This is one of the plants commonly known as a Goldfish Plant. The Latin name of this one is Nematanthus X tropicana, I believe. It's one of the many Nematanthus hybrids.

Yes, this plant has nice, shiny leaves...funny how your picture doesn't do it justice. You sure are doing something right to have had this around for so long! Congratulations.

Thank you so much, rhizo! This photo is actually one a friend took of a start from my plant. Her photo is much better than mine, so I used hers. My plant's leaves begin to lose their gloss when it gets thirsty; I'll check with her to see if her start might need a drink.

I've been trying for so long to figure out what this plant is; now my search is over, I can take it off my list of to-do's. Folks had suggested it might be a lipstick plant(and now I know, from my searches on Nematanthus tropicana, that lipstick plant is indeed a relative), but that never seemed quite right, and I'm grateful to you for supplying the correct answer.

Susan, not only are its leaves nice-looking, but the flower is amazing. I've never seen a Nem/Gold Fish flower quite like yours..Beautiful.

Hello Rhizo. Toni

hopefulauthor, we think so too. It's moved six times with us in 28 years.

On another subject, are you published (referring to your screen name)? I have been, but decades ago except for local-newspaper articles; I'm considering getting back into the game.

If you know of a really good online writers' group for mostly failed fiction writers, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks to you and Rhizo.

Susan

You trading any cuttings of that great 'Goldfish' plant? It is very nice!

Sure. I haven't been here in ages, though. How do we do that?

Howdy Susan,

28-years is a long time keeping a Gold Fish Plant alive and well.

No, I'm not a published author. I completed two manuscripts, but after a few rejections, gave it up.

Yahoo, AOL and MSN had writers' groups/forums. 'all genres' in the early 90's, but what started as informative and pleasant ended with a few clowns who decided porn a better topic.

Congrats being published. Any books I'd find on Amazon, etc? Toni

Hi, Toni. No, they're all out of print. Never got rich, whaddayaknow. I had an agent in NY for a children's book recently, but she disappeared leaving a bunch of writers in the lurch, and lost my MS and photos as well. Fortunately I had another copy; what a mess.

Sorry about the clowns. They're everywhere, seems like, in one form or another.

...and thanks for answering, Toni.

Susan

Hi, Susan:

Your Nematanthus is a gesneriad. There is a specific forum on gessies and I'm sure growers would love to see a photo of your lovely plant. And however you're growing it, don't change. :-)

There is another gessie, columnea (which I grow), that is sometimes mistakenly called a "Goldfish plant." I believe the nickname for columnea might be "Dancing Dolphin." Not sure. You should Google columnea for photos.

Best,

Linda

Susan, you're welcome.

It's terrible that agent did such thing..Hope you didn't pay her.
Lately, it seems everyone is a theat.
Did you report her?

While submitting inquires, and 1-3 chapters, one agent phoned. She said she was interested and wanted me to send the entire MS.

Thankfully, before the Yahoo Forum grew corrupt, I asked if anyone knew of this woman.
You wouldn't believe the number of people who wrote, warning me.
Sure enough, she was a scam artist. Not only did she want the entire MS, she wanted 800.00 for her fee..lol..

One other Gesneriad to include to Linda's list is Episcia. Episcias are most beautiful. Gorgeous foliage. Pinks are my favorite..only problem is they need quite a bit of humidity, some more than others..Small Episcias do well in a terrarium. Check it out. Toni

Hi, Toni. No, she wasn't a scam artist; she was a real agent. She saw my MS at a writers' conference and asked me to send it to her. I hadn't paid her anything. Her mother got seriously ill and apparently she fell apart, was the story I heard. She has reopened her office at this point, and is an award-winning editor, but I'm taking a break for now. Sorry your MS got rejections; takes a thick skin to be a writer. Anyway, good luck if you decide to try again.

stonesriver, I'll post a photo on "Gesneriads". Thanks.

Susan. What a relief!
I'm sorry, should have specified. I didn't mean this woman, per se is a con artist.
It's much clearer since you've explained her situation.
Horror stories mentioned on forums makes one a skeptic.

Apparently, your MS is a great read. If you don't mind me asking, why take a break? If you don't feel like answering, I understand.

Toni

Toni, I've really hijacked this thread, haven't I?

