15 Shocking Facts About Popular House Plants That You Never Knew
Popular House Plants For a Tropical Touch
For those who want to give their home a tropical look take a look at the heartleaf philodendron. These vibrant leaves are easy to care for and tolerate low lighting.
The spiky calathea, also known as the peacock plant has beautiful leaves. Like a lot of other popular house plants, calatheas are fairly easy to grow, but they require filtered light and well-draining soil.
Ponytail Palm
The ponytail palm, Beaucarnearecurvata is a stunning plant that is easy to maintain. It is now one of the most well-known houseplants in recent years. Although it looks like the palm tree however, this is a succulent that grows well under dry conditions. It can withstand for weeks without watering as its trunk is expanded. This makes it a great plant for those who live in cold climates or who have a busy schedule. It is also called the elephant-foot or bottle-palm.
Ponytail palms are tolerant of cool temperatures and thrive in warm indoor climates. In summer, they prefer bright areas with indirect sunlight to keep warm and avoid burning their leaves. They can adjust to full sun exposure, but only in warmer climates. They can also be grown outdoors as a landscape in frost-free regions. When grown indoors, they can reach up to 6 inches or more in diameter. They can be propagated from offsets that develop on the base of the trunk.
Ponytail palms require a small amount of water and thrive in the same quick-draining soil as succulents and cacti. A clay pot is suggested to aid in this as it wicks water away from the roots. If your ponytail palm is rooted, pot up the plant into a container only a few inches wider than its trunk. To avoid shock, move it slowly to the new container. Fertilize every other season using an aqueous cactus fertilizer at half strength.
Schefflera
Schefflera is a genus that includes a variety of household plants that sport leaves that resemble umbrellas. Schefflera actinophylla, Schefflera Arboricola and a few other typical varieties produce elongated four- to six-leaflet leaves that gracefully droop from the central stem. This is the reason they get their popular name. The dwarf variety, Areca catechu, produces the same leaf shape, but with smaller leaves that are usually variegated with cream or yellow. Both varieties are not only beautiful however, they also function as natural air fresheners and deodorizers.
This tropical houseplant is relatively easy to care for and thrives in a humid environment. However, it requires fairly warm temperatures and does not tolerate sudden temperature drops or drafts. It is susceptible to a variety of ailments, such as leaf spots caused by fungus or bacteria. To avoid problems like this, make sure to keep the soil moist, but not overwatering it, and make use of a potting mix that is made from peat moss. If you have to water your plant, wait until the soil's top inch is dry before watering again.
You may have to feed your plant more often in the event that it exhibits indications of nutrient deficiencies like leaves that appear pale or withered or tips that are brown. best houseplants can add liquid fertilizer or slow-release pellets to water. Regularly trimming your schefflera can encourage new growth and leaves.
Areca Palm
Palms are widespread in tropical climates. They make beautiful house plants because their green fronds remain vibrant throughout the year and blend nicely with all interiors. They can be cultivated in a pot to bring natural elegance to a room or used as a grand centerpiece. They also bring a lot of drama to entranceways or a corner and are an excellent way to lighten up a dark corner of the home.
In their natural habitat, the areca palm grows in a tropical rainforest climate. It is naturally adapted to high humidity and warm temperatures. However they are prone to cold and can burn its leaves when exposed to sudden surges of cold air. Therefore, it is important to keep indoor palms of areca away from cold windows, heat sources and air conditioners.
Areca palms must be exposed to plenty of light. These plants do not tolerate low/medium light so be sure to place them in a very bright location with some direct sunlight, too.
Areca palms require constant watering, but they should not be left to overwater. Overwatering can cause fungal and rot-related diseases. The soil should be fairly moist but not waterlogged and should be allowed to dry out between each watering. If the soil is not an abundant, loamy mixture You can improve it by adding a bit of builder's sand or peat moss to create a more rich well-draining soil.
Chinese Money Plant
Pilea peperomioides also referred to as the pancake plant, Chinese money plant or coin plant, is a flowering perennial in the nettle family. It's mostly grown for its distinctive UFO-shaped, round leaves. It's a houseplant that grows quickly and is easy to propagate and take care of.
This houseplant thrives in light conditions. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight since this can cause burning of its beautiful leaves and cause other problems. Instead, situate it near a window that receives abundant indirect light.
Rotate the pot of the Chinese money plant by around one quarter every couple of weeks. This helps all the leaves get the same amount of sunlight. It's also a good idea to fertilize it once a month using a balanced liquid plant food diluted to half strength.
The Chinese money plant is tolerant of low humidity levels. However, if you notice that its leaf edges are starting to get crisper it's a sign that it's time to up the humidity.
This plant is a favorite in Feng Shui where it's believed to promote prosperity and wealth. It's also a great choice to keep in the office since it has been proven to increase the productivity of workers and lessen stress. It's also nontoxic for pets and children. So go ahead and enjoy your greenery with your the people you love! You can find this plant at local garden centers and nurseries, as well as in most big-box home improvement stores as well as supermarkets that have a gardening section.
Majesty Palm
Majesty palms, or Ravenea Rivularis have long fronds which are a beautiful addition to any home. These tropical plants also possess properties that purify the air. Due to their high humidity requirements and growing demands, they are difficult to maintain.
Majesty palms, just like other indoor plants, require well-drained soil that is evenly moistened. They should be watered regularly, but not excessively. The plant will benefit from regular fertilizing, as well.
When watering a majesty palm make sure to sprinkle the water over the entire surface of the soil. Avoid watering the plant directly at its base crown as this could cause rot and damage to new fronds.
Majesty palms thrive best in pots that are 2-3 inches larger than their root ball. They also benefit from a pot with adequate drainage since the plant is susceptible to root decay. Drain rocks can be incorporated into the bottom of the container to improve drainage. Repot a majestic palm every once a year, or when the roots are extending out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
Majesty palms are prone to aphids, spider mites and scale insects. It's important to spray the plant regularly with a mild soap and water solution to stop these pests from coming into your home. Majesty palms are also sensitive to low humidity, making it essential to ensure they are in an area that has adequate air circulation.
best houseplants is a wonderful houseplant for novices, since it doesn't require a lot of watering. The plant is a tropical species from the rain forest, and prefers moderate humidity and warm climates. It thrives in humid areas such as bathrooms with bright lighting, terrariums or even misted areas of the home. It can be placed outside in the summer but remember to bring it back inside when temperatures decrease.
Lindsay Pangborn, an expert of the gardening site Bloomscape recommends watering only when the top two inches of soil feel dry to the touch. She also recommends using a chopstick for aerating the soil prior to watering to ensure that it can reach all areas of the roots. Aeration stops the rot process and promotes deep root growth. Peperomias do not have a specific preference when it comes to feed. They are fertilized two times a week with a general purpose fertilizer for houseplants.
The leaves of peperomias have a unique texture that gives them lots of visual appeal. They can be smooth, crinkled or even with ridges or grooves. They can also be variegated or spotted. low maintenance house plants exhibit a pattern that is reminiscent of a skin of a watermelon or the emerald-colored ripples. They can be cleaned by wiping them with a damp cloth to remove dust from crevices, particularly in species that have grooves or ripples. If you notice swelling on the leaves of peperomia plants this could indicate a problem. You should treat the plant with insecticidal detergent.