Common House Plants
If a house plant's leaves appear lopsided or leggy, it is trying to tell you that it requires more light. Try moving the plant closer to a window that gets plenty of light or use grow lights.
Plants from subtropical and tropical regions thrive indoors as they adapt to the warm and dry conditions of homes. These common houseplants are a great option for those who have limited time and space to garden.
Rubber Tree
Rubber Trees (Ficus elastica) with their lush, green leaves are a very popular indoor plant. It is also believed for its ability to cleanse the air inside homes and offices. It is an evergreen tree, which means it thrives in warm, humid environments that have plenty of sunlight and water.
Despite its stunning appearance, this plant is actually quite easy to take care of. However it is important to remember that this plant can get very tall. If you do not want it to turn into a jungle, then it is important to prune the stems once they begin growing too long. This can be accomplished quickly and easily using a pair of gardening shears.
Another important thing to remember about this plant is that it can produce a sticky sap called latex. This latex is used to make rubber shoes and rubber balls. In the past, Olmec, Maya, and Aztec people gathered this precious substance by tapping trees. The sticky latex of the Rubber Plant is also a natural insecticide. It can adhere to insects' surfaces and kill them.
Because this plant is resilient and adaptable, it is one of the best choices for a beginner gardener. Rubber Trees do not require a lot of pruning to maintain their shape. The primary priority should be removing dead or dying leaves and branches and cutting the plant when it grows too tall.
The most crucial element in the maintenance of a healthy Rubber plant is water. This is especially relevant during the summer's hottest months, when the plant is at its most active. A good way to determine the amount of water needed to a Rubber plant is by looking at the moisture levels of the soil. The soil will begin to dry after the plant has been watered.
Rubber plants can also be propagated by cutting the stem and planting. This method is most effective when you dip the stem in rooting hormone prior planting. Air layering is a different method to propagate Rubber Plants. To do this, you will need to cut a small branch of the plant, and then put it in moss. The moss will naturally root around the stem.
Spider Plant
The spider plant, also known as Chlorophytum Comosum, gets its name from the long, stiff plantlets which hang from the mother plant, as spiders do on webs. It is one of most sought-after indoor plants since it is a breeze to grow, and thrives almost anywhere. It's also regarded as a "hardy" plant since it can withstand a wide variety of conditions.
A common use for the spider plant is as an air purifying houseplant in offices and homes. It has been proven effective in eliminating harmful chemicals like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from the environment. The plant can also help remove airborne allergens like mold spores, dust mites and pet hair, which can cause allergic reactions.
When grown indoors, spider plants do best in bright but filtered light with good humidity and warm temperatures. They can tolerate some shade, but they are best suited for windows with brighter light and that are protected from direct sunlight. They do not require as much water as other plants. A slight misting with a hose will suffice. However, they are sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in tap water, which can result in brown leaf tips, so using rainwater or distilled water will help prevent this.
As with other houseplants spider plants are susceptible to infestation by common pests such as whiteflies and spider mites. To minimize their number clean the leaves frequently and rinse the soil with water in between. Repotting every few weeks may be needed, especially when the roots begin to sprout out of the top of the container.
A healthy spider plant produces "pups" or offshoots which can be separated from the mother plant and used to make new plants. In addition, healthy plants will often produce tiny flowers that can be removed or pressed down into compost to grow into their own plants. It's important to remember that fertilizing spider plants will not encourage them to flower.
Weeping Fig
The weeping fig is a common houseplant that has dense and elegant foliage. The tree is known for its beauty and is often used in bonsai.
The weeping fig grows slowly and requires an ideal set of conditions to flourish. It is best suited to bright spaces with lots of indirect sunlight. big house plants can also grow outdoors in warm environments. The tree is often used in indoor gardens to improve the quality of air. The plant can be used to remove contaminants from the air, such as formaldehyde, toluene and xylene.
Depending on which variety you choose, the leaves of a weeping fiddle can be variegated or green. Some cultivars are characterized by wavy leaves, while others have pointed leaves. Weeping figs can be more than six feet tall, however they can be pruned to a shorter height.
Ficus benjamina is able to be propagated through stem cuttings. This process involves wearing gloves because the plant releases irritant sap when cut. The stems are then snipped and placed in water where they will begin to grow roots. After a few days the cuttings can be moved to a larger pot.
To ensure proper growth, weeping figs require regular watering. The plant is susceptible to excessive water, and requires drainage-friendly soil. A soil that is too moist can cause root rot. It is also important not to use too much fertilizer as it could harm the tree.
The weeping fiddle is an incredibly heavy feeder that has to be fed frequently throughout the growing season. The plant requires a light trimming every couple of years to keep it looking fresh and attractive.
The weeping fiddle is a fruit-producing plant between the second and third year. The fruits of medium size are edible and can be incorporated into daily dishes as a delicious ingredient. Before eating, the fruits must be cleaned to get rid of any pests. Fruits have a lot of nutritional value and can be dried to use later. The fruit is delicious and can be consumed either raw or cooked.
Peperomia
Plants called Peperomia (pronounced pep-er-ohmah) have thick, fleshy foliage that holds a lot of water. They are available in a variety of shapes and colors, including emerald and silvery green. Some, like the ripple peperomia, and pellucida, have leaves with puckered edges that look like the ruffled fabric. There are also different varieties of peperomia that have creams and whites in their leaves. Peperomia flowers can be scarce but they are generally spindly spikes of brown and greenish white. These flowers aren't appealing and can detract from the overall appearance of the plant. Peperomia plants thrive in the garden, and are easy to grow.
In nature, peperomias live as epiphytes or lithophytes growing on trees and other living things that live in the rainforest's understory. They are therefore ideal houseplants, as they don't require sunlight to be bright to thrive. They can be grown as tall, bushy or upright-growing plants.
The leaves of Peperomias are astringent and can be used to soothe burns and itchy rashes. They also aid with insect bites and other skin issues. The dried leaf powder is combined with oil to create salve that is applied to the skin. big house plants can also be added to bathwater to soothe and moisten.
While Peperomias do not require much attention they are best found in areas with a little privacy. They prefer warm temperatures and moderate to high levels of humidity. They also need lots of indirect light, which means that a space in your home placed a few feet back from a west- or south-facing window is the best choice. The sun's brighter rays may cause a burn to the leaves, and insufficient lighting will result in less vibrant and vibrant foliage.
These plants need moderate to frequent watering, however they don't want being overwatered. Overwatering can result in soft stems and yellow drooping leaves, according to houseplant and gardening website Bloomscape. Allow the soil to dry between waterings to avoid this.
If tall houseplants , remove the affected leaves and plant in fresh, well-drained soil. Water slowly and deeply to reduce the chance of overwatering in the future.