Sergiu's Weekly Blog

The Sansevieria Moonshine, also known as the Silver Snake plant, is a pretty popular indoor plant. The Sansevieria family originates from Africa, Madagascar, and South Asia.

The leaves of the Sansevieria Moonshine have a beautiful gray-white color that makes the plant almost glisten in the sun, they are shorter, thicker, and more numerous per rosette than the other species.

Moonshine is rather slow-growing, however it can reach an impressive size compared to other members of the genus. Great for any spot in the house, especially a shady spot for it to fill and look fabulous in. The Sansevieria Moonshine reaches an impressive leaf length of up to 60". The leaf color will darken in shade.

This plant has managed to adapt to dry climates. Therefore, give the plant very little water.The Sansevieria is extremely easy to care for with strong air-purifying properties. As this plant can store water in its leaves and therefore rarely needs water, it would otherwise lead to root rot if you water it too often. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering. Place the Sansevieria Moonshine in a semi-shady location, as too much light can cause the radiant leaves to fade. Moonshine thrives in normal household humidity. Avoid humid locations but if brown tips develop, consider occasional misting.

The moonshine feels most comfortable in a mixture of indoor plant soil and sand. Sansevieria have small root structures, so you don’t need to repot the plant every year. 

A study by NASA has proven that Sansevieria are excellent air-purifying plants capable of removing harmful toxins from the surroundings.

This broad-leafed Sansevieria is an exotic houseplant guaranteed to add elegance and texture to your home or office. It is particularly eye-catching as a contrast plant when displayed alongside other darker-leafed Sansevieria.

Silver Sword Philodendron native to the tropical forests of Brazil, is an attractive vining plant
with silver lance-like leaves. Younger plant’s foliage has a more pronounced silver color and
sword shape — as the plant grows, it takes on a greener color and a more arrowhead-like
form. Silver Swords are fast growers. When given structural support to climb onto, these
plants grow quicker and develop larger leaves. A hanging Philodendron Silver Sword is
equally beautiful, just place your plant in hanging baskets to fully capture their dramatic
foliage.
This climber will not only beautify your home but also improve air quality. Philodendrons are
great at absorbing toxins from the air. Their leaves are covered in tiny pores which take in
carbon dioxide and release oxygen. If you are constantly in dry spaces like air-conditioned
offices or suffer from respiratory problems, this plant will definitely help!
Like other Philodendrons, the Silver Swords prefer loose and well-draining soil, where water
can easily pass through. Best to be watered twice or three times a week during the growing
season, reduce it to once a week in the colder months. Always check that the top 1-2 inches
of the soil is dry between waterings. The soil needs to be moist but not wet to prevent root
rot.
Tropical plants are used to warm environments so they appreciate temperatures between
650F and 800F, so it’s a good idea to bring them inside during the colder months. Place it in
a bright area but away from direct sunlight, otherwise the leaves will burn quickly.
If you notice any dust or debris on the leaves, clear it with a clean cloth, however it likes the
occasional shower, to get the dust off the leaves and get refreshed.
During the growing season it should be fed monthly with a fertilizer rich in macronutrients.
When you see roots filling out the bottom of the pot, it’s time to repot your Silver Sword.
If it’s understated sophistication you’re after, there’s no better plant for you than the
Philodendron Silver Sword.

The Epipremnum Pinnatum is a species of Araceae family and is native to
French Polynesia. This plant is commonly called Dragon Tail. The Dragon
Tail is an evergreen vine, its leaves have a beautiful structure with
pronounced, sunken veins and can grow over 3 feet tall. What is the most
exciting thing about this special plant is the leaf transformation as
the plant matures. The length of the leaves and numbers of fenestration 
per leaf increases with maturity. Mature leaves are really long and
deeply serrated with fenestration. Provide a moss pole to grow large
dramatic leaves.


Many people may confuse a Pinnatum with a Rhaphidophora. They are both
climbing plants in the family Araceae. Also, they bear little
resemblance, entire juvenile and mature split or cut leaves. However,
these are different plants from a separate genus, Eippremnum vs.
Rhaphidophora, and they are from distinct geographical regions. Also, E.
pinnatum has elliptical to arrow-shaped juvenile leaves, while
Rhaphidophora leaves are oval, disc-like, and a bit thicker.

