Question
Ok, you might want to also email me by my other email: [email protected]. You might want to email me on both since I might not receive your email on one since I have some internet difficulties.  It just screwed...any ways.  The problem is, I don't know what plant types I have, so I don't know how to treat/care for them.  They're both indoor plants.  One has REALLY THICK GREEN leaves and a thick, green stem and since I just got it, it's small.  Like the size of a hand.  I don't think it's a flower.  It hasn't been growing, unlike the other plant. The other plant looks like a mini tree.  It's about the size of a hand as well and it's been growing really fast, many leaves.  They're green leaves.  It has a small, skinny tree trunk (looks like one).  I don't think it's a flower either.  

Any ways, the first plant with the thick, dark green leaves that I mentioned, the edges of the leaves are beginning to turn purple...WHY?  By the way, if you know what type of plants I have, please tell me everything I need to know to take care of them.  One leaf on the purple trimed plant already shriveled up and died.  I left it there...I don't know if I should pull it out.  It's already black.  by the way, What do I do when I have to go away for holidays for like longer than a month in the summer vacation???

PLEASE HELP THANK YOU!

Answer
Krista,

The first plant is commonly known as a jade plant or Crassula argenta is the latin name. It is a slow growing plant. The purple leaf edges means it is getting a lot of light that it needs, it is normal. Those thick leaves hold water like cactus plants, so it does not need watered until the soil has been dry for about a week. The shriveled leaf is either because it has been getting too much water or too little. The following website has more info:
http://www.denverplants.com/foliage/html/jadeplt.htm

The second plant is a dwarf ficus tree commonly known as a fig tree. The following website will give you care information:
http://www.ehow.com/how_9375_care-ficus-benjamina.html

It is a tree, a dwarf tree. It will not get more than 2 feet tall or so, it depnds on the size of pot you put it in. Never repot a plant unless it is rootbound, only repot from April 15th to July 15th. When you repot do not move it to a pot with more than 2 inches larger diameter than the old pot.

When you go on vacation you should find a friend to take care of your plants for you. I know of nothing else that would help a plant survive without care for more than a month.

If you have more questions write again.
Good luck.
Darlene