I really love all of the plants in our courtyard. They make the area seem more inviting and cooler, at least mentally. The problem is I am not a very good plant guardian. I don't know much about the tropical plants that grow here. I am used to hardy freeze and drought tolerant plants that pretty much don't require any care at all, aside from a little drink of water in July and August. Now I have all these lush plants to take care of, and I don't even know what they are.
I have to admit, that the plants are already not as healthy looking as they were when we moved in, and I have only been responsible for them for a month. I am hoping that some of you green thumbs out there might be able to identify some of these and give me some tips for care. Prune or don't prune? Water a lot or a little? Feed or don't feed? Sun or shade? The plants will truly appreciate any advice.
1 This one looks a lot like the amaryllis I used to have, but it doesn't seem to bloom. I have it sitting in the shade all day and give it some water whenever the dirt looks dry.
2 I have been told this is called Mother in Law's Tongue, and that if you eat the leaves it will paralyze your larnyx. Don't know if that is true or even if this is Mother in Law's Tongue. It is also in shade all day and gets water when the dirt looks dry.
3 I have also been told that this is Mother in Law's Tongue. Same info as above. I figure they can't both be the same plant and look so different.
4 This is one of the plants that is really suffering. It was green and full and pretty. Now its kinda ragged and a tish shrivelly. It had long parts with light green pod things that are now decidedly brown and crunchy. It sits in full shade and gets water whenever the dirt looks dry.
5 This one looks kinda begonia-like but has decidedly un-begonia-like blooms on a stalk. It's also in a really small pot, so it should probably be replanted. It also gets full shade and water when the others do.
6 I feel pretty confident saying this one is aloe vera and there isn't much I can do to harm it unless I really try.
7 I can say this one is a palm tree, I just don't know what kind. It is planted in an old 5 gallon bucket and gets shade most of the day. It gets water whenever everything around it gets water.
8 This one is really pretty with colorful foliage that grows in clumps. It is tree-like. It gets midday and afternoon sun. It's actually planted in the ground and gets more water than the others because it gets the runoff from the cemented areas of the courtyard. Aside from being taken over by the plant next to it, it seems to be doing well, although a little overgrown looking. I would like to prune it back.
9 I have been told that this one is called Mexican Flag. It is a vine, but it doesn't seem to want to climb the wires on the wall that have been provided for it. Instead it is climbing all over itself and the plants next to it and the umbrella... I would love to know how to train it. It also gets midday and afternoon sun and extra water.
10 I had no idea what this one was...until it bloomed. Then it was pretty obvious. I have a Bird of Paradise.
Its another one that doesn't seem to be doing well. It is planted in the ground. The outside stalks get very droopy and the foliage had taken on a greyish or powdery look. I have deep watered it a couple of times. I would also like to cut it back or divide it or something. It's kinda ginormous.
11 This pretty pink tree-thing is also planted in the ground on the other side of the vine. It gets all day sun, and not as much water as the vine and other tree-like thing. Its leaves are starting to turn brown and crispy.
12 I think this may be a very young palm tree? I have no idea. It gets full shade and water whenever the dirt looks dry.
13 This variegated, spiky, weepy thing lives in a pot that is very difficult to water. The dirt is mounded up, so I have to put the hose on a very slow drip and leave it over the pot for hours. The pot gets midday and afternoon sun. This one seems to be doing well. This same plant is also planted in a pot indoors and seems to be doing well there too.
14 This plant reminds me of the top of a pineapple. I shares a pot with #13 and #15. It also seems to be doing well, and has even made two more of itself in the pot.
15 This flat leaved variegated plant shares a pot with #13 and #14. It doesn't seem to be doing as well. It is also planted indoors and is doing a little better there, so maybe it needs less sun?
16 This tree is planted in a large pot indoors. The only reason it is still inside is because the pot is so incredibly heavy we can't move it. I haven't actually watered this pot since we moved in. It only get ambient sunlight.
-
|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jenniferThanks Mic,
I love your stories. I can totally relate. I had one maid that scrubbed all of the seasoning of my cast iron stuff.
You have seen almost all of the plants we have. It doesn't seem like enough to hire a gardener over. We'll see. If I start actually killing stuff, I may have to consider it.
Jennifer
-
|201.165.14.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s NancyI think you need to invite Scott and Coco over, but here's my take on it:
1. Some kind of lily
2 & 3. Yes, both are Mother in law tongue. It's almost impossible to kill these.
4. Maybe an Oyster Plant, likes shade
5. A succulent, these like sun or a sun shade combo
6. Aloe, likes sun
7. Most palms like sun or mostly sun, ask Scott!
8. Croton, full sun for maximum color.
9. Mexican flag has no tendrils to help it vine, I have one and I wrap it around whatever I want, when it grows more I wrap more.
10.You can divide this, but it will sulk for a while. More sun, more flowers.
11.Cordyline or Ti Plant, likes full sun or part shade, moderate water.
