Seven plants even beginners can't kill, and they purify the air too
Beginners want to grow plants at home but don't know which varieties to choose. Here are seven plants recommended by the editor. With these plants purifying the air at home, they're not only attractive but healthy too.
So which plants are suitable for growing indoors? The key is that even people who know nothing about growing flowers can easily handle them. Let's take a look together below.
Peace lily
The peace lily is absolutely a waste-gas filter, capable of killing harmful substances such as formaldehyde, benzene and xylene. What's most valuable is that it adapts to any surroundings and is very easy to grow; just water it appropriately once a week, then wait for it to grow lush and full.
Ivy
Ivy ranks second only to the peace lily, with an excellent air-purifying effect. It's best placed in a bright spot indoors. Personally, I think it's especially suited to hanging on a balcony, and its decorative effect is great too.
Snake plant
The snake plant's leaves are very slender and its shape is very attractive. Placed indoors, it can visually extend the three-dimensional feel of a space. It also performs very well in purifying air, with the ability to absorb nitrogen oxides.
But don't water it too often; even lazy people can grow it very well.
Dracaena marginata
The leaves of Dracaena marginata are relatively thin, and it can absorb formaldehyde. This plant is best grown in loose, well-aerated soil. It likes a warm environment; long periods in a shaded spot may cause the leaves to fade and wither.
African daisy
The African daisy is also what we often call the sun flower; it's very attractive with high visual appeal. But as an indoor plant, it needs a lot of sunlight to bloom. If your home doesn't get enough light, don't grow this plant.
The African daisy has a long flowering period, making it a great tool for beautifying a space. As long as the temperature and light are sufficient, it blooms all year round.
Broadleaf lady palm
The broadleaf lady palm's air-purifying ability is also good, absorbing formaldehyde, benzene and ammonia.
Pothos
Pothos is probably the most common and best-known indoor plant. Cheap and easy to grow, it can be found in almost every household. Pothos likes higher air humidity and grows faster then; it can even survive when placed in a hydroponic container.
That's all about plants for beginners to grow. My favorite is still the African daisy, with its bright colors, which makes it very suitable as a decorative touch for the home. Actually, all these plants are very easy to grow; you just need to water them appropriately. But they can bring a lot of life to a home. If you don't have any plants at home yet, then any of these are worth considering.
15 shade-tolerant plants that can be grown even when your home doesn't get enough light
15 shade-tolerant plants that can be grown even when your home doesn't get enough light!
Many flower lovers worry that their plants can't see sunlight. Today, Huahua recommends those plants that are relatively shade-tolerant~
However, even though these plants are shade-tolerant, they can't be kept in a shaded spot all the time. If you have time, you should still let them get some sun!
1 Maidenhair fern
Once the maidenhair fern grows out, it's lush and green, looking fresh and lovely. The key point is that it doesn't need direct sunlight all the time; basically, diffused light can meet its needs.
Notes:
1. A very important point in growing maidenhair fern is pruning, especially in spring and autumn. Don't be reluctant to cut; cut off all the old and yellow leaves. With a plant like the maidenhair fern, the more you cut, the more it grows! After pruning, add a few compound granular slow-release fertilizer pellets, and occasionally add a little nutrient solution when watering, and that's enough!
2. Also, it's better not to spray water on the maidenhair fern's leaves. According to verification by flower lovers, not spraying water actually makes the leaves grow a vivid green~ Keep in mind that in winter you must never spray water on the leaves, or the yellowing will be even worse.
3. Also, in winter the plant enters dormancy, so stop watering and fertilizing; watering once a month is enough.
2 Parlor palm
The parlor palm can be said to be a very popular palm variety, and it's very suitable for indoor growing~ Even if you put it in a dark corner, it's fine. Plant a parlor palm and you'll never have to worry about your home not having strong light again!
Notes:
1. Other plants can't do without light, but with the parlor palm, you have to watch it carefully, because too strong light can cause scorched edges~
2. It doesn't have high fertilizer requirements. Basically, during the growing season, apply a hydroponic nutrient solution 1~2 times a month. For example, 901 soilless cultivation nutrient solution or Huabao, diluted 1000~1500 times.
