The last time my Christmas cactus bloomed was when I put it outside in the summer and brought it in just before the frost. It tolerated the cold nights. I think that’s what helped to set the blooms.
Usually it's the change in the length of daylight that triggers the Schlumbergeras to bloom; it doesn't really get cold or frosty where they're from. Even if it's indoors, and very near a window, it'll react to the shortening of daylight hours.
I have a Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana that was a wedding gift nearly 50 years ago. It has hit the ceiling more times than I can say. Every time I cut it in half it blooms with a very long, very stinky flower spike. This last time I cut it in half it produced a double top!
What a great wedding gift, and good for you. That's one that does not do well for me - I have killed a couple of them. They're so pretty, but I must admire them from afar. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
My Shlumbergera (sold as a "Christmas cactus") was bought in a grocery store 55 years ago. It has traveled with me from North Carolina, to Missouri, to Florida, to Louisiana, and finally to Minnesota. It has beautiful, almost red blossoms that have appeared twice every year, in November and late February. I don't fuss over it, and the only requirement for blooming seems to be very low light/darkness coinciding with the natural waning of light at the latitude it happens to be in at the time. I wish I had a photo because it is now very large and has always elicited oohs and aahs from visitors.
How great. I love those kind of stories - plants that become members of the family - and Schlumbergera seems to be the one at the center of many of those stories. Thanks so much for watching and adding your story.
I'm still fairly new to actually being able to keep my plants alive, so my longest lived plants are a Hawaiian spider plant and a pink pearl aglaonema that I picked up on the same shopping trip 3 years ago. Once I was able to successfully keep those alive, my plant collection grew and grew...
...and those are great plants to start with, and some of the first plants I had. Once you get the basics down, the rest becomes much easier. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
Hi Rod😌🙌My oldest plant is my cactus: Hamatocactus that I've had for about 15 years. Your schlumbergera is a beauty🥰I remember growing them as a kid and propagating them. I have one that's in flower now. I love it. I enjoyed seeing your Aglaonemas. Wow! They are beautiful🙏
Hi yourself! Congrats on the Hamatocactus, I've only recently got a handle on growing cacti, so fifteen years, good job. Aglaonema are a good one for me, and you can usually find good sized ones at a big box. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
I struggled a bit with my vandas for several years. I live in dry eastern WA. I’d switch mediums and they’d grow for a while & then stop & I’d check and their roots weren’t good. I bought a mini countertop greenhouse so I could give them more humidity. What seems to be working is planting them in lava rock (0.5 to 1” pieces) in a 7” square mesh plant pot on a 6” square plant saucer. I soak the plants (lava rocks) in fertilizer water once a week for about 10 minutes. Rocks fully submerged under water. When it goes back in the greenhouse, the greenhouse stays fully humid all week. Any orchid or Hoya struggling with humidity issues or no roots, goes in there and thrives. I just open it once between feedings to vent it & wipe down if it gets too damp. These are baby vandas and I fear the day when they get too big for that greenhouse. Probably should have bought mini vandas🙈🤣 Now I have 2 more table top greenhouses one tall enough for my pre-bonsai ficus trees, bonsai olive tree & pre bonsai Japanese maple trees. In all I have the lava rocks in the mesh pond plant pots for humidity. Really works great for me.
I haven't tried Vandas yet, but your substrate seems to make a lot of sense - really airy and some moisture retention. I don't have cabinets or enclosures, but I do have my "magic cookie jar" which can give a plant that lettle extra boost of warmth and humidity. Thanks for watching and sharing your experiences.
I have a rhipsalis pilocarpa that regularly blooms and produces small red berries, so much fun and very easy to care for. Didn’t have a clue what it was when I got it but looked so unique. My oldest plant is a shlumbergera buckleyi that came from cuttings from a plant that was my great grandmothers. She passed when I was 14 so I have had it for 53 years. Thanks for the tour!
I just looked that one up, and you may have just added Rh pilocarpa to my with list. How great about your S buckleyi, good job. I need to replace mine. It took a major tumble and just never recovered. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
When I was younger, all my indoor plants suffered a slow death, probably from over-watering. Saying that, I have had a carnosa splash now for a year and it's still alive and growing. Of that, I am proud!
Thanks. Yup, actually looking forward to the snow. I love a good snowstorm. I've got the battery for the snow thrower charging, and I've planned a good caserole for dinner. Stay safe and warm. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
Portulacaria afra 'Decumbent' Succulents were my gateway plants. That was in spring of 2022. But when I was a teen, a had a room full of plants. I grew coleus from seed. Moved out to AZ from Upstate NY with a truck bed full of plants. They all died from the dryness. The shock was too much. That was in 1991. Took me that long to get hooked again. Now I have around 150 indoor plants! Love your channel. I am into the research of where and how the plants grow. I really appreciate that about you.😊
I love the term "gateway plants", 'cause we've all had one that got us started. It took a while to find the right succulents for me, but the ones I can grow are favorites. Thanks for watching, your kind words, and sharing your story.
That was a really sweet video, especially with the affection you have for the Schlumbergera truncata. Our oldest plant is the Schefflera, which is about 40 years, but pretty quickly on its way out. It's kids are doing well, so all is not lost. Wow you have an amazing collection--and would you look at all that terracotta??
Thanks, Dave. I know, Mr TerraCotta, I love it, too, but for me it's not always the answer. I try to choose the container (porous, non-porous, or ventilated) based on what I think the plant is going to need, and my level of care or lack thereof. Congrats on the Schefflera. I keep looking at them and wondering, but I think there's only one spot where that would work, and he'd have to fight the Monstera for that spot. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
Hi Rod, happy week´s end to you too. Thank you for for the glimpses into other parts of your home in this video. My longest-lived plant is the African spear plant, a.k.a. Dracaena angolensis (formerly Sansevieria cylindrical), which I got from my neighbour who didn´t know how old it was, but when she gave it to me 6/7 years ago must have been over 10 years old. My Strelizia reginae must be the oldest plant in my care. Got it as a baby, maybe 8-10 years ago, and now it´s mature enough to bloom, despite all the hardship and neglect I put it through.
