Unidentified Zamioculcas-Like Object--What Have I Got Here?

I have long been a fan of Zamioculcas zamiifolia, aka the ZZ plant. I've written about my large plant before.  I've had it since 2001, and it is still going strong.

My old favorite Zamioculcas zamiifolia. It has responded to being repotted by
 producing 12 new leaf stalks.

Then, last summer I purchased a new plant, at either Home Depot or Lowe's. (I don't remember which.)  It looks very much like a miniature ZZ. However, upon doing some web-searching, I have been unable to identify this plant. This surprises me, because neither of the above places are known as a source of horticultural oddities.

Unidentified Zamioculcas-like Object, hereafter known as UZLO.

Close up of UZLO, showing new growth very much like
 that of the species ZZ.

UZLO with ruler, to show size.

Zamioculas zamiifolia with ruler, and my husband's arm,
 to show size.  Thanks, Bob!

Searching for dwarf or miniature Zamioculcas, one gets hits for "Zamicro," which has thinner stalks and less succulent leaflets, but isn't smaller in growth habit.  The leaflets are just as large as those of the usual ZZ, and it seems to have the potential to grow just as tall, so I've concluded that my plant isn't one of those.  UZLO is petite, and the leaves are proportional. I considered that maybe I just have a juvenile ZZ, but I have seen pictures of new plants started from standard Zamioculcas leaflets, and the new growth, which has leaflets smaller than those of their parent plants at first, still seems generally larger than those of UZLO. I could be wrong about that, though.

So, I'm putting it out there, in hopes that someone knows what I have. If not, I rather like the name UZLO.

Tales from the Cryptanthus

Well, more like tales of the Cryptanthus, because while I may be a Crazy Plant Lady, I am not under the impression that plants talk to me. (Nor do I talk to them; if they want extra carbon dioxide, they can get it themselves.)

Anyway, I find the Earth Stars to be cool plants, so I've accumulated a few more this summer. I believe that these are all varieties of Cryptanthus bivittatus:

Cryptanthus bivittatus 'Ruby'

Cryptanthus bivittatus 'Pink Starlite,' I think

NoId Cryptanthus bivittatus varieties

All of the above were purchased at Home Depot, where I also saw what has got to be the worst example of plant marketing I've ever seen. Plant hucksters have been gluing strawflowers on cactus for years. Recently, they've been dyeing Phalaenopsis orchids blue. And now, they are giving us painted Cryptanthus:

Cryptanthus varieties defiled with pink and red enamel. These photos were taken surreptitiously in the store with my cellphone, (try saying that 5 times fast) hence the blurriness. These were in dish gardens, and in the one with the red paint, there is a naturally pink Crypt on the left.

This is ridiculous. I doubt the leaves will stay healthy with that stuff on them. Also, the painting was quite slapdash, and the result was ugly and totally unnatural-looking. It looked like a toddler had run amok with Mommy's nail polish.

But there are cute and clever things one can do with Crypts, as seen here in a couple of pics I took at the Chicago Botanic Gardens last week:

Flamingo topiaries in the Sub-tropical Greenhouse

Closer view of one of the flamingos, showing how densely the Cryptanthus are planted

I'm not usually a topiary fan, but I found these to be fun and fabulous uses of both form and color. Not something I'd try myself (where would I get enough crypts, let alone enough patience?) but definitely something that I can appreciate and enjoy sharing.

New Indoor-Outdoor Plants

Last week, I was at one of my local nurseries looking for annuals and perennials for my outdoor garden. Even back when I was living in an apartment, and had no outdoor space, I always looked at the summer annuals and tropicals. Among the plants marketed as annuals for "creative" containers, there were always several plants that can make good-to-decent houseplants. Common examples were Asparagus sprengeri and A. meyeri, Begonia 'Dragon Wing,' Hedera helix, Strobilanthes dyeranus, (Persian Shield) and Solenostemon (Coleus.) Now, even though I do plenty of outdoor gardening, I always look to the annuals with houseplants in mind.

This year, I came across a couple of plants I really like, so I snapped them up. About ten to twelve years ago, I tried several times to grow Murraya paniculata. The available plants were "starter" specimens, in three- to five-inch pots. I never succeeded with them for more than a couple of months, so sadly, I decided not to buy them anymore. Then after reading the plant profile a few years ago at Plants are the Strangest People, I decided that I would try one again, if and only if I could get a reasonably well-established plant in a larger pot. But they became unavailable for quite some time, due to, as I understand it, a quarantine caused by a citrus disease. So I was surprised and happy to find this at my local nursery:

Well-branched Murraya paniculata, ready to be potted up from its 7-inch nursery pot

I also treated myself to a Plumbago auriculata. I had originally purchased one in 2003, and kept it for at least five more years, putting it out in summer, and overwintering it in a cool room. After that, it kind of petered out, since P. auriculata really needs both cool temps and lots of sun over the winter. I can only provide one or the other, so the plant loses vigor. I figure five years is a good run for a plant most people buy as an annual and discard, and I love those blue flowers. I hope this one lasts as long.

Plumbago auriculata, whole plant

Closer view of those fabulous sky-blue flowers.

