#6 Cast-Iron Plant
One of the toughest you can grow, cast-iron plant withstands neglect, low light, low humidity, and a wide range of temperatures. It grows slowly so purchase a plant that is large enough for the space in which you intend to use it. Several varieties have white or yellow variegation on their leaves.
This plant really lives up to its name: It's nearly indestructible.
Growing Conditions: Low light; 45-85 degrees F.; keep evenly moist during active growth, barely moist in fall and winter
Size: To 2 feet tall and wide
Chinese Evergreen
This plant has great foliage; the leaves are punctuated with shades of silver, gray, or shades of green making Chinese evergreen an attractive choice to brighten low-light areas of your home. Take a cue from shopping mall plantings and use Chinese evergreen as a ground cover around an upright, treelike houseplant. Or showcase it alone as a specimen plant.
It's extra tough and has attractive leaves that brighten low light spots.
Growing Conditions: Low to medium light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 3 feet tall and wide
Croton
While this showy shrub survives in low light levels, its foliage shows the best color in bright spots. Its gold, pink, and orange tones glow when backlit from a sunny window. Wash the leaves occasionally to maintain their shine and keep it looking dramatic.
It has beautiful, leathery leaves with exotic and colorful markings.
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Dieffenbachia
Several closely related species share the common name of dieffenbachia. All produce cane like stems with lush foliage variegated in green and white. Grow one by itself to for a tree appearance or several together in a single container for a shrubby look. One of the plant's common names, dumb cane, comes from the effect of the toxic sap that if eaten causes swelling and numbness in the mouth and throat.
Its large, green-and-white leaves create a decidedly tropical look to any room of your home (and it's great for decorating decks and patios in the summer).
Growing Conditions: Low to medium light; 60-80 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Showing posts with label house plants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label house plants. Show all posts
Friday, June 24, 2011
Flowers & Plants Delivered today!
#4 Corn plant
Don't confuse this plant with the vegetable of the same name. This beautiful houseplant offers variegated leaves and a single upright stem -- so it resembles a decorative corn stalk without the ears. Plant several together in a large container for a fuller appearance.
Here's a tip: If your corn plant grows too tall, cut back the cane to a foot or two above the soil and new shoots to form below the cut.
It bears colorful yellow-and-green-striped straplike leaves on an upright stem.
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 3 feet tall
Ponytail Palm
Despite its common name, this plant is a succulent rather than a true palm. Its graceful arching leaves are always attractive and its swollen trunk looks great, too. (The trunk holds moisture for the plant.) Keep your ponytail palm in a container only a couple of inches wider than its trunk base to control its size. It is sometimes sold as Nolina recurvata.
the trunk actually stores moisture, ponytail palm can survive for long periods without watering.
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75 degrees F., 50-55 degrees F. in winter; allow the soil to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Rubber Tree
An old-fashioned classic, rubber tree gets its name from the sticky, milky sap it exudes if injured. It eventually grows into a large tree, but you can easily keep it shorter by pruning back long stems, causing it to branch into a multi-stemmed shrub.
Note: In frost-free areas, you may see rubber trees as a full-size shade trees outdoors.
Its big, dark green shiny leaves definitely make a statement. The older plants get, the larger they become -- a good-sized rubber tree makes a big, dramatic accent in any room.
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-80 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Don't confuse this plant with the vegetable of the same name. This beautiful houseplant offers variegated leaves and a single upright stem -- so it resembles a decorative corn stalk without the ears. Plant several together in a large container for a fuller appearance.
Here's a tip: If your corn plant grows too tall, cut back the cane to a foot or two above the soil and new shoots to form below the cut.
It bears colorful yellow-and-green-striped straplike leaves on an upright stem.
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 3 feet tall
Ponytail Palm
Despite its common name, this plant is a succulent rather than a true palm. Its graceful arching leaves are always attractive and its swollen trunk looks great, too. (The trunk holds moisture for the plant.) Keep your ponytail palm in a container only a couple of inches wider than its trunk base to control its size. It is sometimes sold as Nolina recurvata.
the trunk actually stores moisture, ponytail palm can survive for long periods without watering.
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75 degrees F., 50-55 degrees F. in winter; allow the soil to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Rubber Tree
An old-fashioned classic, rubber tree gets its name from the sticky, milky sap it exudes if injured. It eventually grows into a large tree, but you can easily keep it shorter by pruning back long stems, causing it to branch into a multi-stemmed shrub.
Note: In frost-free areas, you may see rubber trees as a full-size shade trees outdoors.
Its big, dark green shiny leaves definitely make a statement. The older plants get, the larger they become -- a good-sized rubber tree makes a big, dramatic accent in any room.
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-80 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Flowers & Plants Delivered today!
