Hi! I am trying to identify my houseplant. My husband purchased it before I met him by asking the clerk for a plant that was easy to care for. It has been the same size all three years I have known him. I have been trying to make it grow into something more respectable; I re-potted it with new soil, water it more than once month, fertilized it, and I tried taking it on a field trip to the front yard one day where it got 1/3 a day of direct sunlight. All the leaves promptly died and fell off. They grew back, in the same quantity as before, and since then I've tried taking it outside for indirect light under the shade of a tree. For all my efforts, I have coaxed out but one new leaf.
I hope that figuring out what it is will help me find some care instructions. I appreciate your help!
Heather
Last edited by fluffypuffmarshmallows; July 28th, 2006 at 08:40 AM.
Reason: More descriptive title
Never direct sunlight as you learned, in fact my uncle has one that is in extremely low light and it still seems to thrive. It also won't take cold temperatures below 50-55F. This includes drafts from leaky windows, air conditioners, etc. Harry
That's also good info. I've moved it to the only shaded area I have outside, which is south-facing, and a couple of the old leaves started fading and dying, but a new leaf is shooting out really fast--only the second new leaf I've ever gotten it to grow in three years. I'm not sure if I should leave it outside and let the old leaves go in favor of spurring new ones, or if I need to get it in deeper shade!
As long as it is in full shade. If not you might try a bit of artificial shade. Also you will need to keep track of the lows, to makes sure it comes in if the temperature drops. Some of the newer varieties are more hardy than earlier ones, but to be safe I would treat it as if it would die in cold weather, as well it might if it is an older variety. Harry
