Plant Profile: Oyster Plant, Rhoeo spathecea

Common Name: Oyster Plant
Scientific Name: Rhoeo spathacea
Size: 12" tall x 12" wide at maturity
Zone: 9b-12
Care: I'll be discussing care for the oyster plant being kept as a houseplant. This plant is fairly drought tolerant. That said, it still needs to be watered regularly, especially just after planting, but if you forget and skip a watering or two, it's not going to die on you. Over watering will cause rot and will kill it. So, water only once the soil dries out.
It needs to be planted in soil with good drainage. Potting soils marketed for cactus meet this requirement, but there are other options if you take a look.
Oyster plant likes to have plenty of sunlight, but can do ok in some shade. The shadier the spot, the slower it will grow and the less leaves it will have.
Cultivars: There are a few different cultivars available. 'Tricolor,' the one shown above has pink and purple tones in the leaves. 'Gold' is a yellow cultivar. 'Veriegata' is a veriegated, yellow and green stripy leaves, cultivar.
Warning: Oyster plant sap can cause skin irritation and will cause itching and burning in the mouth of eaten. Keep it out of reach of kids and pets.

Plant Profile: Hoya, Hoya carnosa

I have a special connection to hoya. It all started when I was about 4 years old. My hreat-grandmother, Gramma-gramma, taught me piano lessons. I believe she taught me until I was about 8 years old. I wish I could say I'm as amazing of a pianist as she was, but my studies as I grew older were less than diligent. Anyhow, I was over at her house quite a bit between piano lessons and family game nights. She had such spunk and energy! I am very grateful for the time I had to get to know her. She passed away in 2002. I have always said that I want to be like her when I grow up!

One thing that I remember from Gramma-gramma's house was this huge plant! It looked like a tangled mess. It had dark green leaves and these weird waxy flowers that bloomed upside down! I was always fascinated with this plant, but I never knew what it was called.

Fast forward to this past spring. I was at a local plant sale when I saw some familiar dark green leaves. I knew immediately that it was the same plant that Gramma-gramma had growing in her house! I bought it and learned that it is called Hoya.

Common Name: Hoya or wax plant
Scientific Name: Hoya carnosa
Size: 2-4' high, Hoya is a vine, so it can grow much longer than 2-4', but if the vines are left to fall all over each other, this is the size it will ultimately be.
Zone: 10-12
Care: Hoya is supposed to be an easy houseplant to grow. I can't vouch for it's ease yet because in the time I've had it, it has just barely started to grow. I moved it a month or so ago and that's when the growth started, so I think it's happier where it is now. Hoya needs a few hours of bright sunlight each day. If it is not blooming or growing like you want, it may need more sun. Water when the top 1/2" of soil is dry. That's pretty well all there is involved in taking care of a hoya. You may want to grow it on a trellis to help direct the vines, or raise it up so the vines can spill out.
Warning: Hoyas have latex in their sap. Avoid touching damaged plants if you have an allergy to latex

Plant Profile: Snake Plant, Sansevieria trifasciata

Common Name: Snake Plant
Scientific Name: Sansevieria trifasciata
Size: Up to 6' high
Zone: 9b-11
Care: I'll be discussing care of snake plant as a houseplant. Water your snake plant once the soil has completely dried out. They are prone to rotting if over watered. Remove excess water that drains from the pot. This will help keep it from staying too wet.
Plant in a well-draining potting mix. Those designed for cacti and succulents would do well.
Snake plant likes bright indirect sunlight, though it is fine if it gets some direct sun or more shade. The more shade it gets, the slower it will grow.
Cultivars: 'Twisted Sister' - The leaves are bright green and gold. They grow in a spiraling rosette from the center of the plant. It only gets about 15" tall.
'Golden Hahnii' - Has green and gold striped leaves. It has dense foliage and is low growing to about 15" high. 'Hahnii' is the pure green version of this cultivar.
'Laurentii' - This is the variety pictured above.
'Snake Plant' - Green leaves with variegation horizontally across the leaves.

There are many other interesting species within the Sansevieria genus that are worth checking out! Which one is your favorite?

Front Entry Table

Over the weekend I got a new table for our front entry and I just knew it had to have plants on it. So yesterday I set out to work. I picked up a Rhoeo tricolor, Tradescantia spathacea, and a snake plant, Sansevieria trifasciata.

I had some Terra Cotta pots laying around that I painted for the snake plant.

The snake plant came with 4 starts in the container. Once the pots were dry, I divided the snake plants and put one in each of the pots.

Look at those happy plants! The roots are nice and white! One of the pieces even has a new one growing off the side!

I used some potting soil that I got from Soilutions, a place here in town that makes their own potting mixes. I bought this a while back and I think they've changed their formulation for it. This one is particularly woody, hopefully it will do well though. I tried to avoid the bigger chunks when I scooped it out.

I also got this cute little green pot over the weekend that I put the Rhoeo tricolor in.

I love the finished look!

Welcome!

Welcome to Shadow Fox Botanics! My name is Valerie and I love plants! I'm currently working on my Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture. I'm going to school online through Oregon State University. I will graduate in Fall 2020!

This blog is for me to share my horticultural/botanical interests with you!