Question
hola,

so i am going to send photos to the address
[email protected], hopefully they will reach you.  

there are four plants, as you will see, and please excuse my
ignorance for not knowing any of them by name, and you
will be able to see the pot size in the photos.  

they all came, even the big one there, in black plastic
garbage bags or a heavier sort of rubber, about the size of
a large yoghurt container.  i transplanted them into these
pots about two to three days ago.

in each pot, and i hope this is okay to do, i put a inch or
two layer of loose rock for drainage, then some of the
potting soil they gave us at the nursery, sort of tried to
release some of the roots as they were all rootbound before
potting it, the added more soil and such and watered them.

the humidity down here is around 95%, so some of my
concern is that i dont want to overwater.  is misting okay?  
or ive heard you can sometimes just water the terra cotta?  
is terra cotta okay?

it probably wont show on the photos but we have a large
window that is east facing, and then a door beside the
window we keep open most of the day.  it is really the only
light we get since the west part of the apartment has a
large portico that covers the sun, so only that sun spread
during daylight gets in there.  but in this room there is
ample sun.

cant recall what else you needed.  we have no kids (yet) and
no pets.  anyway i hope this helps you out with making
your response.

i asked my wife, who is mexican, where the best place to
start out from on first coming to mexico and we both
agreed that the yucatan would be the best bet.  she said
this because you have the clear blue waters of the
caribbean on one side of the penisula as well as ample
olmec and mayan ruins scattered about.  cancun is on one
side of course and campeche and ciudad del carmen as well
as merida, which is becoming quite popular, on the north
west and western coast of the penisula.  so we thought you
would have everything together in an area that is
traversable or, if it is just a relaxing and getting away there
are many beautiful resorts and nice waters and easy going
times to be had.  i hope this helps.  oh, i havent been to
guadalahara before and that is supposed to be a great city,
though it is a little west of mexico city and there is no
swimming or beaches there.  i will look forward to your
response.  sending the photos now.  

best to you
sk

Answer
Steve,

OK, I got the pictures. The one in the orange pot and the one in the frog pot are two different varieties of Dum cane or Dieffenbachia.

Dieffenbachias do best in bright indirect light (north or east window). Keep temperatures above 55 degrees (they will tolerate 50 degrees.) The ideal temperatures are 70 to 80 degrees during the day and 60 to 65 at night. The soil should be allowed to become moderately dry between waterings,the top 2 inches of soil should feel dry to the touch, there will still be a lot of moisture down deeper in the pot. But, then the plant should receive a thorough drenching. Established plants should be fed with every two or three weeks during the spring and summer with any all purpose house-plant fertilizer diluted to one half strength. Root bound plants may be re potted at any season, using any good commercial potting soil. The leaves should be cleaned occasionally with a damp sponge to prevent the pores from being clogged with dust.
As the plants get larger, the lower leaves naturally wither and die, creating the 'cane', but this allows the plants energy to be diverted to the production of new top leaves. If the plant becomes to tall and leggy, it may be cut back to any height and the cut portions used for propagation.
The sap of the Dieffenbachia is extremely poisonous. Even a small amount in the mouth can cause the tongue to swell to the point that it will close your throat and cause suffocation. Wash your hands thoroughly after you have in contact with the sap!

The other 2 plants are both scheffleras. The one in the yellow pot is a Schefflera Arboricola or Dwarf Umbrella Tree. You can get more info at this website:  http://www.plant-care.com/schefflera-arboricola.html
They love the sun and they like to be well watered then alllowed to dry out totally and to be dry for at least 3-4 days before you water it again. In your humid area you may only need to water every 2 weeks.

The one in the clay pot is a Schefflera actinophylla (Brassaia actinophylla)or Umbrella tree.  They need the same care as the arboricola above. You can go to this wesite for more info: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/houseplants/types/brassaia.html

If you have a humidity of 95% you should not be misting them, they don't need it. A couple of those pots looked like they might not have any drain trays or drain holes. If so be very careful about letting those dry out between waterings.

The Dieffenbachias should be watered approximately every 5-7 days and the scheffs should be watered every 10-14 days.
You live in an ideal location for all tropical plants.

Thanks for the advice, that is the area that I would really like to come to first, I really want to see the ruins. We go to places to explore and see things, not to relax. We really do not want to stay at an expensive all inclusive resort hotel. I would like to find a nice small hotel that is more for the locals who travel around the area and not a tourist place. Then I would like to rent a car or use local transportation to explore the area. As long as it is a clean hotel it doesn't have to have all the bells and whistles. Or better yet a family in the area to stay with but we are not coming till at least 2007. Next years vacation will be with our son and grandchildren who will be moving from South Dakota to Alaska in September of 2006.
If you know of a hotel like I am talking about and can give me an address and phone # or web address I would love it. If not that is okay too.

If you have more questions write again. I will send this same email to your web address. If you buy more plants and need them identified let me know. It looks like you have a beautiful home.
If it's not too nosy can I ask what the rent is on a place like that?  Just curious. Tjhanks again for the advice and good luck with the plants.

Darlene