New and Unread Tree-Mails
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Name: Fabrice Bern, Switzerland  fm99 Apr 23, 2018 12:43 PM CST |
| Hello my friends! I'm quite a newbie to houseplants and when I went to get myself a spider plant today, I saw this little guy sitting in between some baby parlour palms, looking kind of lost. Long story short, I obviously bought that plant, too, but have absolutely no idea what species it is. There were some basic care instructions attached to the pot, so I don't really need the name to look those up, but I'd still like to be able to search for some background info. Now I assume that this might actually be a very well-known houseplant but I genuinely have no idea and don't really know yet how to look it up by myself, so I thought I'd ask the experts ;) Does anyone know what it is?   |
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp Opp, AL 🌵🌷⚘🌹🌻 (Zone 8b)              purpleinopp Apr 23, 2018 12:47 PM CST |
| Hi & welcome! Your plant is a polka dot plant, Hypoestes: Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) Not as common as some other plants as far as being kept in a pot inside, but "they" seem to have been watching "us" talk about them & so recently, I'm seeing repeated instances of this plant being with the house plants. Their seasonal behavior of dropping last years' stems and growing new ones over winter alarms some people, and they think their plant has died. If that doesn't bother you, I think you'll have fun with it. 👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯🐣🐦🐔🐝🍯🐾 The less I interfere, the more balance mother nature provides. 👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧ 🍃🍁🍂🌾🌻🌸🌼🌹🌽❀☀🌺 ☕👓 The only way to succeed is to try. |
Name: Fabrice Bern, Switzerland fm99 Apr 23, 2018 12:55 PM CST |
 Wow that was fast, thanks a lot! I'll definitely memorise that part of it dropping it's stems^^ It won't bother me though, I really like watching a plant change over time  |
Name: Fabrice Bern, Switzerland fm99 Apr 23, 2018 1:18 PM CST |
Haha, I just remembered: I've also got this guy that I don't know the name of...   |
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp Opp, AL 🌵🌷⚘🌹🌻 (Zone 8b) purpleinopp Apr 23, 2018 2:58 PM CST |
| I'm happy to share the name. Thank you so much for the acorn, a lovely gesture. Having been using the site for a few years, I have quite a stash of them piled up, more than my squirrels need, so I hope you will enjoy if I send a few your way. I haven't a clue about the name of the prickl yone but somebody should recognize. If you haven't gotten any suggestions soon, you could start a new discussion for it. For a cactus, I would probably ask in the cactus forum, or the plant ID forum, to try to make sure the folks who might know see the question and picture. 👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯🐣🐦🐔🐝🍯🐾 The less I interfere, the more balance mother nature provides. 👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧ 🍃🍁🍂🌾🌻🌸🌼🌹🌽❀☀🌺 ☕👓 The only way to succeed is to try. |
Name: Will Creed NYC Prof. plant consultant & educator  WillC Apr 23, 2018 3:09 PM CST |
| Your Polka Dot Plant does very well in bright, but mostly indirect sunlight. It will not tolerate dry soil, so water it thoroughly as soon as the surface of the soil feels dry. Keep it in its existing pot even as it grows longer stems. It also likes high humidity, but that is not essential as long as it is watered properly. As the stems get a bit long, but before they get leggy, pinch out new growth or prune back the stems. That will keep them looking nice and compact year round. They are tropical in origin and seasonal only with retailers. Will Creed Horticultural Help, NYC www.HorticulturalHelp.com Contact me directly at [email protected] I now have a book available on indoor plant care |
Name: Fabrice Bern, Switzerland fm99 Apr 23, 2018 3:56 PM CST |
| Thanks a lot for the great tips (and the acorns ), I'll head to the cactus forum then :) I keep the Polka Dot Plant in my room, which has a large west- and a large north-facing window, so it should get a decent amount of indirect sunlight throughout most of the day :) I read that for some plants that like high humidity, it's also good to keep the pot above a saucer filled with stones and water. Would you recommend that for the Polka Dot Plant? And should I spray the leaves with water from time to time? The air humidity in my room is usually at around 50% |
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp Opp, AL 🌵🌷⚘🌹🌻 (Zone 8b) purpleinopp Apr 24, 2018 7:33 AM CST |
| 50% sounds fine. Spraying the leaves with water may increase humidity for a few minutes while they are drying, but wet leaves and humidity are not the same thing. To increase the humidity via misting, you would need to do it very often, many times per hour. I don't mist any plants (except air plants.) Hypoestes does not have a reputation for being a diva if the humidity is not very high. 👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯🐣🐦🐔🐝🍯🐾 The less I interfere, the more balance mother nature provides. 👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧ 🍃🍁🍂🌾🌻🌸🌼🌹🌽❀☀🌺 ☕👓 The only way to succeed is to try. |
Name: Will Creed NYC Prof. plant consultant & educator WillC Apr 24, 2018 7:37 AM CST |
| Low humidity is usually only a problem in very arid climates or in winter when heat dries out the air to desert-like conditions. Pebble trays are moderately effective, but Tiffany is right-on about misting. Will Creed Horticultural Help, NYC www.HorticulturalHelp.com Contact me directly at [email protected] I now have a book available on indoor plant care |
Name: Fabrice Bern, Switzerland fm99 Apr 24, 2018 8:26 AM CST |
| OK, thanks you very much :) |
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