I worked on a political campaign in 2008, 100+ hours a week, but still worked on revisions of my MS. Then my submission got lost (as did others' work, I've been told), so I got discouraged and quit.

I got together a bunch of friends to do volunteer things, just informally around our small towns. I happened to be in a barber shop/beauty salon, talking about volunteering, and a lawyer waiting for a haircut heard me and said he'd volunteer to do the paperwork to get us started as a nonprofit. (He's now on my board.) So I'm prez of an all-volunteer nonprofit which has grown a lot, with more than 20 projects in three counties, and it's been a lot more time-consuming than I had imagined it would be. My term as president is up a year from now, and I'm gradually improving my ability to delegate tasks, looking toward the time I'll be just a member and not responsible for so much. I rode the horse into town, so to speak, so I feel until my term is over I need to be on the scene quite a bit. I've also had a series of surgeries, still in the middle of them, but I have no kids at home so I have time to at least think about writing fiction again. It will happen yet this year, I'm sure; I can feel things bubbling up.

How about you? Do you write at this point? Were your novels a particular genre?

Susan

Susan, you cannot hijack your own thread..:)

You are one busy woman; it's understandable why a vacation is needed.

Congrats on all you've accomlished as president.

Can you re-run?

Perhaps you'd rather, as you said, 'just be a member,' so you'll have more time to yourself.. spend time relaxing, writing, gardening, etc.

I hope there's nothing seriously wrong, and pray your surgeries outcome, successful.
No, I've given up. I no longer have the patience, time, or inclination.

Too much is going on. For one, I also need surgeries, one type in particular, but the docs said I'm too young..in the meantime I have to deal with it.

First MS, horror, second, Mystery.

Anyway, have you had a chance to look at Gesneriads? Are you planning on adding more plants to your collectiion? Toni

Susan, you cannot hijack your own thread..:)

You are one busy woman; it's understandable why a vacation is needed.

Congrats on all you've accomlished as president.

Can you re-run?

Perhaps you'd rather, as you said, 'just be a member,' so you'll have more time to yourself.. spend time relaxing, writing, gardening, etc.

I hope there's nothing seriously wrong, and pray your surgeries outcome, successful.
No, I've given up. I no longer have the patience, time, or inclination.

Too much is going on. For one, I also need surgeries, one type in particular, but the docs said I'm too young..in the meantime I have to deal with it.

First MS, horror, second, Mystery.

Anyway, have you had a chance to look at Gesneriads? Are you planning on adding more plants to your collectiion? Toni

I figured I'm hijacking my own thread if people click on it and the title doesn't fit the content any more!

I'll be 75 in April; many major medicals are behind me. I have a TKR coming up. (Maybe that's the one you're too young for?) But I am busy, and I think after my term as prez ends I'll be much happier being just on the board. I don't have young kids at home, as many of you do, so I have bunches of free time. I read every day, but still have time for lots of other things.

Toni, I guess your third statement, that you don't have the inclination, is the telling one at least for now. I haven't had the inclination for a while, but it's growing again, so I think before too long I'll see where it leads.

I've done short stories, children's stories, and nonfiction so far. Don't think I have a novel in me, but "mysterious", if not "mystery", has been my preference.

I'm happy with the plants I have inside; I'm a minimalist in decor, not a collector at all, and don't want to spend a lot of time on plant care. Our 28-year-old friend seems content no matter what I do; a huge virtue, in my book! And our front and back yards keep me out in the Colorado sun spring to fall, so I'm pretty full up on plant care.

I very much appreciate your posts. I wish you luck on your surgeries, with your plants, and with your writerly endeavors if you decide to try again.

Susan. 74..hey you're still a young chick..:)

TKR, you've got it. You must have ESP, lol.
Truthfully, I firmly believe it's more of an insurance issue than age.
As soon as one of three MRI's were diagnosed, my doc said it was kneed'ed, lol, pun intended, even if corny.
The specialist agreed.
Suddenly, I'm too young...

I had two, unsuccessful surgeries, 'not TKR, however, the same area,' 2000 and 2010. Don't plan on a third.

After the doc gave me the news, I asked if there were other options. His reply, 'yep, live on pain meds!' He wasn't the first doc who came to this conclusion.

