Thanks Justin, it's awesome to have you here.

Daniel

Mentha: I'm not a patent-law expert, but I believe the only time it's not legal is when you're propagating the plant without a license. I think you can re-sell patented plants you've purchased; you just can't propagate. But again, I'm not an expert on the subject. Just a plantsman.

rooftopbklyn: Thanks for the kind words. I'm happy to be here!

---Justin, Costa Farms

Thanks again! That explains a lot of the ebay sellers I see. I agree it's nice having a plant expert among us.

Justin

This is a bit off topic, but i was wondering if Costa Farms ever grew a particular plant

that failed before it could go to market?

Meaning maybe the entire crop got a virus or pest and you had to start over?

tlbean2004: To my knowledge, we haven't ever grown an entire crop of something that never made it to market, but it may have happened at some point in Costa Farms' 60-year-history. I do know that we have tried growing crops that didn't sell well enough so we stopped growing them after a short time.

And we have a lot of plants in our research and development area that we've grown, but they didn't meet our standards so they never even made it to market. We have crops of several right now, in fact, that I suspect will never make it to stores.

We did lose a lot of plants back when hurricane Andrew passed through South Florida. That was before I moved here, but from what I understand, the whole company basically had to start over from scratch.

---Justin, Costa Farms

It would be cool to see things thatCosta Farms grew that may never make it to the stores!

Also Justin just a fun question, do you get to take home free plants anytime

you feel like it? lol

My dream job would be working at a commercial greenhouse. Head of landscaping was a nice job but to actually be in the production areas and greenhouses would be amazing.

tlbean2004: I agree it would be fun to show some of the things that don't work for us, but the editor in me thinks that's VERY unfair to show plants that no one can ever buy. (And we also don't like talking too much about what's going on in our research and development department so we can try to say ahead of our competition.)

Sadly, I don't get to take free plants anytime. :-( But, I am lucky that a number of my colleagues give me their orchids after they're done blooming, so I have a ton of orchids at home on a fence in my backyard that burst into bloom in January/February.

---Justin

Hey Mentha: Down here in Miami, we don't grow our houseplants in greenhouses so you'd be out in the open air! Our climate is just right for growing what we do without having to do artificial heating or cooling. We do start a number of our annuals and perennials at our other farms in greenhouses, though, to give them extra protection while they're getting started.

---Justin, Costa Farms

I don't mind being outside a bit. As long as I can garden barefoot or as close to it as possible I'm fine. (OSHA does not approve of this post) Having moved from California where there is a major drought to Tennessee where there is a lot of rain and humidity is a challenge because all my plants love being outside during the spring, summer and fall but come winter I have to find homes for them. Especially since I've already filled their spots with other plants. I have also had to shift from C&S to more tropical plants, which I haven't grown in years. I'm not sure I could handle a hurricane or even a tornado, give me an earthquake any day.

Mentha: I can't imagine a hurricane or an earthquake! I grew up in Northern Minnesota where we just had blizzards and the rare tornado. Gardening here in the subtropics is so VERY different than where I grew up!

Years ago when I was first married and our first time in Knoxville, 20 years ago we lived about 20 or so miles from where we are now, I worked for a pet store. One night there was a tiny little earthquake, maybe 2.5 or so. All they could talk about was this earthquake for days. I was like, "That wasn't an earthquake, that was the Jolly Green Giant walking across the road." Needless to say they were not impressed with my analogy. W moved back to California not too long after that. I would still rather be in an earthquake. Luckily we are a little ways off from Tornado Alley. Hopefully I will never have to see one unless my husband has the idea of chasing it.

I can't keep this plant contained. Although it is small, it is a strong grower and fast too. It's trying to escape. I took some cuttings off of it about 2 months ago and just stuck them back in the pot. They are a little slow to root in water but it could be the time of year too. I just gave it a little osmocote today so we'll see how it does with a little food. I haven't fed it since I got it.

Looking great, Mentha!!

Thanks Justin! I'm still rooting for it to be a regular, even if it was just grown in the starter pots. It really is a very easy plant. I'm curious, what sort of NPK do you all usually use? I assume you're trying to get as much growth as quickly as possible. I'd like to put quite a few plants on moss poles come spring and would like some quick growth to cover them. Most of them would be vining aroids.

Looks like your plant has doubled in size snce you got it. Amazing!

Looks perky!