12. Palm, might like more sun.
13. Some kind of grass or maybe garlic chives. Variegated usually wants some shade.
14. No idea
15. Prayer plant, I think they like shade, I used to have this as a house plant in the 70's along with spider plants and ferns!
16. It looks like a banana to me, if it is it would like to be outside in the sun.
I have a book you can borrow if you want, isn't this fun?
-
|201.165.14.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s NancyYou know another thing....pretty much everything this time of year is a bit tired and dry and stressed, waiting for the rainy season. The stuff that is planted in the ground might get a lot happier once it starts raining.
Maybe... I am a newbie at this, too.
-
|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jenniferGee Nancy, maybe I should have you come take care of everything!
Thanks for all the info. I am printing it out so I can try to come up with some sort of placement plan. I will have to put big asterisks next to the hard to kill ones. Those are my favorite!
I think I may risk angering the Bird of Paradise. It is just completely out of control.
Now I just need to find someone with a hand truck to move all of this stuff around.
Jennifer
-
|201.165.14.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s NancyScott has a nice big-pot hand truck...
When you decide to divide the bird of paradise I would plan on doing it in the morning or evening whenever it is not in direct sun which would stress it more.
-
|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jenniferI have been hesitating to call Scott because we tend not to charge each other for our services and I don't want to take advantage. But maybe I will at least see if I can borrow the hand truck. Or maybe have a dinner party and milk him for info then....
-
|189.174.195.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s AntelopeKnucklehead! And that's the second time I've been able to call someone a knucklehead in 1 week...a good week...must be the heat.
You owe us, we owe you, it works out perfect. If you haven't moved the plants yet, it will take about 15 minutes with our hand truck.
A walk through for the identification and growing conditions will take 10 minutes...maybe I'll even bring some fertilizer with!
Knucklehead! Call me. It takes me 5 minutes to get to your house.
And Nancy got the most right.
Scott
-
|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jenniferOkay. Okay. I'll call. You are very sweet. And yeah, I will accept the title knucklehead.
-
|189.174.169.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s Street Dog(14) Some type of agave (Agavaceae family) full to partial sun
(16) Most likely a plantain not banana (genus Musa) fruit can be cooked. sun
-
|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jenniferThanks StreetDog. I will have to get the plantano outside and see if I can get some fruit!
-
|201.165.14.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s PaulAs others have pointed out, all of these plants want at least partial sun.
-
|SAdministrator |m-d-Y H:i:s jenniferI have managed to move a few of the pots. Man are they heavy. The problem with our courtyard is that it is situated so everything pretty much gets full sun or full shade. The sun comes overhead at just the right angle. I will have Scott help me figure it out.
-
|98.232.156.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s Jim Hay - Joomla Unlimited Business Website DesignI came accross your blog this evening researching moving to Mazatlan. I have been to Maz more times than I could ever count as it was my home away from home for many many years. I am seriously considering moving to Maz as I am getting pensioned out on a Labor and Industries Claim. I am also a website designer and can do this anywhere. I market globaly! I enjoyed your Blog and will return and keep up. I will let you know how things are shaping up. I plan on just packing the few things I really need in my truck, dog and all and head down!
-
|99.38.47.xxx |m-d-Y H:i:s Dolores McAndrew - Plant No. OnePlant No. One sures looks like a Clivia. If thats what it is - the flowers are orange at the top of a stalk. There is a yellow flowered one also that is rarer and thus more expensive. I have six clivia and I consider them the absolutely best houseplant ever. They do well in low light environments, so far I have never had disease or insect problems. A larger specimen is an architectural delight. Google will fill you in on all the details. I'm not very knowledgeable on tropicals but if I figure out what some of the other mystery plants are, I'll let you know. Your new home is a dream. Much happiness there and happy gardening!
Clear 77 oF • 25 oC
But sounds like you might have about the same color of green thumb I have. Husband says..."she brings 'em in green, and turns 'em brown".
My solution when we lived in the PI was to hire a gardener, who cared for a beautiful garden/lawn for us..... and also spoiled me rotten by carrying in packages after shopping trips and immediately dusting/cleaning the car inside and out...always had a super clean car even tho it was old. Also helped his wife, who was our maid, with heavier chores (Gardener for equivalent of $3/day American. His wife, our maid, for $1.50 per day.) It probably wouldn't cost too much to find a Mexican gardener/helper. Ask your landlady/real estate person for a referral.
You do have to keep a close eye on them as their understanding is different. Found the gardener one day out on the patio industriously scrubbing off the sea green patina from a little sea bird sculpture because he thought it was corrosion. Was almost ruined before I caught him. Another time our maid, scrubbed off all the Teflon coating from a new skillet I had just purchased because she thought it was "burnt on stuff". Also had to talk her out of hand scrubbing our clothes in the sink before putting them in the washing machine as she was wearing them out long before their time.