3. Also, the watering method for the parlor palm is to prefer wet over dry. Look carefully~ it's the opposite, but moist potting soil doesn't mean waterlogged. So, no waterlogging, no waterlogging, no waterlogging!
3 Snake plant
The snake plant is the ace of indoor decoration, and it's also very easy to grow. Even if kept indoors year-round, it won't die!
Notes:
1. Generally speaking, the snake plant needs repotting once every 2~3 years. Usually, when the leaves have filled the pot, you should give it a new pot!
2. Normally, use clean water to wipe the dust off the snake plant's leaf surface, keeping the leaves clean and shiny for better ornamental value~
3. Likewise, it can't be exposed to strong sun; just place it indoors to receive diffused light~
4Climbing fig
The climbing fig's leaves are small and delicate, with branches and leaves hanging like a curtain, and some varieties of climbing fig have beautiful markings. It's a small foliage plant suitable for decorating coffee tables and windowsills, and it can also be used as a hanging decoration.
Notes:
1. It likes a humid environment, so during the growing season, when the air is dry, you must often spray the leaf surface and the surroundings to increase air humidity. If it stays dry all the time, it will cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop.
2. Watering should also follow the rhythm of preferring dry over wet, but in summer you need to pay attention: because evaporation is high, you should replenish water in time. In winter, watering should be reduced accordingly.
5 Philodendron selloum
Philodendron selloum has a flourishing plant form, with large and unusual leaves that are emerald green and glossy. It is relatively shade-tolerant and can be placed in spacious spots such as the living room or lobby, or small plants can be grown hydroponically on a desk or windowsill.
Notes:
1. Philodendron selloum's leaves are large and thin, with relatively high water requirements. During the growth cycle, the potting soil needs to stay moist, especially in the high-temperature summer period when it must not lack water! Prefer wet over dry, but it must not be waterlogged! Although Philodendron selloum can tolerate brief waterlogging, long-term waterlogging easily rots the root system and leads to plant death.
2. When the temperature is below 15°C, reduce the frequency of watering; the potting soil can simply alternate between dry and wet.
3. Late spring is the vigorous growth period for Philodendron selloum. Supplement with fertilizers mainly based on nitrogen, such as leftover vegetable leaves and fruit peels, which can be used after fermentation and decomposition. This can make it grow quickly and restore its vitality. Remember the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently.
6 Peacock plant
On the leaf surface of the peacock plant, there are feather-like markings alternating between dark green and white or pale yellow, giving it a very textured look and making it appear fresh and clean. Placing it in the bedroom or living room is a very good choice.
Notes:
1. The peacock plant is not cold-tolerant. When overwintering, the room temperature should not be below 15°C. The suitable temperature for the peacock plant's growth is 18~25°C. In summer, the temperature must not be higher than 35°C, otherwise the plant will stop growing and the leaves will turn yellow. In winter, it must not be lower than 5°C to prevent cold damage.
2. In the north, winter weather is dry. Besides spraying and washing the leaves with clean water close to room temperature around midday, it's best to cover it with a plastic film cover at night to keep it warm and moist. To keep the leaves fresh, neat and radiant, gently wipe the leaves with clean water every half month.
7 Peperomia
Peperomia is also called pepper grass, emerald pepper grass, green-leaf jade, douban ruyi, and so on. This small potted plant is glossy green; place one indoors and it makes you feel relaxed and happy~
Notes:
1. It likes a humid environment. During the growing period from May to September, water it more. In hot weather, spray or sprinkle water on the leaf surface to maintain relatively high air humidity and keep the leaves' clear patterns and emerald green color.
2. It cannot receive direct sunlight, so placing it indoors to receive diffused light is just right~
8 Aglaonema
The Aglaonema's leaf shape is very beautiful, making it one of the choices for home decoration. Combined with its unique air-purifying ability, placing it in the living room is a good choice~
Notes:
1. The Aglaonema should be repotted once every two years. Otherwise, the root system grows too fast and will directly touch the pot wall. In hot or cold weather, this can cause necrosis at the root tips and then dry, withered leaf tips.
2. In the peak growing seasons of spring and autumn, watering should be sufficient, and the potting soil should often stay moist. Also, frequently spray the branches and leaves with clean water close to room temperature to prevent dry tips, but it must not be waterlogged.