Those are two beautiful and interesting plants, and congrats on blooming the Strelizia, that must be stunning. Thanks for watching and telling us about your longest lived plants.
I have so many Rhipsalis! Right now my 2 six inch pots and my eight inch pot of Rhipsali Pilocarpa are blooming like crazy! I have too many more to name! They are what got me started on my plant journey. Now I know this is probably cheating but I have a Truncata that came from a thirty year old plant! I have cuttings that I just plopped straight into soil and two years later it is a full plant in a six inch pot. But for me he is only 2. My Rhipsalis Paradoxa is my oldest at 4 years. It is a nice full plant in a 4 inch basket and most of the stems are almost 36 inches long! You can get away with abusing these guys by not watering enough but they are fine! I love your plants and your videos! Thank you for all the info!
Someone else mentioned R pilocarpa, too, and after looking it up, I was forced to add it to my wishlist. Good for you with the R paradoxa, mine is just atarting to get going. Thanks for watching and sharing your stories.
My longest lived is also the thanksgiving cactus. I have a large plant that I restarted from 3 single "leaves" about 6 years ago. Overall I've had it for about 12 years.
Schlumbergera are just great plants - from a few single "leaves" you can get a beautiful plant in very little time. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
I, too, have a Christmas cactus that I’ve had for at least 25 years. It was a start off my Momma’s plant so it’s a family heirloom. It has sat in a north facing upstairs window for years. It is somewhat neglected at times, very large, and hasn’t been repotted since I don’t know when…This year she has over thirty blooms. She never disappoints. Thank you for your continued content. I look forward to each one.
Those are the reasons everyone loves a Schlumbergera - even with minimal care, they don't disappooint. Congrats on tweny-five years. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
Great video! Loved seeing more of your plants. I have a Hoya Carnosa that has been in my family for over 70 years. It’s very special to me and over the years I’ve started many, many plants from it and passed them on to anyone that wants one.
Thank you. Other than Schulmbergera, H carnosa is the longest lived plant among viewers. So many grandmothers and great-grandmothers had plants - from before the Hoya craze - that have been passed down through families. I think that's just incredible - a living thing handed down across generations; so cool. Thanks for watching and sharing your story.
I love Aglaonema. I have three of them. All different. The silver bay is on my wish list. I have the pink one with rounded leaves, a mind of minty one and a bright green and magenta colored one c
Thank you for sharing your other plant interests! I am new to orchid but learning! practically killed mine (mighta been also the one i rescued and brought back to life a while back 🤷♀️😅) and now it's pushing out a spike, most likely because it was on the brink of death 😁 Looks like it might be ok though. We shall see!
Your orchid might just be happy. Thisis the time of year, at least at my house, when the Phalaenopsis start sending out spikes. Good luck with it and keep us posted. Thanks for Watching, Mel, and adding your comment.
I want the variegated variety. Mine is kept below the west facing window. They used to sit I. A table right in front of the west facing window It got full afternoon sun. Seem to love it.
I have a 39 year old Hoya that was 25 yrs when I adopted it , it’s not my most expensive plant in my collection but it’s the most valuable to me. I vowed to provide the best care as it was very important to its former plant parent , who sadly passed away
It's not about the price you paid, but about the value to you. What a great rememberance and ongoing legacy. Thanks for watching and sharing your story.
Wow 🤯 what a beautiful orchid phalenopsis❤just stunning 😍 😮love this beautiful video love orchids 😮❤I surprised 😮 of your beautiful orchids so beautiful 😍 plants aglonemas
Happy Friday! I have a sansevieria (sorry just can’t call them dracaena!) which came from my mom years ago. Must be around 30? Seems like every time I have moved cities and given plants away the sansevierias always made their way back to me. I think because they were the only ones my unwilling friends couldn’t kill! Thanks for great content again! 🪴
That made me laugh out loud - "the only ones my unwilling friends couldn’t kill!" I love 'em, but I have a mixed history with Sansevieria, and I'm sure it's my bad watering habits, or lack thereof. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
Thank you. Good job with the Phalaenopsis. Orchids are so much fun. I hope it reblooms for you regularly. Thank you for watching and adding your longest lived.
I love Haworthia. I’ve rescued more than a few from big box stores and I have a little forest of them now. So easy to care for. My longest lived plants are a big cattleya from a Florida trip in 1985, a very large carnosa, and Christmas cacti that date back to the 1990’s.
...oh and some of those Haworthia in the big box are a rescue. I'm jealous of the Cattleya, mine's still on the small side. I'm loving that lots and lots of people have a Christmas/Thanksgiving cactus story. Good for you. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
Hmmm, I have some oldies but they predate my last move (11+ years) and I'm not sure how old they were when they moved. I know my Hoya carnosa outer variegated made the move as did my jade plant and a pot of 4 different cacti - one was so tall (6+ feet), it broke in the van on the way here. I still have all of them and the broken cactus recovered. Okay, there is a hibiscus that produces lunch plate sized red flowers that I saved from the trash - my mom was tired of its leggy self - that I still care for. It has to be 20 odd years old at least and goes outside every year and blooms its fool head off in summer and fall.
How great. It's so nice to hear about plants that have been with people for decades. They do become members of the family. Thanks for watching and sharing your story.
I have two rhipsalis. One is the mistletoe cactus. Then Ive got one called dancing bones. I think it’s the bacciferus I think. ( I specked thst erong, I know) o w growing under a light, the other on the windowsill of my west facing window. Both doing very well. The mistletoe cactus is over three feet long.
Very cool, I do love Rhipsalis. There are a couple of jungle cacti known as "Dancing Bones" but typically it's Hatiora salicornioides. Whatever the genus, they're neat plants.
