Question
Hi Rick,

I recently purchased a planted basket of flowers at a local garden store.  In their midst are several flowers about 3-4" across, thick stem (about 1/4" dia), and lush, dark, veiny leaves at the base of the stem, sort of spearhead shaped, many of them as long as 6" and about 4-5" wide.

The petals resemble a daisy, and the centers grow similarly to a daisy but are about 1.25" in dia. and more in keeping with the color of the petals.  The two colors in my basket are a dark, soft pink, and a crimson.

In the same basket is a bushy plant that has several small star-shaped purple flowers (5 petals, sort of rounded, rather than pointed like a true star) about 5/8" dia. and tiny brilliant yellow centers with either a pistel (sp?) or a stamen emerging.  The plant has waxy little roundish leaves ranging from about 1"x1" - 2"x2".

I realize it's difficult to determine sight unseen, but would you know what these are, and how to best care for them?  I can get pictures of them off to you, if you need to see them.

Thanks!

Nancy  

Answer
nancy
there are millions of plants out there, so w/out seeing it i can't be sure.  send a digital photo(jpeg format) to       [email protected].         put Plant ID on the subject line or i may not open it.....    
the care would still be similar for most tropical plants.
most are grown under shade cloths in FL because they do not like direct sunlite-the foliage burns(they will tolerate morning sun-inside they do best there).  whenever the nitetime temps go below 45 you should bring them inside(even if only for the nite). if the day temps are above 50 you can leave them outside during the day.
water by weight. put a saucer under the pot. water and let the plant sit in the excess water for 5-10 minutes.  after that time pour off any excess water in the saucer.  pick up the pot.  it should feel heavy.  don't water again until it feels considerably lighter in weight.  outdoors check the plant everyday. indoors check it every 5-10 days.  watering frequency depends on many factors(sun exposure, wind, day temps, etc.).
good luck.  
rick
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