Oooh, I'm so excited. Someone making plant tags that actually have helpful information. What is the name of the grower? I've been explaining low-medium-high light in terms of reading for years ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv7-3p-nqMM ). Regarding your cordyline - pretty plant, by the way - I would give it as much light as possible without getting hit by direct sunlight. Cordylines are not used very often in interior landscaping because, under interior conditions (medium low - medium light) they just don't do very well, not nearly as well as the more commonly used species. They are very susceptible to spider mites, among other problems. Of course, yours might be a newly developed variety that doesn't have those problems. Here's a tip for dealing with plants that are atractive to spider mites - about every other week, or at least once a month, use your spray bottle filled with water and a little (1 tsp) liquid soap, and spray it lightly over your plant, tops and undersides of leaves. Not only will this show any webbing even before you might notice it otherwise, but it also kills/discourages the mites. After spraying you can wipe down the leaves with a paper towel or soft cloth - one hand under leaf, other hand wiping - which not only keeps the plants nice and clean but helps to kill/discourage the bugs,

I have enjoyed all the postings re this remarkable and dazzling plant - but no one has touched on the issue of pests. I am inundated with "holes" on my spv leaves......need to know of a successful treatment for this problem.....Also - I have been very successful "rooting" spv - directly - into small pots of a good potting soil..keep moist...From now on - I will no longer buy a dozen pots for my window boxes....a few to root will do!

Here's my experience in Tampa (zone 9b), where I got the sweetest pineapple I've ever had after about 26 months. I cut the top off and trimmed the flesh back unil root buds were visible, and let it rest about a week in the garage (hot and fairly dry). This was planted in a mixture of 1/2 commercial potting soil, 1/4 perlite and 1/4 sand in a 12" plastic pot with clay shards on the bottom. The plant was kept in partial shade for a month then moved to full sun, and watered weekly during the dry season only. Miracle Grow or Peters was used about once a month, though during the rainy season I probably forgot for months on end. Apparently it didn't care! The bud appeared in early December, and the fruit reached full size (6" high and about 5" in diameter) by mid-april. When the color began to change, I built an enclosure to keep the fruits rats, squirrels and 'coons away (see below) and let it change color fully before twisting it off. The enclosure was easy to make, and is reusable and extensible (I hope to have 4-5 plants from the shoots still on the mother plant). I made five 3x3 panels out of 1x2's covered in 1/2" machine cloth. Two pairs of these were then hinged together and were then secured on the other edges with hook-and-eye clasps; the fifth panel was then laid on top to form a cube. To extend it, I'll just make a few more panels. I have several questions, though: First, I've see the term "ratoon" used several ways, and wonder which is correct. One usage indicated that any subsequent fruiting from shoots on the mother plant was called a "ratoon crop", while another site indicated that "ratoons" are only those shoots that form at the base of the plant (vs. slips, stem-side shoots or suckers on the fruit itself). Second, I've read that the shoots should be left on the mother plant for a month or two before removal and repotting. If I read correctly, they should be twisted off and allowed to rest for a week or so before planting. Is that correct? Also, I thought I saw where one or two shoots can be left on the mother plant and they will actually produce fruit more quickly. Has anyone had experience doing this? Thanks!

I agree that posting pictures is easy. I also set up an account in Photobucket. A big thanks to Laurie who showed me how to post multiple pictures and now I can show you all my 'stuff' in the yard. Scan your picture and then save it in a file in your computer. Set up an account with photobucket and when you are in your account, click on browse. It will take you to your computer and you just find your picture, double click on the file and it will download into photobucket. You will want to edit the picture once it is downloaded. I edit twice...once to give it a name and once to shrink the picture to about 50 ish in size. It's too bad one of us couldn't just pop over to help you thru it the first time (like Laurie did for me). But if you have any problems just ask and I'm sure someone will be able to respond to your question ASAP. When posting a picture, go to the tag line under your picture in photobucket. Highlight it, press the 'control' button at the same time as the 'C' on your keyboard to copy it. With another internet site opened up to Far North Gardening Forum, type your message, give yourself 2 lines worth of space, press 'control' and the 'V' to paste it. Then give yourself 2 lines of space underneath your picture. What I find takes the longest is to download and edit the pictures into photobucket. Brenda (who is still downloading D's for the gallery and realizing that I need to start at the A's again...'cause I am not going to inundate everyone with over 100 daylilies in the D's or the same in the L's for lilies or the same in the I's for irises)