Eco-gardening is at its best in The Monday Garden
January 5, 2003, issue #41
Leslie asked: what are easy houseplants for low light? So I surveyed my own grocery-store plants and here’s my Top-10 easiest to get, hardest to kill, most likable houseplants.
Unless noted, they thrive in medium to low light but might burn in direct sun. They need watering only once a week. They don’t need fertilizer if the soil’s freshened every other year. No major insect issues but cold water baths in winter deter spider mites. Otherwise, have the cat dust the leaves occasionally.
1. Golden Pothos vine (scindapsus) and its philodendron kin grace many a bookcase.
2. Boston Fern (nephrolepis) prefers lower light. Older leaves will die off, particularly in the winter.
3. Snake Plant (sansevieria) - Let these spiky plants get very dry between winter waterings.
4. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) is one of the best low light plants if watered on time.
5. Aralia - wonderful little trees.
6. Spider Plant (chlorophytum) Never over water. Good cat veggies.
7. Peace Lily (spathiphyllum) likes to be slightly damp and will flower in part sun.
8. Arrowhead Vine (syngonium)- regularly prune this fast grower and stick the cuttings back in the pot.
9. Hoya - This slow-growing cactus vine wants a small pot. Happy, older plants have fragrant flowers.
10. Dracaena - tall, with colorful, thin grass-like leaves. Cats totally devour the tri-color variety.
Watering: Overwatering is the number one houseplant killer; underwatering is number two. Yellow, mushy leaves mean too much water. Shriveled, drooping, or brown, crispy leaves mean not enough water.
Once a week, pour on water until it comes out the bottom. Drain off the excess or put pebbles in the saucer keep the plant’s feet dry. Check new plants daily and water when the top inch of soil is dry. If once a week isn’t enough, water more often or increase pot size. If once a week is too much, the plant may rot.
Potting: Use only new, commercial houseplant soil. It’s sterilized and holds moisture while letting the roots get air. Use warm water to wet dry peat. Scrub used pots and remove scale by soaking in vinegar. Never increase pot size dramatically or you’ll kill the plant for sure. Pots must have drainage holes.
Too dry: Is the water running out too fast?. If so, replace as much of the potting medium as you can gently remove with new soil. Otherwise, increase pot size by 1” to 2”.
Too wet: Check the drainage. If it’s OK, reduce pot size to 1” larger than the plant’s root ball. (To find the size of the root ball, turn the plant out of pot, gently brush off loose soil, and see what’s left.)
Healthy plants: If the plant doesn’t thrive, toss it.
Photo credits: Sue Sweeney © Sue Sweeney 2003