Sarah Robertson | Posted: Saturday, January 12, 2008 10:00 pm
Despite crispy edges and lackluster coloring, the houseplants under my care have officially made it through the darkest days of winter.
The solstice is past and the official start of spring is just weeks (well, two-and-a-half-months - but let's not split hairs ...) away. At our house, where natural light seems to be all-too-scarce during November and December, the incrementally longer days are a welcome gift.
At this time of year, any houseplant under my care that's still alive is simply grateful to have escaped the compost heap. For someone who has relatively little trouble keeping outdoor plants alive and relatively healthy, I'm totally dysfunctional when it comes to coaxing longevity from indoor specimens.
The triumvirate of low light, dry air and an elevated thermostat plays havoc with many houseplant species. It's a bit disheartening, but my lackluster success rate rarely keeps me from purchasing replacements in my ever-elusive quest for the ideal houseplant.
Today I'm pulling together some tips on houseplant selection and care that have appeared over the years, but never in one column, together with some thoughts on plant arrangement.
Here's to a New Year filled with healthy, happy and long-living indoor plants!
No-fail houseplants for low-light areas
Most folks can grow a decent houseplant. The problem comes when we try to fit the proverbial square peg into a round hole. Or, to be more precise, when we attempt to force a light-loving species to accept those dimly-lit corners that exist in just about every home.
And since it's those less-than-exciting areas that often cry out for a stunning houseplant, it makes sense to select a species that has at least a fighting chance of surviving. Without further ado, here are some choices to consider:
* Palms: have had excellent luck under low-light conditions with two species: the parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) and the Kentia (Howea) palm.
Parlor palms reach about four feet in height and can withstand moderately low light conditions, although a more brightly lit situation is more to their liking. Happiest when the soil is kept just barely moist, these cheerful palms have elegant, deep green fronds with pointed tips.
Kentia palms are a bit taller, with arching fronds that can ultimately spear straight up to five feet before curving slightly downward. Very forgiving of a variety of light conditions, from moderate to bright. Best when the soil is kept evenly moist.
* Pothos (Scindapsus aureus): This is one of the two plants that thrives without fail no matter where I put it in our house. From dark corners to bright windows, this vining specimen is a real trooper that shrugs off vacillating air temperatures, low humidity and just plain neglect without missing a beat. All have large green leaves variegated with splashes of either creamy yellow or cool white. At our house the cultivar tinged with white ('Silver Queen') is able to better tolerate dim recesses, while the one touched with yellow ('Golden Queen') seems happiest in somewhat brighter locations.
Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings, repot once a year in fresh soil and don't be afraid to wield those pruners. Trimming encourages a bushier, healthier plant.
* Snake Plant (Sansevieria): Tall, slender green spikes shot through with yellow shoot straight up from the soil - very dramatic and the only other plant that even I can't kill. Extremely tolerant of shade, bright sun, cold and neglect, about the only thing that'll get 'em is overwatering. Older specimens can reach five feet in height and slip nicely into those out-of-the-way corners where nothing else seems to thrive.
Give snake plant a loamy potting soil that's heavy on the grit. This ensures good drainage and keeps roots happy during the occasional episode of overwatering. Water sparingly (only when soil is dry and hardly ever during the winter months) and don't worry about fertilizer - it doesn't need it.
* White Flag (Spathiphyllum wallisii ): Another terrific choice for dimly-lit spots, this bushy member of the arum family has shiny green pointed leaves and periodic bursts of white, spathe-like flowers. Our plant, now two years old, is about two feet high and wide and receives absolutely no direct light. Wedged between a wing chair and a small end table, our specimen sits just three feet from the wood stove - and it still thrives!
This is a plant that needs plenty of water during the summer, a bit less in winter. If you arrive home to discover your plant prostrate on the floor, give it a good drink and within minutes the thick leaves will snap back to attention - a pretty amazing sight.
Tips for working with houseplants
* Arrange plants in groups: A pair or trio of different species is a terrific way to add punch to dull countertops or awkward hallway dead zones. Think about bright yellow forced tulips juxtaposed alongside a geranium with dark foliage; dainty pots of shade-tolerant succulents transforming a dreary windowsill; colorful thrift-store vases grouped together and filled with textured ferns.
* Presentation is everything: Pretend you are composing a still-life. Add statuary, bowls of collected rocks, framed pictures or other treasures from the outdoor garden (rustic watering cans, miniature trellises, sundials, etc.) to create a one-of-a-kind indoor tableau.
* Move things around to create interesting new arrangements: You needn't buy new plants when you're tired of a particular arrangement. Start moving things around, instead - you'll be able to create new vignettes and save money at the same time.
* Experiment with containers: You'll be amazed at how different a plant can appear with a simple change of its container. Pots needn't be expensive - scour garage sales, flea markets, sale racks at the garden center and your own shed for potential treasures. Plain clay can be dressed up with a thin mulch of polished stones, while paint and elbow grease can transform a rusty bit of trellis into an elegant accessory for vining ivy, jasmine or philodendrons
Sarah Robertson has written a weekly gardening column for four newspapers in Western Oregon, including the Democrat-Herald, since 1986. Questions or comments can be sent via the Democrat-Herald, P.O. Box 130, Albany, OR 97321.