Question
QUESTION: Hello Darlene:

I read your advice on taking care of the Red Sister plant. I just had a few follow up questions: 1) You mention towards the end of your response to "mist" during the winter. I'm relatively new to the 'growing plants' world so I just wanted to know what's considered proper misting and why do you need to mist the leaves (I'd imagine) if the plant is indoors anyhow?

2) Also, I take mine out about once a week to bask in the sun. I keep it in a place where there is a lot of sunlight, but the plan is shaded. a) is this frequency of letting the plant outside be ok? b) Would this be satisfactory? Or do I have to transition it into full sunlight?

BTW a little bit about my location, I am in Long Beach, CA. Thanks!

ANSWER: Shaun,

You are misting it to increase the humidity around the plant. However if the humidity in your home is around 50% which makes the air much more comfortable for you also, then you do not need to mist your plant. If you want to anyway put water in a spray bottle and spray the water at the plant making sure you spray both the tops and bottoms of all the leaves. Doing this in the morning and evening will be beneficial to your plant.

You said that you take your plant out about once a week to bask in the sun. How long is it outside? Is there a reason that you don't want to keep it outside full time? It is a plant that can take full sun without sunburning. It would be happier outside full time than indoors and will stay healthier and grow better outdoors. Indoors you need to keep it in the sunniest location possible. Outside it does not need misted but it would be happy if you put it where a sprinkling system hit it daily. It will need to be checked for dryness every 3 days and if it is dry it needs watered immediately. It should not sit with a drain tray full of water or it will rot the roots.

If the reason you are only taking it outside once a week is because you want this beautiful plant indoors then I suggest you get another one and swap them back and forth with one out for a week and the other one in. On Saturday morning make the swap. Then they will be outdoors long enough to really do them some good and you still get a beautiful plant indoors. Fertilize them with a water soluable fertilizer once every 2 weeks. If you have more questions feel free to write again. Good luck!

Darlene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Darlene,

Once again thank you for the great advice. I will definitely be putting it to use. I usually leave it outside about 4 hours. Someone at one of the nurseries told me that it likes full sun and that would be 4-6 hours and not 12 hours like most people think. Your opinion on that is also welcome.

You hit the nail right on the head... I keep it inside because I love how it looks against my couch (which is a moss color). I do have long windows that pours in light. the window faces west.  It's never direct sunlight, though. The swapping idea is a good one. Or maybe just leaving it outside for a week and bringing it back inside for a week. Only thing about that is that I worry about bugs.

Answer
Shaun,

I would say 6-8 hours is full sun. Don't let bugs worry you about outside. Actually bugs attack plants that are unhealthy. When plants are outside and happy they are less likely to be attacked by bugs. Bugs also have more natural predators outside. If when you bring a plant inside after being outside for more than a few days you can mix water and rubbing alcohol 50/50 and put it in a spray bottle. Spray the plant thoroughly getting all the leaves tops and bottoms and the surface of the soil. That will kill any insects on contact. If you actually see insects crawling in the soil you can water the plant with a 50/50 water/alcohol mix to kill insects or worms in the soil. At least promise me you will put the plant outdoors immediately if it starts looking stressed at all. The 10 degree temperature drop from day to night outdoors also helps plants. They really like the cooler night temps. It gives all plants a much needed rest. Good luck with your Red sisters.

Darlene