Gardening

Ruellia elegans, or Red Ruellia, is native to Brazil with bright red trumpet shaped flowers that appear on 6 to 8 inch wand-like stems. The upper petals tend to flare out and back, while the lower one curls out and downward. The blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds and last from May until frost. The plant tolerates a light frost, but dies back at about 28 degrees. It forms a 12 inch high by 24 inch in diameter mound of soft green, semi-fuzzy foliage. The plant is described as an annual, but because it reseeds and spreads rapidly, it is sometime thought of as a perennial.

Rhipsalis are the most widespread species of epiphytic cactus. In the wild Rhipsalis naturally grow attached to trees where they can root into moss for stability.When growing Rhipsalis as a pot plant, they need humidity rather than lots of watering. Rhipsalis grow best when planted in free draining compost to avoid them sitting in water. To encourage healthy growth, they can be misted and fed as a supplement to watering the pot. They prefer diffused natural light. A very tolerant plant, Rhipsalis will survive small periods of neglect, making them a great plant for the not so green fingered!