My plan is to let both of these plants spend the summer outdoors, the Murraya on the porch, and the Plumbago in a container in the garden, maybe temporarily planted with some annuals. (My last P. auriculata looked really pretty in a pot with a pastel pink Pelargonium, though it did seem somewhat like a baby shower theme planting. Maybe I'll try something yellow, instead.) I figure spending sometime in the fresh air and sunshine will increase their vigor, and I'll be able to have them more or less permanently (the Murraya) and for a few good years (the Plumbago.)

New Plants: From the Chicago Flower and Garden Show

Last Friday, my husband and I made our traditional trip to see the Chicago Flower and Garden Show. I will be posting about my overall impressions of the show, and a couple of features I particularly enjoyed, in the next couple of days. In the meanwhile, here are the plants I purchased at the show.

From the top left, according to their accompanying tags: Monadenium aff. schubei; Aloe harlanii; Crassula 'Buddha's Temple;' and front and center, Dyckia 'Burgundy Ice.'

A closer look at Monadenium aff. schubei. I love the color. This is my first plant of this genus, and I'm looking forward to learning how to grow it.

This plant was labeled Aloe harlanii. I am more familiar with the name Aloe harlana, and even more familiar with the idea that plants sold as such are usually Aloe hemmingii. It's a pretty plant though.

Crassula hybrid. This 'Buddha's Temple' is quite different from the 'Buddha's Temple' I purchased at the show last year (from the same seller), as can be seen in the shot below:
Two Crassula, old on the left, new to the right

Dyckia 'Burgundy Ice,' a very nice succulent Bromeliad.

The plants are all from Ted's Greenhouse in Tinley Park, IL, which always has a nice, and busy, booth at the Garden Show.

Terrarium Renovations

I enjoy growing plants in terrariums, even though I have found that maintaining a nice-looking terrarium isn't as easy as it might seem. Just before Christmas, I replaced a scraggly-looking fern I had growing in a vase terrarium with a brand new one.

The then-new fern can be seen here, in the tall vase on the right. (The "lid" is actually a glass saucer.) I don't have a positive ID, but I believe that the fern is a Nephrolepsis.

During the holidays, when my terrarium grouping was moved to accommodate our Christmas tree, the fern started to decline, and by late January, it had turned completely black. When I removed the dead plant, I found the soil to be excessively wet, and I realized that I had watered this terrarium a little too well when I replanted. So after emptying out the soggy soil, and cleaning the vase thoroughly, I set out to find a replacement plant. I went to my usual nurseries and local box stores, and none of them had any suitably-sized ferns for sale. So I went with something a little different.

Same terrarium with newly-planted Stromanthe sanguinea 'TrioStar'

When I decided to post a picture of my new plant, I realized I had missed an opportunity. I could have made things more interesting by showing some of the process of planting the terrarium. So this week, when I decided to give a crowded Asplenium nidus some more growing room, I also decided to take some pictures of what went into assembling its new home.

Previously posted pictures of Asplenium nidus outgrowing its glass cookie jar. Normally I keep the lid on, which has caused some damage to the fronds.

I started with a brand new 10 gallon aquarium:

The first thing I did was add a layer of gravel. This is also a good time to add some charcoal to keep the soil fresh. I didn't, since I forgot to buy some. Oops. I don't think it will make much difference in the long run.

For step 2, I added a layer of potting mix, which I forgot to photograph. This is just as well, as it was definitely a "do as I say, not as I do" moment. The mix I used was quite dry. Using a moistened medium is generally better, as it is easier to work with.

As for the plants:

The somewhat battered Asplenium, removed from the jar.

A scraggly old Selaginella (I think) which was sharing the jar with the Asplenium

A brand new Selaginella, purchased to round things out.

Dried moss purchased from the same pet store as the aquarium. This is actual living moss, meant for terrarium use, which will be rejuvenated when introduced to a moist environment.

Preserved moss from the craft store. This is not a live product, but it adds visual interest, holds up for some time, and can be easily replaced when it starts to deteriorate.

Top view of the planted terrarium.

Side view. I use mineral specimens and river rocks to add interest to all my terrariums and dish gardens. I used amethyst (purple) and sodalite (blue) in this one.

The completed terrarium, watered and in place. The plastic cling rap is only temporary, just to raise the humidity a bit. I have asked my husband to make a permanent lid of leaded glass for me.

But wait! There's more! I couldn't very well leave the cookie jar empty. As it happened, one of the nurseries did have some smaller ferns available today, so I purchased this one. I haven't a clue as to its identity.

New NoId fern

Replanted jar with another small Stromanthe sanguinea 'TrioStar', the new fern, and the mosses.

I now have a total of six terrariums around the house. I also have an empty one gallon aquarium available, so I expect the number will increase to seven some time in the future.

Trying Again

In October 2009, in a post entitled Never Again List, I wrote the following:

"Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii' (any variety) I suppose it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. And I do love these, but from now on it will be from afar. It just hurts too much. Much more sensitive to watering issues than the taller S. trifasciatas. While overwatering will kill them quickly, moderate watering seems to kill them slowly. Every single one I’ve had has rotted, no matter how careful I am."

