Plantomaniac08 said:@Dogsndaylilies,
That Aloe you have is an Aloe hybrid (not 'Aloe Vera'). There's numerous hybrids, so I can't help with an ID as to which one.

The Kalanchoe does look like 'Chocolate Soldier' to me (I can see the brown). It's just not as dark as others I've seen.

I keep thinking about this post every time I look at my panda plant and wondering if it's a chocolate soldier. Today, I took a leaf from a different, smaller panda plant I have and compared the two. It would seem the small one is a chocolate soldier, but I'm feeling pretty confident now that the larger one is different. The brown coloring on the edges is pretty different between the two once I lay one leaf on top of another. I think this mystery is starting to get an answer. :)

plantladylin said:My large Christmas Cactus finally began blooming this week:


And, I found blooms on a Bougainvillea and Stictocardia (Hawaiian Bells):

Lin, how are your Hawaiian Bells doing? I still love the picture you posted, it makes me wish I had that plant! How long do they bloom for? Are they still in bloom?

Edited to change "When to they bloom?" to "How long do they bloom for? Are they still in bloom?"

@DogsNDaylilies , regarding the Panda Plants ... maybe you have one of each?
Panda Plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)
Panda Plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Chocolate Soldier')

I purchased my Hawaiian Bells plant from Brushwood Nursery in September and it's grown very quickly! It currently has a few buds and blooms and I sure hope it survives the cold night that's predicted for us. It hasn't gotten above 47º here today and the winds have been brutal. We're supposed to drop to 31º tonight with frost ... and wind chills making it feel about 24º!! The plant is currently covered with a heavy blanket to protect it from the cold tonight. We're moving @ 100 miles farther south in May and my plan is to put it in the ground in early summer! Hawaiian Bells (Stictocardia beraviensis) blooms sporadically year-round with stronger flushes at different times of the year.

September 3, 2015 ................... December 7, 2015

plantladylin said:@DogsNDaylilies , regarding the Panda Plants ... maybe you have one of each?
Panda Plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)
Panda Plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa 'Chocolate Soldier')

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking now. It's kind of neat to have both, although the one believed to be chocolate soldier isn't doing too well. I don't have much area in my house that receives direct sunlight. It was in one of the two spots, but that spot only gets it for a bit in the morning, and less so now because of the angle of the sun. I moved it in the hopes that it will improve, but it's already dropped a couple of leaves. :(

plantladylin said:
I purchased my Hawaiian Bells plant from Brushwood Nursery in September and it's grown very quickly! It currently has a few buds and blooms and I sure hope it survives the cold night that's predicted for us. It hasn't gotten above 47º here today and the winds have been brutal. We're supposed to drop to 31º tonight with frost ... and wind chills making it feel about 24º!! The plant is currently covered with a heavy blanket to protect it from the cold tonight. We're moving @ 100 miles farther south in May and my plan is to put it in the ground in early summer! Hawaiian Bells (Stictocardia beraviensis) blooms sporadically year-round with stronger flushes at different times of the year.

September 3, 2015 ................... December 7, 2015

Wow! It's doing great under your care! It's a full-fledged plant now. I do think I remember you mentioning that you're planning to move, although I didn't know it was in May, you must be so excited, though! It's closer that you think.

DogsNDaylilies said: I do think I remember you mentioning that you're planning to move, although I didn't know it was in May, you must be so excited, though! It's closer than you think.

Yes, I am getting very excited and I've even started packing already! We are retiring to Sebastian, Fl ... right down the street from my oldest sister and her husband. She and I have been counting the days, less than 99 days to go! We haven't lived near each other in almost 49 years so we are really looking forward to being neighbors!! Our tenants will be out in late April and we'll start moving in the first week of May, after we have the carpet replaced.

I just included an update for most or all of the plants and how they are doing (or if they survived the inconsistent watering schedule over the last 6 months). If any of you are curious as to how easy/difficult it is to grow any of these plants, the updates might provide some insight.