3. In the peak growing season, apply a thin liquid fertilizer once every half month. In winter, water less and stop topdressing.
9 Rosary vine
The rosary vine is also called heart vine, hanging coin, wax flower. Its strings of heart-shaped leaves are often regarded as a symbol of love and easily attract women's attention.
Notes:
1. For watering the rosary vine, you can choose the lift-the-pot method. If the pot feels light, you can water it. Of course, you can also choose the method of watering when dry and stopping when wet.
2. The rosary vine doesn't need much fertilizer. Apply compound fertilizer three to four times a year (thin fertilizer applied frequently). When repotting, add some base fertilizer appropriately depending on the pot size, and repot once every two years.
3. Avoid strong light exposure; remember this point firmly. Place it indoors to receive diffused light, as direct sunlight easily burns the plant. But it also can't be kept in a hidden spot for a long time; receiving soft light is still no problem~
10 Dragon tree
The dragon tree is also a common plant. Once the dragon tree's bark is cut, it exudes a deep red sap, like human blood, which is how it got its name. Its ornamental value is also very high. Place one pot in the home and the whole home is filled with a green atmosphere.
Notes:
1. The dragon tree should not be watered too much. It is relatively drought-tolerant itself, so it's better to water less than to water too much at once and cause waterlogging death.
2. During cultivation of the dragon tree, apply ferrous sulfate about once a month, which can ensure the soil's pH value is suitable, slightly acidic, and suitable for its normal growth.
3. Ferrous sulfate can be replaced with edible vinegar (containing 3% vinegar). The concentration must not be too high, to avoid burning the roots. Dilute about 50 to 100 times and use it for watering, making the soil weakly acidic.
11 Ornamental bromeliad
Bromeliads are the most perfect indoor planting variety. This plant can thrive under tree shade. It is a tropical plant; as long as your home isn't too cold, it can be placed anywhere in the house, and it can even grow very well just with lamplight.
Notes:
1. Never plant it in a tank. Ornamental bromeliads need a large amount of air circulation; being stuffy in a tank will make them rot.
2. Ornamental bromeliads like moist soil and relatively high air humidity. During the peak growing season and flowering period, keep the potting soil moist, and at the same time spray water several times a day on the leaves and around them to increase air humidity. If air humidity is insufficient, the leaves easily curl and lose their luster, affecting growth and ornamental value.
12 African violet
The African violet is also called the African violet~ It is a very beautiful purple flower bouquet. If you're tired of foliage plants, this shade-tolerant flowering plant is also a good choice.
Notes:
1. The plum rain weather in the south makes bacterial outbreaks very likely, so during the plum rain season, increase the frequency of sterilization. For African violets splashed by rainwater, you can rinse them once with water to achieve a cleaning effect. Also, you can spray with carbendazim and the like.
2. When fertilizing, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is best at 1:1:1. Don't favor one over the others.
13 Papyrus
Papyrus is an evergreen plant. From its name you can tell it must be related to paper! Legend has it that the ancient Egyptians used this grass to make paper!
Notes:
1. If the average temperature in your home can reach 20~30°C, then you can grow it~
2. Papyrus is suitable for growing in tropical and subtropical regions, which also limits many flower lovers in the north...
14Pothos & spider plant
These two plants are simply must-haves for beginners. Basically, every flower lover's home should have one pot.
Notes:
Pothos needs no explanation; it can survive when stuck in water. But pothos easily grows long. If you don't like that, you can cut the pothos and propagate it by cuttings; just stick it in water.
The spider plant is also relatively tolerant of rough handling. The spider plant's root system is quite developed, so after growing it for a period of time, you should replace the pot in time to avoid root accumulation, which can cause yellow leaves, withering and other problems.
Alright, that's all for the introduction to shade-tolerant plants~
Is there any that you're interested in?
Illustrated guide to 100 common succulents [must-read for beginners]
String of pearls is named for its plump, full, emerald-green oval little leaves that look like pearls. Also known as emerald beads, lover's tears, Buddhist bead string of pearls, emerald beads, green bell, green bell. The flowering period is generally from December of the current year to January of the following year.String of pearls likes soil rich in organic matter that is loose and fertile. It grows best in a warm environment with relatively high air humidity and strong diffused light. In summer, avoid high temperature and high humidity, otherwise the stems easily rot and the plant dies. You can place the potted plant in a rain-sheltered, shaded spot for cultivation. After autumn, when the plant resumes growth, increase light and apply liquid fertilizer. There are also blue string of pearls and brown string of pearls.
