Which houseplant would you suggest?

Mrs_Bones

Hello
As part of the 101 project I'm trying to do in the discussion forum, one of my goals is to try and keep a houseplant with out killing it. Now my track record with them isn't good. Due to certain problems I've got, I just have problems with things like memory and don't tend to focus on things even when they are right in front of me so any houseplants get neglected. I need something that will be pretty hardy to survive me looking after it and not something that will sulk if I forget to water it for a few days.

A few people have suggested a cactus but I'm just not so fond of them. I love African Violets but they don't like me, so I'm looking for something that is green and leafy any suggestions?

I'm not completely hopeless, I've got a big garden and enjoy the bit of pottering about I can still do in the greenhouse and family help me do the jobs I can't now, The plants outside and things in my greenhouse are fine, it's just as soon as I try to bring anything indoors my problems start and as I can't always get outside now I'd love to have a bit of greenery indoors.

rhiwfield

You sound a bit like my OH

The only houseplant she hasnt been able to kill through total neglect is a moneyplant

http://www.plantlife.ie/shop/images/money%20plant%20popup.jpg

It will take non watering for months, possibly years, and then perk up after rewatering (maybe with a few more leaves missing). It may be possible to overwater but that doesnt cause a problem in OH's case

asbokid

Mrs_Bones wrote: »

Hello
As part of the 101 project I'm trying to do in the discussion forum, one of my goals is to try and keep a houseplant with out killing it. Now my track record with them isn't good. Due to certain problems I've got, I just have problems with things like memory and don't tend to focus on things even when they are right in front of me so any houseplants get neglected. I need something that will be pretty hardy to survive me looking after it and not something that will sulk if I forget to water it for a few days.

A few people have suggested a cactus but I'm just not so fond of them. I love African Violets but they don't like me, so I'm looking for something that is green and leafy any suggestions?

I'm not completely hopeless, I've got a big garden and enjoy the bit of pottering about I can still do in the greenhouse and family help me do the jobs I can't now, The plants outside and things in my greenhouse are fine, it's just as soon as I try to bring anything indoors my problems start and as I can't always get outside now I'd love to have a bit of greenery indoors.

what about some variegated grasses? Cheap as chips and almost impossible to kill from over- or under- watering.. We have a pot in the bathroom that only gets watered every few months but has survived for 5 years or more.. or maybe a fern, or a money plant, or spider plant, or one of those mini palms?

i gave up with african violets - my late grandmother used to give us one every time she called (to replace the one she gave us on her last visit and which we had killed!) They are very difficult to keep alive.. in common with many other plants, they are "forced" under glass in the netherlands and are very weak and prone to disease - usually a mould in my experience.

frugalsar

How about Aloe Vera, was my first houseplant just needs a sunny window and a little watering one every couple of days! useful too!!!

VanyaHargreeves

Money plants are awesome. Ours barely get watered - once every few months or so and they still survive fine. My little sister knocked one over from the windowsill and it fell about three feet and it was still fine. Didn't even lose a leaf.

Valli

Spider plant (chlorophytum) are dead easy to grow and apparently VERY good for de polluting your home.
Cactuses are nigh on indestructible - I've had one for 25 years...they are a bugler to dust though (IYSWIM)
My moneyplant's even older than that - it's one I grew from a cutting of mine (as a child I hasten to add) and gave to a special and much loved great aunt then it came back to me when she died about 22 years ago...
My amaryllis is about 16 (older than DS, a colleague gave it me) and my spider plant's the baby and she's 3 and the new kid on the Valli block is a bromeliad I got for Easter which is honoured -it's the only one in the lounge and not on a windowsill - they don't like bright sunshine)... the others all live in the kitchen (I have a cat - it's the only windowsill she doesn't go on!)

AFAIK they are killed by overwatering, much as fish are killed by overfeeding.

Jake'sGran

VanyaHargreeves wrote: »

Money plants are awesome. Ours barely get watered - once every few months or so and they still survive fine. My little sister knocked one over from the windowsill and it fell about three feet and it was still fine. Didn't even lose a leaf.

I have just repotted mine as it didn't seem to be very happy in the original pot and it kept falling over. Looks great now! I was surprised last year when someone won 1st prize for one in the Foliage Plant Section.

The two plants I was going to suggest are the two suggested here. I did have a spider plant sitting on the hearth and it obviously did not like the draughts so its now on a table in the hall and has perked up tremendously.. I couldn't cope without my plants.

olly300

Ferns and miniature palms can be killed. I remember from my student days.

Spider plants and moneyplants are damn near indestructible.

I remember trying to kill of a spider plant as a child by not watering it for 6 months until I got caught...............

Mrs_Bones

Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far, at the moment I'm thinking the money plant sounds like a good choice it looks a nice plant from the link rhiwfield put up. Hopefully I will get chance to go to a garden centre next week to have a look at them.

I am planning to put what I get in the porch, this is cool all year round but it does have some draughts, it's normal where i put my vases of flowers and they last for ages in there, but would it be ok for a houseplant?

consumermonkey

I can recommend those moth-orchids. I have bought many over the last few years. The flowers last for ages and getting them to re-flower is a doddle. They don't need to be watered too often, in fact they prefer to be on the drier side anyway. I have about six now and all get a water about once a fortnight, maybe as seldom as once a month and are all coming into bloom again. They look so delicate, yet are so easy to keep.

buxtonrabbitgreen

I agree with cactus or succulant (maybe a christmas cactus) they have preety flowers at christmas and are fine to neglect. Also not yet killed in my house rubber plant. Mine is now a cutting off one I got 30 years ago, and also as already suggested Aloe Vera.