A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum Keeping my new houseplants alive

Hello everyone.
I received 8 houseplants, or at least I think that they are houseplants, yesterday after my husbands funeral. They are absolutely gorgeous and 4 are in bloom, but I don't know a single thing about any of them. I would like to list them, and if you could, please tell me how to care for them, if I can plant them outside, and if so, where and what kinds of conditions they need. I live in the very northern part of the USDA zone 5 in southwest Iowa. I would really love to be able to keep these beauties alive as long as humanly possible. My husband loved flowers and gardening, and would have loved all of them. Thanks in advance for any help with this. You'll have to excuse any mispellings. Some of the handwriting on the cards is kind of hard to read.

Corn Plant
Dieffenbachia
Wandering Jew
Orange Kalanchoe
Birds Nest Fern
Bromeliad
Red Begonia
Azalea

The only kind of begonia I have any experience with is the annual kind I put in my front porch flower boxes. Are they all annuals?

Connie

Welcome Connie. I am also a recent widow. I specifically requested no plants because I knew I would end up with a houseful. I kill house plants. I still got a couple anyway but in S. California I can plant many outdoors.
Bottom up, look here for rex begonias (that is probably what your plant is):
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/cgi-bin/ubb/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/66/956.html
And here too:
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/cgi-bin/ubb/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/28/39.html

Your Azalea may be able to go outdoors. I am just not sure. But here is info:
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/azaleas.htm

Bromeliad info:
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/cgi-bin/ubb/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/68/4311.html

Hi Connie, I'm sorry for your loss, and Pray each day forward will bring you strength in peace.

~~~~~

Your Orange Kolanche

here is a link to another member's Question about Kolanchoe's

//www.agardenersforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=293448#Post293448

Dieffenbachia care:
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/dumbcane.html
And a little about a corn plant:
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/cgi-bin/ubb/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/65/354.html

Oh, my...thank you all so much...and so quickly! :) I knew that there must be some information on this site for these, but I had no idea where to look.

I was expecting one or two plants. I wound up with 8 plants and at least a dozen bouquets...my house looks like a small jungle now with some much needed cheerful color. It's a good thing we have a large home! ;)

You are very welcome, Connie.
If you have more questions that haven't been answered you can google plant name into the 'Garden Search' box on the top right of any page here and maybe you can find some answers. And then you can always ask here and we will try to assist.
I too am sorry for your loss. It is trying times for some.

Thank you very much. When I woke this morning and realized that I was still in one piece, I knew we were going to make it.

All of these plants are so beautiful. I didn't realize that the dieffenbachia had poisonous sap. It is just gorgeous, though, so I will keep it up where none of my pets can get to it. I've already warned my kids about it, and to make sure that they washed their hands if they did. (they're quite old enough to grasp the danger of a poisonous plant). We've had an arrowhead plant for 3 years now, and I think the poor thing has died from the neglect it suffered in the last 3 weeks. I may be able to save it, though.

Now to pay some attention to my veggie garden. The weeds have taken over, the black eye peas and okra are just exploding and the beans and tomatoes are in overdive! lol

Again, thank you for all the help...

Connie