Ask the Plant Expert:

hi there,

I inherited these plants from a neighbor who was getting rid of them and I’d love to know what they are so I can make them a bit healthier.   I looked on your nice identification page, but couldn’t find information on all of them. (Sorry for the bad lighting in the pictures – I can take better photos, if you need.)

I don’t have a green thumb, so please bear with me for some basic questions: I’m assuming they haven’t really ever been repotted – is it okay to just buy a big bag and use the same kind of soil on all of them?  My apartment gets sun, but not a lot, especially in the winter (I live in Berlin), so any ideas you have about which of these should  be in the absolute sunniest places, would be appreciated.  Some last more specific questions:

Mystery plant #1: is tall and completely awkward – any thoughts on how to stabilize it a bit? Mystery plant #2: When I repot this one, should I just weed out that network of old stalks in there? The probably-Dracaena-plant: The leaves look horrible on this one.  I’m not watering it too much, I think – maybe it’s somehow getting too much light? Jade: see the little guy popping up in the corner of the pot?  Is it cool to repot that into its own little pot? Kids gotta leave the house sometime :)

Sorry for so many questions!  Thanks for the help! -Mason

Plant Expert Reply:

Mason,

Mystery Plant #1 looks like a Schefflera (Brassia Actinophylla) commonly called octopus plant or umbrella tree. The only way to stabilize this plant would be to double the size of the container when you repot it. However, do not bury it any deeper than it is in the current pot. If you go to the Flower Shop Network Schefflera page and scroll down to the care information, you will find light and water instruction for this plant.

Mystery Plant #2 looks like an Aglaomena commonly called Chinese Evergreen, but with the condition of the plant it is  very difficult to be sure I am correct. When you repot this plant definitely cut out any dead or damaged foliage.  If you go to the Flower Shop Network Aglaomena page and scroll down to the care information, you will find light and water instruction for this plant.

Mystery Plant #3 looks like a type of Ficus, but again the condition of the plant makes it difficult to positively identify the plant.

Mystery Plant #4 does appear to be a Dracaena fragrans.

Mystery plant #5 is a Crassula ovate commonly called jade.  You can remove the baby and pot it in its own container.

Hope this information is helpful.

Ask the Expert: What kind of plant is this

My mother has this plant and we need to know how to take care of it Grizzley

Plant Expert Reply:

Grizzley,

The plant seems to be a type of Nephthytis (Syngonium). This plant is commonly called an Arrowhead plant because of the shape of the leaves. I find it to be a fairly easy plant to grow. Here is a link to our care page for Green Nephthytis, it has some more information on the plant.

Green Nephthytis Plant Care

Hope this information is helpful.

Ask The Expert: 

I have attached two pictures of the plant I would like to identify.  The seed or pit was picked up while walking in Palm Springs, CA.  We do not recall what type of plant it came from.  We planted it in a small pot, it sprouted quickly, but have no idea what to do with it next.  Can you help identify this please. Thank you LaVonne

Ask

Plant Expert Reply: I think it is some type of palm, but at this stage I can’t really tell. Maybe someone on the blog will be able to give us a more definitive id.