Fire Flash – Indoor House Plants

Fire Flash (Chlorophytum orchidastrum Green Orange) is an evergreen, ornamental, air-purifying, indoor house plant. It can grow about 12 – 16 inch high and 23 to 31 inches in diameter. It has wide, glossy green leaves with an orange petiole and midrib. The roots form nodules for storing water, which makes the plant drought resistant. Its long stems produce small creamy white flowers from the center of the plant. Fire Flash plant filters airborne toxins from home.

Scientific Name: Chlorophytum orchidastrum ‘Green Orange’
Synonyms: Chlorophytum amaniense ‘Fire Flash’, Chlorophytum orchidastrum, Chlorophytum orchidantheroides, Chlorophytum filipendulum amaniense, Chlorophytum ‘Fire Flash’.
Common Names: Fire Flash, Fire Glory, Mandarin Plant, Tangerine, Sierra Leone Lil.

How to grow and maintain Fire Flash (Chlorophytum orchidastrum Green Orange):

Light:
It thrives best in a bright, indirect sunlight. Keep the spider plant out of direct sunlight because it can scorch leaves and even grow well in artificial lighting.

Soil:
It grows best in well-drained, loamy soils with plenty of added organic matter like compost.

Water:
Water regularly, during the growing season (April to September), but water sparingly when dormant (autumn and winter). Allow the top of the soil to slightly dry out before watering again. Tolerant to periods of drought.

Temperature:
It prefers average room temperatures of 68°F – 72°F / 20°C – 22°C. These are fairly tough plants so should survive temperatures above 8°C in winter if the soil is kept fairly dry.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize every two weeks during the growing season, from spring through summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Do not fertilize during the winter.

Pruning:
You can prune Fire Flash plant leaves in the spring or summer. Remove all diseased, or dead foliage as needed. Always use sharp pruners or scissors when pruning Fire Flash plants.

Re-potting:
Re-pot in spring when the plant has outgrown its pot. If you see roots growing out of the drainage holes, just change the pot to one the size bigger for the best growth.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by seed or by division. Sowing is easy. The plant self-sows if you don’t remove the flowers after flowering and let them go to seed.

Pests and Diseases:
Mandarin Plants are susceptible to the mealy bug, scale, spider mites, and Aphids. To get rid of these pests, you can Mandarin plant monthly with an insecticidal soap or green solution.