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Turquoise Puya

 

Ribbon Plant

Homalocladium platycladum

 

Please take your time removing your plant from it's packaging.

Note -- Your plant was grown in filtered light, not direct sun, so it should be acclimated to direct sun slowly. I recommend starting your plant in a 1-2 gallon pot, so you can slowly move it from shade to sun over a period of several weeks.    

Soil -- Ribbon Plant likes normal to rich soil that drains easily.  You can use ordinary potting soil mixed with perlite or coarse sand, in a 2 to 1 ratio.    

Transplanting -- Before removing your plant from its pot, give it a watering if the soil looks dry, so it doesn't break apart, which can damage the roots.

Watering -- Ribbon Plant likes moist soil, but it shouldn't be perpetually soggy either.  Established plants grown outdoors can handle some drought.

Acclimating to sun -- Start by giving your plant bright, indirect light or filtered sun for the first week.  After this, give it an hour or two of morning sun per day.  If all looks well after several days, give it about an hour more sun every 4 or 5 days.  This will give your plant time to grow a larger root system, so it can handle more light without burning or wilting. 

Planting out -- After your plant has doubled in size, it's ready to plant in the ground.  If you're going to grow it in a container, repot to a 3-5 gallon pot when the roots reach the bottom of the container.  Repot again to a larger pot when it becomes rootbound.  The size of the final pot depends on how big you let it grow.  Larger plants need more water, so keep this in mind when choosing a pot size.  Smaller pots tend to dry out fairly quickly.  

Climate -- Ribbon Plant likes part sun or filtered sun.  Along the West coast or in foggy or overcast areas, it can take more sun.  In hot areas, it's best to give it mid-day shade, and mulch the plant to keep the roots cool.  This is a Zone 10-11 plant and needs temperatures above freezing.  Give it overhead protection if a light frost is expected.  If the tips die back, it could be from dry air.   

Fertilizing -- Give monthly feedings with ordinary vegetable fertilizer or the equivalent.   Follow the label's recommended dosage carefully.  Don't try to force more growth with more fertilizer.  It's normal for a few of the older leaves to yellow and die throughout the year, but if it's excessive, it could be from not enough water, or from not enough fertilizer, particularly nitrogen.    

Pruning -- Feel free to shape the plant as you wish.  Simply cut away some stems, or trim them to any length.  

Pests to watch for -- Indoors, watch for mealy bugs, scale, and aphids  

By the way, the new growth on your plant may look weird. These are the true leaves. As your plant gets older it will make very few of them.

If you have any questions or problems, please email me.

Enjoy your plant!

Jeff

Strange Wonderful Things

 

 
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