Fair / -2° F
Easy house plants… succulents
Published 10:06am Saturday, January 2, 2010When the poinsettia starts looking tacky, and the cyclamen has stopped
blooming, a gardener wants something living in the house, besides himself. Although, Petunia occasionally wonders if she should water Bunkey when he has been glued to the TV — watching football games for hours.
If you are the kind of gardener who forgets to water plants, succulents
are the house plants for you. They store water, having grown up in very
harsh conditions.
Succulents are defined by their specialized water holding tissue. It allows them, in the wild, to conserve water for days, weeks, months or longer. They can thrive in desert-like conditions where rain may be abundant one year and scarce the next. They also do well in low light situations often found in the home.
Cacti are the exception. To stay fat as they were when you got them, they need bright light. They expand or contract, depending on the amount of moisture available to them at the time. Even the thorns or wooly hairs some of them have collect moisture and protect them from drying.
Jade plant is a very long-lived plant. In bright light, it may develop red edges on the leaves. However, it is quite happy in low light. The key to keeping them well is watering. Feel the leaves the day after you have watered the plant. They should feel firm. Water again as soon as they start feeling soft.
Peperomia comes in green and variegated form. The variegated one will need less fertilizer or it will revert to green. Both varieties need medium light to prevent “legginess.”
Then there is “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue.” The older type is that tall vertical spear, not particularly attractive except as an accent among a group of plants. A nicer variety is the “Bird’s Nest.” It is a rosette of four or four-inch leaves and tough as rocks. If not transplanted when it gets crowded, it may break the pot with its strong roots.
If you have room for a bit larger plant, there is the “Pony Tail Palm.” It is not a real palm, although it sure looks like one. It stores its water in its bottle-shaped stem. As with the other plants we have discussed, allow the soil to become dry before watering.
Do dust the leaves of this plant with a damp rag as needed. That will
prevent any potential egg deposits. Not a bad idea for any of your plants. A nice warm shower occasionally is a good idea, too. You could join them. It is shower with your plant month, isn’t it?
