I have a habit of wanting to nurture more houseplants than I really have time for, so while I don’t endorse the abuse of indoor plants, I have truly come to appreciate the species that are hardiest and can withstand a little (accidental) neglect. And what better time than now, in the middle of this (hopefully) final blast of winter, to seek solace in the hopeful green of houseplants!
Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)
This is my all-time favorite pick for a fuss-free houseplant. It will survive in almost any light (I’ve got one on top of my refrigerator about 10′ from the nearest window and another in a bright, sunny, south-facing window!) and can hold out a long time if you forget to water it. This is a fun plant, too, because the vines will grow and grow, so you can loop them around windows, or grow them down the side of a tall shelf! If its leaves turn yellow, you’re more likely over-watering than under-watering. Propogate by cutting off a vine tip and putting in a vase with water or simply by planting it. (Make sure that one of the little bumps under a leaf node is under the water or soil, that’s where the new roots will grow from.)
Moss Terrarium
Needs almost no care whatsoever and making your own terrarium is cheap and easy. Not to mention that moss is about the awesomest plant ever!
Spider Plant
(below right) Even if you accidentally neglect this hardy plant until it looks like it’s on its last root, all you need to do for it to green out again is to cut away the dead leaves and give it a good watering! The little baby plants that sprout off the mother plant can be cut off and rooted in water or planted right into a pot of soil as is.
Christmas Cactus
(above left) Such a great plant to have when it flowers in early winter! I’ve got a bright fuchsia one that makes Thanksgiving feel like being on vacation on a tropical island 😀 While this succulent houseplant can survive a good amount of accidental neglect, it does better if the soil doesn’t get too dried out, especially when it’s flowering! Makes a nice hanging plant for any window. Easy to propagate by just putting the bottom end of one leaf or a small stem of leaves into a soil-filled pot and watering every few days until it roots.
Little Cactuses
(below right and above) If you’ve got a sunny south-facing window, then please grow little cactuses. They are so cute! I water mine about every two weeks and give them a turn every now and then so they don’t end up being too lopsided. That’s it! (And, of course, if you forget to water, they’ll survive just fine!)
Jade Plant
(above left) I used to have a terrible time with this plant, but then I figured out that I was watering them too much. Wait to water until the leaves change from plump to a little shriveled and you’ll do fine! Jade plants like lots of light (I keep mine in a south-facing window with the cactuses.) Turn the pot around every once in a while so it doesn’t grow lopsided. (This plant can get pretty top heavy, so you should consider planting it in a heavy clay pot with some rocks in the bottom.) So easy to propogate, you’ll probably find it making babies on it’s own. Any time one of it’s fat juicy leaves falls off, just stick the bottom end in the ground and it’ll root all on it’s own, no special watering needed!
Norfolk Pine
Having a little pine tree in the house is pretty magical! Norway Pines are the little potted pine trees that you see for sale at Christmas time. The really great thing about this houseplant is that it’s really cold hardy, so it’s awesome for drafty spaces or chilly homes. You could even grow it on a three-season porch or in a mud-room. It does best in bright light (like in a north, east or west-facing window). Water every week or couple of weeks and just leave it alone. This plant grows slowly, but can grow really big if you keep repotting it into bigger pots. I have a little pine plantation over my kitchen window!
Well, gotta get growing 😉 See you all next week!!