Question
unknown plant
Hi Darlene,
You helped me a lot, and still have questions! I bought a little cute plant couple of days ago but I have no idea what it is. I'm attaching the picture. It has short embossed, hairy leaves. How should I take care of it? I'm also not sure about how to take care of my new croton.
I'll also send my other plants' pictures to your e-mail. Could you please tell me which kind of fertilizer I should use for each of them and how often? I have croton, lucky bamboo, dwarf umbrella tree, English ivy, jade plant, kalanchoe, peace lily and dracaena, and 2 little date plants in the pots of umbrella tree and lucky bamboo. Could you also identify my dracaena?
I also have a question about my kalanchoe. When I bought it, it wasn't perfectly healthy but I thought I could help it. It's loosing its bottom leaves and some of the bottom stems are brown but the leaves on those stems are still green. I don't water it too often. I wait until the soil is completely dry but it's leaves and stems are still kind of soft. And it became leggy. What should I do?
My last question is about the sprays that give the leaves a shiny look. Is it safe to use or is it harmful for plants? My peace lily has it on its leaves and I love how it looks. If it's safe, can I use iy on my lucky bamboo, dracaena, croton and umbrella tree?
Thanks,
Betul
AnswerBetul,
You have so many questions. Your first plant is a "Moon Valley" Pilea, Latin name: Pilea involucrata, you can find complete care instructions at http://www.denverplants.com/foliage/html/pileamoon.htm
Your new croton loves the sun. Likes to be watered well when dry but you can't leave it sitting in water.
More care instructions are at the following sites:
http://houseplants-care.blogspot.com/2006/05/croton-plant-care.html
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/hortiscope/shrub/croton.htm
For all of them I would use a water soluable fertilizer such as Miracle Grow or one of the generic versions. You should use it once a month on all of your plants except not in December, January and
February. Begin it in March and use it thru November. Follow the mixing instructions on the box of fertilizer.
What you are calling date plants are jade plants or the latin name is Crassula ovata. Your Dracaena is Pleomele, Song of India. Care instructions are at the following site: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Dracaena_reflexa.html
Your kalanchoe is leggy because it is not getting enough sun. it likes full sun. It also needs watered a little more often but me sure to empty the drain tray an hour after watering so it is never sitting in water.
The leaf shine spray clogs the pores of the leaves so the leaves can't breath. I will not use it on my plants. Definitely do not use it on the jade plants, it will kill them. You are better off polishing the leaves with a soft cloth.
Good luck.
Darlene
