I am thrilled you helped me discover the name of my own "mystery plant"!! About five years ago I brought a tiny cutting wrapped in a wash cloth from Germany - where it was taken from a mother plant that a friend had brought from Malaysia . It would be interesting to know if it is common not just in China but maybe South-East Asia also? Although I have now over a dozen plants (can't help it - need to keep propagating) I don't remember ever seeing them bloom. Is there a trick to getting them to do that - or do I just need a magnifying glass...?
Not a trick, but considering where they came from originally, you may definitely need to use supplementary lighting, such as hanging a 40w full spectrum bulb fluorescent fixture 6-8 inches above the plants for 14-16 hrs a day. It's how many bonsai and exotic tropicals are grown to even try to match the sun they're used to 'at home'. And see what you can do about humidity - like a wide tray of stones and water under the pot 24/7, but never let the pot bottom touch the water (or roots could rot).
Thanks, Rima, for the suggestion. I will try that but probably closer to spring when the plants might be more naturally inclined to bloom (?). Otherwise, so far they have done fine during the previous winters here in Indiana, with just bright indirect day light and moderate watering (no additional pampering). Outdoors during the summer, however, and with some fertilizer, they REALLY took off! I wonder if anybody knows the maximum size these plants will grow in the wild?
