Unicorn plant

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on how to take care of a Unicorn plant. I have one and it was doing well in the summer but now not so much. Just a bunch of the leaves are dying back. It was sold to me as an outdoor plant but I was told I could grow it indoors as well. Are they the type of plants that die back in the winter?

Are you speaking of Proboscidea louisianica-Pediliaceae (Sesame) Family which is an herb with purple flowers or a different plant?
Lynn
edited to say sometimes the flowers are white.

This message was edited Nov 25, 2008 1:12 PM

Can you post a picture? I don't think these die back and since they're relatively drought tolerant I suspect you may be watering too much, but a picture would help figure that out for sure.

Thanks for the speedy replies. I have been trying to upload a photo but for some reason it is not letting me. I will try again in a bit, maybe tonight. Hopefully it works eventually.

I don't think it is the Proboscidea louisianica-Pediliaceae that you are asking about Ibrabec. When I googled it, it doesn't look anything like that. I google imaged a unicorn plant and there was only one photo that somewhat resembled my plant but it was in a different color. Mine has long thin leaves that curl like a unicorn horn. The plant tag that came with the plant just called it a unicorn plant.

Ok the photo worked this time :) You can see where I have had to cut off a bunch of the leaves that have died. In the summer it had lots of spiral leaves but the ones that are left are not as curly.

This message was edited Nov 25, 2008 5:09 PM

My bet is this plant.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/18188/

That's the one! Hmmm... After reading up on this plant more, I see it is mostly used as an aquatic plant. Anyone have success with it as a houseplant?

This message was edited Nov 25, 2008 5:53 PM

These plants love water...and I thought it was an annual??

Yes, it's the corkscrew rush. I've grown it in a pot and also in my pond. It enjoys moisture (obviously since it can live in the pond) but it can also handle drying out a little bit more than most pond plants (although I wouldn't let it get very dry). I'm not sure how well it would take to indoor life, I've always grown mine outside and then only time mine ever looked unhappy at all was when I accidentally threw too much algae killer in the pond. I don't know what zone you're in, but it's hardy to zone 4 so if you're at least that warm it might be happier outside.

I'm also not sure what zone you are in,because you are from Canada.I am sorry if my reply confused you at all,but the only Unicorn plant I have ever heard of,besides the one I mentioned above is a desert plant.There are so many plants with nicknames this old head can't keep up....LOL. It looks like everyone else had the right idea ^_^.

Lynn

Lynn, don't feel bad--I thought the exact same thing. I've never heard the corkscrew rush called a unicorn plant so I would have never guessed that's what it was without the picture. The only thing I've heard called unicorn plant is the plant you linked to and a few of the other species in that genera. That's why a picture is worth a thousand words!

Thanks Ecrane3,
I feel better about my poor old head now...LOL.Different parts of the country and of course the world call so many plants by so many names it gets confusing!

Lynn

Sorry for all the confusion with this plant. I just called it what was on the tag when I bought it :) I agree that there are sometimes way too many nicknames for plants, and so many to remember as well.

I am in zone 6a. I just looked that up. I will have to read up on this zone stuff. I have never really took the time to understand it. I guess it is time to!

I am going to try to see how well it does as a houseplant. If it dies back I will just put it outside or in an unheated sunroom and see if it comes back in the spring.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

I am growing my corkscrew rush in the house. I have the pot in a container of water. It is in the center of a group of plants. I use it to keep the humidity up there around my plants and it is so cool looking. I love foliage with a unique look.

I have one that I planted in a large African Violet self-watering pot so it gets all the water it needs.

What a cool idea to put it around other plants to improve the humidity. I never thought about that! With the furnace on all the time my plants could really use this. I am going to try it.