One of the most colourful and popular houseplants used for decoration or as a cut flower, Strelitzia reginae is an easy specimen to manage.  Growing up to 5 feet tall with large leaves between 12 and 18 inches long, the Bird of Paradise needs bright indirect light to bloom well, as well as high humidity and moist well draining soil.  During it’s growing season in the late spring it should be fed weekly with a liquid fertilizer.

Unfortunately it can take up to 5 years before it starts blooming which will occur in the late winter or early spring.  In areas where the climate allows for it to be grown outdoors, it can be very invasive producing multiple suckers.

Philodendrons come on a variety of shapes, sizes and colours making it a beautiful foliage plant for the indoor enthusiast.Some philodendrons can be climbers while others are self heading (non climbers). 

'Pink Princess'

Preferring light shade these houseplants should be grown in moist, loose soil with weekly feedings and may need to be supported as they get bigger.

'Lacy Tree'

Often mistaken for Dracena terminalis which can both be commonly known as the Ti plant, Cordyline can be distinguished by their white roots as opposed to the formers yellowy orange ones. 

These plants are best kept in bright indirect sunlight with moist, well draining soil and high humidity.  During its growing season this colourful plant needs regular fertilizing.  There are 15 different varieties of Cordyline but it is C. terminalis with it’s red, black, yellow, and orange mixes that is the most popular and given the right conditions will grow up to 4 feet tall.

This member of the agave family is simple to grow and offers a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes.

Dracena can be placed in a partially shady location yet still does well in full light and it’s soil should remain moist at all times.  Fertilize it weekly and if the leaves begin to turn brown increases the humidity by misting it regularly with water.

This extremely hardy houseplant is one of the most popular and easiest to care for. Tthough the variegated variety is the most common a pure green one is available.  Chlorophytum will survive all conditions but will flourish in indirect full sun, moist, fast draining soil and with regular feeding will produce a massive cascade of plantlets and small white flowers.

The plantlets can be easily rooted straight into potting soil to produce more plants.

Also called Mother-in-Law’s Tongue this plant with its stiff upright leaves can withstand all growing conditions.  Ideally it prefers bright light and loose, well draining soil that is left to dry out between watering.  Over watering will cause it to suffer.

With regular feedings of a cactus specific fertilizer the snake plant can grow up to 4 feet tall.

Alocasia amazonica is a beautiful plant to have in your collection.  Dark green leaves with contrasting veins in light green or white, these plants need bright, indirect light and soil that is constantly moist yet fast draining.  Elephant ears are truly tropical therefor they will die or go dormant if exposed to the cold.  When in their ideal environment this great plant can reach up to 3 feet tall.

Monstera deliciosa, also called the Fruit Salad Plant, Monsterfruit, Mexican Breadfruit and Window leaf is native to Southern Mexico all the way to Panama.  Used decoratively this plant needs high humidity, warm temperatures and shade.  The leaves of the younger plans have no holes while the mature plants will produce fruit if grown outside. When the plant first flowers the immature fruit is extremely poisonous and can cause blistering, swelling and loss of voice.  Once the fruit has completely ripened it is safe to consume.  If kept indoors and used as a decorative houseplant the Swiss Cheese Plant will not produce fruit.

This past weekend the Orchid Society of the Royal Botanical Gardens hosted their 27th annual Orchid Sale and Show.

I’m a relative newbie to Orchids believing like most people that they are extremely hard to care for. Well the second thing I learned this weekend was that they can be grown and enjoyed by anyone with varieties for every level of skill.

The first thing I learned? Oh my gosh, there are so many different colours, shapes, sizes and varieties out there. Not only that growers are constantly crossbreeding orchid families to create even more specimens. Reading some of the names it seemed like some sort of confusing math problem. A x (B x C) = D. The entries were beautifully displayed amongst pieces of driftwood and moss with many society members and experts around to answer any questions.

For those who wished to add to their collections or for those just beginning there was a great vendors area with lots of plants available. I went on the last day and the tables were still full of gorgeous plants in bloom.

Here are a few of my favorites out of hundreds that I saw that day.

Rhynacattleanthe Di Ciommo David

Psychopsis mendenhall 'Hildos' HCC/AOS

Phalaenopsis (No ID)

Odontocidium Moira Kavanaugh 'Pacific Panic'

Masd. Machu Pich 'Crown Point' AM/AOS

Lycaste Jackpot 'Chicago Red' AM/AOS

Dial. Mizoguchi 'Cloud Cover' HCC/AOS

Cym. Maureen Carter 'China Dragon' AM/AOS

In the next couple of weeks I will feature some Orchid 101 posts to help newbies like me better understand how to care for Orchids and the different varieties out there. Of course it also gives me a chance to share some of the gorgeous photos I took.

Known by the common names Chinotle plant, Red-hot Catstail or Copperleaf, Acalypha has two distinct groups.  The first has colorful foliage with insignificant blooms while the second has tassels of tiny flowers with plain leaves.  Acalypha prefers warmth, bright, indirect light, high humidity and well draining soil that is moist at all times.