They're worth the try. From what I've read, it's overwatering that typically "does in" Lithops, so super draining substrate, water monthly, and no water once they start to split.
They separated the genus Haworthia into two : Haworthia (the ones with the windows, like your Mutica) and Haworthiopsis (the spiky ones). I think your second Haworthiopsis - the one with no name - could be an Attenuata (it has a bumpy surface all around its leaves while the upper leaf surface of the Fasciata is smooth). I have 34 species / varieties of Haworthia and Haworthiopsis. They are the easiest plants, and my favorite genus with Hoya. They are great beginners plants! I love Lithops too! I have grown Ruschiorum Nelii also known as Bushman's Buttocks (they look like little pink butts) from seed with the help of Piotr Dzieduszynski's book ''How to grow Lithops and Other Living Stone Plants'' (I recommend this book if you want to learn about them). It's nice to learn that you love them too :)
Thanks for all that great information, I'm going to update some plant tags. You're right, they are great beginner plants - they look so cool, are very forgiving, they bloom, and they're usually inexpensive. What's not to like? I'll have to do some searching for that book. The only copy I've found so far was US$99. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experience, and for watching and adding a comment.
Thank you for showing your video I also have some rhipsalis @ moement I'm also starting to get some orchids plus my hoyas of course.your videos are so informative love your channel ❤😊
Djungel cactus is one of my best growers. Old plants from the 1980s. Take cuttings all year round. The flowers are the best. Thank you for showing your lovely plants. PS. My best one has orange flowers. One of my Benjamin ficus is 41 years old, bought it in 1984, when I moved to Sweden
I agree, Jungle Cactus are good growers, and congratulation on yours. Ficus benjamina is on my "never again" list. They are beautful, and I like them, and they don't do well for me - I have killed several - but good for you. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
Hi goodnight thanks for sharing i usually put all my orchids on trees outdoors and let them do there thing otherwise putting them indoor they die. I love cacti and succulents and the haworthia gasterias and rhipsalis are up my street. Not lithops or Christmas cactus the don't like the heat here in Barbados. My oldest plant is a very very large pony tail that i had for 45 years. It has broken many pots .😊
Yes, well you have the climate that will let you leave orchids outdoors. It's 34°F/1°C here and we're expecting a snowstorm tomorrow, and my Orchids would not be happy outside. I love a big Ponytail Palm, it's such a beautiful plant, congratulations on yours. Thanks for watching and sharing your plant story.
Besides Hoya. Rhipsalis for me! My oldest is a 40 yo original Christmas cactus that was my mom’s. Thanks for showing all your different plants. It’s cool to see what others are interested in!
I, too, like seeing "what else" people like to grow - you get the best ideas. I love plants that become generational. Thanks for watching and adding your story.
That was a marvellous video‼️ I keep meaning to get a rhipsalis, there are some great varieties around 👍 The longest plant I’ve owned is my Poly Alocasia, around 8 years now. One of my first plants for the onslaught o plant addiction 🤣😂 She never goes into dormancy & has been super easy for me. I just love her‼️ Thanks again 👏👏👏 🍸🍸 ☕️☕️
Thank you. You're so lucky with your Alocasia, I only have one left and there won't be any more - too much trauma and drama - but good for you. Thanks for watching and sharing your story, oh, and you do want a Rhipsalis.
@ Ha! Ha! Don’t worry I have lost so many other Alocasia I won’t be getting any more. I think that’s why I love my Poly so much & she doesn’t get any special care. She must just love where she is & the odd bit of neglect. Thanks for your reply 👍👍🇳🇿🇳🇿
That's so good to hear. I love Jewel Orchids. I'd love my Vanilla Orchid, but he got out of sight and thus out of mind; and that didn't end well. I need to try again. Thanks for watching and sharing your orchid success.
As a lifelong plant collector, Let's just say well over 40 ,This is video is my favorite of yours so far. I have found I've turned into a plant GENARA-LIST😂. I discover a new genus and then make a list. Full disclosure I do tend to skip any videos that is about a hoya collection. If you want to know way too much about epiphytic cacti, look up a channel called simply "Epiphytic cacti". It's a definite rabbit hole🎉 I have a few Hoya, and although not a hoya hater, I think a fun video idea would be "Hoyas for the Hoya hater"😂 I really did enjoy your information about your very diverse plant collection🎉
OK, that is an excellent idea for a video, and it is definitely going on the list (I've already though of a couple of candidates). Oh no, not another rabbit hole; Rhipsalis are my "fun" plants, I can't get obsessive about them, too. Thanks for watching, adding your comment, and for the great video suggestion.
Thank you for showing your plants. I have several but my crimson queen hoya peace lily and and a beefstake begonia oh and spider plant are my oldest thw begonia was my MI L and im not sure how old it is rhe spiderplants iv had since 1994 and the hoya since 2013
This was a fun video! I am a sucker for just about any epiphyte. Your gasteria has intrigued me. It is so much bigger than the ones I see in the big box store and looks like an elegant sanseveria! Thanks for the wonderful videos.
Thanks for the kind words. The Gasteria "Little Warty" came from a big box store and was in a 2" (5cm) pot, and I think cost about US$5. He bounced back so well that I bought a second one a few months later. Keep your eyes open for one the next time you're in one of those stores. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
Hi Rod, Many thanks for another great video and for all the good information you included as you showed us each beautiful plant. My Little Warty is on his third up-potting and I love this chunky plant. I would love to find a variegated one. I have one Thanksgiving Cactus and two Easter Cacti. Love every one of them and they bloom beautifully. My oldest plant is a Golden Pothos that I received in a flower arrangement on the day my Daughter was born thirty four years ago., Named her Maggie after my Sister In Law. who gave her to me. Everyone knows if there’s a house Fire, be sure to grab Maggie on the way out.🤣 Take care and stay safe! 👌🪴🥰
"Be sure to grab Maggie", you gave me a good chuckle. G "Little Warty" is a sadly underrated plant. It can put up with a lot, and with just a bit of attention, bounces right back - and looks cool through it all. Thanks for watching, all your kind words, and sharing your plants' stories.
