Re: House plants

Anelle:

This is the time of year to think about house plants, for sure. Winter will be
here before we know it!

I have had a variegated aspidistra (cast iron plant) for years (maybe 20 or
more), which spent the first 15 years of its life in VERY poor light conditions.
It's true what they say about these plants. They will put up with a lot. Water
rarely, feed almost never, and it will still do OK. I think the regular green
ones are even more tolerant. The plant now gets SLIGHTLY better conditions and
even spends the summers outdoors on my north-facing porch so comparatively
speaking it is in heaven! This is absolutely the best plant for darker spots in
the house. I have always kept it in the same pot. Occasionally I top dress with
fresh soil.

Another plant that tolerates very low light is Pothos or Devil's Ivy. This looks
best if it can be placed up high and hang down. In more light, there will be
more variegation on the leaves, but it will be fine in darker spots too. Two
more to try are Cissus rhombifolia (Grape Ivy) and Sanseveria (Mother in Law's
Tongue or Snake Plant). I have all of these in very dim light and they are
tolerating the situation. The snake plant seems a bit fussy as to planting
medium but otherwise they are all very easy.

Bobbi Diehl
Bloomington IN z5/6
You should be able to purchase these from Logee's or some of the other
houseplant places (is Glasshouse Works still in business?) or beg starts from
friends who enjoy having plants indoors. I got a little piece of aspidistra from
the IU greenhouse years ago.


Quoting Anelle Kloski <akloski@JPS.NET>:

> This may be off topic, but I have a corner near a window which doesnt get
> much light.  I put some cut Euphorbia Martinii there and it looked great.
> If I brought a plant of that in from the garden, it might not do well.  Does
> anyone know of a houseplant which would do well there, or would I have to
> rotate different plants into and out of that location?
>
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