Similar to folks, houseplants have their very own distinctive personalities that may vary from laid again to absolute diva. Discovering the plant that may match effectively into your family members’ residence, life-style, and skillset is an artwork.
Fortunately, the horticulturalists on the William T. Kemper Middle for Dwelling Gardening know simply what you’re on the lookout for and have created this information that can assist you discover houseplants everybody can take pleasure in. Whether or not the one you love considers themselves a plant guardian or they’re simply dipping their toe into the soil, there’s a plant for everybody in your record this vacation season.
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia). Picture by David Stang / Missouri Botanical Backyard.
Though no houseplant can really be grown in whole darkness, ZZ crops (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) are a superb selection for rooms with solely oblique mild.
They’re additionally typically easy-care crops: tolerating drought, low humidity, and affected by only a few assaults by frequent houseplant pests.
Haworthia attenuata. Picture by Suzann Gille/ Missouri Botanical Backyard.
For the traveler: zebra plant (Haworthia attenuata)
Like many succulents, Haworthias retailer water of their foliage and solely want an intensive watering as soon as each few weeks, making them good for many who discover themselves away from residence typically, or who simply at all times neglect to water their crops.
They make glorious houseplants resulting from their comparatively low mild necessities, that means that they are going to do effectively in shiny to reasonable oblique mild, whereas most different succulents do finest indoors with not less than some direct mild.
Umbrellaa plant (Cyperus alternifolius). Picture by David Stang/ Missouri Botanical Backyard.
A houseplant can’t be overwatered, proper?
It’s true! However these kin of papyrus want soil that stays evenly moist and doesn’t dry out, even tolerating standing water.
They do require loads of mild to develop effectively. Place the pot outside for summer season and overwinter indoors close to a shiny, sunny window.
Snake plant Sansevieria trifasciata contained in the Emerson Conservatory as a part of the Vacation Floral Present. Picture by tom Incrocci/ Missouri Botanical Backyard.
For the houseplant beginner: Snake plant (Sansevieria)
Tolerant of drought, dry air, and normal neglect, snake crops are a superb selection for the first-time houseplant proprietor.
They develop slowly and like to be barely rootbound, that means that repotting is required solely occasionally. Widespread houseplant pests similar to mealy bugs and scale additionally have a tendency to depart snake crops alone.
Elephant ear (Alocasia). Picture by tom Incrocci/ Missouri Botanical Backyard.
For the houseplant professional: Elephant’s ear (Alocasia)
These leafy tropical crops are primarily grown for his or her showy foliage which regularly displays distinctive veining, markings, and/or coloration.
Nevertheless, their sensitivity to dry, indoor air and propensity to draw spider mites amongst different frequent pests makes them a difficult houseplant to develop. This can be a nice plant for expertise houseplant homeowners on the lookout for a problem.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum ‘Neon’) Picture by Daria McKelvey/ Missouri Botanical Backyard.
For the trend-setter: yellow variegation
Market analysis has indicated the following pattern in houseplants might be crops with yellow or chartreuse colorations.
Classics similar to Epipremnum aureum ‘Neon’ pothos, and newcomers similar to E. aureum ‘Lemon Meringue’ and Z. zamiifolia ‘Chameleon’ (ZZ plant), would make glorious presents for somebody who’s at all times chasing the following “it” look in houseplants.
Need assistance together with your crops?
If you happen to do give one among these featured crops or another crops this vacation season, be sure you inform the one you love about our Plant Physician and Horticulture Reply Service. We might be glad to reply any questions they’ve about their new houseplant.
Plant Physician
Knowledgeable Backyard workers and Grasp Gardener volunteers can be found in particular person to reply your gardening questions. This walk-in service is accessible free with admission.
- April – October: Open 7-days per week, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- November – March: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Closed weekends
Horticulture Reply Service
Backyard workers and Grasp Gardener volunteers present customized solutions to your particular gardening questions over the telephone or by way of e-mail.
Written by Justine Kandra, Horticulturalist with the William T. Kemper Middle for Dwelling Gardening.