🌱💚I grow my primula, from Hirt’s under a glass cloche and I water it once a month. It flowers profusely under glass. You would love growing a Deuterocohina brevifolia, Hedgehog Pineapple , from Hirt’s. Even easier than Lithops.
That's great about your Primulinas. So, of course I had to go look Deuterocohina at Hirt's, and hmmmm... I'm gonna think about that one. Thanks for watching and sharing your story and suggestion.
We're on the same page. I ordered one last year and it's doing well so far, so that was a good suggestion. It's put out two new, and rather long branches, and with any luck is going to be a "problem" in the near future. It hasn't bloomed yet, but fingers crossed. Thanks for watching, andding your comment, and your suggestion.
I have a ripsalis paradoxa that started as a stump, it is now multiple branched , 6 feet long. I just let her grow ☺️. I have several shades of the gasteria“ little warty “ that I love so much. Have you tried to grow the jungle cactus that is the fern leaf one? I could go on and on about my plant babies. I wish I could post pictures.
Good for your R paradoxa, mine will get there one day. I was watering the "Fern Leaf" (Selenicereus chrysocardium) moments ago. It's finally settled in and is growing well. "Little Warty" is one of those I didn't think I'd like as much as I do. Thanks for watching and sharing your stories.
I love my Asian Violet and didn't know they're called primulina too. A local nursery has some beautiful ones. I need to edit the last video. My Asian Violet has yellowing leaves lately, the African violets too. Hmmmm...another plant chore. 😂
Hi Rod I have the H. publicalyx My oldest Schlumbergia is at least 20, but then in all of my moves, I don't remember. A couple of my Schlumburgia froze along with all 6 African violets, some vining Philoderdrums, and a Pothos "Njoy" I lost a couple oon this last move last month. I'm down at least 30.
Congrats on the Schlumbergera - those seem to be the plants that people have for decades. Moving is stressful for plants and people, I've done it a bunch, too, and it's no fun. Thanks for watching and sharing your story.
My longest living place is my grand Others Christmas ca to that I nearly killed it by keeling it where thee was no light. I have put lip lights on the two I have.
So, about the end of September or middle of October, start shortening the length of time the grow lights for your Christmas cacti are turned on. If they're usually on twelve hours, reduce that to eleven, and a few weeks later reduce it to ten. That may help trigger the plants to bloom.
Spaths-- They remove 80% of toxins in the air. I love mine and have them all in semi hydro. I don't fertilize much, do you? Mine get brown tips if I am lazy with tap water. If I use strictly distilled water they never brown up. I love mine so much! Is there anything you feed yours?
Yes, but unless you have thousands of Spathiphyllum, they don't really make much of a dent in toxins. I'll bet they love semi-hydro. The adage is: if the tips are brown, it's the water, if the edges are brown it's the watering. During the winter I do get some brown tips - a combination of dry conditions and tap water. During the summer mine get the occasional feeding with the nutrient solution I use for my plants in semi-hydro. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
Wow 🤯 what a beautiful orchid phalenopsis❤just stunning 😍 😮love this beautiful video love orchids 😮❤I surprised 😮 of your beautiful orchids so beautiful 😍 plants aglonemas
Thank you Rod for the house tour!!! I love your videos!!
You're welcome. Thank you for watching and adding your comment.
The last time my Christmas cactus bloomed was when I put it outside in the summer and brought it in just before the frost. It tolerated the cold nights. I think that’s what helped to set the blooms.
Usually it's the change in the length of daylight that triggers the Schlumbergeras to bloom; it doesn't really get cold or frosty where they're from. Even if it's indoors, and very near a window, it'll react to the shortening of daylight hours.
I have a Dracaena Fragrans Massangeana that was a wedding gift nearly 50 years ago. It has hit the ceiling more times than I can say. Every time I cut it in half it blooms with a very long, very stinky flower spike. This last time I cut it in half it produced a double top!
What a great wedding gift, and good for you. That's one that does not do well for me - I have killed a couple of them. They're so pretty, but I must admire them from afar. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
My Shlumbergera (sold as a "Christmas cactus") was bought in a grocery store 55 years ago. It has traveled with me from North Carolina, to Missouri, to Florida, to Louisiana, and finally to Minnesota. It has beautiful, almost red blossoms that have appeared twice every year, in November and late February. I don't fuss over it, and the only requirement for blooming seems to be very low light/darkness coinciding with the natural waning of light at the latitude it happens to be in at the time. I wish I had a photo because it is now very large and has always elicited oohs and aahs from visitors.
How great. I love those kind of stories - plants that become members of the family - and Schlumbergera seems to be the one at the center of many of those stories. Thanks so much for watching and adding your story.
I'm still fairly new to actually being able to keep my plants alive, so my longest lived plants are a Hawaiian spider plant and a pink pearl aglaonema that I picked up on the same shopping trip 3 years ago. Once I was able to successfully keep those alive, my plant collection grew and grew...