Epepremnum Pinnatum plant grows best in a bright and warm position, but
can also cope with partial shade. Although the plant is forgiving when
you forget a watering or two, best if watering once a week with a small
amount of water. Does not require sprinkling, although it likes moist
air. Be sure not to let the plant sit in pooled water as that can cause
root rot. The best Epepremnum soil mix should be well-drained, moderate
to slightly acidic, and rich in organic matter (nutrients).

Given a chance to grow to maturity, in the wild, these plants usually
bloom during spring or summer. Nevertheless, at home, as houseplants,
they are unlikely to flower.

Given the right conditions, the leaves of this plant will start
developing nice fenestrations, and will look like a cross between a palm
and a Monstera leaf.
The Dragon Tail name is due to the shape of the leaves when it matures
the leaves begin to become deeply incised along the margins resembling a
tail of a dragon.

Thank you,

Sergiu

The Arbequina is a variety of olive tree. The variety is native to the village of Arbeca, Lleida, Spain, which gave it its name. The olive tree grows all along the Mediterranean area, and in modern times has spread to North and South America, Northern Africa, and more.

 

Evergreen, long-lived, beautiful ornamental with soft silvery-green foliage, this variety is considered one of the best in the world, both for its production and for the quality of its oil. It thrives in warm regions and keep their gorgeous color all year.

 

Very compact tree, good for intensive planting, small spaces and a great indoor plant. Brings natural look, texture and form in the home landscape.  They're best grown indoors in a container and can only be placed outside in warmer climates. The trees are very drought tolerant, and love the hot sun. Low maintenance and very easy to grow, this tree also produces an highly aromatic fruit. Arbequina olives start green and transition to black as they ripen. The fruits are small and clustered.

 

When mature, these specie is considered to be rustic, low temperatures  resistant and adaptable to different climate and soil conditions. Arbequina Olive Trees grow to a height of 15 feet and a width of 15 to 20 feet, and can tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees F. The tree has to be pruned as it grows older.

Water approximately once a week. Olive trees do not like to sit in water and need to dry out between in each watering. In order to keep the tree growing healthy, it has to be fertilized at least once per month.

 

Thank you,

Sergiu

Ficus Triangularis Variegated is native to south Africa. This ficus has a yellow-white leaf with irregular gray-green sections in the center with a bright variegation that really stands out. This rare ficus is called Triangularis, because the leaves are triangular in shape.
This African plant is slow-growing and makes a showy, small specimen plant. Prefers close to a window location with filtered light or morning sun,  thrives best in bright indirect sunlight. Placing them there, would maintain the variegation on its leaves and will do a big part in leaf loss. Losing its leaves is the most common problem with ficus plants. The standard reaction to stress is a leaf drop and usually it is from any of this reasons: under watering or over watering, low humidity, too little light, repotting, range in temperature (too hot or cold). They need to be kept in temperatures above 60 F and actually prefer temperatures above 70F.
For indoor ficus, care should be taken not to over water, otherwise possibly root rot will occur. Cold drafts from windows or doors will also harm them. Best to allow the soil to dry between watering.

The plant is at its  best when fertilized  monthly during the growing period (from spring to autumn) . Avoid feeding a ficus tree in the winter. Fertilize them with well balanced natural plant food, diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength. Excessive fertilization also can harm them.

Ficus Triangularis Variegated is an excellent plant for interior,patios and botanical gardens. It can maintain its tree-like shape regardless of their size, so this makes them ideal for bonsais or for huge houseplants in large spaces. Considered a rare Ficus species kept as a houseplant.

Thanks,
Sergiu

The Calathea Dottie plant is native to the South American jungle. It is growing underneath canopies in rainforests as it likes a humid atmosphere. 

 

This type of Calathea is evergreen and has tuberous roots from which the long petioles of the leaves start. The leaves emerge green and fade down into almost black. The Calathea Dottie has gorgeous deep dark purple leaves that feature bright-coloured pink variegation and purple undersides, it is truly a joy to look at and since it’s a Calathea, its foliage reacts to the daily light cycle. Its leaves move every day. They bend their leaves upwards at night and downwards during the day - this gave them the name of prayer plants. If you concentrate enough you can sometimes hear a quiet crackling noise when the leaves move.  

