Date: Fri 05-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Bleach-Houseplants-Gardener

Full Text:

SUBURBAN GARDENER: Houseplants With Attitude

By Anthony C. Bleach

The planter on the fifth floor of this college was designed by an architect

who knew as much about biology as I know about rocket science. We have been

trying to get plants to grow there, about 40 feet from the nearest window, for

three years. But at least we have learned what plants to choose for low light

conditions.

The toughest of them all is the Chinese Evergreen ( Aglaonema commutatum ).

This has long, dark green leaves blotched with pale green or light green

leaves with creamier markings. This is one of the easiest to grow in low light

situations.

Most plants need about 1,000 foot-candles of light to keep healthy. The light

by a north window is usually less than 100 foot-candles. The Chinese Evergreen

can survive on 80. Earl Kurtz of Kurtz Farms in Cheshire told me the secret of

growing them: Always keep them well watered.

Another princess of darkness that prefers moist soil is the Parlor Palm (

Chamaedorea elegans ). Sometimes called the dwarf mountain palm, this

undemanding plant comes from Guatemala and Mexico. It does better with

additional humidity, so stand the pot on a tray of moistened pebbles. Water

well from spring to fall, then moderately during the cooler months. Feed once

a month in the spring and summer with half-strength fertilizer.

Repot when the palm has clearly outgrown its pot, taking care not to break off

the rather brittle roots. A good soil mix for the Parlor Palm is all-purpose

potting soil mixed with an equal amount of peat moss.

The first time I saw Harlem, I was amazed not so much by the desolation of the

environment as by the number and persistence of the Snake Plants, growing

spiky in the windows, five floors or more up. Then I admired the tenacity of

the plants. With reflection over the years I have come to admire the people

who grew them.

These plants are in the Agave family and so can survive in the deserts as well

as in dark rooms. They are bold and beautiful in the planter at the college,

far from their native South Africa. The variety ~~`Hahnii,' the bird's nest

sanseveria and `Golden Hahnii' are more compact and have low rosettes of

leaves.

The only abuse that will kill them is overwatering. The darker the conditions

the less water they need. Offsets, baby plants, grow out at the base and these

can be potted up with ease.

The most popular of these plants with constitutions of steel is the rubber

plant, Fiscus elastica. This can grow through the roof in medium-to-bright

light conditions. If it is starting to get too big for you, root-prune it

instead of moving it to a larger pot. You can also pinch off the growing tip,

but you may want to dust the tip with ashes to dry up the flow of milky sap,

which incidentally was once used to make rubber. This plant will drop its

leaves if there are drafts or sudden changes in temperature, but otherwise

they are very adaptable.

`Decora,' with very dark leaves, is one of the most attractive cultivars.

`Robusta' has even larger leaves. Variegated cultivars include `Tricolor,'

with green leaves with cream and pink patches, and `Doescheri,' with a pink

central rib and cream and gray patches. However, you have to provide bright

light if these cultivars are to keep their color.

(Anthony C. Bleach coordinates the horticulture program at Naugatuck Valley

College in Waterbury.