House Plant Care And Information » Shade Plants

Best Houseplants for Low Light Areas

Indoor Gardener — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:19:31 +0000

When choosing plants for inside the home, you can’t just pick a plant you like. You have to take several things into consideration, such as size and ease of care. But, the most important factor in choosing a houseplant is the lighting conditions of your home. Even if you provide the perfect amount of water and fertilizer, without adequate light, a houseplant can’t thrive.

Growing healthy houseplants that flourish and give you years of enjoyment, depends on knowing which plants can survive under poor lighting conditions. Often, people think that they just simply don’t have a “green thumb” because they can’t keep a houseplant alive. When in reality, the plant has died because it didn’t receive enough light.

Just because your home doesn’t have large windows that let lots of sunlight into your home, it doesn’t mean that you have to settle for silk plants. In fact, there are several…

Cast Iron Plant

Indoor Gardener — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:38:43 +0000

During the Victorian Era, the Cast Iron plant was one of the most popular houseplants. With it’s draping green leaves, it’s an ideal way to add a tropical flair to any room, although it isn’t a tropical plant. It’s available in both a dark green and variegated variety. This plant is very hardy and once the plant is established it can even tolerate drought.

It’s a slow growing plant, so if you want one of any substantial size, it’s best to just purchase it. These plants can reach just over 3 feet in height. The variegated variety generally costs about twice as much as the standard green variety. But, the white contrast on the dark green leaves might be worth paying extra for. It’s a really pretty plant that doesn’t require a lot of care.

Occasionally, the Cast Iron plant will flower when kept indoors, but this is very rare.…

Parlor Palm

Indoor Gardener — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:27:28 +0000

Sometimes referred to as the Bella Palm, the Parlor Palm (Chamaedora elegans) is a relatively easy houseplant to grow. It’s a fairly inexpensive palm that is very well suited to indoor life. The Parlor Palm is an upright plant that rarely reaches over 4 foot in height, or 3 foot in width. The compact growth and easy care makes it an ideal houseplant.

The palm will flourish and grow much better in filtered light. With this plant you actually don’t need to guess about adequate lighting. If the palm is sitting in an area where there is enough light for it to cast a shadow, it’s getting enough light! And, it will do well in both natural sunlight or artificial lighting.

The amount of water the Parlor Palm needs will depend on how much light it receives. A brighter light means more water, while lower lighting means less water. On…

Madagascar Dragon Tree

Indoor Gardener — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:06:12 +0000

The Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata) is characterized by long, narrow leaves that are extremely spiked. The foliage is generally dark green with edges that are adorned with a reddish purple and can grow up to 16 inches in length. As the tree grows it will naturally lose it’s lowest leaves leaving tufts of leaves atop a bare woody cane.

Although species vary, this variety can grow as tall as 20 feet in height. But, when kept as a houseplant, it generally only reaches around 6 to 8 feet. The size can be controlled by cutting the tops off. The cane can be cut at any height and within weeks you will begin to see a new tuft of leaves growing at the cut area. It’s better on the plants health to cut the cane during spring or early summer.

One of the fun things about this plant is that…

Caring For Ferns

Indoor Gardener — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:46:52 +0000

A fern is a beautiful way to brighten up any room in your home. When cared for properly, they offer a splash of healthy color and provide a comforting feel.

Ferns can also be planted outdoors as part of yard landscaping. While a fern can add a lot to its surroundings, it is a good idea to learn how to properly care for them. You will want to maintain the beauty that drew you to them in the first place. You will want to know the right type of soil and water needed, as well as where exactly the fern should be placed for the best use of light.

In nature, ferns thrive on forest floors with plenty of shade. The light they receive comes through higher trees, not directly hitting the fern. In a home, the fern should be placed during the summer months with northerly exposure to indirect or…

How To Care For Lucky Bamboo

Indoor Gardener — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:13:21 +0000

In Asian cultures, lucky bamboo has been a symbol of good fortune for over 4,000 years. And, in recent years it’s became a very popular house plant that is widely available. Aside from being a very pretty plant, one of the main reasons for it’s growing popularity is that it’s very easy to grow.

Lucky bamboo isn’t actually a bamboo! It actually belongs to the plant family of Dracaenas. Another reason for it’s popularity is that it can be grown in decorative planters or bowls filled with rocks and water, or it can be potted into soil.

The best way to grow them is a debatable subject, some people say keep them in water and others say plant them in soil for the best results. The choice is pretty much a personal preference as the plant seems to thrive in either medium. Bamboo is generally sold in clear or decorative…