I found another one. The last leaf I saw on this Maranta (prayer plant) faded away around Dec./Jan. Put root ball of group pot in ground, and noticed this yesterday.

I would have never though those would survive a freeze!

Planto

Sorry, I didn't give enough info, I don't think this plant would survive freezing either. The ground doesn't freeze but the air sure does. I put the root ball in the ground in late March. I would recommend to anyone who thinks a plant died inside over winter to put the root ball in the ground if they have somewhere to do that.

Oh, I see. It died back indoors. I misunderstood.

I have read that about Marantas, a lady mentioned her had died back and came back in the Spring. Who would know they could come back like that!

Planto

My marantas do the same thing when I bring them in during the fall. I did have one pot, that I kept on a tray of moist pebbles, keep its leaves over the winter. They need high humidity and seem to have a rhizome of some sort.

'Twas my bad, Planto, didn't describe it well at all at first!

Deebie, TY for the anecdote! And yes, when I put that pot together, I noticed the Maranta had roots that were huge, rhizomatous/tuberous. This is exciting! Humidity divas don't do well at my house over winter because I'm unable/unwilling to try to alter the humidity. There's enough of that all summer, not interested in coddling plants to that degree. BUT, if some can just go to sleep & wake up in the spring, that's fine! If I can learn which ones can do that, it might be possible to encourage it, and not bother trying to put those plants in a spot of good light at all, making the space issue much less of an issue.

Tiff,
You're fine. You did say you put the root ball of a group pot in the ground. I think I just read that too fast.

Planto

I can't really say this is dead or even "back from the dead" because I just bought it. But, it looks a little rough so maybe that counts.

(Some cultivar of Pteris):


For $1, despite the fact that I have no room, I couldn't help myself.

Planto

You started the discussion, so you get to make the "rules." Really enjoying it, TY for the idea! Nice find!

The Calathea in this pot had disappeared over winter. Noticed a new leaf a few days ago. Not dead!


Here's updated pics of Siderasis (brown spiderwort) and ZZ plant I showed before:

Haha! Thanks, but I don't really mind what folks post (I don't rule with an iron thumb! ) on this post, but for some odd reason, I feel odd going off topic.

Oo, those are looking nice! I've read that the Brown Spiderwort is for the "expert," as it demands very high humidity. I think it's one of those plants I could look at and it would die. It seems really happy in the ground, who would have known! Have you been getting a lot of rain lately? We have and it is definitely adding to the humidity. ::sweats::

Planto

Pls tell some of that rain to come over here! One rain & only a few sprinkles that didn't really get things wet under the trees, for the past 6 wks or so. It rains all around us, but as soon as rain gets near Opp, it disappears, or jumps over & starts up again on the other side. A neighbor who's been gardening here for 50 yrs said she's been observing that for decades, some kind of force field that prevents rain. Also interesting is that SE USA is the only spot on the globe at 31degN that's not a desert. ...But 20 miles south, in Florala, it rains every day.

But humidity? Um, yeah, everything will feel sticky & damp until Sept. at least. Zero concern about static hair (or using dryer sheets for laundry!)

Definitely a "humidity diva" thing among my thought-they-were-dead plants. Guess this discussion will help me remember to group them together this winter. That's what I can offer, ...except a little aquarium in the shed, just sitting there. Maybe a terrarium is warranted.

It sounded like deja vu for a second there reading your post. My Husband has said that where we live, there's like a force field when it comes to rain. You can literally watch the radar and see it break up before it hits us or break up and regather when it gets around us. I didn't know there was another area in the SE that has identical weather. Hillarious! I'll have to let Hubby read your comment later.

The force field must have disappeared as of late though because it's been raining here lately 2-3 times a week. Sometimes it's only for maybe ten minutes (it's usually cats and dogs then), sometimes it's for a couple hours.

Lol, I think the humidity is a thing of the South. I think I got over the frizz a long time ago, not worth fighting.

I think I read that about the Brown Spiderwort, it is an excellent specimen for terrariums. Sad, they look so interesting.

I'm surprised the ZZ Plant died back at all. Did it go without water for extended periods of time? I have read they will lose all their leaves/stems and go dormant if without water for too long. Once the proper conditions arise, they'll return.

Planto

My Asclepias currasavica was not doing well after winter. Mother plant died, but was glad to see new growth popping up in April 2015. I guess some seeds dropped there last year:



Watching the gradual recovery as temps continue to warm up:


This June 2015, with the return of the higher temps, finally seeing some blooms..back in business! Enjoying it before it gets attacked by the aphids..so far those peskies are not around yet:

It's probably good that it disappeared for winter. There's a theory that so many people are planting this species where it's hardy (but not native) that it's confusing the monarchs, so they don't migrate to Mexico for winter.
http://nativeplantwildlifegard...

Well monarchs do not visit my area often, we have the eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies that is more frequent here and our hummingbirds love it. I think I only saw once in our 7 years stay here a monarch.

I got this plant in 2013, came back nicely in 2014, only this past winter it got zapped out..glad it still is here.

My Euphorbia tithymaloides looked so good in 2014:


I think I made the mistake of bringing it out early this year, and May turned cooler than usual so it is became like crooked sticks:


But hope is rekindled after our recent heat wave days and more days warming up, I finally see new growth at the nodes! :hurray:

The Philodendron bipinnatifidum in this pic was only a few sad, chlorotic leaves when put in ground 3 months ago. It's made a bunch of new, healthy looking leaves. This should be root-hardy, going to leave this plant in ground, against carport wall. None of the following plants are hardy (here,) all in pots inside for winter.


An Alocasia that's planted in the same area is also healing. 3 mos ago, it was 1 spider mite infested leaf. A new one has unfurled, finally (in my fingers.)


An update on the flamingo plant, Chrysothemis pulchella, that goes completely dormant for winter. Even though that's normal, it always seems like a miracle when it starts growing again. The blooms are definitely the prettiest among any plants I have that are in pots (at least for part of the year.) This pot hasn't been disturbed for 3 yrs, planning to repot this fall.


I stupidly burned this plant badly, every leaf, when taking it out this spring from inside. It looked dead not long after, for a while. It's grown back nicely.


Here's the waffle plant (Hemigraphis) I mentioned before, that got completely eaten last summer. It has buds. Will try to catch an open bloom but they're miniscule. I think it was caterpillars that ate it, will be checking on it much more often this year.


Update on the Siderasis (brown spiderwort):

IDK what this cactus thing is, but it's grown the new part at ground level to the left, and the new part all the way at the right end, since being put in ground 3-4 weeks ago.


Background plant is Portulaca amilis, Paraguayan purslane.

Hmm, no idea what that is.

Planto

Just a wild guess, Tiffany. Do you think that it could possibly be:
Dog-Tail Cactus (Selenicereus testudo), aka Pitaya de Tortuga? I don't think we have any photos of it in the database, but you can look at photos on google to compare.