...and those are great plants to start with, and some of the first plants I had. Once you get the basics down, the rest becomes much easier. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
Hi Rod😌🙌My oldest plant is my cactus: Hamatocactus that I've had for about 15 years. Your schlumbergera is a beauty🥰I remember growing them as a kid and propagating them. I have one that's in flower now. I love it. I enjoyed seeing your Aglaonemas. Wow! They are beautiful🙏
Hi yourself! Congrats on the Hamatocactus, I've only recently got a handle on growing cacti, so fifteen years, good job. Aglaonema are a good one for me, and you can usually find good sized ones at a big box. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
I struggled a bit with my vandas for several years. I live in dry eastern WA. I’d switch mediums and they’d grow for a while & then stop & I’d check and their roots weren’t good. I bought a mini countertop greenhouse so I could give them more humidity. What seems to be working is planting them in lava rock (0.5 to 1” pieces) in a 7” square mesh plant pot on a 6” square plant saucer. I soak the plants (lava rocks) in fertilizer water once a week for about 10 minutes. Rocks fully submerged under water. When it goes back in the greenhouse, the greenhouse stays fully humid all week. Any orchid or Hoya struggling with humidity issues or no roots, goes in there and thrives. I just open it once between feedings to vent it & wipe down if it gets too damp. These are baby vandas and I fear the day when they get too big for that greenhouse. Probably should have bought mini vandas🙈🤣
Now I have 2 more table top greenhouses one tall enough for my pre-bonsai ficus trees, bonsai olive tree & pre bonsai Japanese maple trees. In all I have the lava rocks in the mesh pond plant pots for humidity. Really works great for me.
I haven't tried Vandas yet, but your substrate seems to make a lot of sense - really airy and some moisture retention. I don't have cabinets or enclosures, but I do have my "magic cookie jar" which can give a plant that lettle extra boost of warmth and humidity. Thanks for watching and sharing your experiences.
I have a rhipsalis pilocarpa that regularly blooms and produces small red berries, so much fun and very easy to care for. Didn’t have a clue what it was when I got it but looked so unique. My oldest plant is a shlumbergera buckleyi that came from cuttings from a plant that was my great grandmothers. She passed when I was 14 so I have had it for 53 years. Thanks for the tour!
I just looked that one up, and you may have just added Rh pilocarpa to my with list. How great about your S buckleyi, good job. I need to replace mine. It took a major tumble and just never recovered. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
When I was younger, all my indoor plants suffered a slow death, probably from over-watering. Saying that, I have had a carnosa splash now for a year and it's still alive and growing. Of that, I am proud!
There are usually several casualties along the road to plant success. Good job with the H carnosa. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
Hey Rod, my fellow New Englander friend. Wonderful video as always!! I love my Rhipsalis. Are you getting ready for the snow???
Thanks. Yup, actually looking forward to the snow. I love a good snowstorm. I've got the battery for the snow thrower charging, and I've planned a good caserole for dinner. Stay safe and warm. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
Portulacaria afra 'Decumbent' Succulents were my gateway plants. That was in spring of 2022. But when I was a teen, a had a room full of plants. I grew coleus from seed. Moved out to AZ from Upstate NY with a truck bed full of plants. They all died from the dryness. The shock was too much. That was in 1991. Took me that long to get hooked again. Now I have around 150 indoor plants! Love your channel. I am into the research of where and how the plants grow. I really appreciate that about you.😊
I love the term "gateway plants", 'cause we've all had one that got us started. It took a while to find the right succulents for me, but the ones I can grow are favorites. Thanks for watching, your kind words, and sharing your story.
That was a really sweet video, especially with the affection you have for the Schlumbergera truncata. Our oldest plant is the Schefflera, which is about 40 years, but pretty quickly on its way out. It's kids are doing well, so all is not lost. Wow you have an amazing collection--and would you look at all that terracotta??
Thanks, Dave. I know, Mr TerraCotta, I love it, too, but for me it's not always the answer. I try to choose the container (porous, non-porous, or ventilated) based on what I think the plant is going to need, and my level of care or lack thereof. Congrats on the Schefflera. I keep looking at them and wondering, but I think there's only one spot where that would work, and he'd have to fight the Monstera for that spot. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
Hi Rod, happy week´s end to you too. Thank you for for the glimpses into other parts of your home in this video. My longest-lived plant is the African spear plant, a.k.a. Dracaena angolensis (formerly Sansevieria cylindrical), which I got from my neighbour who didn´t know how old it was, but when she gave it to me 6/7 years ago must have been over 10 years old. My Strelizia reginae must be the oldest plant in my care. Got it as a baby, maybe 8-10 years ago, and now it´s mature enough to bloom, despite all the hardship and neglect I put it through.
Those are two beautiful and interesting plants, and congrats on blooming the Strelizia, that must be stunning. Thanks for watching and telling us about your longest lived plants.
I have so many Rhipsalis! Right now my 2 six inch pots and my eight inch pot of Rhipsali Pilocarpa are blooming like crazy! I have too many more to name! They are what got me started on my plant journey. Now I know this is probably cheating but I have a Truncata that came from a thirty year old plant! I have cuttings that I just plopped straight into soil and two years later it is a full plant in a six inch pot. But for me he is only 2. My Rhipsalis Paradoxa is my oldest at 4 years. It is a nice full plant in a 4 inch basket and most of the stems are almost 36 inches long! You can get away with abusing these guys by not watering enough but they are fine! I love your plants and your videos! Thank you for all the info!
Love rhipsalis!
Someone else mentioned R pilocarpa, too, and after looking it up, I was forced to add it to my wishlist. Good for you with the R paradoxa, mine is just atarting to get going. Thanks for watching and sharing your stories.
My "oldest" plant in my collection is my money tree at 10 years young ❤
I keep thinking I should give that one a try. I'll have to keep my eyes open for one. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
Lithops are a ton of fun! I totally agree.
Who knew? They're one of my favorite "let's try these" purchases.
My longest lived is also the thanksgiving cactus. I have a large plant that I restarted from 3 single "leaves" about 6 years ago. Overall I've had it for about 12 years.
Schlumbergera are just great plants - from a few single "leaves" you can get a beautiful plant in very little time. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
I, too, have a Christmas cactus that I’ve had for at least 25 years. It was a start off my Momma’s plant so it’s a family heirloom. It has sat in a north facing upstairs window for years. It is somewhat neglected at times, very large, and hasn’t been repotted since I don’t know when…This year she has over thirty blooms. She never disappoints. Thank you for your continued content. I look forward to each one.
