Recall the Jack Nicolson film, ‘Seven Easy Pieces’? Well, this is an article about seven easy tropical houseplants. OK, so not exactly the same thing. While these seven tropicals may not be as entertaining as the film, they will enhance any indoor living space and they have more lasting health benefits. Now, before you say anything about having a brown thumb, not to worry. I’ve selected this group of tropicals because they are impervious to the mistakes (and even neglect).
An Indoor Plant Starter List
Corn Plant – Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’ is a flowering plant species that is native throughout tropical Africa. No relation to the corn plant that produces corn on the cob, this plant does however produce a main stem with long green, or variegated leaves. It is considered one of the best houseplants for beginners. It thrives in a bright spot, but it will tolerate a low-light situation extremely well. It’s just that it will grow more slowly and may show less of the lime-green variegation. You will want to allow the top inch or so of the soil to dry out between waterings. If it has droopy yellow leaves that is a sign of it suffering from root rot (too much water!). Since it is slow-growing it likely won’t need to be repotted more than every three years. Additionally, Corn Plant is one of the top rated plants for health because it is really good at removing indoor air toxins such as formaldehyde, ammonia, xylene (a solvent used in the leather, rubber and printing industries) and toluene.
Aloe Vera – Aloe spp. is a well-known houseplant because of its various health benefits, especially for treating minor burns. It’s another good air cleanser, too. Aloe Vera grows wild in tropical climates around the world. It likes the bright lights like many of the other houseplants so it can be given direct sunlight. The Aloe is a member of the succulent family, which means that its leaves are able to retain water (similar to cactus). Aloe Vera requires very little watering, especially in the winter. However, check the soil occasionally to make sure it doesn’t become bone dry.
No Cause for Alarm, This Popular Plant Has Nothing to Do With Insects
Spider Plant – Chlorophytum comosum is probably the most common, popular and easiest to grow of all hanging or trailing houseplants. It is a native of southern Africa so keep it in a bright area – but without direct sunlight! When it starts to wilt (slightly) it’s time to water. And, to further prove its ease of care bonafides, it needs very little water in winter. As long as it is planted in a good potting mix, it really doesn’t need to be fertilized. The only other maintenance is to remove any leaves that turn brown as they die off so that the new growth will continue. Spider plant is another air-purifying plant that helps to control benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene.
House Needs a Little Beautification? Try a Peace Plant!
Peace Lily – Spathiphyllum spp. is so easy to grow, it is sometimes referred to as a ‘closet plant’. I don’t recommend taking that literally, however! Depending on the species, it is native to tropical regions of the Americas and southeastern Asia. The Peace Lily makes for an excellent plant for the home or office because it not only brightens up a spot, but acts as an excellent air filter. Like most of the other indoor plants we have discussed, the peace lily enjoys medium to low light. The type of light you provide will create the type of peace lily you want. Peace lilies that are placed in more light, yet not direct sunlight, tend to produce white flowers more often, when grown in lower light situations they will bloom less and will look more like a traditional foliage plant. A note of caution, more peace lilies are killed by over watering than under watering. This plant is very drought tolerant. Some indoor gardeners even wait until the blossom starts to droop before watering. As counter-intuitive as this may seem, this method does no harm to the plant and will help to curb any over-watering tendencies.
Even the Worst Brown Thumb Can’t Kill This One!
Cast Iron Plant – Aspidistra Elatior is a native of Japan / Taiwan and gets its name from an association with the characteristics of cast iron metal. Both have the ability to withstand an enormous amount of neglect. With regard to the plant, a bright-lit room is good, but not a necessity. In fact, it can live with very low levels of light and should be kept away from direct sun as such contact will burn the leaves. The most common problems are over-watering and re-potting too often. The Cast Iron Plant is yet another of the air-purifying plants. Note to Brown Thumbs: The Cast Iron Plant is well known for its ability to tolerate lack of light, dry air and lack of watering.
Are You Feeling Lucky?
Lucky Bamboo – Dracaena sanderiana became popular several years ago because it is an easy to care for houseplant that can be grown in water. Incidentally, that is not the best way to grow it! Even though it is a native of West Africa, the name lucky seems to have been given by the Chinese that practice Feng Shui and believe that this plant brings good fortune into a home or workplace. It is also not a true bamboo. Lucky Bamboo grows best in a pot with soil (not water) and will have a longer life. Some prefer to grow Lucky Bamboo in a glass vase, which admittedly looks very cool. Lucky Bamboo can also be grown in an aquarium and is sometimes sold in pet shops submersed in water. Still, it is not the correct way for growing because the continuous exposure to water will eventually rot the plant. In it’s native habitat, Lucky Bamboo grows under the shade of trees, so place your plant in a bright spot that is protected from direct sunlight.
Ending with a Prayer
Prayer Plant – Maranta leuconeura is my favorite. It’s why I left it for last. Native to tropical Central and South America as well as the West Indies, it earned its common name from the fact that the leaves tend to fold together at night, like a pair of praying hands. You can literally see it move. Direct sunlight will scorch the leaves and can quickly kill the plant so be careful where it’s placed. It prefers bright but indirect sunlight and is generally tolerant of lower light areas. The prayer plant prefers well-drained soil and requires high humidity to thrive. It is an excellent choice to grow in your bathroom.
Final Thoughts on Tropical Houseplants
This is just a short list of some of the easy-to-care-for tropical plants that you can use as houseplants. Occasionally, you may have an insect problem which can be managed with insecticidal soap. It is safe to use indoors, organic, and does a pretty good job on the majority of pests that you may encounter. Diseases for the plants in this survey will not likely be a problem as long as you do not over water. Indeed, root rot will be the biggest threat to your success.
