The funny thing about publishing blog posts is you have NO idea what people are going to latch onto. For example, I could write a post about how to fix your own central vac and for some reason everyone gloms onto what kind of candy wrappers I have in my garbage, which then degenerates into a pages long discussion of what's better, After Eights, Ovation sticks or none of the above because only devil people eat candy.
You people are nuts. I'm O.K. with that. I suspect you are too.
So when I published my post revealing the new love of my life (my new tulip table) I wasn't surprised when the comments started reaching into the direction of two things that were completely and totally unrelated to my new tulip table: my midcentury modern lamps and ... a plant. Let it be known right now that I suck at plants. I'll fully admit that I rock at vegetable gardening and if asked to, would stand on top of a vegetable garden mountain waving a green flag wearing a broccoli floret bikini. But indoor plants? Sometimes I fish dead ones out of garbage bins and bring them home just to save me the trouble of actually killing them.
I don't do indoor plants. My house is exceptionally dark and I have in my head for some reason that the minute you bring a plant inside it become self caring. Like an artificial plant. Or ... a cat. In my head there's no need to tend to them, fertilize them, or even water them until they're little brown twigs surrounded by a carpet of crispy brown leaves. THAT is the exact moment I stare at them perplexed, and think about maybe giving them a little bit of water. I had to buy a Soda Stream just to make sure I water myself. Plants have no chance.
But there are a FEW that I've discovered over the years that can almost fend for themselves in my dark and arid home. One of those is the plant seen in my tulip table post ... the maidenhair fern.
3 INDOOR PLANTS YOU CANNOT MURDER
1. The Maidenhair Fern
Maidenhair fern is a bright green fern with airy, little leaves.
This pot of them on my table is actually a group of around 6 very small ferns that I planted together in one pot to give the impression of a big plant.
Care:
Maidenhair ferns like the care of a typical fern. They do NOT need a lot of light and they need humidity. So placing their pot on a plastic tray with some pebbles and water will keep them happy. The pebbles and water give them humidity without having them stand in water all the time which would rot their roots. They like to be wet but do NOT like to be overwatered so if you forget the odd watering it's A Okay. Also if you leave it too long and forget to water for ages, even a nearly dead Maidenhair fern will eventually start putting out new leaves again even when you think you've for sure killed it.
2. Baby's tear
A pretty, pretty, bright green delicate little plant that everyone will say "OH! I LOVE THAT PLANT!" when they see it, yet no one will know it's name. Baby's tear. It is Baby's tear. And those planters are made out of a few squares of mirror from the dollar store.
Care:
Same as the Maidenhair fern. Indirect light with surrounding humidity and yeah ... watering.
3. Staghorn Fern
If you're a bonafide hipster or hipster trend follower you may recognize the Staghorn fern as the plant de jour of 2010. Whatever design blog you looked at, no matter what they were talking about, a Staghorn fern was sure to be seen somewhere, often beside a big hunk of Chevron. The Staghorn fern was soon replaced by wood pallets and more recently Kilim rugs.
Care:
The Staghorn fern likes low to bright indirect light, and loves to dry out between waterings. That's what I'm looking for in a plant.
A couple of other tips I've figured out for keeping plants alive beyond the first week is to make watering easier. I know. How difficult is pouring water onto something? Very difficult apparently since I have to come up with a tip sheet on how to do it.
TIPS TO MAKE SURE YOU WATER YOUR PLANTS.
- Put plastic or clay dishes under your plants so you can water them right where they are and don't have to move them to a sink to water them.
- Keep a small, discreet watering can around EVERY area of your house that you have indoor plants.
- That watering can I told you about? After it's empty, refill it immediately so it's always ready to just grab and water with.
- Use a moisture meter. I got mine at a garage sale but Amazon, hardware store and garden centres carry them.
Plants. All I've talked about is indoor plants. So I cannot wait to see what actually gets discussed in the comment section. My money is on how I like my Soda Stream.
Have a good weekend!
Eileen
Huh...all three of those were lickety-split DEAD once they came into my life.
Now specializing in cacti and succulents of various types. Did manage to over-love (ie. drown) a couple of those before learning about restraint.
Patti
hhhhhmmm ....I have killed many " indestructible" plants in my lifetime too! But my 2 twenty and thirty-five year old ficus trees flourish to the point I have to trim them back because they are scraping the ceiling, pushing their way out of their corners and their pots. I have problems with scale on one and I will summer it outside......washing it off with insecticidal soap a few times. Hopefully they are gone for good now! Careful buying those "cheap" plants....they sometimes come with a bonus! BUGS!
