Tougher Than Nails Houseplants
By
Paula Szilard
These plants are real survivors. They endure because it is their nature to do so, even in the care of forgetful and neglectful humans. They have a reputation to uphold and they prove their worth time and time again. These plants can withstand considerable neglect, including several weeks without added water. They have very modest fertilizer requirements. Some even do well in low light situations. In general they are very forgiving. Not that they don’t appreciate good care, but lavishing attention on them is not only not necessary, it could be counterproductive! These plants are perfect for the less nurturing among us!
Aspidistra elatior (Cast Iron Plant.)
This China native has long dark green leaves held up by strong stems. The plant earned its place in our homes during Victorian times, but sadly, it has been out of fashion in recent years and is sometimes hard to find. Its common name is well deserved because it can take incredible abuse. When you consider how inhospitable the average Victorian home must have been—no central heating and very little light, it’s no wonder this plant was so widely grown. It was once considered the perfect plant for the beginning houseplant gardener with little light, little space and very little time. In addition to the plain green plant, there is a more attractive cultivar, “Variegata” with alternating green and white stripes, plus one called “Milky Way” with yellow spots on the dark green foliage.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Z-Z, Aroid Palm, Emerald Fronds)
Would you believe that this relatively recent introduction is in the Aroid family, along with Taro and philodendrons? As such it will have flowers very similar to the Peace Lily, with spathe and spadex. In more than a dozen years, though, my plant has never bloomed. It is native to East Africa, but is not a desert plant. Its attractive, glossy compound leaves are 1 to 2 ft long. It has potato-like appendages on its rhizomes for water storage, giving it an edge during periods of seasonal dryness. When it does not get water for longer periods, it first loses its leaflets, then its leaves. These develop again when it gets water. Mine is in a low light location and I am watering it roughly every two weeks. It adapts well to low light conditions in the home, but during long periods of less than satisfactory light, the plant stretches its leaves and starts looking leggy. Though tough, this is another plant you can kill with regular over watering.
Sansevieria (Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, Snake Plant, Rattlesnake Plant)
Native to tropical Africa, this is a good plant for rooms and corners with little light. As a result, it’s often tucked away in a place where it’s easily forgotten, but it survives for years with an occasional watering, little fertilizer and infrequent transplanting. In fact, authorities recommend that you do not transplant until the plant has filled the pot. If you are fortunate to have a well-lighted spot, it will occasionally send up a stalk of white blooms that fill the house with a heady, intoxicating perfume. There are many varieties available at garden centers including lovely plants with silvery or variegated foliage, the bird’s nest type, with leaves arranged in a short rosette, and some of the tall spear-like plants. I had an unusual plant in my office in Honolulu for many years--Sansevieria cylindrica. It had tapering cylindrical leaves with pronounced ridges. If you were to take a cross section of a leaf, it would be a round disc. It got plenty of light at a west window, it got watered occasionally, but I hardly ever thought to fertilize it. These plants actually like part or full sun, but in reality they will survive on a lot less. House plant guru Elvin McDonald says they are tolerant of most conditions except freezing, burning and drowning. Drowning at the hands of an overzealous waterer is a terrible fate for a plant, so when in doubt, remember that less is more.
Euphorbia milii, (Crown of Thorns)
This Madagascar native has thick succulent stems with spines, but it also has leaves. So, while it is a succulent, it needs more water than most plants in this group. If the soil dries out, then the plant will lose its leaves and enter a dormant state. Reintroduce water gradually when this happens. Older varieties are all small-leaved plants with small “flowers” in red, white and yellow. Actually, what people see as flowers are the colorful bracts. The real flowers are the yellow cyathia in the centers of the bracts, like on a poinsettia. In the last 10 years or so the new Poysean hybrids from Thailand have taken over. These plants are much larger, have thicker stems and larger leaves and very large “flowers.” In Thailand they are considered a good luck plant. On many varieties the bracts and cyathia together are the size of a silver dollar. On the Thai hybrids, sometimes as many as 16 “flowers” are carried in clusters up to 4 inches across, whereas on the old fashioned plants, the flowers usually come in twos or threes and the blossoms are miniscule by comparison. It’s a fabulous display and continues non-stop all year (perhaps a little less in winter) if you water once to twice a week, depending on conditions. I water mine twice a week except when there is little sunshine in the winter. If you should take a 10 day vacation, the plant will be fine without water, assuming you water well before you leave and move them back from the glass. I fertilize mine lightly once a month, except in winter. There are an incredible number of new varieties available in different colors from pink to orange and red, some speckled with contrasting colors. As yet, there are no plants with purple or fuchsia “flowers.” The Poysean hybrids are definitely some my most rewarding plants.
Euphorbia trigona, (African Milk Tree)
Although it gets tall and branches readily, there’s nothing really tree-like about this plant. It consists of tall three-faceted bright green stems with spines. Sometimes there are attractive light green markings on the stems. If given sufficient water the stems grow leaves, especially toward the top. When the leaves fall off, you know that you are not watering enough. It branches easily, thus gaining in girth as well as height. There are several very attractive red cultivars. Although it’s tough, take care not to overwater this plant, or it will rot at the base.
