it on my window sill, and I was hooked. The planter, overflowing with little green sprouts of life, made my small studio apartment feel so much warmer. Unconciously I had begun a new challenge; keep these plants alive.
Renee Marchin, graduate student in plant biology, says she recently started growing her own houseplants too. "My mom sucked at it, so I thought I couldn't do it," she says. Marchin now owns a mother-in-law's tongue, orchid, bamboo and a Christmas cactus she got on Valentine's Day. And she hopes to soon add geraniums to her houseplant collection. Whether you have a green thumb or not, keeping house plants can be a satisfying experience, Marchin says, you just have to know where to start.
The plant
Pick something you like, flowering or not. Keep in mind where you want to keep
the plant and what its light requirements are. Marchin says orchids are her favorite to grow. "Orchids are some of the coolest plants to keep around," she
says. "The flowers are really intricate. Some look like faces or even small monkeys." Marchin says orchids bloom in the right conditions, a bright room away from direct sunlight. Orchids often die from over-watering, so only water when soil is dry to the touch. Like most house plants, orchids are available at garden centers and nurseries. If you decide to get an orchid Marchin suggests buying one that's not in bloom. The plants are the same but blooming orchids cost more than those without flowers.
If you have pets, make sure your new plant is safe. The snake plant, also called a mother-in-law's tongue, looks cool but is poisonous. So get a plant that your dog or cat can get along with.
Your new plant may need to be re-potted. If the roots are coming out of the bottom of the planter, buy a pot that's a little larger. Darrell Helling, manager of Earl May Nursery & Garden Center, 3200 Iowa St., says to upgrade slowly because plants don't grow any faster in a bigger pot. Helling says to choose any pot you like as long as it's the right size. Most pots are made from plastic, ceramic or terra cotta. But Helling warns that terra cotta can absorb moisture from the roots of the plant.
The pot
The soil
Don't bring home dirt from the nearest park to pot your plants, it can shock them. Helling says to buy a well-balanced soil that contains perlite, peat moss and vermiculite, which keep the soil from becoming too compacted and allow air flow to the roots. Helling also suggests buying a fertilizer that clearly says it can be used on indoor plants and is water soluble. Liquid or granule fertilizer, as well as a balanced soil are available at any local nursery or garden center.
succulents should be placed in a shallow pot. These plants store their own water and don't rely on moisture from the soil like leafy plants do.
Keeping your plant alive
Most foliage or leafy plants can be placed in any standard pot. But cacti and
Once your plant is potted, you have to help it grow. First, determine your plant's light requirements. You can either do a little research on your plant or ask someone at your local garden center. Plants, such as Pothos, should be placed away from direct sunlight while Spider Plants grow well on a windowsill. The placement of your plant may help you determine what type you should buy. You can place different plants in the same pot as long as you keep the ones with the same light requirements together.
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Second, add cool, clean water. Just as plants can die from too little water, they
The top 5 easiest plants to grow:
Pothos
Climbing, waxy-green, heart shaped leaves.
Light: Bright
Water: Let soil dry between waterings
Spider Plant
Narrow, solid green or green and white leaves. Produces small white flowers usually seen in hanging baskets. Light: Low Water: Water when soil is dry to the touch
Philodendron
Large, heart-shaped green or burgundy leaves that grow well in a hanging basket.
Light. Low
Light. Low Water. Allow soil to dry between waterings
Peace Lily
Glossy, dark green, oval-shaped leaves. The plant also produces white flowers. Light: Bright, filtered Water: Allow soil to dry between watering
Snake Plant/ Mother-in-law's tongue
Dark green, 2 to 4 inch wide leaves with irregular light green bands. Can grow to four feet in height.
Light: Low
Water: Water when soil is dry to the touch
8
So, it's been eight months since I started growing my own plants, and most of them are still alive. Looking back, I never thought I would care so much about them, but I do. So try it, you too might dig up a talent you never knew you had.
trim them. Helling says just to take off the yellow and brown leaves and any dead stems. You can trim plants, such as the Spider Plant, right below the nodes on the branches. If you place the stems in a cup of water, they will sprout roots and grow into another spider plant. These make great gifts for friends and family; they're pretty and last a long time.
l foskey@kansan.com