Fittonia

Those blood-stained veins are something spectacular to behold,

That is if you can notice them - they are just a small piece of leaf can easily lost in the midst of big class leaves.

It been said that they do well in terrariums and sorts

I have not tried it yet.. and yeah.. this is one of the sensitive plants

They tend not to do well when they are sort of abuse - they just die.

Not in the list of the hardy plants (I don't care what other website says)

When they are over-watered or over-fertilised - they just die.

And for this reason,

I always replant them and have spares.

They need constant pruning - and propagating the pruned pieces.

And snails and slugs love them too.. 

So, weekly poisoning of these pest are required more so during rainy season.

Or you would find bitten pieces and holes on the leaves.

This plant cannot handle such stress and also eventually die out of stress.

So - a good dose of pesticide (the snail kind) goes a long way for this species.

You will also find them in nurseries selling them for a very tiny clump for about RM10 - I find that pricey.. Three cuttings in a cocopeat is not worthed it for this species but that's business..

Take it or leave it.

The sad part - its not an easy plant to collect.

Not so many are available in the market - head hunting them is another chore.

And survival is another battle in the garden.

When a species is lost, its just hard to find replacement from the nurseries.

Regardless,

If you want colours - these will give you a carpet full.

Calathea Species

I thought these were a easy species to handle.

Boy, am I wrong.

They don't do well with fertilisers - and so I had to be very patient with them.

Still now, I really can't figure out their secrets.. I can't get them to grow lushfully.

Anyway, I still have few that survived here and there.

They are starting to make their comeback now - somehow its not as gloom as I expected - most of them had regenerated (I had lost few species)

And that is not confusing enough...
Identifying the species is another matter - I still don't understand their specific deference between Calathea and Maranta.. and I guess there are other variants, possibilities of me being totally wrong.

Some of these in my collection:

1) Calathea Zebrina

2) Maranta amagris

3) Calathea Ornata

4) Calathea lancifolia

5) Calathea Dottie

6) Calathea roseopicta rosy

7) Maranta Rubra

8) Maranta arundinacea variegata   

As long as they survive and eventually thrive,

I really don't mind if its Calathea, Maranta or whatever..

Philodendron, Potho's and its kind

Just like the Goosefoot plant,
Philodendron share the common ground with this one.

I find the invasive type found in the wild somehow manage to be the alpha in many zone - but not particularly the hybrids - they tend to die easily if proper care is not given.

Here I have in my collection:

1) Philodendron Lemon Lime

2) Epipremnum aureum - Golden Pothos

3) Epipremnum aureum - 'N Joy'

3) Marble Queen Pothos

4) Jade Pothos

5) Monstera Obliqua “Swiss Cheese Vine”

6) Silver Pothos  - Scindapsus pictus 'Argyraeus'

7) Satin Pothos - Scindapsus pictus

Some basic care:

1) They don't do well with conventional fertilisers - one of my botanist friend mentioned to me that they do their own nitrogen and therefore anything extra can be fatal for these kind of species.

2) These are very much epiphytes - and so they prepare some sort of hanging, dangling and tangling..

3) I don't expect them to survive if they start to rot and turn yellow but pruning them before the rot spreading to other healthy plant is a very important.

Somehow - I find that it can be infected with bacteria (rot) which can be infectious.

4) Most of these hybrids are very sensitive to pest attack - especially scale insect and mealy bug - and these are often hidden in between the node (leaf and stalk)

And worst - they are not easy to eradicate and need a long process of pesticide regime.

- and so, take good care to check the plant before purchase before introducing them into your garden.

GooseFoot Plant

Its amazing to find so many hybrids and cultivars of this kind.

Basically its known as Syngonium podophyllum 

(yeah..something that you pronouns with chewing gum with your mouth)

This is one of the plants you can easily tuck between nook & corners of your garden. And yes - some varieties are invasive except the coloured hybrids - they are much slow grower and sometimes tend to disappear if they are forgotten.

Somehow, I find them more of an aquatic type,
they tend to thrive where there is a puddle of water.

They do great as indoor plant too - they don't do well in direct sun,

rather prefer bright shaded area.

Indeed, they have interesting leaf structure, 

If you are all foliage type of guy...
Then I suggest go for these types - they are quite resilient.

One word of caution:

If you purchase this one planted in a cocopeat, I strongly recommend that you change the soil medium with the existing medium - 50% with sand (or any fast draining medium)

If any case the root structure is compromised,

The rotting process will start to occur and it would be too late to save the plant.

Therefore, its good to remain caution with this thought - then waiting the inevitable to happen. 

Caladium, Elephant Ears and its kind

These are not easy ones to keep in the garden
Not for a long-term factor as they do go dormant time to time and sometimes disappear totally for a year.

I think I lost few species,

So much so - I just left it as it is - if it appears, I celebrate the joys of colours.

If not.. then I don't bother much as I know some other plant is growing and doing well in the pot where these tubers are sleeping dead.

But still,

I enjoys the streaks, stripes, spots and patterns these leaves presents.

Somehow - like dumbcane leaves - they chart a map of somekind..
Like a hidden map, or a message...
Or perhaps some measure of beauty that needs to be discovered..
 still wonder - if any had discovered and able to explain their wonder.

Unlike Caladium, Elephant Ears are more hardy and don't go dormant.

But the downside is that they don't hold interesting marking like their cousin.

Regardless,

They measure up with a bigger side and strike the awesome..
Hardy as ever - some of these are able to stand inside stagnant water.

And that is truly like an elephant.