Hoya Bella Retailers

I would love to have a Hoya Bella Plant. Where can I buy one in the USA?

Hoya bella

Hoya bella and many other Hoya species are available at 'Kartuz Greenhouses'. They have an excellent web-site catalouge which lists the available hoya's, as well as many other plants. See below:

Kartuz Greenhouses, Sunset Island Exotics
1408 Sunset Drive
P.O. Box 790
VISTA, CA 92085-0790

Phone: (760) 941 - 3613
E- mail: MikeKartuz@aol.com
FAX: (760) 941 - 1123

Web-site: www.members.aol.com/kartuzexotics/hoya.htm

You can obtain the latest printed version of their catalog for $2.00 using the above address.

Alternanthera

I need to know about a flat of plants I purchased at a nursery auction. I have looked everywhere for this name of this plant. It had a small tag only saying "trailing ruby red - Alternatherea". It has purple hard leaves. I do not even know if it is an annual or perennial. Have you ever heard of this name or know anything about this plant?

Alternanthera versicolor

Alternanthera is the botanical name for a small group of dwarf, tender plants native to tropical America. 'Alternanthera' is derived from two latin words - (alternans) which means 'alternating', and (anthera) 'an anther', and refers to the fact that alternate anthers are sterile. 'Alternanthera' belongs to the Amarathus family 'Amaranthaceae'. These plants are sometimes also called 'Achyranthes' or 'Telanthera'.

'Alternanthera' is only hardy, or used as a perennial in zone 8 and south, so, where winters are cold, the plants are treated as annual bedding plants and are set out in the garden in spring after danger of frost has past. They grow well in almost any type of soil, but must have full sun. The plants are generally spaced 4 - 5 inches apart in the flower bed.

The short, dwarf plants with their colorful leaves are used extensively for carpet bedding, and also for edging flower beds. They adapt well to shearing, one of the main reasons they are used for carpet bedding (creating designs such as flags, clocks, etc.) and most often are maintained at heights of 4 to 6 inches.

Where winters are mild, Alternanthera can be propagated by division of mature plants in early autumn or spring. Where winters are cold, several plants are dug up and potted (in commercial potting soil) before frost arrives, and over-wintered in the home as houseplants. In early spring, softwood cuttings are taken from these plants and rooted to propagate new plants, or, the over-wintered plants can also be divided into smaller plants as a means of propagation. Cuttings root easily in moist sand at a temperature of 65 degrees F. if they are enclosed in a propagating case to keep them close.

Species include:

• 'A. amoena' - very small plants (about 4 inches tall) with green leaves blotched with red or orange
• 'A. bettzickiana' - medium sized plants about 6 inches tall with many variously colored varities of creamy yellow and red
• 'A. versicolor' - the tallest form about 12 inches tall with leaf colors of crimson, blood-red or copper

Peace Lily Aging

I recently brought a Peace Lily to the office and received many positive comments from my coworkers about how its presence had improved the atmosphere. Within a couple weeks of buying it, however, the pearly-white flowers have turned almost completely green. I rather liked the striking whiteness of the lilies themselves. What can I do to restore the whiteness in the flowers? Thanks!

There is nothing one can do to restore the white color of the peace lily flower. It is natural for the flower to turn green as it ages. Once the flower turns green in color, it should be to cut off the plant. Otherwise, the flower may produce a seed pod which consumes the plants energy. Seeds may be used to start new plants from those plants which are true species, but it may be several years before they flower, so dividing the plants roots in the spring is the best means of propagating new plants.

Boston Fern Growing Conditions

I have Boston Ferns surrounding my porches, 15 total spaced approximately 8' apart. I bought them in May this year. They were healthy and in 10" hanging pots. I transplanted them into 12" hanging pots in June. They have thrived all summer and are now huge, i.e. 3+' across with 2+' fronds. They are on northern and western porches. I created a water/misting system. They receive a 15 minute water/mist every morning around 2 a.m. My wife and I, along with finches (8 families have been born in them this year), humming birds and neighbors truly enjoy them.

The problem: They are far too large to bring into the house this winter. We live in Winder, GA. Winters here are not bitterly cold, but we will consistently have low temperatures in the mid-low 30's from Dec - March. The porches are covered but open air. The ferns hang partly under the porch and partly beyond the eave, approximately 5' off the ground. All the porches are 10' wide with 9' ceilings. Do you have a recommendation for outdoor winter care for these plants? We do not have a green house nor to date access to one. Thus, the porches need to be utilized. I look forward to your input.

Boston Fern - Nephrolepis exaltata

As Boston Ferns are tropical plants, the temperature must not drop below 55 degrees F., or problems will occur. So, if I owned those beautiful plants you described, I would surround the porch with a sheet of 6 mil poly (plastic) and heat it with a base board heater when necessary. A thermostatically controlled heater set near 55 or 60 degrees F. will prevent forgetting to turn the heater on or off.

A temporary greenhouse frame can be quickly constructed using 2 x 4's spaced at 30 or 36 inches apart. The wall does not have to be strainght up and down, but can be built in such a manner as to enclose the ferns. The plastic is than held in place using 1 1/2 inch wide lath nailed to the 2 x 4's with 1 1/4 inch nails spaced approximately 12 or 15 inches apart. Be sure the entire perimeter of plastic is nailed down so that the wind can not flap it about. The temporary greenhouse wall may be fastened to the porch (in some manner) so that it can be taken down easily once warm spring weather arrives. A second layer of 2 or 4 mil poly may be nailed to the inside of the 2 x 4 frame to create a dead air space which provides a good means of insulation, and yet allows the necessary lighting.

This is about the only recommendation I have at this time. I have used this type of greenhouse structure for many years for starting bedding plants. I hope this is the type of information you were seeking.