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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Falling in Love Again



Meanwhile, on a recent Molbak's Visit (more on that in another post)  I spied this beauty. 

Falling in love again.  Never wanted to. 


What am I to do?


I can't help it.

Pink, red, and cream variegated foliage makes my socks roll up and down in excitement.

Much as I admired Cordyline fruticosa 'Exotica'  I left it at the nursery because I'd no experience growing them and didn't want to make more expensive compost with my house plant growing skill.

Have you grown any of the large leafed cordylines inside?   Where would you rate them on the you- can't-kill-me-with-a-weed-eater-and-a-gallon-of-round-up  to I'll-die-in-the-car-on-the-hour-drive-home scale?

If it's a hard plant to kill, I may have to return to the nursery. 
What to do, what to do...

16 comments:

  1. My 'Miss Andrea' is doing well, but I've only had her a few months. She has put out new leaves, I water occasionally. And I'm growing her in the green house, not in the house, so I don't know how she'd do in more limited light. Although you do have the glass room. Anyway, so far she's been easy. I was tempted by Exotica too, but I like Miss Andrea's more brassiness.

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    1. The exoticas at Molbaks are fairly big too which is one of the reasons I didn't haul one home. The interweb says that they're o.k. in lower light situations so maybe...

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  2. Love the song, but this Cordyline is more of a Marilyn Monroe then Marlene Dietrich. I know nothing about these house plants, but I do know one thing: you can't deny love. Follow your heart. She is a beauty and you must give your relationship a try.

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    1. She's beautiful but also pricey so I want to make sure the relationship might be able to last for a while before I commit.

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  3. My "Miss Andrea" (bought last October) did fantastic until about a month ago. The leaves started to crisp up and then I noticed bugs all over the new growth. Where do these critters come from? It was in the living room and no other plants have them. Ugh. Anyway I took it outside, sprayed it with Neem and decided it could fend for itself. It's doing okay, I think I'll plant it in the ground for the summer and depending on it's performance either dig it up in the fall or say bye-bye.

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    1. Thanks for sharing your experience with "Miss Andrea." You know if we just lived in zone 10, it would be a much easier decision.

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  4. I know what you mean. How can you not want one? Sadly, I have no experience with them and my houseplant track record is pathetic.

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    1. I'm getting better at not letting houseplants die. Maybe I'll wait until next January when the nursery has a 30% sale on houseplants and see if one of these is still hanging around.

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  5. Marlene Dietrich will be proud of you :)

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  6. Please post a photo of your socks rolling up and down immediately if not sooner.

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    1. I tried to photograph this phenomenon but as soon as I grab my camera, the socks freeze. Must be shy.

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  7. I don't blame you for not caving in for the beautiful red and pink streaks. I caved in for a Frost Proof Gardenia on sale last fall, hoping to keep it blooming by my kitchen sink window like a Kleim's Hardy I once had, but it had 3 wonderful blooms then slowly faded off into progressive brown. Sigh.

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    1. I'm sorry Hannah but it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

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  8. I second KS...video, please.

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    1. I think Cisco Morris has released a video of this happening.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.