Lover's tears is a very common succulent plant, but it needs to be distinguished from the very similar Senecio macroglossus. Lover's tears has round, plump leaves like Buddhist beads, with one stripe on them, while Senecio macroglossus has pointed tips and multiple stripes.
Also known as emerald beads, lover's tears, Buddhist bead string of pearls, emerald beads, green bell, green bell. Names differ from place to place, with the three main ones being "string of pearls, Buddhist beads, lover's tears."
Lover's tears is made up of strings of plump, full, emerald-green oval little leaves. Like plants such as spider plant, its branches all grow downward, forming many trailing vines like beads.
Around October each year, it produces small white or brown flowers, and the flower buds are thin red strips.
Round, plump, thick, heart-shaped leaves, like strings of wind chimes swaying in the wind - these are its leaves. Because the leaves are alternate, relatively sparsely arranged, heart-shaped, dark green, thick and juicy, like beads, it has the fine names "Buddhist bead string," "Buddhist beads," "green grape," and "green bell." Some also call it "Buddhist bead string of pearls" and "lover's tears." Its stems are slender, with head-like inflorescences, terminal, 3~4 cm long, curved-hook shaped, with white or brown flowers, and the flower buds are thin red strips.
It likes a warm, humid, semi-shaded environment. It has strong adaptability and is relatively drought-tolerant and cold-tolerant. It likes soil rich in organic matter that is loose and fertile. It grows best in a warm environment with relatively high air humidity and strong diffused light. It is not choosy about soil, and grows better in loose sandy loam. It generally grows suitably under medium light conditions, and also tolerates weak light. The suitable growth temperature is 15-25°C, and the overwintering temperature is 5°C.
The spider plant originates from southern Africa and is widely cultivated around the world.
Planting soil: In potted flowers, the preparation ratios of culture soil are as follows. General flowers and grasses: 30% humus soil, 50% garden soil, 20% river sand; woody flowers: 40% humus soil, 50% garden soil, 10% river sand; soil for sowing: 50% humus soil, 30% garden soil, 20% river sand; greenhouse flowers: 40% humus soil, 40% string of pearls garden soil, 20% river sand. Culture soil generally uses humus soil and vegetable garden soil as the basic materials, then is prepared by combining with other substances. Other substances mainly include mountain soil or pond mud, chaff ash, yellow sand, fire cinders, barnyard manure, etc. In addition, there are tiles and broken pot pieces, used to cover the pot bottom hole to facilitate drainage and ventilation. The method of making humus soil is relatively simple. Generally, according to how many potted flowers you grow, prepare clay pots, jars, or dig a pit in outdoor mud ground. Put a layer of vegetable garden soil at the bottom, then place daily household waste such as vegetable peelings, melon and fruit peels, bean and wheat husks, and various fresh tender grasses, leaves and other plant residues on top of the garden soil. At the same time, add poultry manure such as chicken and duck manure, pour some rice-washing water, fishy water, or human and livestock manure and urine water, then add some more vegetable garden soil on top. In this way, pile up multiple layers of soil and fertilizer water, and cover the pot mouth or pit mouth (mud is also fine) to seal it. After 2 to 3 months of fermentation and decomposition, take it out and expose it to the sun, and it becomes good humus soil. Under normal circumstances, this kind of soil must be fully decomposed before use. Humus soil is the main soil used for potting and repotting most potted flowers. Vegetable garden soil is ordinary cultivation soil. Because it is often fertilized and cultivated, it has relatively high fertility, is rich in organic matter, and has good granular structure, making it the main component of culture soil. It works well for cultivating Chinese roses, pomegranates and herbaceous flowers. The disadvantage is that the surface layer easily hardens, and aeration and water permeability are poor, so it is not easy to use alone; instead, it should be mixed with some other ingredients before use. When a large amount of culture soil is needed for cultivating flowers, making compost soil is also a practical method. It uses dead branches, fallen leaves, green grass, fruit peels, manure, hair and bones and other raw materials, plus old soil from repotting, stove ash, and