Most
folks have at least a few houseplants sitting around their homes, and for good
reason! Our potted pals purify the air we breathe and add color and interest to
any room. I can’t imagine living without them. But some folks tell me that they
avoid bringing houseplants home because they forget to take care of them, and
end up killing the poor things. Well, you can stop that noise. I have a whole
list of plants that love to be
ignored. This dream team can survive — and even thrive — in dark and dry
conditions, making them ideal for dark winter rooms and dry indoor air. Here
are my Top 5 choices:
Bromeliad. This long-living beauty
prefers indirect light. The flower only blooms once, but the plant produces
side shoots (or “pups”) that can eventually replace the original plant.
Jade plant. This succulent grows well
in dry conditions and retains water better than most houseplants. It can easily
go a month without watering.
Kalanchoe. The bright, cheerful blooms
of this succulent brighten up any room. It tolerates temperature swings
(perfect if you program your thermostat to lower the heat while you’re away
from home), and likes dry conditions.
Philodendron. With glossy leaves and
leggy stems, these plants like low light and do just fine when they’re kept on
the dry side.
Schefflera. Also known as umbrella
plants, when you grow them outside they’ll reach heights of 15 feet. Grown indoors
with very little care, they’ll grow slowly and live a long time.
When
you’re in a green-thumb mood, treat your green pals to my Indoor Clean-Up Tonic. Houseplants are exposed to all sorts of
indoor pollutants, and grimy leaves can keep ‘em from growing their best. This
tonic will unblock leaf pores and get plant squeaky clean and growing strong:
Mix 1 tablespoon each of dishwashing liquid and antiseptic
mouthwash with 1 teaspoon each of ammonia
and instant tea granules in a bucket
with 1 quart of warm water. Pour the tonic into a handheld sprayer, mist-spray
your plants, and wipe off any excess with a clean, dry cloth.
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