Brown fingers

Mr_Singleton

I'd really really like to buy some nice plants for the flat but nice plants aren't cheap and I'm well known for my brown fingers i.e I pretty much kill any plant I come into contact with.

Does anyone have any advice?

Fay

Tell us more about what you want plants for-inside our out? Aspect of where they'll go, I.e. Which way does the window ledge face or your garden. You will get advice but more information will be needed

Mojisola

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

I'd really really like to buy some nice plants for the flat but nice plants aren't cheap and I'm well known for my brown fingers i.e I pretty much kill any plant I come into contact with.

Does anyone have any advice?

There are some very nice artificial pot plants available now.

DigForVictory

Just how brown? Death by accident? Neglect? Or 100% ignorance?
Indoors, there are some impressive things in silk (& other less expensive ingredients) Which Need Dusting.
Outside, select your encroaching weeds with flair - mint, chives, wild strawberries all thrive on neglect & rainwater here in lancashire. Just not bindweed or knotweed please!

JournalGirl

Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid)
Looks beautiful, needs almost no attention, flowers for months
Only plant I can't kill

pendragon_arther

Over watering as well as under watering can kill them. Talk to them and tell them how lovely they are and they will flourish.

Mr_Singleton

Fay wrote: »

Tell us more about what you want plants for-inside our out? Aspect of where they'll go, I.e. Which way does the window ledge face or your garden. You will get advice but more information will be needed

I'd like plants for both inside and out. I live on the top floor of a mansion block in London so only have a balcony. The flat faces east and is slightly over looked by the building across the road. The front facing windows all let in a lot of light but the ones at the rear are a bit more shaded.

I'm looking to maybe have a large plant in the living room sitting in a pot in the corner with some smaller ones on shelves?. Lots of light at the front near windows but progressively less as you move towards the rear of the room. Again bedrooms and kitchen have windows at the front letting in good amounts of light. Hall is relatively dim as is bathroom.

I'd like unusual plants rather than the ubiquitois cascade of spider plants over shelving or a Yucca plant in the corner. I'm not to keen to get anything with flowers other than maybe those huge white Orchids? that seem to be everywhere.

I was passing through John Lewis yesterday and they have a florist at the rear selling flowers and plants I saw a couple there that I quite liked the look of but checking the prices it would be way too expensive for me to buy if in 6 months they're all dead.

As I said any help or suggestions greatly appreciated.

elsien

It is possible to be green and brown fingered at the same time - I do well in my garden but am the grim reaper as far as indoor plants go.
Although for indoor gloom and general neglect, there's always the aspidistra. And you can get some with more interesting leaves than the usual ones if you hunt around online.
Or a croton - they're colourful - not sure how easy they are to look after though.

Edit - here you go, to get you started.
http://www.houseplantsexpert.com/easy-to-grow-and-low-light-house-plants.html
The peace lilies are good because they start to wilt quite obviously when they need water (if you've neglected them a bit too long) but perk up again very quickly without doing too much damage when you sling some water their way.

Mojisola

Peace Lily - happy in low light conditions.

Mother-in-law's Tongue - variegated ones - thrives on neglect.

Money Plant (or Jade Plant) - tough as they come, likes a well-lit spot and gentle neglect.

I_have_spoken

maybe have a large plant in the living room sitting in a pot in the corner with some smaller ones on shelves?

Ficus, Kentia Palm, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Umbrella Plant, Tradescantia zebrina.

Then there's cacti and succulents of course.

lisa110rry

Speaking of succulents, it's extremely difficult to kill a "Christmas Cactus" and they do make a nice colourful display when they flower, especially really large ones. I don't know your flat's style of course. In my old fashioned home, I might place one on a high wooden stand in a Victorian or Edwardian style - an ultra-modern metal stand may be more up your street of course.