I really don't know what this plant is, have been trying to look after it best I can, but it seems to be very sad, firstly please can someone tell me what it is, secondly what is the best way to care for it, does it need sunlight or shade? Please Help before it is no more!!
Ibbyh: It's hard for me to tell from the photo what plant you have there, but it might be an Anthurium ... There are quite a few you can check out in Plant Files:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=anthurium&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search.
Has it ever had flowers? It also looks like it may need a larger pot and maybe more water. I would repot it in a good draining soil in a larger pot and give it a little water to see if it perks up. I would not put it in direct sun, but bright light is good. I hope someone comes along and gives you a correct ID because I may be way off. The leaves just resemble an Anthurium of some sort to me.
Well, rats, I can't think of the name but it looks exactly like a plant I have (senior moment, lol). It has proved to be rather touchy to grow. I finally figured out that it likes minimal light (only indirect light and not much of it) and a pot that has a drainage hole. I water it until it runs through and leave it for at least a week before I water it again--let it get somewhat dry between waterings. I also mixed about 1/4 peat into the potting soil when I potted it. I tried regular fertilizer with minimal results. Believe it or not, what it likes best is coffee! I take my hubby's leftover coffee once a month and dilute it about half and use it to water. It has greened up and begun to grow beautifully.
I have never seen it flower, will try a larger pot, the leaves do resemble the Anthurium pics on this site, I am a novice so really appreciate your advice, thanks.
NatureLover1950: Can you post a photo of your plant?
I will post a couple of pic's so you can see the leaves. I don't know how to do a collage of photo's so I will have to post these one at a time. This is an Anthurium that has white flowers:
Anthurium that has pink flowers:
At first I thought it might be this plant, Homalomena 'Emerald Gem' but as you can see these leaves don't match:
I also was thinking maybe it was this plant: Eucharis grandiflora/Amazon Lily, but the leaves on your plant look to be thicker like the Anthurium's.
Or, maybe it could be a Spathiphyllum/Peace Lily? Check out the second pic on this one in Plant Files: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/65570/
plantladylin,
I will try to post a picture of mine if I can figure out how to do it. Also, I don't have a digital camera yet so will have to use my slr and wait till the roll is finished to get developed. After looking at the pics you posted, mine is an anthruium but my flowers are a darker color than the pink ones in your picture. Could just be that the color didn't come through real good though.
Enjoyed this thread, so much to learn about all the different types of plants, and I enjoying seeing how fast the "expets" can id a plant!
I especially enjoyed your pictures Lin, I have one of these anthruium in white (didn't even know they came in pink!) and it does like lower indirect light, at least at my house....
The one that I had never seen before is the one that really caught my eye, Homalomena 'Emerald Gem!! I just love those leaves!
I think coming to your house would be like going to a top of the line nursery to ohh and ahh over all the plants and flowers!!
~Brenda
NatureLover1950: Anthurium's come in Red, White, Pink and I've even seen one with a greenish and white flower and red & green flower! Did you see that first pic in plant files (link in above post)? I love that splotchy red and white flower! That is sooo pretty!
Brenda: Thank you so much for the compliments! I am not an expert - far from it. I still consider myself a novice with most plants. It's all trial and error with me. I've been growing plants for 40 years and am still learning. I used to know the botanical name of every plant I own, but as I get older the memory goes ... with age comes brain freeze sometimes ..... in my case anyway! LOL.
We are fortunate down here in Florida that we can grow year round in most areas of the state! We do ocassionally get hard freezes here on the East Central Coast of the state and when that happens I have lost plants from extremely cold temp's .... but as long as it doesn't get below freezing for too many hours, everything seems to do fine just being covered by old blankets and sheets! Some winters the landscapes down this way look like Halloween with plants all covered up! Luckily when we do get real cold it only lasts for a day or two. We usually just have brief cold spells and frosts during the winter. So, I always drag potted plants up under my covered deck for a day or two, then move them back out, then back in if temp's drop etc. It's sometimes a back and forth thing for January & February!
LOL! I know exactly what you mean plantladylin--senior moments sneak up on me more often these days too. I've been growing all kinds of plants for somewhere around 40 years too and never did know the botanical names for most of them. Now I'm lucky to remember the common names! But it doesn't diminish my love of growing things.
Marleine
I hear ya Marleine! I sometimes stare at a plant, knowing perfectly well that I know the common name and I'm drawing a blank! Frustrating at times but I just have to laugh! I'm getting old and I'm blonde to boot!
I don't mind getting old--I sure don't like the alternative, LOL LOL!
To the reason it may look bad it looks like from the photo it may have a salt build up crusted formation on the soil take all soil off and rinse and repot with good soil with extra peat If you have a watersoftener it causes salt build up on houseplants sometimes it does it even if you don't have the watersoftener but you will notice a crusted look on soil white or yellow looking. Hope this helps From the plant Doctor lol
I agree that it looks to be an Anthurium, and also agree that you should repot into a fast-draining soil.
You can also pot it a little deeper than it is presently potted.
I have found that indoors here in WI, that 'medium light' as specified on the tags of anthuriums is just plain not enough. I give mine sun in the afternoons, ( a couple of feet/max/froma a south or west windowand this is the first time in years that they have re-bloomed for me.
Lin....have you seen that newer Anthurium with a lavender colored bloom? Me LOVE purple and shades of it!! LOL!!
They had one at a supermarket near here, but the price was ridiculous and the plant didn't look that good so I didn't buy it...but still looking for one!
Ooooh, I haven't seen one with a purple bloom! I bet it is just Gorgeous!
Had to go google "Purple Anthurium" and found this! Isn't it Beautiful?
http://www.tropicalgardensofmaui.com/other_than_orchids.aspx
Look at this one called "Regina"! Wow! I hope I can find one of these one day .... I will be on the lookout too Nan!
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/NPH-A-7.pdf