Veronica
You can't kill a maidenhair fern!? Pah! Amateur!
The minute mine came in the door from Holland Park, it turned up its nose at the atmosphere in here and gave up the ghost.
Now, outside, all is well.
Love your posts - they give me hope.
Ev Wilcox
About that Soda Stream.... My house plants do ok, and spend the late spring till frost in the fall, out on the enclosed porch or the deck. They are simple, nothing fancy (like me!), which is why they survive. I am thinking of getting a Baby Tears, and the other two, though! My mom absolutely had a green thumb, indoors and out. I think I have a green little finger, or maybe the middle one. Never mind on that one.... My house has limited window space and is dark too. That's my excuse anyway.
Jenny
We have a little potted cactus that came with our house because the previous owners couldn't be bothered to take everything with them. It's really bizarre looking--three splayed out arms that throw out little clusters of pink blossoms and a few leaves. I have no idea what it is because it defies googling.
It's over the kitchen sink so every now and then I flick a few drops of water at it, and that's it. Plants that survive on benign neglect are the plants for me!
shannon
My house is very dark too (tons of windows, but big trees outside) and I have killed all manner of supposedly easy and low-light plants. The ones I've had great luck with are snake plants and zz plants (both mentioned by other commenters). I've lost a leaf or branch here or there, but I have two of each and they thrive even in my darkest rooms in my house. Also, I water them maybe once every couple of months. The ones I have are floor plants, though; it would be nice to have something small to set on an end table. Maybe I'll get brave and try one of yours.
I see the staghorns popping up on blogs again now. Anything to get people to shut up about fiddle leaf figs. ;)
Jan in Waterdown
OK, going with your theme of digression . . . are you high and dry? Not you personally lol but your street or basement or chickies coop? Was thinking about you last night when I saw the flooding on the news. Hope you're ok!
Debbie
ZZ plants are the plant that I cannot kill with neglect. We are a general contractor and build animal hospitals. I give these plants to my clients as a grand opening gift because they need very little light, very little water, and very little fertilizer. In my experience, offices who don't have a plant lover will forever have dead plants.....and who would trust a doctor who's plants are dead, right? I have 4 or 5 in my house in various sizes. I water them when I remember. Many times I water the ones in the kitchen with the water from steamed or boiled veges (after it has cooled, obviously) and they love that. Slow to grow, ZZ plants can be very expensive if purchased at a nursery. I buy small and grow them myself.
http://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/zz-plant.html
Heather B
I love baby's tears and I cannot tell you how many times I have killed them. They're all perky one day and *poof* the next day flat as a pancake & they never recover.
Jamieson
Great tips as always. But any ideas about caring for a corn? Not corn plants, and not acorns, but foot corns. Thanks again!
Jan in Waterdown
Call a podiatrist. Or a chiropodist. Whatever.
Gawd I've missed you. Hah!
Elaine
Oh gosh - now I'm REALLY laughing!!! This has to be the best blog in existence!! I follow certain lady-like decor blogs but this is way more fun. I've had a corn for over 50 blasted years. It can be "quiet" for a few months but if I wear a snugger shoe for even two hours, it seems to jumpstart the thing then I have months of wearing corn cushions until it dies down. You can use the skin-burning removal liquid but a doctor told me it's the bone that needs to be shaved down. For now, I'll pass on that.
Jan in Waterdown
Alrighty then! Jamieson, you get your toe bone shaved and karen! can video it and then we can all make appropriately rude comments. Sounds like fun eh?
Karen
LOL. No. No corn advice beyond my delicious Indian Street Corn recipe. Is that helpful? I think that's probably helpful. I'll assume, super-helpful. ~ karen!
Michelle
Soda Stream! Yes! Help!
Just went to Canadian Tire to 'refill' my soda stream canister and it cost TWENTY DOLLARS!! For a can of gas. Soda Stream gift not economical at all
Unless you oh clever one know if a way to refill gas canister in a cheaper fashion?
Karen
There are ways to refill it yourself but I swear to God it involves dry ice, the possibility of death and a Hazmat suit. So ... even I will just be getting the cartridge recharged at Canadian Tire. :/ ~ karen!
alena
Karen,
The cartridge is usually cheaper (though not by a whole lot) at Water Depot (but not all Water Depots carry them).