Well, apparently "never" has a new definition, i.e. "yesterday." Because that is when I purchased the plants pictured here:

Two Sansevieria trifasciata 'Golden Hahnii' plants to the left and another S. trifasciata dwarf variety to the right.

"From afar" apparently has a new definition as well. It means "a few feet from my desk," which is where these are now.

I was in the nursery to see if there were any nice fall bulbs on late-season sale. I had no plans to purchase any houseplants. But a crazy plant lady doesn't need plans or a motive. Just opportunity. These Sansevieria were too nice to pass up. I examined the roots. I examined the centers of each of the rosettes. I tugged gently on the leaves. All was well; no rot, no signs of overwatering or distress. It was warm outside yesterday, in the 60s Fahrenheit, so they didn't catch a chill going from greenhouse to car to home. In other words, if these plants do not succeed, I cannot blame it on the nursery, or the chill of November. It is all up to me.

Just a Few New Plants

So I decided to go ahead and postpone my self-imposed plant buying hiatus. Last Saturday, we found ourselves with a couple of hours to kill near Libertyville, so I persuaded my husband to take me to Jamaican Gardens, a nearby nursery. Though this nursery and its Morton Grove branch came recommended by two different Garden Web posters, after my first visits, I found them nice enough, but not necessarily worth making 30 and 40 mile road trips. So I last visited them in 2006, and 2008, respectively. However, this time, I ended up with three really special plants, which I definitely haven't seen elsewhere in the area.

Monstera 'Cheesecake.' I had pronounced this plant "to die for" in the comments at PATSP

Tillandsia 'Eric Knoblock.' A really nice large specimen, about 8 inches long.

Hoya multiflora, with buds!

Closer view of the buds

Of course, once I get started, it's hard for me to stop. But I'll leave the latest acquisitions from a more local nursery, and Home Depot, for another post. For those who were wondering, my main reason for taking a six month plant-buying break (which will start on July 16) is to slow down, and really concentrate on appreciating and taking the best possible care of the plants I already have. I know myself (or at least I'm trying to learn--that's what I mean by "growing along with my houseplants.") I know that I often get caught up in little mini-obsessions, and there are times that I need to step back and focus. And I think that is one of those times.

I've Been At It Again

Buying new plants, that is. Seriously, I think I'm going to have to go on another plant-purchasing hiatus. My last one was from July 2008 to January 2009. At the time, I agreed with my husband that I wouldn't buy any new plants for six months. Bob loves my plants almost as much as I do, but he was concerned because I seemed a little burned out from taking care of them all. I'm not burned out now, but I think I've reached my limit for the time being, in terms of both space and budget. (By the way, I'm getting a huge sense of déja vu as I write this. Did I actually make such a resolution on this blog before now? If I did, it didn't take, as I've been a plant-buying fool the past few months.)

My cactus buying spree continues. I bought this one a few weeks ago, without ID.

Top and above: Unidentified cactus with huge orange flower. There were three nearly mature buds on this small plant when I bought it, and this was the third and final one to open.

As I've written before, I suffer from cactus blindness. I'm terrible at recognizing cactus by genus, with the exception of the most obvious ones (Mammillaria, Opuntia, and Astrophytum spring to mind.) I'm guessing that this new plant is an Echinopsis of some sort, because of the resemblance of the body of the plant to my Echinopsis chamaecereus (former name, Chamaecereus silvestrii), seen here:

Sulcorebutia arenacea on the left (yellow flowers) and Echinopsis chamaecereus on the right. I do think my new plant resembles the Echinopsis enough to be a relative. (This picture was taken several years ago. The Sulcorebutia blooms yearly, the Echinopsis has only bloomed once more, since.)

I also bought this one, at the same nursery, and it came with a label:

Thelocactus lloydii. It also came with two white flowers that have since dried up.

And then this one, from Home Depot, with of course, no label:

Unidentified cactus. I'm hoping that it'll be easier to ID once the flower buds mature and open. ETA 5/24/10: This is most likely Notocactus uebelmannianus, also known as Parodia werneri

This pretty little succulent was also an unnamed Home Depot purchase, but I'm pretty sure that it is xGraptoveria 'Silver Star'

x Graptoveria 'Silver Star'

And the Bromeliadmania continues, this time combined with succulent love. I just won my first Dyckia on eBay:

Dyckia 'Red Planet'

And because there is more to life among the leaves than succulents or bromeliads, (really!) here is my newest Thai Aglaonema, also won on eBay:

A nice large Aglaonema which the seller referred to as A. 'Pink Carmen,' but which looks like A. 'Dona Carmen' to me.

So here goes: I Karen715, do hereby affirm that I will not purchase another houseplant or succulent until November 22, 2010. (Trades or freebies do not count.)

Let's see if I can do it. If I lapse, I will of course, do the honorable thing and post about it here.

Edited to add 5/24/10: Based on a comment I received, the ID of the above new orange-flowered cactus is something along the lines of a Chamaelobivia/Lobivia/Echinopsis. See comment #8 for more edification/confusion.