List 1: Houseplants 1-22-03
Aeschynanthus lobbianus, Lipstick plant
| Temperature: Average or above average warmth in the summer. Keep fairly cool in the winter with a minimum temp. of 55oF. | Light: Bright light, avoid direct sunshine |
| Water: Water freely from spring to autumn, sparingly in winter. | Humidity: Mist leaves frequently, especially in hot weather |
| Propagation: Take stem cuttings in the spring, use a rooting hormone and provide some bottom heat. | Grown as: Foliage and flowering house plant |
Aglaonema modestum, Chinese Evergreen
| Temperature: Warm in summer, minimum of 60oF in winter | Light: Bright indirect |
| Water: Water sparingly in winter, water thoroughly the rest of the year | Humidity: Moist air is necessary. Mist leaves regularly, but never use a coarse spray. Surround pot with damp peat |
| Propagation: In spring or summer pot up basal shoots with a few leaves and roots attached. Air layering is an alternative | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Araucaria heterophylla, Norfolk Island Pine
| Temperature: Average warmth, keep cool in winter | Light: Bright light or semi-shade. Avoid summer sun |
| Water: Water regularly from spring to autumn, water sparingly in winter | Humidity: Mist leaves occasionally, especially if room is heated in the winter. Ventilate in the summer |
| Propagation: Difficult, best to buy plants | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri', Asparagus Fern; Emerald Fern
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum of 50oF at night. Constant high temperatures at night can be harmful | Light: Can adapt to bright or semi-shady light. Keep away from direct sunlight |
| Water: Water regularly from spring to autumn, Occasionally water from below, water sparingly in winter | Humidity: Mist occasionally, especially in winter if room is heated |
| Propagation: Divide plants at any time of the year. Sow seeds in spring | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Asparagus plumosus, Asparagus Fern
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum of 50oF at night. Constant high temperatures at night can be harmful | Light: Can adapt to bright or semi-shady light. Keep away from direct sunlight |
| Water: Water regularly from spring to autumn, Occasionally water from below, water sparingly in winter | Humidity: Mist occasionally, especially in winter if room is heated |
| Propagation: Divide plants at any time of the year. Sow seeds in spring | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Aspidistra elatior, Cast-Iron Plant
| Temperature: Average warmth, keep cool but frost free in winter | Light: Extremely tolerant, but not of direct sun |
| Water: Water regularly from spring to autumn, water sparingly in winter | Humidity: Can stand dry air, but wash leaves occasionally |
| Propagation: Divide plants at repotting time | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Chlorophytum comosum vittatum, Spider Plant
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 45oF in winter | Light: A well-lit spot away from direct sunlight |
| Water: Water liberally from spring to autumn, water sparingly in winter | Humidity: Mist leaves occasionally in the summer |
| Propagation: Peg down plantlets in compost, cut stem when rooted. Can also divide plants at repotting time | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
| Temperature: Warm, minimum of 60o F in winter | Light: Good light is necessary, an east or west facing windowsill is ideal |
| Water: Water liberally from spring to autumn, water sparingly in winter | Humidity: Air must be moist, mist leaves regularly, daily if possible. Wash leaves frequently |
| Propagation: Take stem cuttings in spring, use a rooting hormone and provide bottom heat | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Dracaena deremensis 'Warneckii', Striped Dracaena
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum of 55oF in winter | Light: Light shade is best |
| Water: Keep compost moist at all times. Reduce watering in winter, but do not let it dry out | Humidity: Mist leaves regularly |
| Propagation: Cane cuttings, air layering, or remove crown from old leggy canes and plant in potting compost | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Dracaena marginata, Dragon Tree
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum of 55oF in winter | Light: Light shade is best |
| Water: Keep compost moist at all times. Reduce watering in winter, but do not let it dry out | Humidity: Mist leaves regularly |
| Propagation: Cane cuttings, air layering, or remove crown from old leggy canes and plant in potting compost | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 35oF in winter | Light: Bright or light shade- keep well lit in winter |