Those are the reasons everyone loves a Schlumbergera - even with minimal care, they don't disappooint. Congrats on tweny-five years. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
The cribrata is awesome!
Thanks, I too, just love that look.
Great video! Loved seeing more of your plants.
I have a Hoya Carnosa that has been in my family for over 70 years. It’s very special to me and over the years I’ve started many, many plants from it and passed them on to anyone that wants one.
Thank you. Other than Schulmbergera, H carnosa is the longest lived plant among viewers. So many grandmothers and great-grandmothers had plants - from before the Hoya craze - that have been passed down through families. I think that's just incredible - a living thing handed down across generations; so cool. Thanks for watching and sharing your story.
I love Aglaonema. I have three of them. All different. The silver bay is on my wish list. I have the pink one with rounded leaves, a mind of minty one and a bright green and magenta colored one c
Your hawarthea is beautiful
Hi Rod! I look forward to your orchid video! The blooms on your phalen... are gorgeous
Thank you for sharing your other plant interests! I am new to orchid but learning! practically killed mine (mighta been also the one i rescued and brought back to life a while back 🤷♀️😅) and now it's pushing out a spike, most likely because it was on the brink of death 😁 Looks like it might be ok though. We shall see!
Your orchid might just be happy. Thisis the time of year, at least at my house, when the Phalaenopsis start sending out spikes. Good luck with it and keep us posted. Thanks for Watching, Mel, and adding your comment.
I want the variegated variety. Mine is kept below the west facing window. They used to sit I. A table right in front of the west facing window It got full afternoon sun. Seem to love it.
I have a 39 year old Hoya that was 25 yrs when I adopted it , it’s not my most expensive plant in my collection but it’s the most valuable to me. I vowed to provide the best care as it was very important to its former plant parent , who sadly passed away
It's not about the price you paid, but about the value to you. What a great rememberance and ongoing legacy. Thanks for watching and sharing your story.
I used to grow the primulina before. Back in the 70’s. I really liked them.
"Remember that they're there." is some of the best plant advice I think I've ever been given. ☺️
...and it's corollary "out of sight, out of mind". Out of sight is how I missed the Primulinas for a bit.
Wow 🤯 what a beautiful orchid phalenopsis❤just stunning 😍 😮love this beautiful video love orchids 😮❤I surprised 😮 of your beautiful orchids so beautiful 😍 plants aglonemas
Thanks, Maria, for all the kind words. The Phalaenopsis is new, so I can't take credit for it, yet. Thank you for watching and adding your comment.
Happy Friday! I have a sansevieria (sorry just can’t call them dracaena!) which came from my mom years ago. Must be around 30? Seems like every time I have moved cities and given plants away the sansevierias always made their way back to me. I think because they were the only ones my unwilling friends couldn’t kill! Thanks for great content again! 🪴
That made me laugh out loud - "the only ones my unwilling friends couldn’t kill!" I love 'em, but I have a mixed history with Sansevieria, and I'm sure it's my bad watering habits, or lack thereof. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
Great video. You have gorgeous plants! I think my longest lived plant is a large phalaenopsis that I've had for about four years.
Thank you. Good job with the Phalaenopsis. Orchids are so much fun. I hope it reblooms for you regularly. Thank you for watching and adding your longest lived.
I love Haworthia. I’ve rescued more than a few from big box stores and I have a little forest of them now. So easy to care for.
My longest lived plants are a big cattleya from a Florida trip in 1985, a very large carnosa, and Christmas cacti that date back to the 1990’s.
...oh and some of those Haworthia in the big box are a rescue. I'm jealous of the Cattleya, mine's still on the small side. I'm loving that lots and lots of people have a Christmas/Thanksgiving cactus story. Good for you. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
Hmmm, I have some oldies but they predate my last move (11+ years) and I'm not sure how old they were when they moved. I know my Hoya carnosa outer variegated made the move as did my jade plant and a pot of 4 different cacti - one was so tall (6+ feet), it broke in the van on the way here. I still have all of them and the broken cactus recovered. Okay, there is a hibiscus that produces lunch plate sized red flowers that I saved from the trash - my mom was tired of its leggy self - that I still care for. It has to be 20 odd years old at least and goes outside every year and blooms its fool head off in summer and fall.
How great. It's so nice to hear about plants that have been with people for decades. They do become members of the family. Thanks for watching and sharing your story.
Orchids do have pretty flowers 💐
That's why we grow 'em. Maybe it's time to try again. Just one.
@ I just threw out the lat one I hit lat year at Thanksgiving. It was a present from my step mom when we were in a grocery store. 🏬
I have two rhipsalis. One is the mistletoe cactus. Then Ive got one called dancing bones. I think it’s the bacciferus I think. ( I specked thst erong, I know) o w growing under a light, the other on the windowsill of my west facing window. Both doing very well. The mistletoe cactus is over three feet long.
Very cool, I do love Rhipsalis. There are a couple of jungle cacti known as "Dancing Bones" but typically it's Hatiora salicornioides. Whatever the genus, they're neat plants.
@ no it’s definitely a rhipsalis. What ever the common name I love it.
I’ve had lithops before, but not successful with them. Maybe I watered them when they were splitting. I might try them again.
They're worth the try. From what I've read, it's overwatering that typically "does in" Lithops, so super draining substrate, water monthly, and no water once they start to split.
@ knowing not to water them once they start too split is helpful to know, thank you.
They separated the genus Haworthia into two : Haworthia (the ones with the windows, like your Mutica) and Haworthiopsis (the spiky ones).
I think your second Haworthiopsis - the one with no name - could be an Attenuata (it has a bumpy surface all around its leaves while the upper leaf surface of the Fasciata is smooth). I have 34 species / varieties of Haworthia and Haworthiopsis. They are the easiest plants, and my favorite genus with Hoya. They are great beginners plants!
