House Plants

A truck driver may seem an unlikely expert on houseplants, but I know a lot about them. My Mom had a whole house full and I helped her take care of them from time to time, getting quite an education in the process.

Wandering Jew is a very busy plant. If you set in a window sill with other plants beside it, the Wanderer will stretch along and stop in every other planter. The joints can root if there is anything to root in. Mom had one that was 20 feet long, re-rooting in every planter along the way. Wanderers don't harm the host plants, but I suggest you use either spikes or Miracle Grow to keep them all healthy. And get a duster to clean up between the planters since you won't be able to move them once the Wanderers start traveling.

Coleus are soft leaved and variegated in colors. They're quite pretty all year round. Mom got a couple of them that arrived from the store with "bugs." Her solution was simple. She filled the sink with mild dish soapy water and upended the plants in it, swishing them gently until the entire plant was rinsed. It made the plant taste so bad the insects left without a fight.

Philodendron are easy to grow and nice to look at. I have one cutting that's more than 25 years old! It spent more than a year in a mason jar with water before being planted in potting soil. You don't need to worry much about Philodendrons, a little water now and then and they'll thrive. When they get too big for their pot, they're easy to put into a bigger container, too.

Spider plants are really easy to care for. The long, variegated leaves are graceful and the little sprouts make great gifts with a minimum of effort.

There are many more house plants I could discuss, but these are my favorites. To transplant them, get a good potting soil (Miracle Grow is the best as far as I'm concerned), pour some in the bottom of the new planter and remove the plant (roots, dirt and all) from the previous container. Place it in the center of the new planter and fill all the edges with the new soil. Tamp it down gently until the roots are well covered, then water it lightly. Water it a little more every day or so, adding fresh soil if the roots begin to show. Keep all your plants where they get sunshine for a least a few hours every day, but not so much sunshine they bake. You'll be able to tell the difference.

Once the plants are settled in their planters, water them once a week but no more. A good planter will have drainage and the roots won't drown. It's every bit as bad to over water as to under water. Plant spikes (there are several different kinds) make a good feeding option. Your garden store should have one of the many products for keeping the leaves clean. I've used several different leaf cleaners and liked them all. Some feed as well as clean. Just use a piece of cotton, dip it in the solution and gently wipe each leaf until it shines.

For both indoor and outdoor plants, a mild mixture of dish soap and water can keep the bugs away. Just pour it into a spray bottle and give your plants a shower! Don't do it in direct sunlight, though, only in shade, or the plant could burn.

House plants, whether you have a few or hundreds, can make a great addition to your home!