Earthdragon's Endangered Species

Plant Summary

Botanical Name: Callistemon citrinus

Type: Flowering

Origin: Australia

Height: Indoors, Bottle Brush Plants grow up to a total height of approximately 1.2 m (4 ft).

Soil: The soil for this plant needs to be well drained, so it is best to use a mixture of one part of sharp sand and two parts of general potting mix.

Light: This type of house plant needs to be exposed to as much direct, full sunlight as possible.

Humidity: This is a plant that prefers humidity levels to be low.

Temperatures: Able to tolerate summer heat, the Bottle Brush Plant likes temperatures averaging around 16 to 24 degrees C (60 to 75 degrees F). It should be giving a cool winter rest, with temperatures kept at a minimum of no less than 7 degrees C (45 degrees F).

Water: Allowing the plant to dry out a little between watering sessions, water the plant thoroughly from spring into autumn, cutting the amount of water down in winter. As the plant is tolerant to droughts, it is better to err on the dry side, rather than taking the risk of over watering.

Fertiliser: Dilute a liquid high potassium by half and feed it to the Bottle Brush Plant once a month during the spring and summer months.

Propagation: Growing this plant can be done from seeds in spring. Alternatively, stem tip cuttings of approximately 7 cm (3 in) in length can be taken during spring or the first few weeks of summer.

Description and Care Tips

The crimson, bottle brush-like (hence the name) flowers of the Bottle Brush Plant are sure to get plenty of attention, and will be admired by family and friends alike. Placed on the patio or the porch in the warm summer months, they will also attract butterflies and - where it applies - humming birds.

The upright flower spikes of the Bottle Brush Plant emerge from spring into summer, as long as plenty of light is provided. These flowers do not have petals, but consist of yellow tipped, bright red stamens that cluster on the up to 10 cm (4 in) long flower spikes. A tuft of leaves tops each fuzzy spike. 

Each one of the plant's woody stems is covered with dark green, long, narrow and pointed leaves, giving the plant an elegant appearance even when not in bloom. The fragrant, lemon-like scent given off by these leaves is responsible for the plant also being known as Lemon Bottle Brush.

Bright sunlight, dry air and warm temperatures will ensure this plant will do well. With adequate care, it can turn into a comparatively large shrub. It can, however, be kept compact by regular pruning. This should be done immediately after the flowering period has ended, using sharp pruners to prevent tearing the stems, which may seriously harm this plant.

In the winter months, the Bottle Brush Plant needs to be given a rest, with temperatures not falling below 7 degrees C (45 degrees F) and watering cut down to a minimum. Repotting is typically only required once every couple of years or so, and keeping the plant in the same size pot will control the size it will grow to.

Plant Summary

Botanical Name: Agave parryi

Type: Succulent

Origin: Mexico and Southwestern USA

Height: The Blue Agave plant grows to approximately 30 cm (1 ft) in height.

Soil: Cactus potting mix, or a mixture of one part sand to two parts of all purpose potting mix will provide the drainage this plant needs.

Light: Bright light and full sun will keep this lovely plant looking well.

Humidity: The Blue Agave requires average room humidity levels.

Temperatures: While winter temperatures should be kept at a cool 10 to 16 degrees C (50 to 60 degrees F) for the Blue Agave, temperatures should be a healthy 21 to 32 degrees C (70 to 90 degrees F) from spring through summer and into autumn.

Water: The top half of the soil should be allowed to dry out between thorough waterings. During the autumn and winter months, watering should be reduced enough to just keep the soil from drying out completely.

Fertiliser: A balanced, diluted to half its strength liquid fertiliser should be administered once a month throughout spring and summer.

Propagation: Offsets growing from the base of the plant can be removed and potted separately once they reach a size of 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in).

Description and Care Tips

As long as it is possible to supply plenty of sunlight, Blue Agave plants make excellent house plants. Thick, spined leaves - which should be handled with care as they are sharp - grow in rosettes on this round succulent.

The plant can be moved outdoors during the summer, although it needs to be sheltered from rain. It can stand very high temperatures and loves as much sunlight as possible. As it does not tolerate low temperatures easily, it needs to be brought back indoors before temperatures drop below 10 degrees C (50 degrees F). 

