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Gardening Tips
>> Indoor Plant Care
Outside the trees are bare.
A cold wind blows relentlessly from grey skies. Right about now
something green and alive sounds awfully appealing. An indoor
plant might be just what you need. But wait. Are you lacking that
proverbial green thumb? Fear not. There are numerous plants that
can survive the most extreme lack of attention. You just need
to find the right plant. The following ranks the top performers
from low-maintenance to moderate care.
- Cactus
- Cacti are extremely hardy and actually prefer to be watered
infrequently. You can water them once every five weeks in
winter when growth is minimal and once every two weeks in
the summer. The only requirement of these prickly desert
plants is strong, direct sunlight. A south-facing window
is fine. Choose a light soil with good drainage so that
the roots do not become waterlogged. Now just sit back and
watch your cactus grow…very slowly.
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- Spider Plant
- Don't let the name scare you away. This houseplant got
its name from the shape of trailing shoots that hang down
from the main part of the plant. These shoots can be placed
in shallow water and within a week you will see roots forming.
(It's a good idea to change the water every other day.)
Within another week, the root system should be large enough
for the shoot to be planted in soil. Although this plant
requires moderate sunlight and regular watering at least
you can grow new plants in case one dies!
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- Aspidistra
- Not even the gloomy window ledges of George Orwell's novel
Keep the Aspidistra Flying were enough to kill this plant.
Aspidistra refers to any of several Asiatic plants of the
lily family. The dark green leaves are broad and taper to
a point. The dull purple flowers have been graciously described
as 'inconspicuous'. Despite the lacklustre reputation, this
plant is quite striking and is certainly very hardy. It
can thrive in dark nooks or direct sunlight as well as a
wide range of temperatures-from 10 to 30 degrees Celsius.
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- African Violets
This is the perennial favourite of indoor plants. Basic watering
and moderate light will result in a steady production of blooms.
Even fertilizing this plant has been made simple-just push
a fertiliser spike, formulated especially for African Violets,
into the soil. The spikes slowly release fertilizer over a
period of one to two months. The blooms are usually intense
pink, purple or yellow. Check out your local garden store
to find the perfect colour of flower to complement your décor.
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- Weeping Fig
- This plant bears little resemblance to the fruit-producing
varieties found in orchards and back yards. The weeping
fig has small, shiny leaves that droop down like water droplets
hanging off the branches. The trunk is complex and attractive.
Moderate light and moisture are all that's required to keep
this plant healthy. Position it beside any window except
one with a northern exposure. Typically, this plant reaches
a maximum height of two metres, which makes it ideal for
creating a dramatic impact in the limited space of most
apartments. One warning however: pets seem to like chewing
on the leaves of this plant so you may want to place it
on a platform until the tree is tall enough that leaves
are out of reach.
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- Palm
- If you really want winter to seem more tropical, consider
adding a palm to your home. You may be most familiar with
the spindly-stemmed variety with the large spiky crown that
was popular in the 1980s! Fortunately, florists have begun
importing a selection with a wider range of heights and
shapes. Generally, palms need natural filtered light and
water every five to seven days. You can put your palm on
a balcony or patio in the summer as long as it does not
receive direct, hot sunlight. Fertiliser is beneficial but
not essential. Growth is slow in this plant which may or
may not be a desired quality.
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- Purple Passion Plant
- This plant is named for the tiny purplish hairs that cover
abundant small, pointed, green leaves. Hanging pots are
a great way to showcase the downward leaf growth as well
as reducing the likelihood of mealy bug infestation, which
is common in this species. This plant requires direct sunlight
from a south-facing window. Passion plants should not be
over-watered. Either use a moisture metre available from
garden stores or dig down about an inch into the soil using
your fingertip to assess moisture levels before watering.
Whichever plant you decide to feel "passionate" about is
sure to add a touch of summer's vitality to your home!
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