The price also seem to vary depending on weather and who is the clerk on duty. The last time (a week ago) I paid $24 plus some change.
It is an disgustingly expensive addiction but I can't live without my soda water. I have been an addict for probably 10 years by now, if not longer.
I swear those bubble are more addictive than McFries.
Renee Rydzewski
psst - check with a fire extinguisher company - they may be able to do it cheaper. Someone that fills Co2 - I got one for my son, and we can refill his (we own a fire ext company near Chicago) I would certainly not charge someone $20.
Shelagh
We are cheap. As cheap as possible. So, one year hubby cut back the geraniums and brought the geraniums inside for the winter. Put them in a cool room with a south western facing window and not only did we not kill them with neglect but they actually bloomed!
They are blooming now and this I should the end of their second winter! All we did is stick a finger in the dirt and if it felt dry we gave them some water. If a few leaves went brown...ooops...gave the some water.
You have rhubarb? Enough for pies already? I barely have crocci peeking up!
And I love my soda stream....in the summer.
Darlene Meyers
Might I suggest the topic of flour spaghetti or zucchini ?
Or ice cream vs sorbet?
Jan in Waterdown
Personally, I'd like to talk about roasting pans.
And what the heck is flour spaghetti?
Darlene Meyers
Spaghetti made with flour instead of vegetable
Karen
Flour spaghetti and ice cream. Done! ;) ~ karen!
Elaine
I want to brag about orchids sometime!! And I'm FAR from a braggy type person. :)
jaine kunst
My question- how did you keep reflections from showing up on your mirrored planters when you photographed them? In the planter in the foreground, the blurred reflection looks like a marble statue of a nude.
Karen
It's funny you mention that of all things, lol. If you read the post on making the mirrored boxes I actually talk about how hard it was to get a photo without any reflection. Now of course I would just use Photoshop to get rid of any reflection but at the time I didn't have Photoshop or any clue how to use it. :) ~ karen!
Leslie from Hampton
Karen I too kill all indoor plants except started growing sprouts once you brought that up a while ago. I do pretty well outside though with the veggie garden. I do want to try my hand at sweet potatoes this year as you brought that up a while ago too. You sure seem to have some good ideas that I am latching on to LOL
Billy Sharpstick
I've had good luck with african violets and other gesneriads. I currently have three of them in the north window sill that are three years old and regularly bloom. They're sitting in plastic AV pots with a water reservoir and sitting in trays of water. (They're on a high shelf that the cat vandals can't reach)
Karen
Cat vandals are the worst. ~ karen!
Nancy Blue Moon
True..I had a Kimberly fern that was so easy to grow and beautiful...until my cats decided to eat it!...I tried...they won..😸
Wendy
I have the opposite problem. I have 35 plants in my house, most of which go outside for summer holidays. Some are now so healthy I need a dolly to move them. I keep hoping a few of them will expire in the heat, drought, elements, bugs..... but they all get hauled back in. I know I could leave them out for the killer frost to take care of, but that would be pre-meditated. Can't do it.
Mary
Me too! I can't let them die or throw them away. It's like they are pets!
Elaine
Me too! You'll see my other comment about an orchid I was mad at. I couldn't purposely kill it!
Lisa
ZZ plant! This is possibly the best houseplant I've ever had. It looks great and needs water very infrequently (I'm talking once a month people). It actually almost lools fake. Someone on a plant site ("plants are thevstrangest people") referred to it as the "stoner of all plants". On the downside it's a slow grower so if you buy one make sure you like the size of it. I got mine at Ikea but have seen them all over the place.
Elaine
Oh! I remember seeing them at Terra Nursery on - #5 Highway. I almost bought one; maybe I'll go back sometime. Thanks for the photo.
Mitch from Boston
Then there's the uber-nerd solution: my wife once gave me a small cactus for my office. It is supposed to be watered once a month. So I took a sticky note (one of the little ribbon kinds that are intended as bookmarks) and every time I water it, I write down the date. So if I glance at it once in a while I see right away "oh, I haven't watered that cactus in two months; I guess I'd better pour a bottle of water on it". Still going strong. Those cacti are tough.
Might not work in my living room, though.
Ann
Alas, I have also killed all 3 named plants above. Heck, I almost killed a cast iron plant and a mother in laws tongue plant.
But now I turned the spot where I used to have a TV into a plant spot and things do so much better there under the plant light and where I can easily water them all at once, instead of going all over the house.