In addition to the advantage of the aesthetics of having plants in your home or office, you probably noticed that almost all of the plants listed act as air filters. According to NASA, as far back as the 1980s, it was found that some species of plants could eliminate up to 87% of toxins in the air. These toxins come from things like paint, varnishes, cleaning solutions, insulation, wood, furniture, carpeting and other products. NASA says that 15 to 20 air-filtering plants in the house can maintain the level of emissions from these toxins in accordance with environmental standards.
Use this list as a guide to some foolproof tropicals that can be easily and safely brought into your living areas. Your luck may improve, your Feng Shui will thank you, and you could very well be breathing much better!
Growing Cyclamen Indoors
One of the showiest plants on our kitchen windowsill is the “poor man’s orchid” or florist’s cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum). During late winter and early spring, their delicate nodding flowers—pink, red, magenta, white or purple—add an elegant touch to an otherwise drab time of year.
The flowers seem to float above green heart-shaped leaves that are marbled with silver. The plants grow six to 12 inches tall and are especially beautiful when several pots are used as one long centerpiece down a table or when they’re clustered on a kitchen counter, an island, or grouped on a coffee table.
Cyclamen (SIKE-la-men) flower in cooler commercial greenhouses beginning in September. Garden centers, big-box stores and florists generally sell them through late winter, often as holiday or gift plants. But with newer technology to cool greenhouses, I’ve found them at Easter and Mother’s Day.
There are new cyclamen varieties with fancy names to match their ruffled petals and exotic leaves, but most stores simply label plants according to the flower color—pink, white, rose, violet or red. Prices typically range from about $5 to $25 per plant based on pot and plant size. Breeders also have created new miniature cyclamen, some of which are fragrant.
Perennial Cyclamen Plants
There is a perennial cyclamen that can be grown outdoors in Zones 5 to 7—Cyclamen hederifolium—which you’ll find online and at some garden centers. Some species, such as Cyclamen coum and C. purpurascens are grown as hardy perennials from Zone 7 south. They are suited to rock gardens, shady borders and under trees. There are many other hardy varieties for milder climates.
When growing cyclamen as perennials, provide them with good garden loam that drains quickly. They are sensitive to excessive summer moisture because that is when they are typically dormant.
All of the cyclamen’s plant parts are said to cause severe discomfort if ingested, so keep plants and tubers away from children and pets.
Native Habitat
Cyclamen hails from the Mediterranean, and many of the 23 species are native to Italy, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Greece, Syria and parts of North Africa and western Asia. They grow in well-drained woodland soils, alpine meadows, and rocky areas where the summers are dry and winters are cool with few frosts. Their native habitat is a clue that the plants do not like to be waterlogged—they grow in rocky areas with gritty soil where water quickly drains away. And, because they grow in cool conditions during winter, they will sulk if placed near a radiator or warm air vent.
Watering can be tricky. I learned the hard way that it’s easy to kill a cyclamen by providing too much water or by pouring water directly into the crown of the plant. Cyclamen grow from a tuber—a swollen, horizontal, mostly underground stem that bears leaves, buds, and roots and stores food when the plant is dormant (without leaves or flowers). Overwatering can cause the tuber to rot. The plants should always be grown in pots with drainage holes.
It’s best to take the pot to the sink, water it thoroughly, and then let the excess water drain away for about 30 minutes before placing the pot back on the dry saucer. If you find the leaves are turning yellow, it could be from too much water. Instead of watering from the top of the soil, you can set the pot in a bowl of water and let it “drink” up the water and then put it back on the saucer. Let the soil dry out a bit between waterings but not so much that the leaves begin to wilt.
Cyclamen like it on the cool side, preferring temperatures no more than 68 degrees F. (20 C) during the day and down to 50 F. (10 C) at night. It’s not always easy to achieve cooler temperatures in heated, dry rooms. However, an enclosed porch, unheated sunroom, or a bright, cool basement window could serve as that spot. An east- or north-facing windowsill where the plants are out of direct sunlight is best. If you only have south- or west-facing windows, move the plant back a bit so it gets bright filtered light.
Cyclamen flowers often last for two months or more. While they’re in bloom, fertilize the plants every two or three weeks with an all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer. You can extend the bloom time by removing the spent flowers. Don’t use scissors—that will cause the stems to die back and may delay additional flower production. Instead, use your fingers to pinch and pull at the base of the stem.
Dormancy
Cyclamen plants are active growers in the winter months and they go dormant in late spring or early summer. When warm weather approaches, flowering typically stops and the leaves turn yellow. That’s a sign that the plant needs a rest. Some people simply toss out the plant at this point but, if you’re patient, you can encourage a second bloom later in the year. In fact, this is the ultimate lazy gardener plant.
The goal is to mimic the plant’s life in its native habitat. Gradually reduce watering when it stops flowering. Let the leaves turn yellow and wither. Place the plant in a cool spot for a few months where it will remain dry (withhold water entirely). The tuber has stored the necessary energy so you need not worry that the plant will die. When shoots appear in late summer, move the pot to a bright window and begin watering again. It’s that simple.
Cyclamen generally do not need repotting, but if you choose to repot, use a good potting mix and place the tuber close to the soil surface so that it’s slightly exposed. This prevents water from collecting in the tissues, which can rot.
For more information on growing cyclamen, see:
The Cyclamen Society, www.cyclamen.org
The North American Rock Garden Society, //nargs.org/genus/cyclamen