EBT OT OES 2 POTTS

Hardy, attractive plants
brighten up the home

LAST WEEK I suggested indoor gardening as an alter-
native for those of you winter-bound gardeners who were
looking for a place to poke your green thumbs. This week I
thought I might suggest a few good candidates and their

care.

In determining which plants
make the list as ‘good’ choices, I
insist on adherence to some simple
tules. They must not die (this is
very important).

Tolerance is a must. Plants that
complain about over watering one
minute then droop from thirst the
next do not make the grade. Nor
do those that cannot forgive small
amounts of too much or too little

light, fertilizer, humidity, and
temperature.
Do not poison the kids.

Although there are actualiy very
few tropical plants that are truly
dangerous, there are those that can
produce sleepless, worrisome
nights.

No unwholesome visitors or
guests. If a plant is susceptible to
bugs or diseases, it has no place on
my team. Every plant can suffer
occasional attacks, but there are
some that seem to be infected all

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the time.
Finally, as I have yet to see a

from the tips of their leaves, it is
usually as a result of over water-
ing. This occasional dripping pres-
ents none of the staining problems
which can be seen from plants such
as the dieffenbachia.

This family of plants prefers to
become quite dry before being

plant pick up after itself, those
that drop things on the carpet are
out. If the plant cannot stay cloth-
ed or avoid drooling sap around
the house, it had better learn how
to survive in the compost heap.

Here are a few of the large-scale
plants that make the grade:

Corn Canes (dracaena fragrans
massangeana) and Dragon Trees
(dracaena marginata) -— Both of
these plants are known as self-
headers. This means they grow
leaves from a central crown as they
lose older Jeaves below, thus pro-
ducing the distinctive bare stem or
cane.

This cane, with its distinctive
crown of arching foliage bears
some resemblance to that of a
palm tree.

The Corn Cane has broad, green
leaves with a yellow central stripe,
while the Dragon Tree’s are nar-
row and edged in red.

Although these plants can drip

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over the

garden gate

Geoff Tobiasson

given a good soaking so if in
doubt, wait a few more days.

Light conditions can vary from
full sun to bright shade. Spider
mites can sometimes be found on
unhealthy plants in tot, dry en-
vironments, but this is rare.

The tips of the leaves can go
brown (this usually indicates
over/under watering or excessive
fertilizer), but simply removing the
tops with a diagonal cut will im-
prove appearance.

Kentia Palms (howea fosteriana)
— These are the best of the indoor
palm trees. Unlike its common
cousin the Butterfly or Areca Palm
(chrysalidocarpus futescens) this
plant is difficult to kill.

This beautiful palm produces
long, arching leaves from a single
stem. Its slow growth assures that
it will be a source of enjoyment for
many years.

Ie will tolerate light levels from
full sun to light shade. Although

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preferring to be kept barely moist,
it will not roll over and die should
you happen to be too generous or
stingy once in a while.

The Kentia is more expensive
than the Areca because it is more
difficult to get started. They will
reward the extra expense by re-
maining with you for many years.

Rubber Ptaat (ficus celastica
decora) and Fiddic Leaf Fig (ficus
lyrata) — If you are looking for
that ‘tree-like’ appearance in the
house, these are good choices.
Both plants can grow quite rapidly
and will require pruning to shape
in all but the largest of homes.

Although the initial tendency is
towards a single stem, branching
will occur in time; sooner if cut
back. Both have large, lustrous,
green lcaves; oval in the rubber
plant and, as the name
fiddle-shaped for the fiddle icaf.

Once again, light can vary from
full sun to bright shade and 2
thorough soaking should follow a
period of moderate drought.
not be too hasty to repot any of
the fig (ficus) family as they prefer
to be root bound.

tadian Lasrel (ficus retusa
nitida) — For those of you who
want a small-leaved tree in the
house and are sick of picking up

Weeping fig

after the Weeping Fig (ficus ben-
jamina), this one ts for you.

Aithough not as foolproof as the
rubber plant or the fiddle leaved
fig, this plant will win hands down
over the temperamental weeping
fig. Give it the same care as the
other ficus species and keep it
away from sources of direct heat

drafts.

G actinoph
Split-leaved Philodendron
(monstera deliciosa). The last be-
ing more of a vining plant than a
tree, but it can still reach an enor-
mous size if staked.

Catt ee
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