#3 Arrowhead Vine - Nepthytis
One of the most common houseplants, arrowhead vine features distinctly arrow-shaped leaves (hence the moniker). Unlike a lot of plants, there are many different varieties from which to choose. Most have variegated foliage; depending on variety, the leaves may be green with white markings or bronzy-green with pink tones. Young plants form a mound about a foot high, but stems begin to vine as they mature, so you can grow them upright on a pole or let them trail in a hanging basket.
By the way, you may also see this plant sold as Nepthytis.
The colorful leaves keep their variegation -- even in low-light spots, so this is a top pick for dressing up just about any corner of your home.
Growing Conditions: Low to medium light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 3 feet tall and wide
Grape Ivy
'Ellen Danica', the variety of grape ivy pictured here is often called oakleaf ivy because its leaves are more deeply cut than other types of grape ivy. Regardless of the variety, grape ivy is a vine with tendrils that readily cling to a trellis or stake. It offers shiny, deep green leaves that create a very nice texture.
Even though it's a vine, grape ivy has more of a mounding habit -- so it's a perfect choice for lush, tidy-looking hanging baskets.
Growing Conditions: Medium light; 65-80 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 6 feet as a vine
Hoya
Hoya, or wax plant, has waxy green leaves and waxy fragrant pink flowers. Golden wax plant (pictured) adds creamy leaf variegation to the plant's appeal. You can let the plant climb, train the stems onto a topiary, or allow them to trail in a hanging basket.
Wax plant offers beautiful flowers (that are often powerfully fragrant). It's also a low-water plant, so it doesn't mind if you forget to water it from time to time.
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 55-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: Can climb or trail to 4 feet or more
One of the most common houseplants, arrowhead vine features distinctly arrow-shaped leaves (hence the moniker). Unlike a lot of plants, there are many different varieties from which to choose. Most have variegated foliage; depending on variety, the leaves may be green with white markings or bronzy-green with pink tones. Young plants form a mound about a foot high, but stems begin to vine as they mature, so you can grow them upright on a pole or let them trail in a hanging basket.
By the way, you may also see this plant sold as Nepthytis.
The colorful leaves keep their variegation -- even in low-light spots, so this is a top pick for dressing up just about any corner of your home.
Growing Conditions: Low to medium light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 3 feet tall and wide
Grape Ivy
'Ellen Danica', the variety of grape ivy pictured here is often called oakleaf ivy because its leaves are more deeply cut than other types of grape ivy. Regardless of the variety, grape ivy is a vine with tendrils that readily cling to a trellis or stake. It offers shiny, deep green leaves that create a very nice texture.
Even though it's a vine, grape ivy has more of a mounding habit -- so it's a perfect choice for lush, tidy-looking hanging baskets.
Growing Conditions: Medium light; 65-80 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 6 feet as a vine
Hoya
Hoya, or wax plant, has waxy green leaves and waxy fragrant pink flowers. Golden wax plant (pictured) adds creamy leaf variegation to the plant's appeal. You can let the plant climb, train the stems onto a topiary, or allow them to trail in a hanging basket.
Wax plant offers beautiful flowers (that are often powerfully fragrant). It's also a low-water plant, so it doesn't mind if you forget to water it from time to time.
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 55-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: Can climb or trail to 4 feet or more
Flowers & Plants Delivered today!
#2 Zeezee Plant
Called eternity plan,t because it lasts so long, succulent zeezee plant tolerates low light and neglect.
The thick, fleshy leafstalks are so durable that you might even think it's plastic.
It is a slow grower, so purchase a large plant if you want a big specimen.
Cut stems remain green and healthy in appearance for several weeks, even without water.
This plant is so easy it's almost a challenge to kill it.
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil to dry between waterings
Size: 2-3 feet tall and wide
Note: This plant is poisonous if eaten or chewed on by children or pets.
Spider Plant
You may remember this from your grandmother's house; spider plants have been grown for years and are still popular today. Look for a number of varieties -- from types with plain green leaves to others that offer foliage marked with cream or white stripes. All make handsome hanging plants that develop plantlets at the ends of arching stems. These babies readily root in water or potting soil to start new plants.
It offers tons of old-fashioned appeal and an easy-care nature.
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep the soil evenly moist
Called eternity plan,t because it lasts so long, succulent zeezee plant tolerates low light and neglect.
The thick, fleshy leafstalks are so durable that you might even think it's plastic.
It is a slow grower, so purchase a large plant if you want a big specimen.
Cut stems remain green and healthy in appearance for several weeks, even without water.
This plant is so easy it's almost a challenge to kill it.
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil to dry between waterings
Size: 2-3 feet tall and wide
Note: This plant is poisonous if eaten or chewed on by children or pets.
Spider Plant
You may remember this from your grandmother's house; spider plants have been grown for years and are still popular today. Look for a number of varieties -- from types with plain green leaves to others that offer foliage marked with cream or white stripes. All make handsome hanging plants that develop plantlets at the ends of arching stems. These babies readily root in water or potting soil to start new plants.
It offers tons of old-fashioned appeal and an easy-care nature.
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep the soil evenly moist
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