garden soil, piled up together, pouring human and livestock manure water on top, and finally covering the surroundings and top with garden soil. After 4 to 5 months of storage and fermentation and decomposition, then crush and sieve it to obtain fertile soil. Mixing compost soil and sandy soil in equal halves makes it both fertile and good for drainage. For example, using compost mixed with peat soil to grow orchids, mountain lotus, clivia, milan, rhododendron and other flowers and trees has a very good effect. The common potted flower culture soil formulas are introduced below. For the culture soil used for asparagus fern and spider plant, good drainage and aeration are required. It is suitable to prepare with 60% garden soil or pond mud, 10% sand, and 30% chaff ash; for the culture soil used for plum blossom, crabapple, pomegranate and other flowers and trees, prepare with 35% humus soil, 35% pond mud, 15% sand, and 15% chaff ash, then add a small amount of bone meal; for the culture soil used for camellia, Michelia figo, rhododendron and the like, you can choose humus soil or mountain soil, burnt mud ash, and sand to prepare 40% humus soil, 30% mountain soil, 10% burnt mud ash, and 20% sand, then add a small amount of bone meal and the like; for the culture soil used for chrysanthemums, dahlias and general greenhouse herbaceous flowers, prepare with 30% humus soil, 40% pond mud, and 30% garden soil, then mix 70% of the above mixture with 30% chaff ash, and add a small amount of bone meal, lime and the like to make the soil's acidity and alkalinity moderate; for the culture soil used for cypress, nandina and the like, prepare with 45% mountain soil, 35% humus soil and burnt mud ash, and 20% sand; for indoor foliage plant culture soil, prepare with 2 parts peat, 1 part vermiculite, 1 part perlite, or with 1 part peat, 1 part perlite, and 1 part bark. Spider plant potting commonly uses leaf mold or peat soil, garden soil and river sand mixed in equal amounts plus a small amount of base fertilizer as the substrate. Repot once every 2-3 years, remixing the culture soil. Its fleshy roots have well-developed water-storing tissue and relatively strong drought resistance, but during the vigorous growth period from March to September, water demand is relatively large, so it needs frequent watering and spraying. After autumn, gradually reduce the amount of watering to improve the plant's cold resistance. During the vigorous growth period, apply thin liquid fertilizer twice a month. The fertilizer is mainly nitrogen fertilizer, but golden-heart and golden-edge varieties should not be given excessive nitrogen fertilizer, otherwise the linear markings on the leaves will become less obvious. Spider plant is not prone to pests and diseases, but if the potting soil is waterlogged and ventilation is poor, besides causing root rot, root rot disease may also occur, so attention should be paid to spraying for prevention and control.
Propagation method: can be propagated by cuttings. The vines very easily produce aerial roots. In spring and autumn, cut a few sections and bury half of them in sand or loose soil, keeping them moist but not waterlogged, and they will soon root for planting (about half a month in spring and autumn, while rooting is not easy in winter and summer; when the potted plant is not uniform and full enough but has grown too long, this measure can be used to make up for it.) Spider plant can be propagated by division. Except in winter when the temperature is too low and unsuitable for division, it can be done in other seasons. For plants potted for 2-3 years, when repotting in spring, remove the old culture soil from the dense potted seedlings, divide them into two to several clumps, and pot them separately as new plants. Spider plant can also be propagated using small plantlets on the runners. During the growing season, cut off the small plantlets on the runners, plant them in culture soil or water, and after the small plantlets grow roots, transplant them into pots. In addition, it can also be sown from seeds, but this is generally seldom used.
Management and care: during cultivation, watering should prefer dry over wet. When the weather is dry, spray more water on the leaves and vines to make up for the lack of moisture and keep the bead bodies green and plump. Avoid shade, avoid high temperature and high humidity. It relatively likes semi-shade; strong sun exposure may burn the bead bodies, while too weak light makes growth poor. String of pearls is mainly harmed by: snails, aphids, cottony cushion scale, sooty mold, and stem rot.
