Prayer Plant

Maranta and Calathea

Prayer plants roll up their leaves in the evening and unfurl them in the morning light. Maranta and Calathea are both known as prayer plants and have similar needs.

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Most Popular Types

Maranta leuconeura tricolor has striking lime, dark green, and red foliage. Calathea ornata has deep green leaves and pink stripes, and Calathea orbifolia has subtle silver green striped leaves.

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Light

Filtered light or partial shade

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Temperatures

These plants should stay within 70 to 85°F. They cannot tolerate temps below 60°F. Most are grown as house plants.

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Watering

Water regularly to maintain moist but not soggy soil. Humidity trays, humidifiers, or frequent misting will keep the recommended humidity level of 50%. Water with room temperature or warm water.

Browning or withering leaves show a need for more watering.

Yellow leaves may be caused by chlorine or fluoride in the water. This can be resolved by watering with distilled or rain water, or by leaving tap water out for 24 hours before using.

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Toxicity

Non-toxic for humans and pets

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Growth

Oblong leaves with colorful stripes. Calathea grow to full size within one year, up to 2 ft in height, while Maranta may take a few years. Blooms in late spring or summer. There is no need to prune or trim, but you can remove leaves as they die off naturally. Repot every 2-3 years to keep from being rootbound.

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Origin

Central and South America

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Propagation

Root division if the plant is more than 2 years old. Water the plant the day before separating the roots to divide the plant.

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Dormancy

Winter dormant. During this time, provide the plants with bright indirect light to maintain growth.

Maranta leuconeura prayer plant

Maranta leuconeura is one variety of prayer plant that rolls up its leaves at night and opens them in the morning.

Beautiful maranta leaves with an ornament on a yellow background close-up

Macro of a Maranta prayer plant’s leaf

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Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Staghorn Ferns

Platycerium | Staghorn Ferns

Staghorn ferns are just amazing. Since they are epiphytic, they can survive in just a rootball of soil, which makes them perfect for kokedama – wrapping roots in sheet moss and hanging from above.

Platycerium bifurcatum, or Staghorn fern (also known as Elkhorn fern), have two types of fronds – the showy fertile fronds and the shield-shaped ones at the base of the plant. Both are needed, so don’t remove the shield fronds, even when they are turning brown. It’s all part of the magic!

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Most Popular Types

Common Staghorn – Platycerium bifurcatum, P. andinum – American Staghorn

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Light

Bright, indirect light.

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Temperatures

Platycerium prefers temperatures above 40°F. In colder climates, the plant can be mounted on a piece of wood or wire basket to be brought indoors when the temperature drops.

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Watering

Staghorn fern is most comfortable in a humid environment with periodic watering. it is best to allow the roots to dry between waterings to avoid root rot. Adequate air circulation is important.

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Toxicity

Non-toxic to humans and pets.

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Growth

Platycerium can reach more than 3 ft across. In the spring, it produces shield fronds, while the fertile fronds are produced in late summer. In the fall, spores layer the undersides of the long fronds in sori.

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Origin

Common Staghorn fern is native to Asia and Australia. American Staghorn is native to South America.

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Propagation

Spores layer the underside of the fronds in the fall. These spores create offsets which can be separated from the parent plant.

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Dormancy

Winter dormant

Preparing to Mount Staghorn Fern on Board

Staghorn fern in tropical greenhouse

Staghorn fern hanging glasshouse ceiling

spores on staghorn fern

Spores develop on the underside of fronds, causing a brown sori.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Patio Garden

What could be better than having your own fruits to pick? Growing Hobby sells guava and olive trees, passionfruit, pomegranate, mini bananas, dragonfruit, and even Arabian coffee plants.

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Most Popular Types

Guava and dragonfruit

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Light

Most of our patio garden fruit is tropical, so it takes full sun. Instructions come with each plant.

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Temperatures

Patio fruit needs to be protected before the first frost.

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Watering

Keep moist but not waterlogged.

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Toxicity

Edible!

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Growth

Our patio fruit is typically a dwarf variety, easily managed on your porch.

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Origin

Tropical regions

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Propagation

Propagation differs according to each species, but it’s a safe bet that they can be propagated by seed.

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Dormancy

Winter dormant

guava tree

Guava trees do well in large pots, and they typically produce fruit in the second year.

dragonfruit

dragonfruit can have white or bright pink flesh

pomegranate

Pomegranate is a sweet fruit that tastes a bit like honey.

passionfruit

Passionfruit has a sweet-tart taste.

olive tree

Olive trees grow well in containers in the South Carolina climate.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Money Tree

Pachira Aquatica

Chinese Money Tree

Also known as the Guiana Chestnut, the Chinese Money Tree is a popular house plant, believed to bring luck and prosperity to the household.

This guy grows quite quickly and can reach an indoor height of 6 or 7 ft. Once it hits its max height, it may just start growing horizontally. It really is an impressive houseplant.

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Most Popular Types

The Chinese Money Tree is typically found as a single tree trunk, sometimes as a stump to bring out more foliage, or as a braid of multiple trees.

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Light

The Pachira does best in long hours of indirect sunlight. We recommend placing the tree near an east-facing window.

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Temperatures

Air plants do well inside the house or hanging in trees outside. Once temps drop to 50 degrees, be sure to bring them in and place on a sunny windowsill.

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Watering

Water when the top of the soil feels dry. The tree should be planted in loamy, quick-drying soil. It requires 50-60% humidity, which can be achieved by misting or by placing the pot on a dish filled with pebbles and water.

