Hi Paula,
I have never heard about the male and female plants. My plants seen in the photo are both from one plant that my grandmother had. After having the first plant outside, and some of the leaves got eaten by "critters" I decided to keep them in the sunroom permanently. For several years I didn't get but a couple of blooms, but then I started getting lots of blooms. Like most ladies, they like tight shoes. I let the soil get dry to the touch before watering. Sometimes I cut up banana peels and put on top of the soil. If they are outside, be sure to put them in dappled shade as they don't like the direct sunlight. Mine have thrived on benign neglect. My cousin had one and she told me that she had had it for several years and it didn't do anything, so she gave it to a friend and lo and behold, it bloomed! I think that there was the possibility that the bud was forming when she gave it away considering how soon it bloomed for the friend. Because we travel, I have missed the blooms sometimes and even when we have been home, I have misjudged the timing and gone to bed before checking them, then got up in the morning only to see that I missed the blooms once again! BTW, where is Laplace? We lived in Illinois for 35 years. I don't miss the cold and snow.
