How Not to Kill Your Houseplant Read online

  grown in a terrarium.

  LIGHT

  Place it in a partially shaded spot

  as it doesn’t like bright sunlight – most

  windowsills are probably too bright.

  WATERING + FEEDING

  F

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  From spring to autumn, water

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  ch

  ia

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  generously with tepid water when the top

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  1cm (1/2in) of compost is dry, ensuring the

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  excess water drains away. Water more

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  sparingly in winter and don’t let the plant

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  sit in cold, wet compost.

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  CARE

  BUG ALERT!

  (see pp.24–27)

  Stand the plant on a pebble-filled

  tray of water and mist the leaves daily to

  Prone to aphids.

  ensure that it has enough humidity.

  Aphids on the underside

  of a young leaf

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  PLANT HAS COLLAPSED?

  SHARE

  Nerve plants are prone to collapsing dramatically if their THE CARE

  compost is too dry.

  SAVE IT Water well and mist the leaves. Ensure you water your plant correctly (see left). If the compost has been dry for a long time, your plant may not recover.

  LEAF TIPS

  TURNING

  BROWN?

  This is due to

  low humidity.

  SAVE IT

  Mist the leaves

  regularly and stand

  your plant on a

  pebble-filled

  VELVET PLANT

  tray of water.

  Gynura aurantiaca

  It’s hard to resist stroking

  this plant’s velvety leaves.

  It has similar needs to

  a nerve plant, but

  likes bright light.

  YELLOW LEAVES?

  This is probably due to overwatering.

  SAVE IT Nerve plants like moisture, but not POLKA DOT PLANT

  soggy compost. Remove the yellowed leaves

  Hypoestes

  and ensure that you allow the compost to

  This plant has similar

  dry out between waterings.

  needs, but can take more

  bright light. It is good for

  Yellowing leaves

  a terrarium.

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  ENGLISH IVY

  Hedera helix

  ouseplants

  Unlike many houseplants, ivy does best in cool temperatures, so this tough, trailing plant should be The H

  used as an attractive addition to a colder room.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  LOCATION

  Place it in a cool or even

  cold room (2–16ºC/35–60ºF).

  It should be grown up a pole,

  planted in a hanging planter,

  or could be placed in a pot on a

  shelf. It’s good for unheated

  porches or draughty hallways.

  LIGHT

  Provide bright but indirect

  H

  light. Non-variegated types will tolerate

  edera

  lower light levels.

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  el

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  SPINDLY

  i

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  g

  sp

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  ad

  to

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  WATERING + FEEDING

  GROWTH?

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  From spring to autumn, keep the

  The room is too

  ft)

  compost moist, but not wet, watering when

  warm, or your

  the top 2–3cm (1in) of compost is dry. Water

  plant isn’t getting

  more sparingly in winter. Feed monthly in

  enough light.

  spring and summer.

  SAVE IT Move

  your plant to a cool,

  CARE

  bright spot. Cut off

  Mist the plant on warm days. Repot

  the affected areas

  in spring when the roots have filled the pot.

  to encourage more

  bushy growth.

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  SHARE

  BROWN LEAF TIPS OR EDGES?

  THE CARE

  This happens if the air around your

  plant is too warm and dry.

  SAVE IT Mist the leaves, or move

  your plant to a cooler spot, especially if Dry, brown

  it is in a centrally heated room or if the leaf edges

  weather is warm.

  VARIEGATED LEAVES

  TURNING ALL GREEN?

  Your plant isn’t getting enough light.

  SAVE IT Move it to a brighter spot.

  SPOTTED LAUREL

  Aucuba japonica

  Leaves

  Care for this evergreen

  have lost

  garden shrub in the same

  variegation

  way as English ivy. It's great

  for a cool spot, such as

  a porch or hallway.

  JAPANESE ARALIA

  Fatsia japonica

  An evergreen garden

  Signs of red

  shrub that can be cared

  for in the same

  spider mites

  way as English ivy.

  BUG

  Prone to red

  ALERT!

  spider mites

  (see pp.24–27)

  on the foliage.

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  AMARYLLIS

  Hippeastrum

  ouseplants

  Often sold in a kit, these bulbs will produce striking flowers year after year with

  The H

  the right care.

  BUG ALERT!