Moving the plant in and out of the sun should, by the way, be done gradually to accustom the plant to higher/ lower light levels slowly. Naturally, it is perfectly acceptable to keep the plant indoors all the time, as long as it is placed somewhere where it gets lots of sunlight, such as, for instance, in front of a south or west facing window.

Because the Blue Agave is very slow growing, it hardly ever needs to be repotted. Most plants will only need to be repotted to freshen the soil once every five years or so. To prevent toppling, a wide, relatively heavy pot should be used.

Plant Summary

Botanical Name: Strelitzia reginae

Type: Flowering

Origin: South Africa

Height: Bird of Paradise plants can grow to heights of about 90 cm (3 ft).

Soil: Any good, balanced potting mix is suitable for this plant.

Light: A greenhouse, south-facing window or sun room would be ideal for this plant, as it needs plenty of bright light, with a minimum of four hours of direct sunlight per day throughout the year.

Humidity: This plant is quite satisfied with average humidity levels.

Temperatures: From spring through into autumn, the Bird of Paradise plant requires average temperatures of between 16 and 24 degrees C (60 to 75 degrees F). Winter temperatures must be kept at approximately 10 to 13 degrees C (50 to 55 degrees F).

Water: Bird of Paradise plants need to be watered thoroughly, although the soil should be allowed to dry a little between watering. Watering should be cut down in winter.

Fertiliser: A balanced liquid fertiliser (like, for example, a 10-10-10; see Fertilising House Plants) should be administered once a month from spring into autumn.  

Propagation: Bird of Paradise plants can be propagated from seed or through division. A mature plant can be divided when it becomes absolutely necessary (if it bursts out of its pot, for instance). Division should take place in spring, and there is a good chance that the plant will refuse to bloom until its roots are once again pot-bound.

Description and Care Tips

The horizontal, sharply pointed flower bracts of the Bird of Paradise plant stand tall above the plant's foliage on stalks rising from the plant's base. From the spathe, bright blue and orange flowers form a colourful crest. Looking at these exotic flowers, there is little wonder how this plant came to be called Bird of Paradise.

This is a plant that will only bloom once it has matured sufficiently. As a rule, plants older than five years can be expected to produce blooms in the months from spring into summer. Each spathe will provide several flowers in succession, with each flower lasting little more than a week.

While these gorgeous flowers naturally add significantly to the plant's appeal, the foliage on its own is highly attractive. Leathery oblong leaves are deeply textured with veins and almost look like Banana plant leaves. They will require plenty of space, as each leaf can grow to a length of around 46 cm (18 in).

New plants should be repotted in summer each year, just until they reach a height of approximately 90 cm (3 ft). After this, only top-dressing the soil will be necessary, as the plant will not bloom unless it is almost root bound. 

In summer, the plant can be gradually acclimatised to stronger light, until it is safe to move it outside. This process has to be taken slowly, as sudden exposure to lots of sunlight could cause sunburn. Obviously, the Bird of Paradise plant will have to be brought back indoors well before the first frost sets in.

Plant Summary

Botanical Name: Begonia x hiemalis

Type: Flowering

Origin: Begonia socotrana hybrids were discovered off the East African coast, on Socotra Island, while some tuberous hybrids originate from South America

Height: Begonias can grow up to a height of about 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in).

Soil: African Violet potting mix and other soil-less, peat based mixes tend to work very well. Good drainage must be provided to prevent the soil from becoming soggy.

Light: These plants love bright light, but should be kept out of direct sunlight, as this may scorch the leaves.

Humidity: Levels of humidity should be medium to high. They can be raised sufficiently by placing the pot onto a wet pebble tray.

Temperatures: Fairly warm days (around 18 to 24 degrees C, 65 to 75 degrees F) and cooler nights (between 13 and 16 degrees C (55 to 60 degrees F) will help to trigger budding.

Water: The soil should be kept fairly moist, but not soggy. Only the top 2.5 cm (1 in) of soil should be allowed to dry out from one watering to the next.

Fertiliser: Begonias should be fed with a diluted (1:1) liquid high phosphorous fertiliser once every three weeks while in bloom.

Propagation: To propagate this plant, stem cuttings about 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) long can be taken at the beginning of the growing season. They should root fairly well in fresh potting mix.

Description and Care Tips

Often referred to as Winter-blooming Begonias, the house plants providing some of the most spectacular flowers, often for months at a time, are Begonia socotrana hybrids and hybrids of tuberous Begonias.

