Houseplants: help to identify and take care of my first plant

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pablo_b Providence, RI November 05, 2009 02:34 AM	I am very new on keeping houseplants and this was the first one I got about a year ago (I know it doesn't look that good now, but it suffered the misfortune of having me learning with it). I moved to a new place by September and I put the plant next to a west window. I water it about twice a week (just a little bit since I almost killed it once for watering it too much). I was happy about a month ago since many new leaves started to show, however recently the small new ones just started to wrinkle and fall down and the old ones got this purplish/brownish color on the top of the leaves and seem to start "wrinkling" as well. Please let me know if you know the name of the plant and specially what do I need to do to take care of it. Thanks! View Larger
3jsmom31 zone 6a, KY November 05, 2009 07:41 AM	You have a fittonia albivensis. Here is a link to let you know what the cute little guy needs... http://waterroots.com/fittonia.htm You have done really well to have this plant so well grown and not realizing what it is, lol. I would take a cutting and root it, try it in a few locations, grow one in a pop bottle terrarium, one in the bathroom, etc...
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) November 05, 2009 09:55 PM	3jsmom31, correct me if I'm wrong but you like to try to grow things in different ways all the time if I'm not mistaken...LOL
3jsmom31 zone 6a, KY November 05, 2009 11:59 PM	Uh, yeah, I guess you're right. I guess I want to increase my chances of success :). For the most part, I tend to grow in higher light than the experts say, so I take cuttings in case the plant rebels...
pablo_b Providence, RI November 06, 2009 11:37 AM	Hi 3jsmom31, thank you very much for your answer! I have moved it to the bathroom as it was recommended in the link you sent me, given it's more humid there. About cutting it and rooting it, I'm not sure how that's supposed to be done. How much do you need to cut? How many stems per new pot? or I just put them in the same pot with my fittonia? Please let me know if you know a useful link I could check or if you have any suggestions. Thanks!
3jsmom31 zone 6a, KY November 06, 2009 11:57 AM	Well, I was at the store yesterday and saw a pink veined fittonia (for 67 cents). It was dropped on it's head so had bent/broken stems just above the first leaf joint. I saw new growth coming from the joint on 2 of the plants in the pot. It contained 3 rooted plants, and was probably full before it made it to the discount table. I did some whacking on the 2 and air layered the 3rd. I will let you know how it turns out. If they root as easily as it looks like they will, you could end up with a lot of them. If some of your plant breaks off, I wouldn't hesitate to carefully remove the lower leaves, leaving 2 to 3 leaves at the tip, put it in a gallon ziplock with some moistened soil, blow it up, yep by mouth, zip it up and put it someplace sort of warm but out of direct sunlight. I sometimes use other mini terrariums, too, from clear sandwich boxes to 2 liters bottles placed over a 3 inch pot, lol.
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) November 06, 2009 12:03 PM	Hope this helps: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/794932/
pablo_b Providence, RI November 13, 2009 11:51 PM	Hi 3jsmom31 and daisylovn, sorry I didn't reply before. Thank you very much for your useful information, I'll try and follow the instructions you suggested. This message was edited Nov 13, 2009 10:53 PM
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) November 14, 2009 12:59 AM	3jsmom if your pink one takes off want to trade? I have the white brocade and a ton of other stuff....not normally known for being houseplants but I have them ashouseplants
3jsmom31 zone 6a, KY November 14, 2009 06:30 AM	It is iffy. I think the plant was outside during frost, so there is damage, but still a couple parts not collapsed :). And you know I want to trade, lol.
withad Warren Center, PA November 14, 2009 07:30 AM	Yep,Yep,Yep, those 2 liter soda bottles are just the greatest and the part that you cut off from the bottom make wonderful humidity trays. Just enough to keep the pot out of the water but just right for maintaining humidity for plants that need it. They also give a quick view of how much water your pot is draining. Love them little things, save everyone my wife uses( she's a seltzer freak).
3jsmom31 zone 6a, KY November 14, 2009 01:15 PM	That is a good idea. Me and the kids made a couple self watering planters from 2 liter bottles. It started from someone posting a link to: http://www.bottlebiology.org I love recycling, lol.
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) November 14, 2009 02:08 PM	I like not having to drag a big watering can around for hours every other day! LOL

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