I love Lithops too! I have grown Ruschiorum Nelii also known as Bushman's Buttocks (they look like little pink butts) from seed with the help of Piotr Dzieduszynski's book ''How to grow Lithops and Other Living Stone Plants'' (I recommend this book if you want to learn about them).
It's nice to learn that you love them too :)
Thanks for all that great information, I'm going to update some plant tags. You're right, they are great beginner plants - they look so cool, are very forgiving, they bloom, and they're usually inexpensive. What's not to like? I'll have to do some searching for that book. The only copy I've found so far was US$99. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experience, and for watching and adding a comment.
Thank you for showing your video
I also have some rhipsalis @ moement I'm also starting to get some orchids plus my hoyas of course.your videos are so informative love your channel ❤😊
Thanks for all the kind words. Rhipsalis, orchids, Hoya, sounds like you're an epihpyte person, too. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
Djungel cactus is one of my best growers. Old plants from the 1980s. Take cuttings all year round. The flowers are the best. Thank you for showing your lovely plants. PS. My best one has orange flowers. One of my Benjamin ficus is 41 years old, bought it in 1984, when I moved to Sweden
I agree, Jungle Cactus are good growers, and congratulation on yours. Ficus benjamina is on my "never again" list. They are beautful, and I like them, and they don't do well for me - I have killed several - but good for you. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
Took 2 decades to understand them. Now I propogate new ones.
Worth all the heartache.
Hi goodnight thanks for sharing i usually put all my orchids on trees outdoors and let them do there thing otherwise putting them indoor they die. I love cacti and succulents and the haworthia gasterias and rhipsalis are up my street. Not lithops or Christmas cactus the don't like the heat here in Barbados. My oldest plant is a very very large pony tail that i had for 45 years. It has broken many pots .😊
Yes, well you have the climate that will let you leave orchids outdoors. It's 34°F/1°C here and we're expecting a snowstorm tomorrow, and my Orchids would not be happy outside. I love a big Ponytail Palm, it's such a beautiful plant, congratulations on yours. Thanks for watching and sharing your plant story.
My longest living plantHoya carnosa at around 12 years, some plants in the fish tanks may be older but i have no idea of the names.
Twelve years is very cool. Thanks for watching and sharing your longest lived.
Besides Hoya. Rhipsalis for me! My oldest is a 40 yo original Christmas cactus that was my mom’s. Thanks for showing all your different plants. It’s cool to see what others are interested in!
I, too, like seeing "what else" people like to grow - you get the best ideas. I love plants that become generational. Thanks for watching and adding your story.
That was a marvellous video‼️ I keep meaning to get a rhipsalis, there are some great varieties around 👍 The longest plant I’ve owned is my Poly Alocasia, around 8 years now. One of my first plants for the onslaught o plant addiction 🤣😂 She never goes into dormancy & has been super easy for me. I just love her‼️ Thanks again 👏👏👏 🍸🍸 ☕️☕️
Thank you. You're so lucky with your Alocasia, I only have one left and there won't be any more - too much trauma and drama - but good for you. Thanks for watching and sharing your story, oh, and you do want a Rhipsalis.
@ Ha! Ha! Don’t worry I have lost so many other Alocasia I won’t be getting any more. I think that’s why I love my Poly so much & she doesn’t get any special care. She must just love where she is & the odd bit of neglect. Thanks for your reply 👍👍🇳🇿🇳🇿
I took a chance on adding two new to me orchids this year. I now have two thriving babies! One vanilla orchid vine and one jewel.
That's so good to hear. I love Jewel Orchids. I'd love my Vanilla Orchid, but he got out of sight and thus out of mind; and that didn't end well. I need to try again. Thanks for watching and sharing your orchid success.
I don't know if you see! But they exist the lithops purple, and they are insane.❤❤❤
Thanks. I have seen pictures of the purple Lithops, and I'm keeping my eyes open for one. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
As a lifelong plant collector, Let's just say well over 40 ,This is video is my favorite of yours so far. I have found I've turned into a plant GENARA-LIST😂. I discover a new genus and then make a list. Full disclosure I do tend to skip any videos that is about a hoya collection. If you want to know way too much about epiphytic cacti, look up a channel called simply "Epiphytic cacti". It's a definite rabbit hole🎉 I have a few Hoya, and although not a hoya hater, I think a fun video idea would be "Hoyas for the Hoya hater"😂 I really did enjoy your information about your very diverse plant collection🎉
OK, that is an excellent idea for a video, and it is definitely going on the list (I've already though of a couple of candidates). Oh no, not another rabbit hole; Rhipsalis are my "fun" plants, I can't get obsessive about them, too. Thanks for watching, adding your comment, and for the great video suggestion.
I like the little warty. It’s got cool leaves.
...and it's such an easy care plant. They're in the big box stores and they're cheap.
Thank you for showing your plants. I have several but my crimson queen hoya peace lily and and a beefstake begonia oh and spider plant are my oldest thw begonia was my MI L and im not sure how old it is rhe spiderplants iv had since 1994 and the hoya since 2013
Good for you with the Begonia, they're my struggle plant. I love 'em, but they don't love me back. Thanks for watching and sharing your story.
This was a fun video! I am a sucker for just about any epiphyte. Your gasteria has intrigued me. It is so much bigger than the ones I see in the big box store and looks like an elegant sanseveria! Thanks for the wonderful videos.
Thanks for the kind words. The Gasteria "Little Warty" came from a big box store and was in a 2" (5cm) pot, and I think cost about US$5. He bounced back so well that I bought a second one a few months later. Keep your eyes open for one the next time you're in one of those stores. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
If you're going to try your hand at succulents, haworthia are great! Little warty are also called cow tongue! They're super cool!
I totally agree. I killed lots of other types of succulents before I discovered Haworthia and Gasteria.
🌱💚5 year old Hoya pubicalyx splash from Hirt’s.