Bushy, full and growing low, the reddish, thick stems of the Begonia grow from its tuberous roots. Large, dark green and soft leaves provide a lovely backdrop to the clusters of gorgeous white, yellow, orange, pink or red flowers.

Grouping these plants with amaryllis, cyclamen and/ or other winter-blooming plants will provide a stunning display of colour. Placed into a bright window, they will bring cheerful colour throughout the dreary winter months.

The soil needs to be kept moist at all times, as allowing it to dry out will leave the plant susceptible to diseases. It should not, however, allowed to become soggy. If over-watered, the leaves of this plant will turn yellow and wilt. Affected leaves should be removed immediately, as leaving them in place will cause rotting and attract fungus. 

Spent flowers should be pinched off to keep the plant looking attractive and encourage new flowers. After flowering, it is normal for the plant to become dormant, resulting in many owners discarding the plant once blooming has ended. 

It is, none-the-less, possible to encourage the plant to flower again. Once flowering has finished, watering should be cut down, without allowing the soil to dry out altogether. During this period, the plant should be kept out of the light. The foliage will begin to die back within 6 to 8 weeks. It can then be pruned away, leaving 7.5 cm (3 in) long stems. 

Once new growth appears, the stems can be removed from the parent plant - which can then be discarded - and potted into fresh soil.

Plant Summary

Botanical Name: Rhododendron simsii

Type: Flowering

Origin: Asian hybrids

Height: While Dwarf Azaleas tend to be fairly compact, regular Azaleas may grow up to a height of around 60 cm (2 ft).

Soil: For this type of plant, a lime free, peat based potting mix is required.

Light: Azaleas like bright like, but should be kept out of direct sunlight.

Humidity: This is a plant that prefers to live in a place with moderate to high humidity. Raise humidity levels  with the help of a wet pebble tray or a room humidifier. Misting is not a good idea, as Azaleas are prone to suffer from fungus, which may kill them.

Temperatures: Room temperatures should range between 16 and 21 degrees C (60 to 70 degrees F) to keep this house plant at its best.

Water: The potting mix should be continually kept moist, as dry soil will result in the leaves shrivelling and the flowers wilting. As Azaleas are acid-loving, they should not be watered with hard water. Distilled water or rainwater will be best for the plant, especially in areas where tap water is comparatively hard.

Fertiliser: A liquid high potassium fertiliser for acid-loving plants with added iron should be diluted one-part water to one-part fertiliser and fed to the plant once a fortnight during the growing season. Too much lime will cause nutrient deficiencies resulting in yellow leaves featuring green lines.

Propagation: While it is possible to use stem cuttings to propagate this house plant, they tend to root very slowly and the resulting plant rarely matches the parent's quality.

Description and Care Tips

Generally known as the Florist's Azalea, this tender spreading shrub has oval, dark green leaves. During winter and spring, clusters of 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) wide flowers appear at the tips of the plant's wooden stems. These flowers are frequently semi-double or double, and some varieties produce flowers with ruffled petals. Colours may range from white and pink through peach or lavender to red, with some cultivars providing bi-colour blooms.

Providing the plant has plenty of bright light and room temperatures are kept comparatively cool, this plant should bloom for around three to four weeks. Sadly, the Azalea is often treated as a temporary plant and is discarded after blooming. It is, however, possible to make it bloom again. 

For this, it is necessary to give the plant around two month of cold rest (4 to 13 degrees C, 40 to 55 degrees F) during autumn/ winter. After this, it should produce new buds.

Yearly pruning after flowering will force stems to branch out and encourage more flowers, as these will grow from new stem tips. The best way to prune Azaleas is to cut stems a quarter of an inch above leaf nodes (where branches or leaves are attached to stems). The cut should be made at a 45 degree angle, using sharp pruners to prevent the woody stems from tearing.

This plant needs to be protected from drafts and dry, hot air coming from heat vents, as exposure will cause buds to shrivel up and go brown. If the leaves turn brown, there is a good chance that the plant is affected by root rot or fungus. As it will not recover from this, it is best to discard it if this is the case.

Repotting will only be necessary once every three years or so, as this plant flowers better when it is a little pot bound. Repotting should always be done after flowering has ended, and pots with drainage holes must be used.

As this type of Azalea is frost tender, it should not be planted outdoors, unless winters are definitely going to be short and very mild.