ASK THE INDOOR GARDENER : Consider a Succulent for Bright, Sunny Spot
QUESTION: I have a bright, sunny spot(a full southern exposure) where I’d like to put an indoor tree. My problem is I think it might be too sunny and hot to grow anything. I’ve tried a couple of plants in that spot and they’ve burned up. What would you suggest?
ANSWER: You might try a weeping fig tree (Ficus benjamina) or perhaps a date palm (Phoenix roebeleni) --but an even better bet would be a tall, sculptural cactus or succulent. I know it’s a bit daring, but cacti and succulents make terrific accents in any decor, especially Southwestern. And they thrive in bright, hot places where most foliage plants would indeed burn up and die. And best of all they require practically no care--just a bit of water every few weeks is usually enough. Go through your Yellow Pages and find a nursery specializing in cacti and succulents, then hop over and pick out one that suits your particular taste.
Replant Terrarium Plants and Add New
Q: Last year I received a terrarium as a gift--a sort of goldfish bowl strategically filled with several small, beautiful plants. The good news is it’s been thriving--the bad news is that all the plants have grown way out of the top of the bowl and it isn’t pretty anymore. What should I do?
A: Carefully remove the individual plants from the bowl and replant them separately in 4 or 6-inch pots. Then find a nursery that carries a supply of indoor plants in 2 or 3-inch pots--be sure they’re no bigger--and buy a few to replant the terrarium. Just be sure the plants you buy are all compatible to the relatively moist conditions of a terrarium. Baby’s tears, small ferns, dwarf palms, polka dot plants, and little dracenas are all good terrarium or dish garden choices.
Norfolk Pine Makes Good Indoor Tree
Q: This past Christmas I got a little decorated Norfolk pine tree in a small pot. I live in an apartment so I can’t plant it outside. Can this plant be grown indoors?
A: Yes, if in fact your “pine” tree is really Araucaria beterophylla, commonly called “Norfolk Island Pine” because that’s where it comes from. Although not a true pine, it looks just like a fir tree and can grow up to 100 feet tall in its native Australian habitat. Indoors, it will eventually reach a height of about 6 feet if cultivated in bright, filtered light (an eastern exposure is perfect), the soil kept slightly moist, and fed during the spring and summer with a good liquid houseplant food.
Here Are Some Plants That Grow in Water
Q: About six weeks ago I decided to root a cutting from my arrowhead plant in a glass of water. The glass is now filled with roots, and I think the cutting is actually growing new leaves! Is it possible to grow this plant in water, and if so, how long will it last?
A: Yes, you can grow several types of plants in water: Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum), pothos, and philodendron are particularly good candidates. I’ve grown cuttings of all three of these plants in water many, many times, and they usually last well over a year. Just be sure to change the water regularly, add a drop or two of liquid houseplant food about once a month, and pinch off any growth that turns yellow.