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  (see pp.24–27)

  Prone to

  LOCATION

  mealybugs on or

  Keep the planted bulb in a bright

  under the leaves

  and around

  spot that’s around 20°C (68ºF) and away

  the plant.

  from draughts. Once it’s in flower, you could move it to a slightly cooler spot to prolong

  the flowers.

  LIGHT

  Place it in bright light and keep out

  NO MORE FLOWERS?

  of direct sun.

  Amaryllis flowers will fade in

  spring, but it is possible to get

  them to reflower the following

  WATERING + FEEDING

  winter or spring.

  Keep the compost moist, but not

&nbs
p; soggy. Feed once a month.

  SAVE IT After flowering, cut off

  the spent flower spike to about 5cm

  CARE

  (2in) above the bulb and feed and water

  as usual. You could put the plant outside Amaryllis is often sold in a

  in summer. In early autumn, give the

  planting kit with compost and a pot. Plant

  plant a rest period in a room at 10–13°C

  the bulb in autumn or winter, ensuring the

  (50–55°F). Stop feeding and reduce

  pot isn’t much larger than the bulb. Use

  watering during this time. The foliage

  multi-purpose compost and add perlite for

  will die back. After 8–10 weeks of rest,

  drainage. Don’t bury the whole bulb – the

  replace the top 5cm (2in) of the

  neck and “shoulders” should be above the

  compost, bring back into a warm

  compost. It should flower 6–8 weeks after

  room, and feed and water as

  planting. Turn the pot regularly to prevent

  before. It should then flower

  the plant growing towards the light.

  6–8 weeks later.

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  FLOWER SPIKE

  SLOW TO DEVELOP?

  You may have the plant in too cool a room.

  SAVE IT Move it to a warmer spot

  (around 20ºC/68ºF). Check the compost is

  moist, but not soggy.

  NO FLOWER THE

  FOLLOWING WINTER?

  This may be because your plant has

  not rested for long enough in the

  Hippeastrum

  right conditions.

  Height: up to

  60cm (24in)

  SAVE IT Ensure the rest

  period is 8–10 weeks and you are

  Spread: up to

  30cm (12in)

  providing enough light and the

  correct care (see No more flowers?).

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  KENTIA PALM

  Howea fosteriana

  ouseplants

  Popular since the 19th century, this low-

  maintenance palm brings an air of

  The H

  elegance to your home.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  LOCATION

  Provide temperatures of 18–24ºC

  (64–75ºF), and a minimum temperature of

  12°C (54°F) in winter. It needs humidity,

  and should be kept away from radiators.

  LIGHT

  Place it in bright but indirect light.

  Direct sun will scorch the leaves.

  WATERING + FEEDING

  Water in spring and summer so the

  Whole plant

  compost is moist, but allow it to dry out

  slightly in between. Reduce watering in

  winter. Feed monthly in spring and summer.

  LEAF TIPS

  CARE

  GOING BROWN?

  Clean the leaves regularly – you

  The air could be too dry or too

  could stand it under a tepid shower, or in

  cold. Alternatively, it may have

  summer rain. Only repot when roots are

  been underwatered.

  visible above the compost or growing

  SAVE IT If the plant is near

  through the drainage holes. Mist the leaves

  a radiator, move it away. Check that

  regularly to create humidity – more freqently the temperature isn’t too low and

  in a hot room.

  water if the compost is dry. Cut off

  the brown tips with scissors just

  inside the brown area.

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  SHARE

  BUG ALERT!

  THE CARE

  (see pp.24–27)

  Prone to scale

  insects, mealybugs,

  and red spider mites

  on the foliage.

  DULL LEAVES?

  A lack of shine on the

  leaves can be caused

  by low humidity.

  SAVE IT

  PARLOUR PALM

  Keep it

  Chamaedorea elegans

  away from radiators and

  An easy-to-grow palm with the

  mist the leaves frequently.

  same care as Kentia palm.

  It is quite compact, only

  reaching about 1m (3ft).

  YELLOWING

  LEAVES?

  Lower leaves can turn

  yellow with age. If the

  problem is widespread,

  this could be a sign

  of underwatering.

  SAVE IT Check

  your watering regime

  (see left).

  LEAVES GOING BROWN?

  Older, lower leaves will naturally turn

  Howea

  brown and die, but check that you

  haven’t overwatered your plant.

