Ask The Plant Expert: I got this plant as a gift at work. The only reason it was gifted to me is because I would ask about it and care for it. I brought it home half way dead, and now it's grown and has two little babies right next to it in the same pot. The purple blossom is the only thing not getting better :( It's very hard, and does not get its true purple color back.

Please help me identify it so I could care for it better. After its fully healed, I will remove the two little babies and put them in their own pots.

Best Regards,
Fabian

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: It appears that you have a Bromeliad – Aechmea Fasciata Primera. The bloom is on the decline, and will eventually die.  Our tropical Bromeliad page will have care instruction to help you revive the plant.

Ask The Expert: I believe this is a species of jade plant and it's been flowering beautifully since January but i cant figure out what kind it may be.

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: It looks more like a Kalanchoe blossfeldiana to me.

Response: It had been given to me as a cutling and called a jade but i surely couldn't find a jade with flowers such as those. Thing is i been raising it like a jade all along so i'm guessing that it's also a succulent type plant with similar care then? And the flowers look right on to what you said bt the only thing i think looks different is the leaves of the plant mine seem much more rounded and not as "jaggedy" as the Kalanchoe i see on google but i assume this could be because my plant is young and there's probably many many sub species of this type as well it seems.

Ask The Expert: What is the differences between an angel trumpet and a devil trumpet? – Elaine

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

It depends. Most of the time, devil's trumpet is associated with the genus Datura. These herbaceous leafy annuals/short-lived perennials have lobed toothed alternate leaves with erect flowers and spiny fruit..

Angel's trumpet are associated with the genus Brugmansia and have pendulous flowers, smooth fruit and are small woody tree/bushes. The large leaves of this plant have fine hairs along the coarsely toothed leaf margin.

Both plants belong to the Solanaceae family and contain toxins.

Hope this information was helpful. Please let me know if I can assist you with anything else!

Ask The Expert: What kind of plant is this? I would like to know what kind of plant this is and how I should take care of it please. My mother got it as a gift when her mother died. So i would like to keep it alive as long as possible..

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: Crystal,
It looks like a dish garden with multiple plants. The tallest plants seems to be a type of parlor palm. However, to identify the other plants I need a close up picture of each one. If you intend to keep all the plants together in the dish garden, I would place it in a medium light location and keep it moderately moist but not soggy.

If you send me pictures of the other plants and want to separate them into multiple containers, I will tell you how to take care of each one.

Ask The Expert: Thank you for your prompt reply and help. These are the best photos I think I'm going to get… Using a crappy laptop webcam, LOL. But I took several, so I hope that helps. And again, thank you so much for your knowledge! :-D Also, the last picture I've attached shows what I hope you can see as something eating the plant??? What could that be, at what should I do? Oh, my mom DID mention something about wanting to split the plants up so they can grow more. Thank you, oh Flower Swami. LOL. :-D Continue reading "What Are These Plants In My Mother's Dish Garden?" »

Ask The Expert: The tree grows about 6-7 mtrs; very straight and skin is very smooth. When the leaves are chewed and digested, or boiled and drank as tea, it causes continuous diarrhea, depending on the amount taken. No other trees or plants, especially crawling plants, grow closer than 1 meter around. If any crawling plant goes any closer, it'll eventually dry up and die. – John

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

John, Without seeing a picture of the tree, I not sure which tree you are talking about. There is an organic compound that occurs naturally in the leaves, bark and roots of some plants. This organic compound is called Juglone. Plants that produce Juglone create a toxic environment for other plants. The Black Walnut is an example of a trees that produces Juglone. I'm not sure if Juglone causes vomiting if consumed by humans, but I do know that it is toxic to horses.

If you could send me a picture of the tree and its bark, I might be able to determine what the tree is and what chemical it produces.

Ask The Plant Expert: I have three pictures of a plant I bought at our local grocery store. I just says a tropical plant. Can you tell me what it is and how to care for it. Thanks, Carol.

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: It appears what you have here is in the Commelinaceae family. It is some type of Callisia, possibly Callisia elegans Striata, (also known as Setcresea striata). But Callisia is a common name for these houseplants. They are native to Central and South America. This plant prefers light to partial shade, warm temperatures (at least 59°F) and humidity. Water generously and spray it often with a spritzer. Feed a balanced fertilizer and trim any long shoots.

Ask The Expert: When I was a child my grandma had a flowerbed that had these flowers that had football shaped seed pods.  When the seed pods were touched they would pop open flinging the little black seeds out. As best as I can remember, the plants were about two feet tall, light green in color and I think that the flowers were white.  These flowers were growing in a shady area along with an old-fashioned bleeding heart.  I'm now in my 40's and I haven't seen them since.  I was wondering if you could help me.

Flower Shop Network's Plant Expert Reply:

I believe the plant you are asking about is a touch-me-not or Impatiens balsamina. Here is an example of the seed pods and flower:

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Ask The Plant Expert: First plant to identify is the dark green "elephant eared" typed plant. I have had it inside the house for a while now. It reminds me of a philodendron, but has "wavy" edges ans no holes. The second plant is the Peace Lily. I'm not used to seeing the peace lily having reddish stripes in the flowers. Therefore, Is it really a "peace" lily? – Mikel

Flower Shop Network's Plant Expert Reply: There are some Philodendrons that do look like elephant ears , but I think the first plant is a type of Colocasia or Alocasia commonly known as Taro or Elephant Ear. If I had to base it strictly on the leaf, I would say Alocasia sanderiana.  To really idenitify it I would need a better look at the plant structure – stems, etc.

Bloom structure is like a peace lily, but the leaf structure is completely different than a peace lily. Based on the leaf and bloom together, I would say the second is an Anthurium, most likely an Anthurium andraeanum (Flamingo lily).

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

This is the second bird nest fern that has been purchased and the same with the other two, the leaves yellow and start to die… could this have something to do with that air inside my house and the heating? I sent a picture. What's wrong? Can you help me, I love these plants but not how to look after.
Thanks -Elisa

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: After looking at the photos, it appears that 3 things are not suitable for this plant. The soil is a poor quality mix for fern, it is extremely dry, and the pot doesn't appear to have drainage.

If trying another fern.  Use a good quality potting mix such as Baccto, or Ferti-Lome complete mix, these are peat based soils which are much better suited for ferns.  Use a pot that has drain holes in the bottom with a saucer underneath. Water once to saturate then let dry for 5-7 days, then water again.  The soil shouldn't get to the point it's dry to touch on top.

Try to keep the plant out of the direct path of blowing heat. In addition to watering, mist daily if the room is excessively warm and dry (70° or hotter).  Place in a bathroom while showering the steam from the shower will help.

Ask the Expert: Could you please help identify plant

I have this plant that seems to do well in my window with full sun, but I am unsure what it is?

The plant is very delicate and has an almost herb like fragrance. Elaine

Sedum

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert: It is one of the many 1000's of sedums. If I had to pinpoint which sedum, I would say it looks like sedum spathulifolium 'Cape Blanco'. This type of sedum has several wonderful characteristics:

• Adaptable as a Houseplant.
• Attracts Butterflies.
• Attracts Hummingbirds.
• Deadheading Not Necessary.
• Drought Tolerant
• Fall Interest
• Heat Tolerant
• Landscape Plant
• Low Maintenance

The gray coloring really makes this an interesting plant for rock gardens.

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