But... your pics give me questions. Why aren't we talking about that other plant, the Epiphyllum? OMG it's beautiful! Has it bloomed on your watch yet? Was it scented? How long have you had it? Can you pls share a pic of the whole thing soon? Why are those blinds closed? What time's dinner? Wait, that last question's for someone else...

You can do the tag removal, you CAN! I'm sure Justin would even give his blessing. The hard-working origins of your gorgeous plant are well documented in print and pictures forever in this discussion. :+)

Let's see, They are sheers, I closed them so I could get the picture without a glare. I'll try to get a picture of the whole Epiphyllum. It's bloomed once since I've had it but I missed it. I could smell it though. It bloomed right into the window. This is the fuller of the three branches. I've had it for a little over a year, but it belonged to one of my bosses' mothers before that. It was given to me when I was head of landscaping at Camp Emmanuel in California. He gave me two Epies and three dragon fruit but I gave one of each away to my cousin's nephew who was just starting with succulents. The other ones came back with me to Tennessee. Last year it was only about 2 ft tall. Fazoli's for dinner. I'm eating it right now. Well at least eating what the dog isn't begging for. lol

Not the best picture. I was trying to take it without the flash so I didn't interrupt the husband while he's playing Skyrim.

I haven't named it yet. I'm thinking Audrey III. It is about 6 ft tall at its highest and has three main branches. I had to stake each one separately. The one closest to the window has the most growth. I'm going to have to get a rolling stand to put it on so I can take it outside in the spring. It's in an 18 in pot and is not really heavy but it is very awkward. I give it osmocote 14/14/14 and an occasional feeding of fish emulsion and that's about it. I water it about once every other week or so or when I remember to. Sometimes it goes a month before I remember to water it. It also sports the occasional mushroom. I find those to be a novelty more than anything else.

That's just amazing! TY for the added pic & the interesting story. I love staking it up instead of having it dangle. Keep up the great growing!

Just an update because I saw some new growth and it was really cool. I'm not sure how well you all will be able to see it with the back lighting though.

And my epiphyllum is putting a new meaning to "reach for the sky"

Hi Mentha,

just wondering, is your little philo green making extremely tiny leaves? Mine is making lots of very tiny ones, not anywhere near the size of the lower leaves. I have put it up in the kitchen window, the best light in the house and fed it with some liquid plant food. I am hoping it will look better soon

Yes, it does. Most vining philos and pothos do when they hang instead of climb. I bet if it were on a totem it would get larger leaves. I gave mine osmocote and it took off like gangbusters.

I think I will try some Osmocote too.

Mike says he uses it on his Sans. I use it sporadically. My Oxy is the only plant that gets it on a schedule and it is huge. I'm not sure I would have room for 300 monster plants though. lol

I use Osmocote on sans and in planters outside. I love it because otherwise I would forget to fertilize

Here's an update on this little philo, I believe it is Frilly Philly. I put mine outside for summer vacation and it perked up and filled out nicely. Mentha, are you still out there? How is yours doing? Here is a pic of mine today.

This is a really neat and unusual philodendron, thanks for the update Barb. I have trouble growing it but haven't figured out exactly why. I have several small, lanky clumps in different soil mixes hoping it'll like one. But they're not dying so that's a plus!

I've wondered and worried about Mentha, I hope she will reply and let us know how she's doing.

Happy New Year to all here.

Russ

Russ, I think this little plant looks the best when you have lots of cuttings together in a pot. Each little plant looks kind of scraggly. It roots easily so you can just keep cutting and filling in.

Thanks Barb! In the spring I'll put a bunch of them together and see how they look. It's a great little philodendron, I think it qualifies as the smallest in the world. Right now Pincushion is probably considered the smallest, and the species pusillum is second smallest. I have both and Frilly Philly is tiny in comparison.

Russ

Russ, you have a wealth of knowledge about plants. It's good that you are always sharing.

i read somewhere that growers of Frilly Philly should put several cuttings in each pot. More for a hanging basket. If you want some more cuttings in the spring, remind me.

Thank you Barb! Knowledge of a subject is easy to come by when it's something you love and live for over multiple decades. I do enjoy relating my experience to anyone who is interested.

I think I have enough separate small pots of it to work with, but I'll keep your offer in mind if I lose what I have. Thanks!! Let me know in the spring if I have anything you'd like.

The A. clarinervium is doing very well, I'm hoping to have an extra A. Mehani to send you in early summer if you want it. I thought it was a hybrid but I've recently seen it called a variety of crystallinum. The leaf is a longer, stretched, heart-shape. Mine came from a fellow in Georgia many years ago and it's finally coming back from nearly being killed by a cold winter.

