What kind of plant is this??

Question

i have this houseplant and im trying to find out more info about it... ive been having alot of problums with gnats living in it.. i have tryed re-planting it, bug sprays, dish soap mix, not overwatering... nothing is working.. im starting to think it might be the plant attracting the gnats.. do to none of my other houseplants have this problum... the new bug spray seems to be killing the plant so.. im out of ideas on how to stop them from breeding in my house!!

http://s347.photobucket.com/albums/p479/racebabe84_photos/?action=view&current=boatday008.jpg

http://s347.photobucket.com/albums/p479/racebabe84_photos/?action=view&current=boatday009.jpg

http://s347.photobucket.com/albums/p479/racebabe84_photos/?action=view&current=boatday011.jpg

Answer 1

What you have here is a Purple Passion plant. If you google it you will find lots of photos and information. It could be that the insects are coming from the soil your plant is in. Hope one of these website helps you to save your plant. Good luck.

Answer 2

Your Plant is Gynura.

I had the same trouble with this plant and nothing saved it. it had infestations which were rampant and uncontrolled and I finally had to concede defeat and chuck the whole thing in fear that it was going to affect the entire ecosystem in my little house-jungle. It was frustrating, just as you say, because i cherished, coddled, and did everything i could come up with to save this plant. It was such a beautiful plant until the infestation.

Gynura shall darken my door never again.

Thank you for asking.

Answer 3

fungus gnat larvae thrive in old soil that has become saturated and lost its pores, take the plant out of the pot and gently remove as much loose soil as possible, gently rinse the rootball leaving whatever soil is firmly attached, repot with new soil.  is there a hole in the bottom of the pot?  If no, then that's your problem, excess water cannot drain and soil breaks down quickly.

Answer 4

Gynura aurantiaca--Purple Velvet Plant (Vis. 1). Gynura sarmentosa

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Type: house plant

Comments: There are two types of Velvet Plant, G.

sarmentosa is the trailing type and G. aurantiaca is

upright. Both have leaves covered with purple hairs.

Exposure to full sun or high light causes formation of the

maximum amount of purple hairs. Keep the soil evenly

moist and fertilize weekly with any house plant fertilizer.

Ideal temperatures are 60 degrees at night and 65 to 70

degrees during the day. Young plants are pinched to keep

them compact. The tips of long branches may be cut off and

stuck in the soil. These will root and thicken in the

plant.