We were introduced to this plant by my Aunt who lived in Parksville, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
She ...Read Moreplanted it directly into her garden every spring in full sun and then potted it in the fall and let it rest in the garage over the winter, which are usually mild. I don't know how many years she did this routine - 5 that I know of.
2001, my mom brought home a cutting of the plant that was about 2 inches long, square about 1/2 inch thick. It took about 2 months before we seen signs of life and then started to grow rather quickly.
Initially the pads were about 6 to 8 inches long, growing straight out and as the weight starts to build the pads start to droop. It has a crazy growing pattern with varying shapes mostly 2 dimensional to 4 dimensional. Although this plant came from a 4 dimensional cutting it has not done it. We kept the plant as a house plant.
About 3 years later I transplanted it from a 5 inch pot to one of those Mexican Tea Cup and Saucers which is about 12 inches across. It transplants easily and makes itself right at home. I water it sparingly once or twice a week depending on the season. It complains if it is not getting adequate water by shrivelling.
It never bloomed - it just got larger and larger. After it touches the floor the offshoots become straggly with many root hairs.
2010, after reading Dave's garden comments I put the plant outside in September and left it there for 6 weeks. Night temperatures by this time were dropping down to 35-37 degrees. It bloomed in November with 35 blossoms and it was megenta, not the organgy red that we had picture of from my Aunt. I think the fertilizer must be influencing the colour as I seem to change other plant flower colours as well.
I am not 100% sure I have correctly identified this plant but the colouring of the blossoms matches what I found here and the feeling is the same.
We were introduced to this plant by my Aunt who lived in Parksville, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
She ...Read More