Schlumbergera, (Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus)
This is considered a ho-hum plant by many indoor gardeners. That’s because it’s in homes everywhere. If it were a new introduction, we’d all be raving about it. What other houseplant is so long-lived that it is handed down through the generations as a family heirloom? Since the stems are flat and act like leaves, this plant needs more water than the average cactus. I water mine once a week, but I test to be sure they need moisture. When the weather cools, reduce your watering. To bloom, they either need long nights, uninterrupted by even a little artificial light. Most people find such conditions difficult to provide. They will also bloom when temperatures are kept at 59 F or below. A leaky window can make this plant bloom like crazy. An unheated porch or cold bedroom also works well. Easter cacti are in a completely different genus and bloom in response to increasing day length.
Aloe
Forget Aloe vera! It’s useful enough, but unfortunately, it’s of the homelier species in the genus. Most people keep one plant around to treat minor burns. If you want an attractive aloe, there are over two hundred other species to choose from, plus many lovely new hybrids. If given good light, they generally bloom at least once a year. Many varieties form offsets or keikis and you will have plenty pf plants to give to your friends and use in your patio containers. Plant them in ½ cactus mix and ½ quality potting mix. I water every week or two, depending on how hot and sunny it is. I fertilize once a month with a mild all purpose fertilizer, except in winter. Aloes do need a sunny spot to thrive and bloom. If you place your plants outside for the summer place them in part shade. Remember to reduce your watering when the weather cools. Some of the more attractive plants available are: Aloe variegata, A sinkatana, A dorotheae, A. plicatillis, A. “Guido,” A. “Pink Blush,” and A.”Christmas Carol.”
Gasterias, (Ox-Tongue, Lawyer’s Tongue, Dutch Wings)
These attractive plants are native to South Africa where they generally grow in the shade of larger plants. Some wise botanist named them Gasterias because the individual flowers look like stomachs. Think of the word gastritis and you won’t forget. The color is often a variant of peach or orange, often with green edging. They are called ox-tongues because they have stiff tongue shaped leaves, often bilaterally symmetrical. These leaves look like stacked tongues on either side of the stem. Others have radial symmetry and form rosettes. Still others have bilateral symmetry with a twist. That is, the stem seems to twist while the leaves nonetheless look bilaterally symmetrical. A few seem to grow helter skelter without any symmetry. Plant size ranges from miniature to 1ft high and 2ft across. The inflorescence is similar to that of the aloe plant and usually appears once a year. Some plants have very large, branched inflorescences. They need part sun, temperatures in the human comfort range and good air circulation. Mine are potted in ½ cactus mix and ½ peat based potting mix. They are watered once a week in the spring, summer and fall, but less in the winter. As with other succulents, I fertilize once a month spring through fall and not at all in winter.
Pothos (Epipremmum, Devil’s Ivy)
There are only a few plants that I really dislike and this is one of them. It goes back to the houseplant craze in the 1970’s when we discovered how little light this plant needed and we had pots of Pothos in every nook and cranny. That said, I would be remiss not to include it in a list of very durable plants. Although it makes do with very little light it really thrives in bright, indirect light, in temperatures in the human comfort range and in humid air. Pot it up in a peat based mix, cut it back periodically or the vines loose their bottom leaves and look unattractive. Keep it moist and it will do well for you. I fertilize once a month, except in the depths of winter.
Beaucarnea recurvata, (Nolina recurvata, Ponytail Palm)
This Mexican native is not a palm at all, but a member of the Agave family. If you give this plant a sunny location and don’t overwater it, it may outlast you! It is a succulent with a caudex (fat bottom) for water storage. Larger plants do branch, but we don’t see this often in houseplants because they just don’t get big enough when grown indoors in containers. The cream- colored flower sprays are likewise rare in houseplants. Planted outdoors in warm climates, these plants can get 12’ to 18’ tall with a 10 to 15’ spread. My plant, unfortunately is not in an ideal location and needs to be moved outdoors in the summer. Our cats seem to enjoy munching on it, so we have had to move it to higher ground. Occasionally when growing conditions are below par, it can be attacked by spider mites and other pests.
Synadenium grantii (Euphorbia grantii, African Milk Bush)
Like many tough plants this indestructible plant is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family and is native to central East Africa. In addition to the green leaved form, there is a red form, which can have blackish red leaves or blackish red markings on green leaves. I started both of my plants from small cuttings. I have had the green-leaved one for about 15 years and blackish red one for about 4 years. The intensity of the color may be dependent on the quality of the light. I water my plants every week or two depending on the temperatures in the sunroom and fertilize them 3-4 times a year. These plants need quite a bit of pruning to keep them attractive. It’s a good idea to wear gloves when you do this. The plant is considered poisonous if ingested and the sap can be highly irritating to the skin.