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Toxicity

Generally non-toxic to pets and humans, although the sap may cause skin irritation.

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Growth

Chinese money trees may grow to 30 ft in their native habitat, but will remain at a height of 6 or 7 ft if grown indoors. Once it reaches this height, it may begin to spread its branches.

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Origin

This tree is found in swampy areas of South America.

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Propagation

Pachira can be propagated through seeds, cuttings, or air-layering – cutting through the bark of a branch and keeping the area moist by wrapping with spaghnum moss. The branch can be cut once it has grown roots.

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Dormancy

Pachira is winter dormant. Fertilize in the spring and summer, but not in winter.

Pachira aquatica money tree

The Pachira aquatica money tree is a very low maintenance houseplant.

A “Money Tree” plant (Pachira Aquatica)

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Hoya

Hoyas are exceptional houseplants – climbing or trailing, almost always overflowing from the pots. Also known as wax plants, varieties range from the curly dreadlock-ish Hindu rope (Hoya carnosa compacta) to the grassy-leafed Hoya retusa. They make great collector plants as there are so many stunning varieties.

In their native habitat, hoyas are epiphytic, growing in trees without damaging its host.

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Most Popular Types

There are so many hoyas on our popularity list! Hoya kerryi has heart-shaped leaves, and the variegated macrophylla has beautiful large leaves. The Hindu rope variety can boast standard green or variegated leaves that start out bright red before turning to a beautiful pink.

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Light

These plants prefer bright indirect sunlight.

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Temperatures

Hoyas like warmth and humidity. We keep ours at a minimum temperature of 60 degrees F.

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Watering

Hoyas can be watered soon after the top inch or so of soil is dry. Frequent watering will speed growth, as long as the plant isn’t kept in soggy soil.

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Toxicity

These plants are non-toxic to people and pets.

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Growth

Hoyas will climb a trellis or drape from a hanging pot, easily reaching 4 ft in length.

Clusters of small star-shaped flowers are common. Some varieties need to be kept in cool, dry spaces during winter to promote summer flowers.

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Origin

They are native to Asia and Australia.

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Propagation

The easiest method of propagating hoya is by stem cutting. Make sure you select a spot on the stem with at least one node, preferably two, to ensure growth.

The heart-shaped kerryi are often available for Valentine’s Day, but it’s difficult to tell if they will develop into a full plant or just remain a leaf. It’s all in the cutting technique.

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Dormancy

They are winter dormant.

Hoya wax plant

Hoya is also known as a wax plant.

hoya retusa

The Hoya retusa has uncommon needle-like leaves. As with most Hoya, it does well in hanging baskets.

hoya publicalyx

Hoya publicalyx

hoya macrophylla

Hoya macrophylla is a larger leaf variety. The variegated form is very eye-catching.

Hoya Kerryi

The Hoya Kerryi is often available during February for Valentine’s Day gifts.

hoya kentiana bamboo leaf

Hoya kentiana bamboo leaf is a great plant for Hoya collectors.

hoya Hindu Rope regular and variegated

Comparison of Hoya Hindu Rope regular and variegated. In the sun, the variegated variety will have a hint of pink.

Hoya flowers

Hoya flowers are small, but the effect of the ball of star-shaped blooms catches attention.

hoya curtisii string of hearts

The Hoya curtisii is similar to a string of hearts ceropegia, but it has spade-like leaves.

hoya carnosa Krimson Queen

The Krimson Queen Hoya carnosa is stunning when kept in direct sunlight. The variegated leaves take on a strong pink color.

Hoya carnosa Hindu Rope variegated

Hoya carnosa Hindu Rope – variegated variety

Hoya carnosa compacta Hindu rope

Hoya carnosa compacta Hindu Rope starts as a clump of curved leaves to later take on a trailing pattern.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Dracaena

Dracaena have spiky spear- or grass-shaped leaves that grow cane stems. The final results are tufts of grassy leaves topping a cane tree. Dracaena is great for offices, doing its job of purifying the air during the nighttime hours.

Following DNA studies, the Sansevieria (snake plant) was recently brought into the Dracaena species

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Most Popular Types

Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans), Dragon Tree plant (D. marginata), and Lucky Bamboo (D. sanderiana), and Cordyline.

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Light

Bright, indirect light

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Temperatures

While Dracaena can be kept on a porch during the summer, it is a tropical plant. It suffers when temps drop to 50°F.

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Watering

Dracaena prefer to stay moist throughout the growing season (spring through fall). Water moderately in the winter. Mist the plants if they are grown in low humidity environments.

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Toxicity

Toxic to dogs and cats.

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Growth

Depending on the variety, Dracaena grows to a height of 2-10 ft.

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Origin

Asia, Australia, and Africa

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Propagation

Dracaena is most easily propagated by stem cuttings. Even sections of cane without leaves can be successful in rooting and producing new plants. These cuttings can be placed in moist soil or suspended in water until roots form.

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Dormancy

Winter dormant

Dracaena sanderiana lucky bamboo

Lucky bamboo is not actually a type of bamboo… Dracaena Sanderiana is more closely related to snake plants.

Dracaena fragrans Victoria

Dracaena fragrans mass cane plant

Mass cane plant, Dracaena Fragrans, develops tall stems resembling bamboo.

Dracaena fragans tornado swirl

Dracaena Fragans tornado swirl has a unique spiral pattern to its leaves.

Dracaena draco dragon tree

The foliage of the Dracaena Draco dragon tree will rise on bamboo-like stalks.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop