Download Tropicals 8

Tropical Plants 8
Created Summer
2008
EuphorbiaNephrolepis
BOTANICAL NAME
EUPHORBIA
PULCHERRIMA
PRONUNCIATION
you - FOR - bee - ah
pull - CARE - im - ah
COMMON NAME
Poinsettia
Connecting the Scientific Name to the
Common Name
Euphorbia reminds me
of Euphoria-which is
happiness. I am very
happy at ChristmasPoinsettias are
Christmas plants
DESCRIPTION
Flower is yellow
(inconspicuous)
Bracts show color
Leaves are dark
green
Flower
DESCRIPTION
3” to 4” petiole
Red, pink, white,
and variegated
cultivars
Flower
Bracts
Modified Leaves
Water
Water regularly and
deeply about once
per week
Fertilizer
Fertilize when
actively growing
Light
High
Size and Growth
Rate
Height from 1-3 feet
Propagation
Take cuttings from
stems or shoots
before they harden
Additional Information
Traditional herald of
Christmas
Native of Mexico
Discovered by JR Poinsett
Needs 14-18 hours of total
darkness for bracts to
change color
BOTANICAL NAME
FICUS BENJAMINA
PRONUNCIATION
FIE - kus
COMMON NAME
Weeping Benjamin Fig
Connecting the Scientific Name with
the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)
Benjamin and
Benjamina
DESCRIPTION
Tough, leathery,
shiny, green leaves
cover drooping
branches
Stem are covered in
pale brown bark
Water
Do not allow root
ball to dry out
Provide plenty of
water during growing
season
Fertilizer
Feed monthly
Newly purchased
plants should not be
fertilized during the
first 6 months
Light
High
Size and Growth
Rate
8’ tall in just 3 -4
years
Propagation
Take stem cuttings
before they have
hardened
Air-layer
Additional Information
Often loses most of
its leaves if moved to
a new location
Very Sensitive
BOTANICAL
NAME
FICUS ELASTICA
‘DECORA’
PRONUNCIATION
FI - cus
e - LAS - ti - ca
DE - co - ra
COMMON NAME
Decora Rubber
Plant
Connecting the Scientific Name with
the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)
Decora and Decora
Remember Ficus-
Genus, elasticaSpecies, DecoraVariety
DESCRIPTION
Large, thick, glossy,
leathery, rich, dark
green leaves
Maroon and
variegated leaf
cultivars available
Water
Water thoroughly
once or twice a week
in summer
Less in winter
Fertilizer
Fertilize all year
More heavily in
summer
Light
Low
Size and Growth
Rate
Fast Grower
Over 6’ in 3 -4 years
Propagation
Take stem cuttings
before they harden
Air-layer
Additional Information
One of the easiest
indoor plants
“Bleeds” a milky
substance from leaf
BOTANICAL
NAME
MARANTA
LEUCONEURA var.
‘Kerchoviana’
PRONUNCIATION
muh - RAN - tuh
loo - koe - NER - uh
COMMON NAME
Prayer Plant
Connecting the Scientific Name with
the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)
I do not know a
good way to
remember this one.
Help me please!
DESCRIPTION
A low growing plant with
oval leaves that lays flat
during the day and folds up
in the evening
The surface is vivid to pale
green with a row of
chocolate or red veins
DESCRIPTION
Satiny foliage
Small white flowers
are rarely seen
Water
Needs lots of water
and frequent misting
in the summer
Fertilizer
Feed with weak
fertilizer every other
week
Light
Medium
Size and Growth
Rate
12-15” tall
Propagation
Start new plants by
dividing old plants
Stem Cuttings
Additional Information
Direct sunlight will
fade leaves
BOTANICAL NAME
NEPHROLEPIS
EXALTATA cv.
PRONUNCIATION
neff - row - LEP - iss
ex - all - TAH - tah
COMMON NAME
Boston Fern
Connecting the Scientific Name with
the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)
This plant reminds
me of the head dress
of an Egyptian
Queen- Nephrolepis
DESCRIPTION
Dense, green fronds
up to 3 ’ long with
graceful, upright,
arching habit
Leaflets closely set
and 3 -4” long
Water
Water regularly
Do not allow soil to
dry out
Fertilizer
Fertilize lightly all
year
More heavily in
summer
Light
High
Size and Growth
Rate
Fronds rapidly grow
to 2’
Propagation
Start new plants by
dividing old plants
Root the tips of runners
Micropropagation