Question
Hello, my neighbor turned 88 this year and her grandson gave her a plant without any care instructions.  We don't even know it's name.  
The plant is about 3 feet high has a red trunk with long sweeping red stems ending in a large palmate leaf.(it sorta reminds me of okra,but bigger) The leaves are either 8 or 9 pointed, the stems are alternate not opposite, and new leaves are bronze turning green at maturity. A stalk grows in the middle,covered with many tiny star shaped red flowers that leave green seed pods shaped like little bb's. It flowers from the top and seeds are below on the same stalk sorta like poke berries.  We live in S.E. Kansas but I'm sure it isn't a native plant.  I have a picture if you want me to send it let me know.  Thank you for your time, Mrs. Carson

Answer
sounds like it could be in the dracena or cordylina family.  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]
and i can give you more of a positve answer.
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
please rate my answer on the allexperts.com site and send me a digital photo.