| Water: Water regularly from spring to autumn, water sparingly in winter | Humidity: Mist leaves frequently |
| Propagation: Take stem cuttings in summer | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Ficus benjamina, Weeping Fig
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 55oF in winter | Light: Bright reflected |
| Water: Water with care, can dry out to some extent between waterings | Humidity: Mist leaves occasionally in summer |
| Propagation: Air layering | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Ficus elastica, Rubber Plant
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 55oF in winter | Light: Bright reflected |
| Water: Water with care, can dry out to some extent between waterings | Humidity: Mist leaves occasionally in summer |
| Propagation: Air layering | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 55oF in winter | Light: Bright reflected |
| Water: Water with care, must dry out some between waterings | Humidity: Mist leaves occasionally in summer |
| Propagation: Air layering | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hibiscus
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 55oF in winter | Light: As much as possible, but shade from hot sun |
| Water: Keep compost moist at all times, reduce watering in winter | Humidity: Mist leaves occasionally |
| Propagation: Take stem cuttings in late spring | Grown as: Flowering house plant |
| Temperature: Average warmth, keep cool in winter | Light: Bright light, some direct sun is beneficial |
| Water: Water regularly from spring to autumn, water sparingly in winter | Humidity: Mist leaves regularly, but not when plant is in bloom |
| Propagation: Take stem cuttings, using mature shoots in spring | Grown as: Flowering house plant |
Monstera deliciosa, Splitleaf Philodendron
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 50oF in winter, active growth starts at 65oF | Light: Keep out of direct sunlight, light shade or moderate brightness is best. |
| Water: Water thoroughly for most of the year, but allow it to dry out slightly between waterings, during winter, keep the soil just moist | Humidity: Mist leaves if room is heated, occasionally wash and polish mature leaves |
| Propagation: Take cuttings just below an aerial root, or can also air layer | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Philodendron scandens, Heart Leaf Philodendron
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 55oF in winter | Light: Light shade, keep out of direct sunlight |
| Water: Water thoroughly and regularly most of the year, during winter keep the compost just moist | Humidity: Keep air moist in summer, and in heated rooms in the winter, mist leaves regularly |
| Propagation: Stem cuttings or air layering | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 50o-55oF in winter | Light: Well-lit but sunless spot |
| Water: Water liberally from spring to autumn, let compost dry out slightly between waterings. Water sparingly in winter | Humidity: Mist leaves frequently |
| Propagation: Stem cuttings in spring or summer | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Spathiphyllum Mauna Loa, Peace Lily
| Temperature: Warm or average warmth, minimum 55oF in winter | Light: Semi-shade in summer, bright light in winter. |
| Water: Keep compost moist at all times, reduce watering in winter | Humidity: Mist leaves very frequently |
| Propagation: Divide plants at repotting time | Grown as: Flowering house plant |
Syngonium podophyllum, Arrowhead Vine
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 60oF in winter | Light: Well-lit but sunless spot for variegated types and semi-shade for all-green varieties |
| Water: Keep compost moist at all times, reduce watering in winter. Avoid overwatering | Humidity: Mist leaves frequently |
| Propagation: Take stem cuttings with aerial roots in spring or summer | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Zebrina pendula, Wandering Jew
| Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 45o-50oF in winter | Light: Bright light is essential |
| Water: Water regularly from spring to autumn, water sparingly in winter | Humidity: Mist leaves occasionally |
| Propagation: Stem cuttings in spring, summer or autumn | Grown as: Foliage house plant |
Zygocactus truncatus, Christmas Cactus
| Temperature: Ideal temperature range is 55o-70oF, during resting period keep at 50o-55oF | Light: Well lit spot shaded from direct sunlight |
| Water: Moist to dry; allow it to dry out between waterings | Humidity: Mist leaves frequently |
| Propagation: Cuttings | Grown as: Flowering cacti house plant |