Safe as houses
Studying the native habitat of indoor plants is the key to keeping them alive
ON my recent trip to Florida it was wonderful to see so many of what we call indoor plants flourishing outdoors.
Bromeliads were perched in trees like bird’s nests, Spanish moss hung in curtains from oak trees and Sansevieria (mother-in-law’s tongue) ran riot along the sandy coastline.
Front gardens typically contained a mixture of palms, cycads, agaves, crotons and philodendrons, all basking in the sunshine state.
Succulents and cacti are well adapted to the long dry period that stretches from October to April – and the high humidity is suitable for air plants that draw their moisture and nutrients from the atmosphere.
Observing plants in their native habitat is a good way to learn about looking after them in our homes.
If they come from the desert, they can sustain prolonged periods of drought and will rot if overwatered. Tropical plants that enjoy high humidity will benefit from regular misting or by placing pots on wet gravel.
Grouping plants together will also create a micro climate and increase humidity. Those from warmer climates usually dislike being cold and draughty and will tell you this by their leaves yellowing and often dropping off.
In winter, when light levels drop in our northern hemisphere, most house plants will thank you for being moved to a sunny south facing windowsill for maximum light.
On the other hand, in summer they can get scorched and need more filtered light.
When choosing a house plant, be realistic about how much maintenance you are prepared to do. If you want fuss-free plants, there are a few that will put up with neglect. tongue is very tough – it doesn’t need a lot of watering and can tolerate low light levels as well.
Also known as the Snake Plant because of its stripy variegation, there’s also a striking cylindrical variety which is popular at the moment. NASA found this plant to be one of the best for removing toxic chemicals from the air so it’s a good
choice for an office environment to soak up those pollutants.
I have also found succulents such as the money plant, Crassula ovata, and the Fishbone cactus, Disocactus anguliger, easy-going and neglect proof.
If you’re someone who enjoys tending plants and watering regularly, then you will make the perfect parent for a fern. One of my favourMother-in-law’s
ites is the Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum – it has black arching stems and delicate trembling light green fronds. However if you turn your back for a minute, it shrivels up in no time.
It likes to be kept permanently damp and misted. Kept in a steamy damp environment such as your shower room, it will happily absorb that moisture.
To really mind this sensitive creature, avoid using hard water. Ideally use either rain water or allow your tap water to sit for 24 hours.
Alternatively you can use cooled water from the kettle and the water that collects in your tumble dryer condenser is perfect for house plants. Tepid water is best. It also works very well in a bottle garden – it looks beautiful and enjoys the enclosed damp environment.