When is your surgery scheduled? Have you done research?
All I can say is prepare for horizontal hobbies.
Seriously.
Since you enjoy reading, stock up on books. Writing, keep several note-pads, paper, pencils, markers, and a laptop handy.
Sewing/knitting, whatever..keep items nearby.

I've read some people are ordered to total bedrest, as long as 10 months!

For me, lying in bed for one-month is impossible. Not with 4 birds, 2 dogs, and 350-400 plants. 'My son is grown, Susan..no other children.'

My BIL had TKR done last year..he said he never felt better, wish it was done sooner.

I wish you the best of luck and good health. You'll be in my prayers.

No inclination or time. Besides, I cannot tolerate rejection...after opening an envelope, unfolding a clean, type-written sheet of paper, then reading, 'Thank You, but,'
I gave up.
Don't get me wrong. I have plenty ideas, 'but,' :)

Susan, after all you've accomplished, your foot is in the door..now all you have to do is open, and step inside.

A novel is nothing more than several short stories blended together.
A bunch of adjectives, nouns, pronouns, etc... :)

Who knows, after surgery you might conjure the perfect, Alfred Hitchcock, Steven King, or Grimms'.

You wouldn't feel comfortable in my house since you're a minimalist in decor..lol.
The only rooms without plants..a back bathroom...reason, no window..bird room, reason, birds like munching greens, and closets, obvious reasons.

It's funny you said your 28-yr-old friend is a virture, regarding your book.
Lately, several authors mention and describe numerous plants unrelated to the story. Have you read Wendy Staub, Nora Roberts, Lisa Jackson or Sue Grafton?
If you enjoy mystery/suspense, you'll like the above authors.
Of all four, Staub really gets into plants.

Over the years, a few people have been to GW inquiring plant info. Said they wanted to learn, add to their MS. Wonder if these people were published..

Susan, I enjoy talking to you, too, and wish you the best.
Keep me posted about surgery. Or any other topic you wish to discuss. Toni

Well, at 74, I don't always feel like a young chick. DH (to whom I've been married 28 years, just like my Nematanthus) is 13 years younger than me, though, and very active, so we don't sit around much.

I think you might be right about the insurance issue. It's a shame, isn't it? I think it's criminal, in fact, and I'm sorry you're going through this. There is a case to be made that the knee will have to be replaced again if you're young, though, since they don't last decades and decades.

I had the other knee replaced already and was told not one in 5000 patients does as well as I did, so I know what I'm up against and what I can do. I have a real high pain tolerance and am pretty tough.

350-400 plants!!! Do you mean inside? How do you water them? Or maybe they're outside and you're on 1000 acres with a lot of rainfall. Omigosh, I could not do that. Talk about me being busy.

Yeah, you have to be able to tolerate rejection to be a writer; at least that's my experience, and I think it's a common one.

Thanks for your good wishes, and I send the same to you. Let me know how you manage those 400 plants.

Morning Susan,

Ha, there are young girls, 'and boys,' age 20 who don't feel like a young chick.

Who came first---nematanthus or dh? :)

There you go....got yourself a cockeral..The cockeral keeps the chicken young and active.

Susan, I KNOW it's an insurance issue. HMO's suck. PPO's are much better, but charge a small fortune, especially new semester co-pay. Of course, as the saying goes, we get what we pay for.

Mind if I ask how long you were off your feet after the first surgery? Or told to.
You have a a high pain tolerance..I scratch my arm and cry..lol..j/k..not that bad.

Yes ma'am, all 350-400 plants are indoors, but summered outside.

Watering. For one, I keep old milk containers filled w/water..when soil is dry, water is available.
I prefer room temp water. Containers are hidden behind larger plants pots though because of space, many are in view.

Watering isn't as much work as hauling each plant to the sink/shower in winter for a hearty spray or fertilizing each plant with different fertilizers. Especially water-solubles.

I've tried different methods, and found watering/fertilizing, etc best done by working with a 'X' plant variety each day. For example and hypothetically speaking---let's say Monday is dedicated to Philodendrons, Tuesday, Citrus, etc.

Prior to knee/back problems, I'd try to finish the whole shebang in a day..lol. Even then it was impossible. I'd spend 10-11 hours, non-stop, from morning until early evening.

