14 Misconceptions Commonly Held About Easy Houseplants
Easy Houseplants That Don't Require a Green Thumb
Do you want to add a touch of green to your office or home? These simple houseplants don't need you to be a gardener.
These low maintenance plants require just a little space in indirect sunlight, an occasional wipe of the leaves and an application of iron fertilizer every few months.
Ponytail Palm
Ponytail palms are unique-looking plants that look stunning in various interior designs. They are easy to grow and thrive in a mild neglect, provided that they don't overwater. This slow-growing houseplant is a great choice for new plant owners.
Pony tail palms are a tropical-looking plant that thrives in bright indirect light. They are also drought-tolerant and thrive in warm temperatures. They can be left in their nursery pots, but they are best planted in an open-topped pot, since this will allow for better air circulation and lowers the risk of root rot.
This low-maintenance plant is nontoxic to dogs, cats, and horses. It's a great option for homes with pets, or children. It is also an effective deterrent to dust mites and other insects. It is susceptible to diseases such as leaf spots and bacterial leaves streaks, which are often made worse by high humidity.
The plant is slow-growing and requires minimal fertilization however it is able to be fed on a regular basis in spring and summer with an ad hoc water-soluble plant food, at half the recommended dose on the label. Sometimes, the plant will produce offsets (pups) near the base. These can be removed and separated to allow the Ponytail Palm Tree. Despite its name the plant isn't known for its flowers indoors, making it difficult to produce viable seeds. Brown leaf tips are common during winter and need to be trimmed to maintain a fresh appearance.
Schefflera
The Schefflera (pronounced shuffler-uh) is one of the most easy houseplants to take care of. This tropical plant is also called the umbrella-shaped plant. It has green, splayed umbrella-shaped leaves. These plants thrive in ideal conditions and can be trimmed to suit your space. They also clean the air and are one of the most popular indoor tropical plants.
Schefflera, like other tropical plants requires bright indirect lighting to flourish. They can tolerate direct sunlight for a few minutes however, too much of it will burn their foliage. If your home isn't receiving sufficient light, you can enhance it with a fluorescent lamp that has a high output. You can also place your schefflera to a location that gets morning or late afternoon sunlight, but filter the light by using curtains.
When watering indoor house plants , be sure to water only when the soil is dry on the surface. Overwatering can cause root rot. If you notice drooping or yellow leaves, it could be a sign of too little water.
You can add more scheffleras by taking 6-inch stem cuttings in the summer. Place the cuttings between 2 and 1 inch deep in a container containing Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix. Then, provide the basic care to encourage the growth of new plants.
Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema often referred to as Chinese evergreen is a simple houseplant that can handle just about any indoor condition. Aglaonema is not like philodendrons or peace lilies, which require bright light to grow, can be grown in low and medium-light conditions. It does well under fluorescent lighting. Aglaonema grows slowly and can be planted on tables or tabletops at first but will eventually turn into a huge floor plant.
You can pick from a variety of colors and patterns for the leaves of the glaonema. Aglaonema 'Lucky Red' has leaves that are green and hot-pink variation while 'Siam's Aurora' has dark green leaves highlighted by pink veins.
Aglaonema plants generally prefer medium to low light levels, but they can be tolerant of brighter indoor lighting but the more vibrant and variegated varieties might require some more brightness. Avoid exposing them to direct sunlight as the sun's harsh rays will burn its delicate leaves. If you're growing an aglaonema in your workplace be sure to cover the window. This will block the harsh sunlight.
Aglaonema, just like other tropical plants that don't require much attention, thrives at warm temperatures. However, it's not able to stand abrupt cold drafts. Regularly water aglaonema but don't overwater it. Place your finger in the soil to determine when to water. If it feels dry, it's time to add more water.
Calathea
Calathea, also called Goeppertia or Pinstripe plant, is an exotic foliage plant that is simple to grow indoors. It is native to dense rainforests and forests in which it is a tree in shady places. This makes it tolerant to bright indirect indoor light. However, common houseplants is important that it doesn't get direct sunlight since it could burn the leaves and make the markings fade. The best way to prevent this is to move it around or shield it from direct sunlight, which can be done by covering a windowsill with a sheer curtain.
In general, calatheas prefer temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They prefer humid conditions. They prefer filtered sun, as they're used to dapples, not constant sunlight. This is why a west-facing or south-facing window could be ideal for them, however it is essential to shield it from direct sunlight.
When a calathea is in its natural environment, it will do fine with a simple watering schedule. It is recommended to water it regularly however it isn't essential to keep the soil wet. Instead, a great method of determining the right time to water is to stick your finger into the soil. If it feels dry, it needs to be soaked. In addition, a diluted fertilizer is recommended in the spring and summer.
common house plant trailing foliage of the Pothos, or Epipremnum aureum is what makes this tropical houseplant one of the easiest to take care of. It is a favorite option for hanging baskets and macrame planters. It can also be trained to climb along the trellis or even up the wall. The fast-growing vine is able to withstand many different conditions. It is a great option for both beginners and experienced indoor gardeners.
The leaves of Pothos are available in a variety of designs and colors. Some of the most popular cultivars include "Golden Pothos," which is distinguished by its yellow and green variegation, 'Neon,' with its bright chartreuse-colored foliage and 'Marble Queen' which is stunningly marbled with white. The Pothos plant is easy to propagate using stem cuttings, which can be grown in water or soil. To root the stem tip cut a length of 4-6 inches of a healthy-looking stem with a few leaves on it and just below a leaf node (the area on the stem where roots begin to form). Place the cut in the glass, which is filled with water or moistened perlite/vermiculite. Within some weeks, roots should appear. The rooted cutting can be placed in a small container of the potting soil.
Pothos plants are tolerant of low lighting conditions, but prefer bright indirect light. It should be watered when the potting mix is dry. Feed it with liquid houseplant fertilizer every six to eight week. Avoid cold drafts because they can harm the leaves and slow the growth. If the Pothos plants become pot-bound remove the old soil and then repot the roots into new soil.
Peperomia
Peperomia plants are a great choice for beginners, as they require little maintenance and are easy to grow indoors. They are natives of South America, and they like shaded areas. However they don't require direct sunlight. They also prefer warm temperatures.
These easy houseplants can be found in a variety of styles and colors, and some varieties of Peperomia have interesting variations. Peperomia arryreia is also referred to as the watermelon peperomia, is so named because its leaves resemble the rind of a watermelon. Other types that are well-known include P. caperata with its heavily quilted, crinkly leaves and P. polybotrya with its large, drop-shaped, leaves.
Peperomias are propagated by cuttings of the stem, or leaf-petiole cuts. When propagating with cuttings, it is recommended to use clean sharp scissors and select mature plants that do not have flowers or buds. Cut a stem off the plant using the bottom 3 4''-4 of leaves and remove any leaves that are below the lowest leaf node.
Plant peperomias in a rich pots or a nutrient-rich mix. Peperomias don't require fertilizer, however small amounts of fertilizer along the plant's edges can be beneficial every once or twice each month. Overwatering can cause peperomias to become leggy. A good rule of thumb is to let the soil dry out completely before watering again.