Question

mystery plant   QUESTION: Can you tell me the name of a plant I recently purchased from a local nursery?  I'm attaching a picture, hopefully that will help.  They told me it was an Airplane or Spider Lily but it does not look like any Spider plant I've ever seen nor does it look like the Spider Lily....at least not like the pictures I've seen online.
I want to know it's name and care instructions because I think it's a really nice looking plant and, since I'm typically a Black Thumb, I would like to know how to properly care and propagate it for a long life.

I have a few other pictures if this one is not sufficient.  The site only allows 1 attachment so just let me know and I'll send them to you.

ANSWER: Cheryl,

I have a plant just like yours and I have never been able to find out more than that it is in the same family as wandering jew plants. It could be called a spider jew but I do not know the latin name. It does send out offsets just like spider plants do. Just give it time. When a baby gets large you can break it off from the parent plant and insert 3 or 4 of them in a fresh pot of soil. They root very easily. They can be in the sun or in a bright room. Mine loves it on my east facing deck for the summer. They are very prolific. You can give them to all your friends. I got mine from my husbands uncle about 15 years ago. They do get rather tacky looking when they get old or too large so at that point I keep a fresh pot and throw the old one out. Water when it gets dry and it will be fine. In the winter it will go longer between waterings. Good luck!

Darlene

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QUESTION: Thanks Darlene, I appreciate your getting back to me so quickly.  I do have one other question....the leaves were looking rather 'limp' last evening, I had set it out in the morning sun earlier.  I brought it in last night, as I always do in the evening, hate the spiders getting all over the plants at night, and gave it a good watering.  This morning I noticed many of the leaves were 'sweating' for lack of a better description.  Is this normal?  Is it just because I had watered it the evening before?  I don't usually water at night but it looked so pathetic that I did.

Thanks so much!!

Cheryl

ANSWER: Cheryl,

Actually the spiders on your plants at night takes care of any insect problems. By the end of winter many of my plants have insect problems in spite of my spraying with alcohol/water. I love it when I can put them outside and let the spiders take care of the bad insects and the rain wash off the dust. Spiders are insectivores and do a lot to keep down the population of bad insects in the world. Since we had such a mild winter the insect population has exploded. Fortunately so has the population of spiders.

When ever you see a limp plant you should water immediately. Those water droplets at the leaf tips are the end result of a process called "guttation." This occurs with certain plants in certain conditions when there is a buildup of water pressure in the roots and the plant releases the pressure by secreting water through its leaves. This is not an indication of a problem nor is it a sign of overwatering as is sometimes believed. It is also not the result of the plant being watered at night. Good luck!

Darlene


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QUESTION: Darlene
I've figured out what this plant is! It's called a Callisia Fragans; also known as a 'Basket Plant' :)

Just thought I'd let you know :)

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/237828/#b

Thanks again for all your assistance

Cheryl Clay

Answer
Cheryl,

Thank you so much, for sharing that name. I have recorded it where I will have it next time I am asked. I have the plant myself and I have never known the name. My husband's deceased uncle gave me the plant many years ago when he lived in Florida. I have been asked for the name at laes 5 times over the last 15 years that I have been answering questions. I appreciate that you took the time to get back with me.

Darlene