Back in the 90's I bought a thin hose that attaches to the kitchen faucet. Watering with a hose is the easiest of all methods, but like I said, I prefer watering with tepid water.

Susan, what matters is the health of our plants and bodies. Working with plants is a fantastic exorcise program at no cost...I prefer carrying a gallon container from room to room than doing sit-ups or leg raises, let alone 'paying' to lose weight or gain muscle.

That's about it, really.

Take care of yourself...Wishing you the best, Toni

Hi Folks,

Can I jump in here? Took me a while but is a TKR = Total Knee Replacement?

If so, may I volunteer it's not necessarily an insurance issue; it's that the docs don't want the patient to outlive the new knee.

An attorney w/ whom I work told me his wife just had her 2nd TKR & wishes she'd done it sooner. When I told him I'd had knee surgery at 17 & keep observing all this new knee replacement technology, he asked my age & apologized for the question. I'm 55 & he explained the current thinking is these knee replacements last about 20 yrs., so they want the person to be old enough to not outlive the TKR.

I blew out a knee 3 wks ago, am hobbling around on a cane & am in my 2nd week of Physical Therapy (PT). I had the cortizone shot in the knee 3 wks ago; I don't do pain meds (except for codeine in extreme pain, happily I'm not in).

This & back problems are the price we humans pay for walking upright on 2 feet (not all fours). Off to go do PT!!!

Karen, good luck w/PT..I've gone many many times...doesn't help..Came home w/more pain than I had before going in.

You're 3/4ths correct doctors, if not the insurancy company doesn't want a patient to outlive a new knee/hip.

This is true.

However, two docs, 'current and new' explained HMO subtly informs doctors to dissuade patients from surgery..any surgery..unless it's life-threatening.

My surgery was set to go. Both my MD and specialist arranged a hospital stay, tests, etc.
Until they received a letter from our insurance company.

It went from TKR to basic surgery..Twice. For what? My knee is so swollen and painful, (one reason I haven't slept well) I feel like screaming.

17-yrs is terribly young..Can't believe they did the surgery, on the other hand, how much pain, and did your problem prevent you from living a healthy, normal life a 17-yr-old girl is meant to live?

The same insurance problem, 'differnt insurance,' sufficed when I had a tumor in my spine.
Don't know how many docs I saw. They kept giving me X-rays, PT and pain meds.
Finally, my doctor, 'allergist' ordered an MRI. He got balled out by Hospital President. I felt terrible, asked him why anyone would be so damn upset. He admitted my insurance company didn't want to pay for the MRI, but reluctantly did. Insurance notified the president, and he admonished my allergist. Sure enough, they found a tumor.

And more problems when it was time for surgery..Big headaches.

I do agree with you, but a person can only endure so much.

A close friend had hip surgery 4-yrs-ago. Life went on until last year..the darn thing pops out every other month or so..back to the ER she goes.

Turns out, her new doctor 'admitted' he didn't like the way her previous surgeon, operated.
She now needs another HR.
She's in her 50's, on disability..yet, no problems with a second surgery..I don't understand.

Anyway, Karen..I am sorry you're injured, not feeling well. Hope PT helps. Toni

Actually, DH did; a neighbor gave us the Nem.

Only two or three days off my feet, then to physical therapy,then a walker, cane,etc. I really pushed myself though, and I was in an inpatient rehab place so the therapy I got was 4x a day, a grueling process but I could tell that doing absolutely everything that was suggested really made a difference. I was driving at about 2 1/2 weeks, I think, continued OP therapy, etc.

You made me laugh, talking about plant care as cost-free exercise. Indeed! I never thought of it that way.

You take care of yourself, too. We could exchange email addresses but I don't know how to do that without it being public, and don't want to just put my email address in a post. Anyway, that probably won't happen, but good luck to you, Toni. There are forums where you can find out a lot about TKR; can't think of any right now but you'll find them easily with google. Just use your good sense and don't take any advice that sounds crazy to you; it probably is. And with physical therapy, it's going to hurt, but you'll read folks saying that therapists are "sadists", etc. They aren't. Doing the tough stuff for a few weeks means that now I have a knee that I can do almost anything with. Again, good luck to you!

Susan