seem to be working because I don't know what Im doing Despite these recent failures I am applying to a landscaping/horticultural technician program next year. Here are some of my plants and my little light station I jerry rigged this winter.

























Ive also got a diefenbachia and another arrowhead vine but they are so sad that i hesitate to even take a picture of them They are NOT happy campers. Anyhow I am relatively ignorant and look forward to learning lots from you fine people!

Lauren. You are well on your way to becoming a plant expert. The best teacher of all is "doing". Believe me, I have killed more plants than you would believe (I've been growing tropical plants [and others] for over 40 years). I learn a lesson every time I have had a failure, so losing plants, or having them simply grow poorly, is part of the learning-curve.

One important factor is light. Some plants can get by with little but most plants grow best in bright light. The leggy or poorly growing plants are most likely due to too little light or not enough hours of it. What fluorescent fixture are you using?

You've got a great collection going, Lauren, and when you get into that horticulture course, you'll learn a lot! Like DrDawg, I've been growing things for over 40 years too, and it never gets boring! It's always wonderful to see younger people getting hooked on plants. Good luck, and happy growing!

Lauren, with Drdawg and Plantmanager. You've come to the right place to learn about growing plants, and in no time you will become an expert. I think that we all can say that we've killed our share of plants. But, mostly we've learned/benefited from each demise. It's been said that experience is the best teacher. But, over the years, we learn to have fewer in time. We have lots of enablers here at ATP, and you will be sure to add to not only your knowledge but also your collection of beautiful plants. Be sure to check out our Cactus and Succulent forum. As you've already experienced, propagating is so much fun, especially C & S.

Hi - My name is KittySafePlants. It's nice to meet you all, and hope to see you at a common interest plant topic! I compiled a long list of flowering plants, including mostly outdoor plants but some indoor ones, that are non-toxic to cats. I bring a perennial inside because I love flowers. Found out some of my favorites, including bulbs are toxic to cats. I've been a plant person since I was 2. I still remember Mother showing me how to poke a hole in the friable soil with my forefinger, and drop in a nasturtium seed. I even have a picture my dad took of me at that age, sitting by a flowerbed with a trowel in my hand. I guess my biggest claims to fame are that I came up with a non-chemical way to knock out camellia blight. I was also a "plant lady" who worked for a company that took care of plants in malls, banks, doctors' offices, some mansions in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, a suburb of Washington DC where some of the billionaires live. I've joined the forum because of a question I have about my shrimp plant, justicia brandegaena. I'll start a new thread with my question.

Hi my name is Elroy. I grow Peperomia, the chinese evergreen and the grape ivy. I grow the peperomia and the chinese evergreen in the living room and the grape ivy in my kitchen.

to NGA, @ElroyHouse. You grow some gorgeous plants.

Hi everyone! My wife and are complete newbies to any kind of gardening. We really want to have houseplants but every single one we've ever purchased died in short order We joined the forum so we can learn.

LJ--
I think you may be overwatering your plant--and it is rotting.
Nephtytis plant does not need a lot of water. Being a low-light plant--it does not
use that much water as a plant that lives in high, sunny light.
What kind of soil is the plant planted in? Did you buy a bag of "soil" to plant it in?
For houseplants--you should use a ""MIX" not a bag marked as "soil"
It will say that on the bag. "Mixes" allow for better drainage and air to the roots.
"Soils" can become dense with too much watering and the plant just suffocates.

How is the drainage in your pot? Is there a plastic pot inside the coco liner?
Is the coco liner just for looks? If the [plant were potted straight into the coco--
overwatering would not be an issue.

"Faithful watering"???? How often do you water this plant? So common in new gardeners...
Something goes wrong with a plant--and people just think watering it again is a the solution.
Water is NOT a "fix all"--too much water and poor drainage is an eventual death sentence.

More plants die from too much watering than anything else. This is a commom knowledge.
Always check the soil before you plan to water. It is as good as a moisture meter.
Stick your finger up to the 1st knuckle in the soil of the pot to see how moist/wet/or dry it is.
IF you feel any moisture that deep down--it is not time to water it again.

Plant's roots need to "breathe"just like you and me. They need Oxygen--which cannot be
gotten in soggy, compacted soil.
Not sure your plant is salvageable. You COULD remove the plant from the pot to see
what is really going on. If it is a soggy mess--you my need to remove the plant from the pot
and put it in fresh MIX. While you have the plant out of the pot--trim away any rotten roots
and discard them. Drain the soil on some paper towels as well as you can.
Same for all the affected leaves that show rot. Get rid of them!

If it were me--I would get rid of this plant and start over. It may be a fungus disease
also--in which case--you should take it back to the HD, WITH your receipt--and ask for a refund.

HD is pretty generous when it comes to satisfying the consumer.
I KNOW--I work for one in the garden dept. Maybe someone in the garden Dept.
can take a look and help you out. BUT--not all HD's have knowledgeable garden associates.
The three main things in caring for plants are: Soil. Watering. and Light.
Over fertilizing is another--but I hope you are not overfeeding your plant on top of
all these other issues.

Good luck! Learning about plant care is the first step. Patience is another.
Just like raising children.
We have more people on this site who may have more help for you.
I hope one of them will jump in and give you their input.

Hang in there!!! Gita

@Kittysafeplants, @ElroyHouse and @falchion456. You've come to the right place for some great advice on caring for your plants.

Hi all, I'm sy and I live in N.Ireland. I've been keeping houseplants for 3 years now with no knoledge of names and how to care for them until recently! I've lost 3 plants so far (Cacti) lost them in the first year due to overwatering. I currently have 59 houseplants and would love more but I'm running out of space! No more room near windows so I'm looking for some low light plants! Newest members are nephrolepis exaltata and dracaena fragrans compacta.
Took me awhile to move these and I couldn't get them all in, Sorry the pic isn't great either!

Hello Sy, you have a nice collection! Stick around. This is a wonderful place to learn more, make new friends and to share your photos.

Thankyou karen! I will definitely stick around, this site is great I wish I had joined sooner.

I feel the same way! I only joined last December, and I've had so many hours of enjoyable reading and learning. I've gotten new seeds and cuttings from so many generous members. I get new ideas nearly every day for projects to improve my landscapes. Enjoy!