I love to garden. During the spring and summer I enjoy spending as much time as possible outside in my garden. During the fall and winter months I like to keep my house green with various houseplants. Every home can be improved by a little greenery. Plants clean the air, calm the senses and bring life and personality to a room. Some houseplants require more work than others to keep them healthy and green. Any plant will turn brown if ignored but I enjoy the plants that will thrive under almost every circumstance.
The plants that work well in our home are the following.
Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum
Too often overlooked, this sturdy plant has glossy leaves with white “flowers” which are actually callalike spathes on slender stems. The Peace Lily usually blooms in the winter, but flowers can often appear any season. The best feature about this plant is it’s lovely foliage and easy care. This plant doesn’t like to dry out nor does it like to be wet. My Peace Lily does fine if I water it once a week. The Peace Lily does so well in our house I find I have to divide it every so often!
Aloe
The aloe has thick fleshy leaves. The clear gel from the aloe leaves can be used to treat wounds, skin infections and burns. I enjoy the plant because it is relatively carefree. I water it once a week or so and it does very well. At times it does so well that I have to divide the plant! I find I have to divide my aloe every few years!
Christmas Cactus or Schlumbergera bridgesii
Seems like a complicated name for a very uncomplicated plant! There are many varieties and the blooms vary from white, to pink, to red. Very easy to take care of. Cool nights and short days induce budding in the fall.
Wax Plant or Hoya carnosa
I have always had a Hoya. This plant has long stems that work well when you train them to grow over a hoop of wire or put the plant in a hanging basket. The leaves are dark green and glossy. Clusters of fragrant waxy whitish pink flowers appear in the summer and the plant may continue to bloom throughout the autumn. They like direct sun but not scorching midday sun. It likes to be watered frequently but allow it to dry out between watering.
I’ve had an assortment of houseplants over the years. Depending on where we lived and the amount of sun we had coming in the house would depend on which plants did well. In our current home we have beautiful south facing windows as well as nice west facing windows. Each of these plants have found a special spot in my home and do quite well.
Nancy on the Home Front 