Lesson 1: Selecting the best houseplants for YOU
Houseplants for the Black Thumb: 8 plants that thrive on neglect
If you are notorious for your black thumb, start simple with this handy, opinionated list of super-easy botanical treats.
You won't go wrong with any of these, and, as a plus, I've selected plants that are attractive and stylish to boot! Honestly, if you kill off a plant on this list, silk plants might be your ONLY remaining option....
1. Sansevieria (Snake Plant, Mother-in-Law's Tongue)
This attractive plant sends up tall, shiny, thick leaves suitable for gracing any odd nook or corner of the house. It tolerates shade, sun, humidity or dry air, and can go a long, long ways between waterings. If you really want to water your plants everyday, don't buy Sansevieria. For everyone else, this is the world's easiest houseplant. To wit, buy this one first.
TIP: Men like the masculine look of this easy-care plant, which fits right in to the office environment.
2. Aspidistra (Cast Iron Plant)
An attractive and tough plants that tolerates low light levels and dry conditions.
TIP: This plant, popularized in parlor rooms of the Victorian Era, is making a comeback. And well it should. It's atractive, large, sturdy, glossy leaves fit right in to almost any decor. Place this one all over your house or office.
3. Cacti and Euphorbia
Euphorbia, Howie Deutch, Suite101 Garden Adventures
An escapee from desert climes, the house Cactus is sturdy and stylish. It DOES need water from time to time, but offers a long grace period between waterings. As with all plants, water well when you do apply the H2O. While cacti enjoy direct sun, they tolerate other light levels as well.
Euphorbia (see picture) are NOT related to cacti, being an example of convergent evolution. What does that mean? Well, it looks like a cactus and grows in the same type of conditions. For your purposes, treat it just like one. Let soil dry out completely between waterings, then give it a good soaking!
TIP: Houses with young children would do well to avoid spiny cactus plants. Curious cats or hyperactive dogs also do not mix well with sharp spines. Consider well your use of such a potential "attack plant". Along these lines, not a good plant for the bedroom, if you stumble sleepily around in the morning before that wake-up coffee.
Anecdote: I have a three-foot high cactus I aquired for free from my realtor. It was living in a dark office corner, and allowed to dry out completely for a period of at least six months. It looked terrible and the soil was so dry it made a crumbly ball around the roots. I warned my realtor that I was going to take this plant home if nobody watered it by Christmas. Of course, nobody did. So I took it home, gave it a complete drenching, cut off the dead parts, and placed it in the sun. Three months later, it looks great! You too, can save a life. Keep your eyes open wherever you go.
Saved from my realtor!
A great Cactus Reference Site: http://www.floridaplants.com/inter_cacti...
4. Jade Plant
Succulents like the Jade Plant tolerate the same conditions as cacti, without the spiny needles.
Another anecdote: I once left a jade plant in an empty house for nine months. Oops. Nine months with no water. It survived, once I found it and gave it some proper emergency care. While I do not recommend letting months go by without water, your jade just might survive such mistreatment.
5. Ficus Robusta (Rubber Plant)
Not one of my favorites, but still a widely popular, easy-care companion. They can grow large and spindly over only a few years, but remain impressive specimens for those otherwise dreary corners in the home. Tolerate long sessions of dryness, direct sun, partial sun, and even low-light conditions.
6. Schefflera (Umbrella Tree)
Like the Ficus, this one gets too large and awkward for my taste, but still deserves mention as an easy-care and popular houseplant. The shiny, almost palm-like spray of leaves are certainly attractive enough. Tolerates most growing and watering conditions without stress.This tree gets big fast: make sure it has room to grow.
7. Aloe Vera
Like the cactus, this succulent withstands benign neglect, and is small enough, when young, to fit nicely on any sunny windowsill.
TIP: Every house should have an aloe plant on hand. The succulent leaves can be broken open to help heal minor cuts and burns in a most gentle fashion. Squeeze the "jelly" on the wound, letting it absorb into the skin. A painless and effective "old wives' remedy".
8. Dracaena Massangea/Corn Plant
Corn Plant and Friends, Howie Deutch, Suite101 Garden Adventures
This type is Draceana will forgive you if you forget to water it fom time to time, and can thrive anywhere you put it. Since it's a big, tree-like plant, give it plenty of room. Keep in mind that the Dragon Tree Draceana is a little less tolerant and will be reviewed in the next lesson.
This architectural plant fits in best with a Mediterranean, southwestern style or rustic country decor.
