First indoor plants --> Care...

7 years ago

So... In my appartment I do have a cat who personally likes to bite and chew my mother's plants if he can reach them, which is not good to the plants.. some got close to dying. So, I thought of buying some smaller plants that we could have on top of furniture or window sills.

Now I have some problems with those and also doubts about how to take care of them...

I bought these:

I think this is a Gastaraloe...

This one is an Orchid (The lady at the garden center said this is supposed to be a specific kind of orchid that doesn't grow very big... don't know how true is that)

This one is some kind of "Opuntia Gumbi" I think....

And then there's a "Lucky Bamboo" that doesn't seem to be very lucky in itself... It does have some yellow stalks and does have some kind of black fungus...

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Problems and care...

The Gastaraloe:

Problems:

It appears to have some brown spots on those little spikes and on some of the tips...

Care:

Can it be in my desk where it doesn't get direct sunlight but gets sunlight? Also can it get direct light from an LED lamp (that doesn't emit heat)?

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The Lucky Bamboo

Problems:

The black fungus and yellow stalks :/

Care:

Can it still be saved? If so, how?

I've already changed the water and washed the roots with water as well....

Can it be on a shady area with not much sunlight?

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The Cactus

Care:

Does it have to be in direct sunlight? What other recommendations?

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The Orchid

Care:

Should it be in a place without direct sunlight but with sunlight?

I think that's it for now :)

Featured Answer

christine 5b

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

All your plants look beautiful & healthy for NOW, if you cat is anything like mine, I have to keep all my plants out of reach, mine are on plant racks or on top of things like my micro wave they cant jump on. You must also be VERY aware of your cat nibbling on a poisonous plant that can kill your cat. Other member's will have more advice for you, but you need to re-think your locations for sure.

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Comments (8)

Rafael Lopes
Original Author
7 years ago
The cactus, Orchid and Succulent do look rather healthy but the bamboo has fungus on the bottom, like on this one (taken from the web as an example):

I'll take pictures of it later so you can see clearly.
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Elena
7 years ago
I'd watch out with the lucky bamboo around a cat. It's not actually bamboo, but a type of Dracaena, which is toxic to cats and has the kind of foliage that they often find irresistible (if mine are any indication). I don't think it's deadly, but probably best kept out of reach.
Rob Blomquist
7 years ago
The gasteraloe and the opuntia need well draining potting soil. Commonly 50% potting soil and 50% pumice or pearlite. The cactus is an Austrocylindropuntia, called Eve's Needle. It should be in the brightest light at all times for fear of etiolation. The gasteraloe could be on an office desk under lights, I don't think they need much light. If all the brown spots are at the tips of the leaves, you are not watering enough.
dbarron
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Actually the only low light plant is the dracaena and possibly the phalaenopsis orchid (though to successfully rebloom, it should have some morning and/or evening sunlight). The succulents require at least half day sun indoors to grow normally.
Treegeek Z6a (Boston)
7 years ago
Nice plants and love your passion for knowledge!

I think these two threads will help you immensely as a plant parent and change your outlook on the possibilities of longterm success.

They are long reads, but WELL worth it.

Container Soils XXII
https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2842847/container-soils-water-movement-and-retention-xxii

Good Growing
Practices - An Overview
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/houseplt/msg101400289284.html
Sans2014
7 years ago
Lucky bamboo- remove the ties, discard all bad stalks and inspect the rest closely, rinse out the container (or even wash it for that matter) and rinse the anchor stones. Replace the plant(s) in the container and add clean water. Note: this plant is sensitive to chemicals in the water, if you have city water I would go out and by a bottle of spring water. Keep in good light. Keep an eye out for additional bad stalks.

Aloe Variegata need bright light. You might want to put the plant into a clay pot so the soil will air and dry better. Use a saucer instead of the decorative outer pot. Plant look fine at the moment. These are sensitive to over watering- but don't keep it desert dry, let it just dry out then water. It is not a Gasteraloe by the way.

Opuntia need bright light to some direct sun. Water when DRY.
Karen S. (7b, NYC)
7 years ago
I believe that IS a GasterAloe; it is not an Aloe variegata, which look a bit different. It's too dark to take photo of mine now, but they don't have teeth like the pictured one does.