Identification: Tropicals

Got these recently at Art Knapps and they were just labeled "tropicals" but I'd like to know what they are so I can care for them. Keeping them out of direct sunlight for now. The one on the far left is a couple of cuttings I got from someone. They didn't know exactly but I suspect it is a type of philodendron? Thanks!

 

2 looks like Aphelandra squarrosa, zebra plant.

 

Thank you!! Seems like I got an awesome plant for $2!!!

 

Indeed! All look healthy.
Tend to agree with Philodendron for 1---you may want to get it into a bigger pot.
Fear not! Our intrepid forum members will have all of these IDed for you in half a jiff.

 

Hey Togata, regarding the philo, I had them in a bottle of water for a week and then decided to just plant them in the soil to see if they would root. They have been in the dirt for two to three weeks. I am afraid to transplant them in case they haven't rooted. Sometimes I feel like I'm caring for babies. haha

 

3. Podocarpus macrophyllus var. Maki
4.Tradescantia bermudensis ‘Variegata’

Your Yoghurt containers need drainage holes, did you provide them?

 

Thank you! Yes, I poked several holes in the bottoms.

Here is a better picture of the one. I am not so sure it's an evergreen.

http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j82/cleopatra143/?action=view&current=tropical.jpg

 

I'm with Saltcedar on #3 - that's clearly a Podocarpus.

 

Could #3 be something else? Well, yes... But everything about it screams podocarpus to me too. Pattern of growth, venation on leaves.

Your philo may be Philodendron bipinnatifidum.

 

Well that's weird. I wonder why they were trying to sell it to me as a tropical plant.

 

A lot of producers don't make the distinction between "tropical plant" and "house plant," and assume that anything that can be grown inside must be tropical. (Remember, they don't get paid extra for accuracy.)

And it's still fairly tropical -- only hardy to zone 8, according to davesgarden.com.

 

Yeah, I realize this. That's why I have to run to the experts here to identify these things! HAHA!

 

Well, repotted the Philo. No roots. How long is it supposed to take?

 

Roots on a transplanted Philo? Anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months, depending on the plant, its health, the medium, the sunlight, and water levels.

And a note on calling Podocarpus "tropical" - I can see how it could be done. There are a few species native to Ecuador, for example, which is a tropical country, even though the trees themselves belong to a temperate climate zone here.