LariAnn has been gardening and working with plants since her teenage years growing up in Maryland. Her intense interest in plants led her to college at the University of Florida, where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Botany and Master of Agriculture in Plant Physiology. In the late 1970s she began hybridizing Alocasias, and that work has expanded to Philodendrons, Anthuriums, and Caladiums as well. She lives in south Florida with her partner and son and is research director at Aroidia Research, her privately funded organization devoted to the study and breeding of new, hardier, and more interesting aroid plants.
The way plants grow is often affected by the climatic conditions under which they grow. For example, trees growing very high up on mountains will grow much smaller than the same species growing in the valleys. This turns out to be true on Aroidia as well, as certain species found in the northern latitudes can grow in forms different than those found nearer the equator. This knowledge helped to explain the double-decker branching structures I encountered in some extreme northern latitude species of Triklados. . . Read More
Here I intend to make plant growth and reproduction at the cellular level--a very complex subject--much more understandable. As a trained scientist, I, too, have found many descriptions of these processes to be difficult to grasp. My hope is that you will have a good handle on these after this article... Read More
Once you've reviewed your plant collection and determined (roughly) how many zones you will need in order to water all your plants, it's time to begin the building process. Your first consideration is water filtration, followed by what kind of valves you'll use and the type and number of drip emitters you will need. So let's get started . . . Read More
Most of the Alocasia species that I consider to be "jewels" are small growers suitable for a windowsill or small conservatory. However, not all Jewel Alocasias are so diminutive! Read on to learn about this Giant of the Jewels . . . Read More
The Caladium community is being turned on its ear by the newest varieties coming out of Thailand. There's no telling what they are doing over there, but one thing is for sure, they have developed some stunning plants that are now available in the U. S. A. Before you plunk down your cash, however, let me tell you my experience with these entrancing beauties . . . Read More
While many folks think of colorful waxy flowers from Hawaii when the word "Anthurium" is mentioned, the genus Anthurium consists of a host of different plants, only a few of which produce colorful flowers. Here you'll find diminutive creepers, vines and even huge-leaved behemoths that remind one of the larger Alocasia plants . . . Read More
Once you have your drip irrigation system up and running, you might find that you have extra time on your hands; time you used to spend watering your plants by hand. I suggest you reserve some of this time for regular reviews of your system's operation and performance and, yes, upgrades . . . Read More
The topic of stem cells is in current discussion and not free from controversy. In plants, however, the existence of cells that can produce any kind of plant tissue, or even a whole plant, is vital to plant propagation and survival. Read on for more about this fascinating subject . . . Read More
Did you know that the southern hemisphere is warmer than the northern hemisphere? Ever wonder why a plant or tree that can survive in the snow of southern NSW, Australia, can't make it in the snow of Virginia, USA? The answer lies in understanding the effect of land and water on climate. Read on to learn more. . . Read More
This group of Philodendron plants is among the most ornamental of all, having a variety of leaf textures, colors and shapes that are rivaled only by the climbing members of the genus. If you like these plants, you owe it to yourself to obtain some of these for your collection . . . Read More
The name "Philodendron" means literally "tree loving", which most likely refers to the tree hugging/climbing habit characteristic of many Philodendron species. However, not all members of this genus hug or climb trees, but many of them are eminently suitable as indoor or house plants. And if you are fortunate enough to live where you can grow these in your garden, well . . . Read More
Money doesn't grow on trees, but if you look quickly at the thumbnail picture here, you'll get the idea that birds might! As amazing as this may seem, it is a real bloom on a real plant and the photo has not been retouched or tampered with in any way. The story is, as you might expect, quite a winding road. Read on to learn more . . . Read More
After considering the world's largest organism, one might wonder what the world's smallest flowering plant is like. You'll be surprised to find out that this extremely diminutive plant is actually small enough for a specimen in full bloom to sit on the head of a pin! Read on for the incredible facts . . . Read More
Few other plants say "tropical" as clearly as plants in the genus Alocasia, and few Alocasia plants are as exquisitely beautiful as the ones I have chosen to call the "Jewels". They are jewels because they are almost all small growers whose spectacular beauty makes up for their size, if only you can keep them alive - read on to see why. . . Read More
Sexual reproduction in flowering plants involves the production of seeds, while asexual reproduction takes place by way of plant parts such as offshoots, cuttings, corms or tubers. Plants resulting from asexual reproduction are identical copies, or clones, of the original plant. However, some plants can produce seeds that yield new plants identical to the parent. This unusual type of reproduction promises tremendous possibilities for the future of agricultural crops. . . Read More
While most of us eat fruit to enjoy the taste of it as well as the health benefits, the Miracle Fruit is one that you taste not for the sake of the fruit itself, but because of what happens afterwards. You see, while this fruit has little real taste, the effect it has on sour or acid fruits and foods you taste afterwards will leave you incredulous. . . Read More
What would an aroid look like if it were a sentient being? My first visionary answer yielded two possibilities: one anthropomorphic and one completely non-humanoid. As my imagination would have it, both are represented on Aroidia. The one I stood face to face with at the conclusion of the first installment in this series of articles was the anthropomorphic kind. But what would the life cycle of these moving, non-animal entities consist of? Read More
Delving into the depths of the vast Aroidian ocean is an adventure that would test even the mettle of Jacques Cousteau! Fortunately for me, voyaging in my imagination provided me all the safety I required. From giant swaying seaweed-like ribbon forests to the object of my adventure, the aquatic sentient aroids, this search was bound to turn up something interesting. And it did . . . Read More
The beauty of our everyday plants is one reason why we garden and keep plants in our environments. However, sometimes Nature throws us a curve ball and we find an intriguing anomaly to add to our collection. Read on to learn more about a most unusual phenomenon . . . Read More
Some plants have unusual or strange flowers, while others have interesting leaf shapes or branching patterns. This plant, however, is bizarre and strange all around, practically exuding paradoxical characteristics. Read on to discover more about a plant that could win the title, "most likely to have originated on another planet . . ." Read More
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