Always happy with my orders from Hirt's, and there's nothing quite like a splashy H pubicalyx. Thanks for watching
Hi Rod, Many thanks for another great video and for all the good information you included as you showed us each beautiful plant. My Little Warty is on his third up-potting and I love this chunky plant. I would love to find a variegated one. I have one Thanksgiving Cactus and two Easter Cacti. Love every one of them and they bloom beautifully. My oldest plant is a Golden Pothos that I received in a flower arrangement on the day my Daughter was born thirty four years ago., Named her Maggie after my Sister In Law. who gave her to me. Everyone knows if there’s a house Fire, be sure to grab Maggie on the way out.🤣 Take care and stay safe! 👌🪴🥰
"Be sure to grab Maggie", you gave me a good chuckle. G "Little Warty" is a sadly underrated plant. It can put up with a lot, and with just a bit of attention, bounces right back - and looks cool through it all. Thanks for watching, all your kind words, and sharing your plants' stories.
Yes, you gotta love the survivors, they hold a special place in our hearts! 👌🪴🥰. Peg.
After your advise, maybe I’ll try Lithops again. They are cute.
Good afternoon Rod.
Hello there, Lisa.
Amazing video very informative
You educated me on plants I have
Appreciate the knowledge and care advice
Thank you
You're most welcome. Thank you for watching and adding your comment to the conversation.
🌱💚I grow my primula, from Hirt’s under a glass cloche and I water it once a month. It flowers profusely under glass. You would love growing a Deuterocohina brevifolia, Hedgehog Pineapple , from Hirt’s. Even easier than Lithops.
That's great about your Primulinas. So, of course I had to go look Deuterocohina at Hirt's, and hmmmm... I'm gonna think about that one. Thanks for watching and sharing your story and suggestion.
I highly recommend you try a fern leaf cactus. I just got one and am totally in love with it. Discovered it at a local plant nursery.
We're on the same page. I ordered one last year and it's doing well so far, so that was a good suggestion. It's put out two new, and rather long branches, and with any luck is going to be a "problem" in the near future. It hasn't bloomed yet, but fingers crossed. Thanks for watching, andding your comment, and your suggestion.
I have a ripsalis paradoxa that started as a stump, it is now multiple branched , 6 feet long. I just let her grow ☺️. I have several shades of the gasteria“ little warty “ that I love so much. Have you tried to grow the jungle cactus that is the fern leaf one? I could go on and on about my plant babies. I wish I could post pictures.
Good for your R paradoxa, mine will get there one day. I was watering the "Fern Leaf" (Selenicereus chrysocardium) moments ago. It's finally settled in and is growing well. "Little Warty" is one of those I didn't think I'd like as much as I do. Thanks for watching and sharing your stories.
I love my Asian Violet and didn't know they're called primulina too. A local nursery has some beautiful ones. I need to edit the last video. My Asian Violet has yellowing leaves lately, the African violets too. Hmmmm...another plant chore. 😂
My Primulinas seem much hardier than the African Violets, which is a good thing since I am sometimes neglectful.
@PlantedInRI me too. 🤭
Hi Rod I have the H. publicalyx My oldest Schlumbergia is at least 20, but then in all of my moves, I don't remember. A couple of my Schlumburgia froze along with all 6 African violets, some vining Philoderdrums, and a Pothos "Njoy" I lost a couple oon this last move last month. I'm down at least 30.
Congrats on the Schlumbergera - those seem to be the plants that people have for decades. Moving is stressful for plants and people, I've done it a bunch, too, and it's no fun. Thanks for watching and sharing your story.
My longest living place is my grand
Others Christmas ca to that I nearly killed it by keeling it where thee was no light. I have put lip lights on the two I have.
So, about the end of September or middle of October, start shortening the length of time the grow lights for your Christmas cacti are turned on. If they're usually on twelve hours, reduce that to eleven, and a few weeks later reduce it to ten. That may help trigger the plants to bloom.
@ this is a great idea. 💡 I’ll try next fall.
Are the spathyphyllum a peace lily or is the peace lily a spathiphyllum?
"Peace Lily" is a common name for a Spathiphyllum, typically the plain green one, but there are many species of Spaths.
Spaths-- They remove 80% of toxins in the air. I love mine and have them all in semi hydro. I don't fertilize much, do you? Mine get brown tips if I am lazy with tap water. If I use strictly distilled water they never brown up. I love mine so much! Is there anything you feed yours?
I am just starting to learn about caudex and purchased a couple. My longest owned is a snake plant aka mother in laws tongue about 25 years old.
Yes, but unless you have thousands of Spathiphyllum, they don't really make much of a dent in toxins. I'll bet they love semi-hydro. The adage is: if the tips are brown, it's the water, if the edges are brown it's the watering. During the winter I do get some brown tips - a combination of dry conditions and tap water. During the summer mine get the occasional feeding with the nutrient solution I use for my plants in semi-hydro. Thanks for watching and adding your comment.
With the lithops, do they handle drafty windows okay?
Mine seem to be, probably depends on how drafty. The pots for mine are right up against the glass, so it can be a touch cool.
@@PlantedInRI I think they're adorable. I will try one to see how I'll do...
Od ponad dekady mam Zamioculcas zamiifolia.
To taka zabawna roślina, dobrze dla ciebie. Dzięki za oglądanie i dzielenie się twoją najdłużej żyjącą rośliną.
Someone i follow on TH-cam calls Lithops “butt rocks”. Makes me laugh
My luck with orchids is very poor. I’ve never got them to blood again and then I lose interest. Then they die from neglect.
My Phalenopsis bloom once a year, but the blooms last for months and months, so it's worth the wait.
Wow 🤯 what a beautiful orchid phalenopsis❤just stunning 😍 😮love this beautiful video love orchids 😮❤I surprised 😮 of your beautiful orchids so beautiful 😍 plants aglonemas