Plants don't age in the same way we think of people aging. Age in people is a described on a chronological basis, where plants age ontogenetically. This might be framed as, the parts that have taken the most cell divisions to produce are the plant's oldest parts; so strangely, the most recent part of the plant (say, a new branch high on the plant) to grow is the oldest part of the plant. The youngest part of the plant will be found in the root to shoot transition zone. This juvenile part of the plant is also nearly always the most vigorous part of the plant. Plants pass through life stages until they end up at the sexually mature stage. At that point they are capable of blooming/fruiting. Whether they DO or not is complicated and not entirely understood. Blooming and other environmental reactions of most healthy plants are primarily influenced by day length (technically it's night length), but more than a few plants are triggered by other factors, like moisture availability, temperature, predation. Some plants even seem to have an internal 'alarm clock' that acts as a trigger to bloom. There are species of bamboo that bloom as infrequently as every 130 years and when the bloom occurs, all plants of a given genetic origin bloom simultaneously, en masse (all at once), and this occurs regardless of environmental influences. Now, that a plant is capable of blooms/fruit doesn't mean it will produce same, no matter how much we hope. The factors that limit a plant's ability to bloom are as complicated as those that trigger blooming. The plant's internal chemical messengers that limit blooming is first influenced by the plants ontogenetic age, but then by health, stress, stored energy reserves, a significant number of environmental factors, and sometimes seemingly no more than a built-in piqued obstinacy that can be more irritating than Justin Bieber or the Kardashians, if that's even possible. How do I get it to bloom? Keep it healthy and let it do its thing. You can search online - there might be some simple ways to coax it to bloom exactly whenever it feels like it. How old does it have to be? The only age important to plants is what growth phase they're in. They have to be old enough chronologically to have reached sexual maturity. This is also complicated because the (ontogenetic) age of the parent plant from which the propagule (that is now your plant) was taken has to be a part of the equation. Example - a hawthorn tree from seed needs to survive around 20-25 growth cycles to bloom; whereas, a cutting from a blooming hawthorn tree can be counted on blooming within a few years if its state of vitality has been generally good. Al

Hi! I'm glad this thread is still alive despite it being 10 years old! :D Just what I need—I've had a Calathea Zebrina for almost 6 weeks. A week after getting it, leaves started turning yellow, browning, and shriveling up. I was able to asses that it lacked humidity and fixed it with a humidifier on it's 5th week with me. Since then, leaves stalled their yellowing but I'm down to two good leaves. Now on it's 6th week with me, I noticed one of the good leaves started browning from the bottom (near the stem). Not sure what else to do! I've been keeping the soil moist, checking it everyday. I have the humidifier going nearly 24/7 for a week now. Should I be patient and wait for new growth? Should I do something to jumpstart it? I watched a video on Youtube where someone put a bag over her Calathea and it rejuvenated after 3-4 weeks. Does that help? The seller of the plant suggested I put a few pieces of osmocote to encourage growth, but I'm afraid of fertilizer burn. I just really want to save her. Thank you! Some notes that might help: • 53-65% Humidity at night or when the air conditioner is running (with humidifier) • 70-95% Humidity during the day with humidifier • 2.5-3 meters from my North East facing window, it has bright indirect light • It's beside a Fishbone plant and an Adansonii • I live in a city of a tropical country -J

Claire, everything I've read and experienced states 7-8 year old plants before blooming. I don't know if this includes the dwarfs, only standards. When I started my miniata in 82 from seeds, it took 7 yrs before blooms. And like I said, I've read this in plant books, too. The only plant I know of that's suppposed to bloom w/a certain amount of leaves is the Bird of Paradise. I believe it's at least 8 leaves before bloom. I hope I'm wrong, but I think this to be true..I sure hope you guys are correct, cause I've two other Clivias that have 5 and 6 leaves..one yellow flower one variegated w/orange flowers. Toni

The plants in self-watering containers and in 5-gallon grow bags are both exhibiting the leaf roll. However, I do have 2 5-gallon grow bags that have plants in partial shade which do not exhibit leaf roll and are just as big, if not bigger, than those in the self-watering containers. I'm thinking the leaf roll may be root stress related. Either the 5-gallon containers/bags have become too small, the container gets too hot thus stressing the roots, or the potting soil has finally compacted and isn't delivering enough oxygen to the roots. I have tomato plants in raised beds as well and I haven't noticed any leaf roll with them. I have noticed a few had yellowing leaves w/brown spots (3rd picture), however.