Chamaedorea–often called parlor palm–is a slender feathery palm with canelike stems. It has graceful, arching green fronds. Indoors Chamaedorea grows to about 3 feet (1m) tall with fronds about 18 inches (45cm) long. The fronds tend to grow upward rather than out. Chamaedorea is best grown in bright filtered or indirect light indoors. Outdoors it […] More
Caryota–commonly called fishtail palm–is a palm grown for its broad, divided, deep green leaves that resemble the tail of a fish. The finely divided leaves have leaflets that are flattened and split at the tips like fish tails. Cayota is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia. It is often grown as a houseplant in […] More
Carica papaya is a tropical evergreen tree commonly grown for its sweet-flavored, buttery-textured fruit. Carica also can be grown as a houseplant; it bears interesting deeply lobed fanlike leaves. There are two types of papaya: Hawaiian or “yellow papaya” and Mexican or “red papaya”. Yellow, Hawaiian, papaya has yellow skin when ripe. Hawaiian papayas are pear-shaped […] More
Most orchids are easy to grow. All you need to do is give them what they need. In a nutshell, orchids need suitable potting soil or medium, adequate light, a warm environment–about the temperature of your house, water, fertilizer, and fresh air. These needs are just about the same for all houseplants. There are about […] More
Paphiopedilum is a genus of mostly terrestrial orchids that produce distinctive pouch-shaped flowers. Flowers appear in a range of colors and are often stripe or spotted. Paphiopedilum is a genus of about 70 tropical Asian orchids commonly known as lady’s slippers or slipper orchids because of their unique pouch. Many hybrids have been developed. Paphiopedilum […] More
Orchids make beautiful and interesting houseplants. They are not as finicky or as difficult to grow as their reputation might suggest. After all, there are nearly 1,000 genera and more than 100,000 species of orchids to choose from and those that make their way into garden centers or supermarkets are there because they are, in […] More
Neoregelia is a genus of epiphytic and terrestrial bromeliads grown for the striking coloring of their lease and bracts when flowering. Neoregelia’s usually spiny-margined leaves are borne in rosettes; colorful bracts surround very small flowers at the center of the bracts. Neoregelia may bloom at any time during the year. The changing color of the inner rosette or […] More
Nidularium is a genus of terrestrial or epiphytic bromeliads that produce rosettes of spiny-edged leaves; in the center of the plant, brilliant, red, bract-like leaves form a smaller rosette-like nest–thus the common name bird’s nest plants. Nidularium has dense, spreading, prickly-margined leaves that form a basal rosette that collects water. When the plant is about to […] More
Dyckia is a terrestrial bromeliad with silvery-gray and occasionally reddish-brown spike-toothed leaves and thorny tips. The leaves are borne in rosettes. Orange flowers appear atop slender stems in spring. Dyckia is often grown as a houseplant, but it grows well in tropical and subtropical gardens and in desert gardens where temperatures are not cold in winter. […] More
Vanda is a genus of epiphytic, evergreen orchids that bear large showy flowers with intricately colored sepals. Flowers appear on a long spike in succession which means Vanda produces fresh flowers over an extended period. Vanda usually blooms twice a year. Vanda flower colors include blue, deep mauve and indigo, pinkish purple, violet-blue, and pale yellow. […] More
Odontoglossum is a genus of epiphytic orchids that bear ruffled flowers that are generally white but also yellow, brown, or pink. Flowers are borne on erect or arching stalks; a vigorous plant may even produce 2 flower stalks per pseudobulb, usually 12 or more flowers in a raceme. Odontoglossum needs bright light but not direct sunlight. […] More
Lycaste is a genus of epiphytic or terrestrial orchids that bear long-lasting flowers that are often green but also pink, white, yellow, or brown. Flowers are large, triangular, waxy, and fragrant. Flowers are borne singly on leafless stems. Lycastes are deciduous to some degree. Yellow-flowered species like Lycaste aromatica flower from leafless pseudobulbs. Evergreen types such […] More
Stephen Albert