It's a type of Mussaenda, a tropical shrub from Asia. They grow exceedingly well in South Florida. Here is a link that might be useful: Mussaenda, aka Bangkok Rose

Since you posted this in the banana forum, I assume your mean the word plants to be banana plants? In that case, the amount of leaves is not dependant on when a banana blooms. It's all up to water, pests, fertilizing, soil and weather conditions. I have my older SDC bananas in the ground and most of them are about 3-4 feet (their max size) and I keep wandering if they will at least start to bloom. My SDC are not particularly great bananas to try to get and bloom, esp for the zone I live in. If anything, I would count on a particular height for the type of banana you have to expect blooming. But again, this may not necessarily be the case. Maybe a few other folks in here can shed some more light on this issue.

I don't think they're thrips cause I didn't see any insects on the plant. Here's an image of the yellowing I'm talking about. 1 leaf seems to get the bulk of it. It turns competely to a straw like appearance and texture. The other leaves I've noticed are also starting. It seems to start at the tips. I uploaded the first image and included a link to both that image as well as an image just of the flower heads. Wasn't sure how big the image file option will get the picture on here.. http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/metallic_alchemist/DSCF9595.jpg http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/metallic_alchemist/DSCF9596.jpg I don't know if it's relevant, but thinking in terms of the virus and looking into virus' in bulbs, I'm wondering now if that might not be the issue I've had with my tulips as well. I have a rectangular box dedicated to tulips and for the past couple years now, they grow crooked, leaves yellow and streak, the pedals ruffle and streak as well.. I thought it was tulip fire but the fungicide I tried didn't change anything. Kind of wondering if it had to do with not fertilizing cause, being a novice, it's only just this year that I realized I need to fertilize! And only just this year that I've started.. I debating on if I want to grow the tulips another season to see if the fertilization will help or not, but now with this virus deal... This post was edited by Jahzara on Thu, Jul 31, 14 at 23:36

Ok, well they have stopped growing for about a month, so I decided to cut them off as close to the tip as i could. I took the chance and I did take the cutting out of the soil because I noticed it looking a little wrinkled, luckily there were no roots at all so I cut the infloes off and dipped the cutting into a rooting hormone. Do you think by taking te plant out it will kill it or does it seem like it would be ok since no stress was involved to any roots?