When cultivating string of pearls, pay attention to the following points: 1. Because the leaves are fleshy and juicy, it is drought-tolerant. 2. The plant's root system is very shallow, so it can be planted in a shallow pot. Generally, use a tile to cover the bottom hole, and spread a layer of coal cinder or coarse sand to increase aeration and water filtration (especially when using commonly seen plastic pots for planting). The soil is best leaf mold soil (mix fallen leaves of trees in autumn and winter with a certain amount of crushed soil, and mix in a certain amount of sand (soil to sand ratio about 1:3). 3. It likes warmth and humidity, is relatively cold-tolerant (when cultivated in the Jianghuai region it can tolerate a low temperature of 0°C), and tolerates high temperature. The most suitable temperature is around 20°C~28°C. It grows slowly at both high and low temperatures. In a high-temperature environment it almost goes dormant, so water and fertilize less, otherwise it easily rots. If rotting begins, immediately cut off the rotten part and take cuttings from the healthy part, otherwise it will soon rot completely. This is also one of the keys to successful cultivation. 4. In spring and autumn, "apply thin fertilizer frequently." Often spraying 1-3‰ nitrogen fertilizer and potassium dihydrogen phosphate on the leaf surface helps make it greener and plumper, improving its ornamental value. 5. It rarely has pests and diseases. Aphids in spring are one of them; remove them promptly or spray 1500 times omethoate to kill them. Mites in summer and autumn are next; use 1000 times dicofol to kill them. Pay attention to ventilation and increase leaf surface humidity, which can reduce mite infection. 6. In summer it easily rots roots, so watering should not be too frequent; use a small spray bottle to water.
Disease control: string of pearls likes a semi-shaded environment. If the placement spot has too strong or insufficient light, the leaves easily turn pale green or yellow-green, lose vitality, lose their proper ornamental value, and may even dry up and die. If exposed to direct sunlight and dry air, it most easily causes the spider plant to scorch. Therefore, it should be placed in a cool, ventilated spot, and attention should be paid to maintaining environmental humidity. Methods to prevent blackened, dried, shrunken leaf tips in potted spider plants: First, it is caused by dry air, overly strong sunlight, and excessively high temperature. This situation mainly occurs in summer and autumn, because spider plant likes to grow in a humid and semi-shaded environment. Once the air is too dry, and sunlight is unobstructed, and if the temperature is as high as above 30°C, it very easily causes the spider plant's leaf tips to wither. If this is the case, move the plant to a semi-shaded environment, cut off the withered leaves, and frequently spray water on the leaf surface and the environment; the newly emerged leaves can return to normal. Second, it is caused by waterlogged potting soil and rotting nutrient fibrous roots. Because the potting soil is hardened or too sticky and heavy, or because of too frequent or too much watering and other reasons, the spider plant's nutrient fibrous roots rot, and thus the root system's ability to absorb water drops greatly, causing the spider plant's leaf tips to turn black at the ends and the edges to curl inward. If this is the case, take the plant out of the pot, shake off part of the old soil, cut off the already rotten root parts, and plant it in clean wet sand, keeping the sand moist but not spraying too much water. After it has induced white tender fine fibrous roots, replace with fertile culture soil and plant again. Third, it is caused by not repotting for a long time, so the root system grows all the way to the pot wall. In a high-temperature, dry environment or cold weather, it very easily causes the root tips to shrink and necrose, making them lose their proper absorption function, thus causing the leaf tips to dry, wither and shrink. If this is the case, first pour the plant out of the pot, cut off the already dead leaves or the necrotic parts of the leaves, then remove part of the old soil, trim away some aged or necrotic roots, replace with fresh culture soil and replant it, and place it in a cool, humid, semi-shaded environment. Pay attention to spraying more water and watering less, and the plant's newly emerged tender leaves can return to normal.
In short, lover's tears is a foliage plant. Its leaf shape and leaf color are relatively beautiful, with a certain ornamental value, so it is often used for indoor greening and planting, and is an ideal flower for hanging cultivation at home. In addition, because spider plant has the function of absorbing toxic gases such as benzene and formaldehyde, spider plant also has the fine name of "green purifier," so it is also used for indoor air purification in potted planting.
Succulent Cabin, welcome more interested friends to join.
Succulent Cabin: Growing flowers is not only for ornamental purposes, it also helps cultivate character~