House plant recommenations?

4 years ago

Hi folks,

This long cold winter has prompted me to acquire some house plants to add some life and interest to my home environment! I am familiar with few house plants.. Snake plant comes to mind and I've got a jade/aloe combo that was gifted to me. I was thinking of getting a snake plant because they are attractive and I think easy to grow. I saw a ficus lyrata the other day at a Walmart and it was beautiful. I looked it up but I've learned it can be a little challenging to take care of fro newbies...

I'd place the plant(s) in a well-lit south facing living room but not really in direct sun... Our main level including the kitchen, living and dining room are well lit in general. So I guess what I am saying is that I would require plants that thrive in indirect, well-lit rooms. I am thinking of starting with two, and the previous two plants I mentioned could be candidates - or would you recommend others?

Thank you kindly!

Featured Answer

Jurassic Park

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Aside from lighting and humidity, you ddi not address indoor temps. What are your winter, indoor temperature like? (Asterisk below indicates they like it warm, pretty much above 68 F.).

*Dracaenas are pretty sturdy houseplants thriving in bright indirect light (there are several species)

*Spathyphyllum (Peace lilies)

*Aglaonema (Chinese evergreeen)

*Dieffeenbachia

*Ficus (i have no issues with Ficus but know a lot of people find them temperamental)

*Philodendrons (climbing or self-heading)

*Monstera deliciosa

*Pothos (EPIPREMNUM aureum)

*Aechmea fasciata (Urn plant bromeliad)

Schefflera (the dwarf S. arboricola is especially good inside)

Strelitzia nicolai (Giant White Bird of Paradise)

Spineless Yucca (Y. elephantipses)

Pony tail palms (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sp.), these will tolerate coolness too

Euphorbias (African milk tree, Crown of thorns, etc.)

Algerian Ivy (Hedera canariensis)

Fatsia japonica

Aspidistra eliator (Cast Iron plant)

Orchid cacti (including Thanksgiving cacti)

Crassula argentea (jade plants)

Aloes and Agaves (need bright light but will manage with bright indirect)

Ferns are not too great with low humidity but we like Macho, Staghorn, Japanese bird's nest fern)

Sure that there are dozens of others but suffering from brain freeze here at 12 F above and I live in an indoor jungle. Going out to buy more plants and I have more plants than g/d already.

Good luck!

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Comments (7)

splaker
Original Author
4 years ago
I should add that our house is pretty dry for a good chunk of the year... "furnace season".. I live in Southern Ontario, Canada and it's -5 F right now outside! House humidity is just above 40% and until April, that furnace usually is cranking..
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
im finding i dont see replies.. until i sign in .. seems like that happened here ...

the most important thing for you.. buying right now.. is moving it from seller to your house... in the cold winter ... it will take a little planning ... like making sure your car is warm.. when you bring the plant out for the ride home.. and that it is insulated in some bags for the walk to the car ...

frankly .... house humidity is usually not really an issue.. if your house is so dry.. you spark when you touch the cat.. or walk across the carpet.. and your skin is an itchy mess .. then humidity might be an issue ... short of that.. dont focus on that too much .. and misting does little so dont bother with that ...

just stick to the usual suspects.. and you should be fine.. there is a reason you see the same plants all the time.. its because those are the easy ones ... just buy a few.. and go for it ...

and after a few years of experience. if you want to start searching out the more exotic... then presume they might need more exotic survival methods ...

just tip a plant out of a pot.. if the roots look good.. and you see no bugs.. just buy it.. get it home safe.. and learn how to water it properly... and you should have 99% success ... dont be one of these peeps.. who buy it.. immediately root prune it.. transplant it into a new pot.. and then wonder why it is so stressed.. it might die ...

and let it near dry between watering.. how ever long that might be in your house ... if humidity is low ... you might water once a week .. and if its high.. once a month ... its a plant not a child.. it wont need daily care ...

buy small and cheap.. kill a few of them ... which you wont ... and enjoy your new plants ...

ken

ps: pathos are really easy.. and i dont think i see those on the list above ...
splaker
Original Author
4 years ago
Oh yes, indoor temps are 69/70F but at night we drop thermostat to 66F
Jurassic Park
4 years ago
"ps: pathos are really easy.. and i don't think i see those on the list above.

...Ken, I think you mean pothos (EPIPREMNUM aureum). They made my list of suggestions.
getgoing100_7b_nj
4 years ago
yup, pothos, ZZ plant, rubber plant are your best bet at success as a beginner. They all do not like being watered that much and tolerate dry conditions well. My ZZ plant happily goes a month or two without watering in winters at 60-70 temps and 40% humidity. In fact, it hates frequent watering and displays how it feels by turning its leaves yellow. Rubber plant and pothos also like to go dry between waterings and can easily go a month without watering. Too much water will also turn pothos limp and yellow. They all can take bright light, sun or shade, including dark corners. I have never fancied snake plant, but it is a good choice too. Again, keep that water can away from it. All these plants thrive on benign neglect. Finally, do not expose them to below freezing temperatures on the way from the store to your car or your car to your home, especially pothos.
splaker thanked getgoing100_7b_nj
Jurassic Park
4 years ago
Ha, ha, was about to add the ZZ (Zamioculcas), good choice.
splaker thanked Jurassic Park