  BUTTERFLY PALM

  fosteriana

  Height: up

  SAVE IT

  Dypsis lutescens

  Cut any unsightly brown

  Another, similar palm with

  to 3m (10ft)

  leaves off at the base using secateurs.

  the same care needs. It likes

  Spread: up

  Check your watering regime (see left).

  good light and a slightly

  to 80cm

  (32in)

  humid atmosphere.

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  TOP 5 PLANTS FOR

  YOUR BATHROOM

  ouseplants

  Plants can add a lush, verdant feel to your

  bathroom. Many plants love the high humidity

  The H

  produced by baths and showers – here are five beautiful specimens to try.

  Nerve plant

  Fittonia

  This rainforest plant has beautiful, veined

  foliage. It loves high humidity, so is perfect for a bathroom. Keep it in a partially shaded spot.

  See Nerve plant, pp.78–79.

  Maidenhair fern

  Adiantum raddianum

  If you take plenty of baths and showers,

  your maidenhair fern will be happy, as it

  enjoys a humid atmosphere. It has

  pleasing, delicate foliage.

  See Maidenhair fern, pp.32–33.

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  TOP 5 PLANTS FOR

  Velvet plant

  YOUR BATHROOM

  Gynura aurantiaca

  This pretty foliage plant has soft,

  velvety leaves. It will begin

  to trail once the plant

  matures. It likes humidity

  and bright light, so put it

  within a few feet of a

  bathroom window.

  See Velvet

  plant, p.79.

  Boston fern

  Nephrolepis exaltata

  The Boston fern thrives in a room with

  high humidity, making it a good choice for a

  bathroom. The arching fronds look particularly good in a hanging planter.

  See Boston fern, pp.96–97.

  Indian rope plant

  Hoya carnosa

  This climbing plant has beautiful, waxy flowers, and its evening scent is perfect for a relaxing bathtime. It requires lots of light and humidity, so needs to be kept in a bright bathroom.

  See Indian rope plant, pp.88–89.

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  INDIAN ROPE PLANT

/>   Hoya carnosa

  ouseplants

  This climbing plant has pretty flowers

  that are especially scented in the evening.

  The H

  ‘Variegata’ has creamy edges to its leaves.

  HOW NOT TO KILL IT

  Whole plant

  LOCATION

  Grow it up a trellis or pole, keeping

  DROPPING

  it at 18–24ºC (64–75ºF) and above 10°C

  FLOWER BUDS?

  (50°F) in winter. It can get quite large,

  The compost may be too dry or too wet,

  so it will need plenty of space.

  or you may have moved or repotted

  your plant while it was in bud.

  LIGHT

  Place it in a bright spot, out of

  SAVE IT Avoid moving

  your plant while it is in bud or

  direct sun, which can scorch the leaves.

  flower. Check your watering

  regime (see left).

  WATERING + FEEDING

  From spring to autumn, water when

  the top 2–3cm (1in) of compost dries out,

  making the compost moist, but not wet.

  Keep almost dry in winter. Feed monthly

  NO FLOWERS?

  from spring to late summer.

  Your plant may not be in a bright

  enough spot – it can survive low

  light levels but won’t flower.

  CARE

  You may have removed the

  Use well-drained compost. To add

  flowering stalks.

  humidity, stand the plant on a pebble-filled

  tray of water. Mist the leaves – more often in SAVE IT Move it to a

  a hot room. Don’t mist, move, or repot the

  brighter spot. Each stalk can

  plant when it is in bud or flower. Remove the produce flowers for many

  years, so be sure not to

  top 5cm (2in) of compost and replace with

  deadhead – let the spent

  fresh each spring. Only repot if it's completely flowers fall off naturally.

  pot-bound. Don’t deadhead the plant or cut

  off the flowering stalks as these will reflower.

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  SHARE

  BUG ALERT!

  (see pp.24–27)

  THE CARE

  Prone to mealybugs,

  whitefly, scale

  insects, and

  aphids.

  DRIPPING

  FLOWERS?

  The flowers

  MINIATURE WAX PLANT

  produce nectar to

  Hoya bella

  attract pollinators

  This is a more compact plant

  – this is normal.

  that has similar care needs

  to an Indian rope plant, but

  SAVE IT

  likes a higher temperature

  Do nothing!

  (no less than 16°C/60ºF

  in winter).

  DROPPING LEAVES,

  OR BLACKENED

  LEAVES?

  This could be due to

  overwatering, or excessive

  cold in winter.