Aeschynanthus "Mona Lisa"

i thought this was very festive!!

Jeez Sticki!
First you mention snow, then you start talking about Christmas!!!!

i knew that would get me in trouble!!! but if you notice i was very careful not to mention c----------s!! sorry but at a quick glance i honestly thought that was what it was!!

Thats looking good M, lovely flowers :o)

With my joyous view of christmas Sticki!!

It's a nice hassle free house plant PA.
A.marmoratus is just about to burst into bloom too!

i did have to look twice!!!

Thanks Plantaholic!

Just received some cuttings of A.speciosus, so fingers crossed...............

It shouldn't have even crossed your mind Sticki!

no it shouldnt!!!! but i went to a supermarket recently [not the one i work in] and that reminded me.

Oh joy of joys! Will have to become a hermit soon then!

good idea

when is national hermit day? [december 25th?]

That's the one day that I can go out (the shops are all shut)!!!!!

virtually every one!!!

cheap day!

Nice and quiet!

perfect for photos really

Meanie:

It looks terrific! I still need try this plant outside under my shade structure. I have the Gold Fish Plant (Nematanthus wettsteinii), which I've had by my back porch for many years. It's related to Aeschynanthus.

It'll do well under your shade structure - it's more than happy here with fairly low light.

Nematanthus is one that I'm looking for, but hard to find for sensible money here..........

Meanie:

If it's like Nematanthus, it should grow in some full sun.

Nematanthus species are very common and cheap here.

If mine ever sets seed I will send you some.

My mother has a very large Nematanthus wettsteinii on her front porch for 16 years (in the San Francisco Bay Area). It reseeds all over the front yard and in her other potted plants. I haven't had this happen here in San Diego, though.

Definitely prefers lower light levels if you want it to bloom. More light though gives you more growth.

Meanie:

That's strange. When I studied horticulture...flowering plants always want more light for blooming.

What I had always been led to believe too! But since the move, fast as one flush is over the next one starts! But the plant has grown far less this year (although it is bushing out far better too).

It does look very healthy and bushy. It most likely gets a lot of sun, as I see it's right next to the window.

It's actually facing northwest, so never gets direct sunlight. Always gets plenty of light though.........

That's the perfect exposure. It really likes the spot.

I had the most incredible thing happen today (Sept 14, 2012)

My Nematanthus wettsteinii was exposed to full sun and a high of 106ºF (41.1ºC) the temp in my neighborhood today. The temp stayed above 100ºF (38ºC) from 11 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. tonight (the longest amount of hours above 100ºF (38ºC) I ever remember) and my plant didn't burn. Do you think it's a fluke? :>/ I'll let you know if it burns tomorrow...because it may be 110ºF (43.3ºC) or greater! YUCK!!!!!

Lucky sod! It struggled to 18°c today..........

Meanie:

This heat is not lucky...it's very dangerous! In many cities in San Diego County (and throughout southern California) the temps struggled to get below 90°F (32°C) late last night and early this morning, only to rise to 108°F (42°C) in many areas. Even in Downtown San Diego (the official and one of the coolest weather stations in San Diego County) recorded 101°F (38.3°C) which was the highest temp recorded for the date (Sept 15, 2012).

Some of my plants are getting severely sun-burned!

I remember when I was in Uluru in Australia - 5.30am it was frosty, but at noon it was 41°c!

That must be miserable! From one extreme to the other.

The mid to high California, Arizona deserts are famous for that kind of temperature extremes in winter (it even sometimes affects the low subtropical deserts). Although, not so hot during the day (usually only 90°F (32°C)). The very dry air contributes to the major temperature fluctuations.

It was very bizarre - being in the middle of the outback there was virtually no shade (none whatsoever on top of Ayers Rock).

That's the way it is in the deserts. The deserts of the Southwest (California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah) have very few trees, if any at all.

I think you've seen my photos of the low subtropical San Diego County desert.