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This'n'that. Part 3. Malpighia, succulents and other plants.

Right, here we go, the final part...

Ruth wrote >Does anyone grow Malpighia coccigera?  
No, but it sounds interesting :-).  As the plants come from the Tropics and
are evergreen, wouldn't they drop leaves all year round?  As they flower in
the (Northern Hemisphere's) spring and summer, then I would guess they
would just slow down a bit in the autumn and winter while they were
gathering strength for the next lot of flowers.  I can't find anything
about growing it as a Bonsai,  but the picture in my book shows it to be a
fairly informal bush, if you trimmed the top, would it *really* spoil the
shape?  Wouldn't it make some more side shoots which you could train?  If
the top is dead already then the side shoots are going to grow anyhow to
make a plant with a multi crown.  And can you bear to throw out a plant
which still has life in it???

Lysette asked what made a plant a succulent.  Cacti are succulent (but not
all succulents are cacti...), and this gives you some idea of what makes
succulents tick.  They are plants which have adapted to periods without
water and have stems, leaves or roots which help to store water and prevent
its loss in times of drought. 
Cacti have spines (modified leaves) to help avoid water loss by
transpiration and some have swollen roots and long tap roots to store
water.  
Succulents like Echeveria and Kalanchoe have thick leathery leaves which
store water; and some have grey felty coverings to the leaves and stem
which also helps to avoid water loss.  
Other succulents like Beaucarnia recurva (Pony Tail Palm) have swollen
bulb-like bases which store water. 
Some Euphorbias are succulent, they have very small leaves or spines or
swollen stems to help store water and prevent its loss. 
 I could go on and on, but won't!  In general, succulents probably need
less water than other plants, because they have adapted to a life of
drought. However, it is a myth that they can go all summer without water
and thrive - I water all my succulents regularly when it is warm along with
all my other plants;  but from now until March, the cacti are kept dry and
the other succulents are only watered enough to keep them from shriveling
up.

>A friend gave me seed for a plant she calls Night Blooming Trumpet.  Does
>anyone know of this plant and how it should be planted?  Does it need full
>sun?
>Gail in MD
Could this be Selenicereus?  This is a type of epiphyllum that flowers at
night, it has long trailing/climbing stems like an epiphyllum and huge,
fragrant white flowers.  Mum grew it in Hong Kong, where it was called
Queen of the Night.  It is a jungle epiphyte, so dappled warm light
conditions suit it best.  I grow my epiphyllums at the back of the
conservatory behind taller plants, so that they get bright light but no
direct sun.

Well, I think I will have exhausted everyone by now, so perhaps I had
better close. Oh, just one more thing, my Cheese plant flower is just
opening, the camera is ready and waiting...
Happy growing, or should that be happy hibernation? :-)
Liz Bradbury in Scotland - where we have just had our first few nights
below freezing.
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