Russ

Thanks Russ, I would love to start a Mehani next spring.

Let me know when your temps are warm enough Barb. The Mehani will be small but you can work your magic.

Russ

Sorry Barb. Mine melted when it snowed a couple of weeks ago. I just moved and had my plants at the other house. When it snowed I couldn't get to my plants for 5 days, pipes burst and electricity went out. I lost everything. Years of collected houseplants all melted. :( I only had a small handful of them with me. I'm not sure I want to rebuild my collection just yet or not. I am still shell-shocked over the whole thing. Especially because I know I still owe people some of those mush piles. :(

I just came by to share a picture of the pothos I found today. I wonder if this may be the one we've been looking for. Her name is 'Gabby'.

Oh, how sad, Mentha. But I am glad you are checking in with us over here. There are always more plants, even though it is sad to lose your favorite pets. Don't be a stranger!

Mentha! I'm so glad to hear from you! Everyone here has been concerned for you and hoping you weren't sick or something worse. So we can all rest easy now.

Sorry to hear about losing all your collection, I would be devastated if it happened to me. Please let us help you rebuild if you decide to go for it again. I would be glad to send any of my philos, aglaonemas, monsteras, anthuriums etc that you wish, as well as sansevierias and crotons if you're interested in those. Yours for the asking at any time.

If I have any of the plants you owe people for trades, I'll be glad to help you with that as I have multiples of most the plants I grow.

Check back with us soon, we've missed you.

Russ

Thanks Russ. The only one I can't replace is the hahnii crested. I'm not even sure how to contact Juan Chahinian to see if I can get more or how much it would cost to get three pups sent out. I think there may be half a leaf left that could be salvageable out of the whole plant. :(

Hi, I'd suggest waiting until summer when Juan might start selling his sansevierias on Ebay, and try to reach him thru the 'Contact Seller' tab on one of the offerings. As you know, he sells under the handle Raresans. I seriously doubt it's actually Juan that does the posting and selling, I heard he was losing his eyesight many years ago. But whoever is helping him would be able to pass the word about your request.

I don't know if you'd get a crested form if you propagated the half-leaf you have left, you might get a regular hahnii. Is there any stem attached to the leaf or is it a leaf only?

Russ

It's just a leaf. I've saved the plant just in case. I'm hoping that the center crown will come back but it is a really slow grower for me.

Hey Russ, I was looking through ebay and found this listing. It looks a lot like the hahnii crested I lost. When I look up Futora, the only instances that come up are from this same seller in Thailand. Could this be a victim of a name switch or do you know anything about Futora?

Mentha, I found that offering you're talking about, it is a crested hahnii and it has to be a renaming by the seller. There's no law that prevents the Thai's from making up their own names for already officially named sans, and unfortunately it's a common occurrence. 58 bucks is more than a little steep in my book, but I'm sure they'll sell it.

I'll bet Juan has produced a variegated form of it already!

Russ

$58 is a bit steep but it's not the most I've paid for a sans and at the moment it's my only chance at getting another one. It's not much more than I thought I'd have to pay to get another to be honest. It would be worth it to me just to have it. I can always see if Juan has one in the spring later.

Okay Mentha, you go girl! I don't recall if the Thai seller has it for bid or if the $39 was a flat price. In either case, I hope you get it. Have you ordered from Thai sources before?

I Googled 'ebay raresans' and got this page on ebay on Juan's feedback profile for the past year. On the far right there is a link for 'Contact Seller'. You have to sign in on Ebay to respond but you might try sending him a note about the Crested Hahnii. Getting one from him would be easier than from faraway Thailand, even though the price might be the same. Here's the link...

http://feedback.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=raresans&ftab=AllFeedback

Russ

Thanks Russ!

Mentha, so sorry for the loss of your collection. Please share with us when you're ready for plants. I, too have multiples of everything and am happy to share.

Mentha, I don't think we have interacted much but I am so sorry you lost your plants! I'd be happy to share too- once the weather warms up a bit. I'm trying to root some lipstick vines, I'll happily send some your way. What plants do you like best?

So I went back to the greenhouse. Gabby came from a place called Brenda's Tropical Plants in Florida. There isn't a website though.

Thanks Mentha, I couldn't find anything on Brenda's either other than the filing for their license in 2011. I'd be interested in how Gabby grows during the summer, like slow or fast, holding variegation, etc.

Russ

Mentha, how is that Frilly Philly doing?