In the pink
CAUTION: JUST GREEN PARTS OF LEAVES PHOTOSYNTHESIZE
All shades of the romantic colour are represented in the pretty foliage.
Pink indoor plants are trending, say the style gurus as they set out their trend predictions for this year. The reason is quite simple: pink plants, plants with variegated pink, green and cream leaves, pink stems or pink flowers, are the prettiest plants around – and how appropriate that Valentine’s Day is just a few days away.
A STAR PLANT
The plant that seems to have captured the most attention is Stromanthe Triostar, with its leaf shades of light pink, cream and green, offset by a vibrant deeper pink on the leaf reverse.
Being a tropical variegated plant from the Amazon jungle, it has specific requirements, which are easily met. Most important, it needs bright, indirect light or filtered sunlight to grow well and maintain its bright colours.
That is because only the green portion of the leaves, which contain chlorophyll, are able to photosynthesize – the process by which sunlight is converted into oxygen and carbohydrates to feed the plant for its growth.
The more light it has, the more energy it can produce for growth. That’s why all plants with variegated leaves need bright light or sunlight. Without it their growth slows down and the colours become dull. Keeping the leaves dust-free also improves its ability to photosynthesize.
Being a tropical jungle plant, Triostar also likes warmth, humidity and consistently moist soil, but not soggy. Water when the top inch (about 2.5 cm) of the soil feels dry. Mist its leaves to add to the humidity.
Its best place is a warm room, close to a window (but no draughts), where it can receive some filtered morning sun. It grows relatively slowly and stays relatively compact, making it a good plant for the coffee table, windowsill, home office, or patio.
PRINCESSES & DRAGONS
New on the indoor plant scene is Calathea Roseopicta Princess Jessie. Although typical of the rose-painted Calathea type, it has a deeper pink band towards the edge of the leaf, and the contrasting green is almost black. It throws up two cream and green leaves in the centre, rather like a little tiara, which may have inspired the “princess” appellation.
It grows into a medium-sized voluptuous plant with exactly the same requirements as the Triostar, except that its likes the soil to be misted and not the leaves.
Less pink, but rather classy, is the Calathea ornate Pinstripe that has deep green leaves finely etched with thin salmon-pink stripes.
The range of Alocasia “dragons” includes the aptly named Pink Dragon for its pink stems and shieldlike leaves in metallic green. It, too, needs a warm, humid spot that receives bright light but not filtered sun, as the leaves tend to burn. Exposure to sun can also dull the leaves.
PINK FLOWERING PLANTS
Two pink flowering houseplants that are worth looking out for are a new pink Zantedeschia and the mini pink anthurium.
The Zantedeschia flower is a candyfloss pink and the way to keep it flowering well is to display it in a bright room, keep the soil moist and remove the blooms as they die. This is an indoor/outdoor plant that can be placed outside once the blooms and leaves have died back. Keep the pot in a cool, semishady position and in a few months’ time it will make new shoots. The bulbs can also be planted in the garden in a position that receives morning sun and afternoon shade.
The mini-anthurium with petite salmon pink flowers has all the attributes of its bigger sister; indestructible, forgiving if you forget to water it and long-lasting. Watering when the soil feels dry, a liquid feed once a month in summer and bright light will encourage new flowers.
For more information visit www.lvgplant.co.za