1. Tropical Plants 8 Created Summer 2008 Euphorbia- Nephrolepis

2. BOTANICAL NAME  EUPHORBIA PULCHERRIMA

3. PRONUNCIATION  you - FOR - bee - ah pull - CARE - im - ah

4. COMMON NAME  Poinsettia

5. Connecting the Scientific Name to the Common Name  Euphorbia reminds me of Euphoria-which is happiness. I am very happy at Christmas- Poinsettias are Christmas plants

8. DESCRIPTION  Flower is yellow (inconspicuous)  Bracts show color  Leaves are dark green

9. Flower

10. DESCRIPTION  3” to 4” petiole  Red, pink, white, and variegated cultivars

11. Flower Bracts Modified Leaves

12. Water  Water regularly and deeply about once per week

13. Fertilizer  Fertilize when actively growing

14. Light  High

16. Size and Growth Rate  Height from 1-3 feet

18. Propagation  Take cuttings from stems or shoots before they harden

20. Additional Information  Traditional herald of Christmas  Native of Mexico  Discovered by JR Poinsett  Needs 14-18 hours of total darkness for bracts to change color

21. BOTANICAL NAME  FICUS BENJAMINA

22. PRONUNCIATION  FIE - kus

23. COMMON NAME  Weeping Benjamin Fig

24. Connecting the Scientific Name with the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)  Benjamin and Benjamina

26. DESCRIPTION  Tough, leathery, shiny, green leaves cover drooping branches  Stem are covered in pale brown bark

28. Water  Do not allow root ball to dry out  Provide plenty of water during growing season

30. Fertilizer  Feed monthly  Newly purchased plants should not be fertilized during the first 6 months

32. Light  High

33. Size and Growth Rate  8’ tall in just 3 -4 years

35. Propagation  Take stem cuttings before they have hardened  Air-layer

36. Additional Information  Often loses most of its leaves if moved to a new location  Very Sensitive

37. BOTANICAL NAME  FICUS ELASTICA ‘DECORA’

38. PRONUNCIATION  FI - cus e - LAS - ti - ca DE - co - ra

39. COMMON NAME  Decora Rubber Plant

40. Connecting the Scientific Name with the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)  Decora and Decora  Remember Ficus- Genus, elastica- Species, Decora- Variety

42. DESCRIPTION  Large, thick, glossy, leathery, rich, dark green leaves  Maroon and variegated leaf cultivars available

44. Water  Water thoroughly once or twice a week in summer  Less in winter

46. Fertilizer  Fertilize all year  More heavily in summer

48. Light  Low

50. Size and Growth Rate  Fast Grower  Over 6’ in 3 -4 years

52. Propagation  Take stem cuttings before they harden  Air-layer

54. Additional Information  One of the easiest indoor plants  “Bleeds” a milky substance from leaf

55. BOTANICAL NAME  MARANTA LEUCONEURA var. ‘Kerchoviana’

56. PRONUNCIATION  muh - RAN - tuh loo - koe - NER - uh

57. COMMON NAME  Prayer Plant

58. Connecting the Scientific Name with the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)  I do not know a good way to remember this one. Help me please!

60. DESCRIPTION  A low growing plant with oval leaves that lays flat during the day and folds up in the evening  The surface is vivid to pale green with a row of chocolate or red veins

61. DESCRIPTION  Satiny foliage  Small white flowers are rarely seen

63. Water  Needs lots of water and frequent misting in the summer

65. Fertilizer  Feed with weak fertilizer every other week

66. Light  Medium

68. Size and Growth Rate  12-15” tall

69. Propagation  Start new plants by dividing old plants  Stem Cuttings

70. Additional Information  Direct sunlight will fade leaves

71. BOTANICAL NAME  NEPHROLEPIS EXALTATA cv.

72. PRONUNCIATION  neff - row - LEP - iss ex - all - TAH - tah

73. COMMON NAME  Boston Fern

74. Connecting the Scientific Name with the Common Name (the Mrs. A Way)  This plant reminds me of the head dress of an Egyptian Queen- Nephrolepis

78. DESCRIPTION  Dense, green fronds up to 3 ’ long with graceful, upright, arching habit  Leaflets closely set and 3 -4” long

79. Water  Water regularly  Do not allow soil to dry out

80. Fertilizer  Fertilize lightly all year  More heavily in summer

81. Light  High

82. Size and Growth Rate  Fronds rapidly grow to 2’

83. Propagation  Start new plants by dividing old plants  Root the tips of runners  Micropropagation