Grouping Calatheas will help achieve the correct humidity alongside an attentive watering routine. They must be kept in damp soil at all times, but definitely do not allow the plant to sit in very wet soil. Water it regularly with soft water only, free from calcium carbonate and other minerals found in many urban water sources. They have proven to be vulnerable to Fluoride toxicity, and are sensitive to high soluble salts in the root zone. Mist its leaves daily with a spray bottle. Think little and often as a watering policy. Brown leaf tips indicate that humidity is too low. For healthy vibrant leaves it is best to keep the plant in indirect bright sunlight, direct sunlight will burn the leaves. 

Mites can be a problem when plants are stressed out.

It is super easy to take care of and it has an added bonus of being non-toxic to pets and humans. 

If you like the unusual and exotic you will love this plant, a real eye-catcher in the room.

Thanks,
Sergiu

Rhaphidophora Dragon Tail is a unique tropical plant native to China and the Indian subcontinent,  it is closely related to the Monstera genus. This is a stunning, easy-to-grow plant with dark green, glossy leaves. The Rhaphidophora Dragon Tail is an amazing species that rarely comes across. Its leaves have a beautiful structure with pronounced, sunken veins. The most exciting thing about this special plant is the leaf transformation as the plant matures. As it gets bigger the leaves will be almost unrecognizable from her younger state. The splits then extend to the mid-rib and this gives a truly unique look. In its full form, the leaves can have numerous thin slits along each side, appearing almost like a palm.
Rhaphidophora are generally problem free and are an excellent choice for people new to house plants. They will only give you issues if you keep them wet all the time. Allow it to dry out between watering and it will be problem free. Water and fertilize regularly. Water more abundantly during the growing season and less frequently during the rest season. They also have extensive root systems that are sensitive to water. Allow the top soil to dry out a little between waterings as this plant likes short dry spells and temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees. Keep in a bright place of growth, but not direct sunlight, diffuse light is the best. It will grow best in a sunny and warm position, but it will also do well in partial shade. If you see burn marks on the edges of foliage, it means the plant is getting too much strong direct light. Crispy tips and brown edges are signs that the air is too dry.
Small Rhaphidophora Dragon Tail will start out quite tiny with correspondingly unimpressive foliage. But with a little time and proper care it will grow to become a good-sized plant even indoors. Rhaphidophora Dragon Tail has a climbing habit. These climbing plants can grow up to 5 feet tall indoors. If given a totem, wall, or tree to climb the leaves of the dragon’s tail plant will get larger, longer, and will develop natural holes in the leaves over time, almost making them look fringed.
The perfect potting soil for this Rhaphidophora is light, airy and well-draining. The best time to repot is to wait until roots start coming out from the pot’s drainage holes ,go up by one pot size at a time when you repot.

Thanks,
Sergiu

This species of Philodendron  is a tough little lady hailing from the rainforests of South America. She distinguishes herself by her lush, beautiful leaves which emerge glowing with a bright orange hue before changing quickly to a deep black-green. Clean the large leaves with a damp cloth. These houseplants can thrive well near a window where the sunlight will shine directly on its foliage. Philodendrons are exotic tropical plants and therefore prefer humid environments. Misting them about once a week can help to encourage these humid environments, which may accelerate growth. Compared to most Philodendron houseplants out there, Philodendron Black Cardinal is not a climber, so you don’t have to train or trail it. Only water your Black Cardinal Philodendron when the top inch of its potting soil looks dry. To verify the dryness of the soil, stick your index finger up to the knuckle to check if it is still damp below the surface. In time, you’ll get an understanding of your plant’s watering requirements. If you want to add some variation to your plant collection, or if you’re on the lookout for a statement plant for a particular spot in your house, the Black Cardinal might be just what you’re looking for. It creates a calming atmosphere and increases general wellbeing and filters the air for a cleaner, healthier and relaxing environment. Even though this plant rarely blooms, its striking colored foliage makes the house plant stand out in any plant collection and indoor garden.

Sergiu
Triad Greenhouse Manager

Blog content on Ficus Audrey, we have three specials:

Ficus Audrey is the national sacred tree of India and also known as the Banyan tree, found growing in the tropical forest. This species is a beautiful statement piece for any plant collection and is much more forgiving to environmental changes and under- or over- watering than its other ficus cousins. It is quite easygoing, it likes to dry out a little bit in-between watering and doesn’t like to sit in wet soil. Too much water and it can cause the leaves to drop, too little water and the leaves will lose their color and wilt. Watering once a week is normally absolutely fine. Likes a high nitrogen plant food.