Question
I was recently given a large dish garden as a going-away gift when I left my last employer. Nice idea but rather stupid considering I have a black thumb which nobody thought to ask about in advance. Some plants I can identify as dumb cane, dragon tree, african violet, and jade, but one plant is a stumper. It is bright red, yellow and green (all colors on the same leaf) with longish spear-shaped leaves that grow into corkscrews. Can you tell me what it is so I can learn to care for it? Figure I should give it for a few weeks in case former colleagues whom I occasionally run into ask about the dish garden. Whatever happened to goldwatches.!

Answer
Hi James,

It may surprise you, but I generally don't recommend giving plants as gifts unless you know the recipient's interest and abilities real well. I think gold watches went the same way as good pension plans!

I suspect that your mystery plant is a Croton. It does best in direct sunlight and it does not like the soil to get dried out. The problem is that the dumb cane doesn't like much light and does need to dry out, as does the Jade.

Florists often put incompatible plant together because they look pretty. Unfortunately, they are usually a nightmare to care for.

I recommend that you keep your dish garden in a north or east-facing window. Allow the top surface of the soil to dry in between waterings. Not all the plants will survive, but that is inevitable.

As for you fear that a former colleague will inquire - given how little thought they put into selecting your gift, I doubt they will even remember that they gave it to you!

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]