How do I pick the right plant?
We have all been there… in the plant shop, wowed by all of the colors, textures and choices available. Here are some pointers about what plants to steer away from because they are prone to problems in our typical house conditions and what plants are worth a try. Too many times, when taken home, the plant that looked so good in the store starts dropping leaves or turning brown. “I always kill plants” is a comment we have heard many times. Here are some things to consider when you are at the plant store picking out new plants...
If you are looking for a tried and true easy care plant, give these a try:
Pothos is an easy care plant with a trailing form. It adjusts to a wide range of light conditions and is more tolerant than most plants about irregular watering.
Snake plant is another trooper. It has unusual upright succulent leaves, and comes in many color variations.
Aglaonema also comes in many color and growth habit variations, from large floor plants to small table top.
Warneckii comes in white/green and lemon-lime. Just make sure to trim any yellow or browning on the leaves with scissors to keep the plant looking spiffy.
One of the most exciting plants to become available is the Raven ZZ. It appeared in 2006 as a natural color variation in a greenhouse in South Korea. The new leaves first appear bright lime green and mature into a dark green-purple. The Raven or the traditional green variety are both excellent for the home.
Ivy is one of the prettiest trailing plants in the world, and you can certainly find a lot for sale in plant stores. The tricky part about ivy is that it is prone to mite and whitefly. These pests can stay dormant for a long time and then suddenly appear ‘out of nowhere’.
If you want a trailing plant, instead consider trailing philodendron. There are 3 dynamite colors right now – limey, “brasil”, and solid green.
There is even one with holes! -the Swiss cheese philodendron
Another plant family that is very susceptible to pests includes palms. Yes, they look beautiful outside on your deck in the summer or in the Bahamas when you go on vacation but keeping them as a house plant usually means inviting spider mite in for the winter. The big box stores sell many that are quickly grown in Florida and require LOTS of light and humidity to be happy. If you must have a palm, consider this compact one called Neanthe Belle. It stays compact in size and is easier to treat than a floor-to-ceiling cat or bamboo palm.
The rest of the succulents are trickier and easier to kill by not giving enough light or not watering correctly.
Overwatering plants that are native to the desert is easier to do than any other plant. If you want a cactus or succulent to stay happy, give it the sunniest spot in the house. It is important to check regularly to see if the plant needs water, but hold off if there is any moisture remaining in the soil before watering again.
Plant breeding is a serious science. The variations of pattern and color that are now available is pretty spectacular. In general, plants that are highly variegated (have a lot of light/white areas on the leaves) tend to be less hardy than their solid green cousins. If you must have that plant with the white/purple/pink stripes, just remember that it might be your prima donna plant and require more bright light and have a smaller margin of error for watering.
Flowering houseplants are amazing when you bring them home.
Peace lily, African violet, Cyclamen, Christmas cactus…
Flowering plants for indoors are grown with specific conditions in a greenhouse to promote the flowering cycle to begin. You purchase them when they are in full bloom, they look beautiful and then the blooms fade after a while. Remember that the plant isn’t dying just because the flowers fade. The plant has just reached the end of its flowering cycle. Pinch off the spent blooms and love the plant just as you did before. The plant needs to rest after the flowering cycle and put its energy into producing leaves so that the flowering cycle can restart. Give it a boost with fertilizer specifically for bloomers e.g. orchid fertilizer.
Water – the number one way that houseplants die is from too much water, not the other way around. Plant roots need air AND water in order to do their job. Too much water will cause root rot. Try to make a regular weekly schedule to check your plant’s soil. Make sure that you are only watering your plant when it needs it. If the soil is still damp from the last time you watered, WAIT!!! But don’t make it suffer either. If you see it wilting a bit and/or the soil is very dry, consider giving it more water than the last time you watered it.
If you are looking for a tried and true easy care plant, give these a try:
Snake plant is another trooper. It has unusual upright succulent leaves, and comes in many color variations.
Aglaonema also comes in many color and growth habit variations, from large floor plants to small table top.
Warneckii comes in white/green and lemon-lime. Just make sure to trim any yellow or browning on the leaves with scissors to keep the plant looking spiffy.
One of the most exciting plants to become available is the Raven ZZ. It appeared in 2006 as a natural color variation in a greenhouse in South Korea. The new leaves first appear bright lime green and mature into a dark green-purple. The Raven or the traditional green variety are both excellent for the home.
Avoid plants that are prone to getting pests.
Ivy is one of the prettiest trailing plants in the world, and you can certainly find a lot for sale in plant stores. The tricky part about ivy is that it is prone to mite and whitefly. These pests can stay dormant for a long time and then suddenly appear ‘out of nowhere’.
If you want a trailing plant, instead consider trailing philodendron. There are 3 dynamite colors right now – limey, “brasil”, and solid green.
There is even one with holes! -the Swiss cheese philodendron
Another plant family that is very susceptible to pests includes palms. Yes, they look beautiful outside on your deck in the summer or in the Bahamas when you go on vacation but keeping them as a house plant usually means inviting spider mite in for the winter. The big box stores sell many that are quickly grown in Florida and require LOTS of light and humidity to be happy. If you must have a palm, consider this compact one called Neanthe Belle. It stays compact in size and is easier to treat than a floor-to-ceiling cat or bamboo palm.
Succulents and cacti are all the rage
And they always complain when we try and grow them in the North. Remember, they are desert plants. The hardiest succulents we have found of the bunch are haworthias. See if you can find them on their own or in dish garden collections.
The rest of the succulents are trickier and easier to kill by not giving enough light or not watering correctly.
Overwatering plants that are native to the desert is easier to do than any other plant. If you want a cactus or succulent to stay happy, give it the sunniest spot in the house. It is important to check regularly to see if the plant needs water, but hold off if there is any moisture remaining in the soil before watering again.
Which one, the green or the pink?
Plant breeding is a serious science. The variations of pattern and color that are now available is pretty spectacular. In general, plants that are highly variegated (have a lot of light/white areas on the leaves) tend to be less hardy than their solid green cousins. If you must have that plant with the white/purple/pink stripes, just remember that it might be your prima donna plant and require more bright light and have a smaller margin of error for watering.
Must have a flower?
Flowering houseplants are amazing when you bring them home.
Peace lily, African violet, Cyclamen, Christmas cactus…
Flowering plants for indoors are grown with specific conditions in a greenhouse to promote the flowering cycle to begin. You purchase them when they are in full bloom, they look beautiful and then the blooms fade after a while. Remember that the plant isn’t dying just because the flowers fade. The plant has just reached the end of its flowering cycle. Pinch off the spent blooms and love the plant just as you did before. The plant needs to rest after the flowering cycle and put its energy into producing leaves so that the flowering cycle can restart. Give it a boost with fertilizer specifically for bloomers e.g. orchid fertilizer.
Notes about plant care at home
Light – light is the way plants produce glucose and feed themselves through the process of photosynthesis. So a place in your house where the plant gets enough light for its needs is most important. If it has to be away from a window, try for at least bright indirect light or under an artificial light. Almost any plant put in very low light will eventually fail.Water – the number one way that houseplants die is from too much water, not the other way around. Plant roots need air AND water in order to do their job. Too much water will cause root rot. Try to make a regular weekly schedule to check your plant’s soil. Make sure that you are only watering your plant when it needs it. If the soil is still damp from the last time you watered, WAIT!!! But don’t make it suffer either. If you see it wilting a bit and/or the soil is very dry, consider giving it more water than the last time you watered it.