If you knew my ability to garden you might laugh at me writing an article on houseplants. I’m not here to give you any new and improved advice on how to keep houseplants healthy since I have trouble with that myself.
I am here to tell you which plants work well for beginners or those without a green thumb.
The Plants
Jades.
I have a jade plant that I got from one of my friends more than twenty years ago. Her mom had a huge plant and she gave me a cutting. That plant has gone with me to years of teaching, living in ND and now back in SD. It is easy to get cuttings off of and start over if you need to. It can withstand no water and too much water. No sunlight and too much sunlight. You get the point. Even I, as a black thumber, can keep this plant alive. Yea for Jades!
African Violets.
This is another one that I have been able to grow with gusto. A friend split her plant and I took one without much hope of making it do much. I have heard they can be tricky to keep alive, but mine has thrived and bloomed without any signs of stopping. I’m amazed that ever since I have had it has had blooms on. I’m not sure what I’m doing right with this one, but somehow I’ve managed to get it right. I love its cheerful purple flowers by my side.
Orchids.
I’ve looked at orchids over the years and thought they must be difficult to grow. They seem so fragile and touchy. Like a hothouse flower. My mom gave me one for my birthday (almost a year ago), and this sturdy little flower has bloomed three times for me in that time! All it asks for is three ice cubes every Saturday and she’s happy as a clam. I feel so accomplished when friends stop in and I have an orchid looking for all the world like I know what’s going on with it!! (This one is even from Walmart!!)
Chinese money plant.
I can’t say for sure that I’m going to get this one right, because I just got a small plant from my sister in law in August. So far it is perky and seems to be doing ok! I love the unusual shape, the round leaves and sticky-out stems. It looks really cool!
Golden Pothos
This one has been a keeper for many years, and I love it. So far, I haven’t let it get long and overgrown because I have a small house and I don’t want plants everywhere, but it is a really neat looking plant without many demands in the care area.
Wandering Jew.
Mine does not look like this. It’s had a slight mishap. We were gone for a week or more and my poor Wanderer didn’t get much water for too long. Obviously He likes more than he got. I took a cutting and stuck it in a cup of water on my windowsill and he perked right up. I have put him back in the pot and I just noticed new leaves all over!
And is that Goldie in there with The Wanderer? I think so. That is a favorite of mine in my garden. It’s sold here as an annual, but comes back prolifically in the spring. I’m going straight out to get a cutting and add it to my Wandering Jew. The colors look great together.
Spacesavers
My next question for you all is how you keep plants in your house? Where do you put them and how do you keep them neat? My house is small and we don’t have extra space, but I do love a few plants. I have been searching for spacesaving plant stands and I have come up with a few really cute options. Do you have anything like these? My birthday is coming up and I have a couple of these on my list!
This stand is too cute. It is thoughtfully equipped with grow lights, which can simulate the light requirements of plants at different growth stages according to individual needs, and can better promote the healthy growth of plants.Plant stand indoor comes with a timer function LED plant grow light to ensure that all tiers of plants get plenty of light, and the plants don’t need to be moved outside every day,
This plant shelf includes 10 shelves that hold 11 regular-sized pots and can hang pots or place tall plants on the middle level of the shelf. Save space while allowing each layer of plants to get plenty of sunlight. The plant holders indoor stand can hold up to 150 lbs.
This plant stand comes with a timer, 9-level dimming, and full-spectrum grow lights, ideal for indoor plants. The grow light boosts indoor growth by speeding up photosynthesis, suitable for all stages of growth and various kinds of plants such as succulents, orchids, fruits, etc. Illuminate your space while revitalizing the growth of your plants in low-light conditions.
This smaller stand features a ladder design that allows unobstructed sunlight, this plant rack accommodates more than 7 pots, making it an ideal decorative piece for organizing your plant collection. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Tell us about your houseplants. I’m really interetsted in your fails. 🙂 Makes me feel better about my own feeble attempts! Tell us what you grow and how you organize them!
Happy growing!
-Eva
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8 responses to “Houseplants, Green Thumbs, and Beginners”
Really enjoyed this article, Eva. I’d love to have one of each. I do have a golden pathos that’s looking healthy but none of the others. I want to grow a large plant/tree in the corner of my dining room. There’s lots of light. Any suggestions?
Jades can turn into huge plants, so that could be an option. Dracaena is a good choice because they clean the air. But you have fresh mountain air. Maybe it doesn’t need cleaning. 😄
I loved your plant article. 🪴 I’m crazy about plants and even though our house is big enough we have to limit the number so we don’t feel pushed out. I always have orchids around because I feel it’s money very well spent for seniors who are home alot. We had a beautiful yard this year and it came with not too much effort. One evening two people came and helped plant a lot of pots and the cleaning girl does what needs doing too. But this was a miracle year for our yard.
Hi Grandma Ruth! I never went by your yard this summer. I always check it out when I go by. I’m sure it was beautiful.
My great grandma loved plants. She told us she had a black thumb because she was always poking it in them to check them for watering. 😊She would be so impressed with the popularity of houseplants and also intrigued with succulents!
I’m a self-proclaimed plant murderer. Or maybe it’s my cats that are. Anyway, as much as I like looking at other people’s plants, they aren’t good to have around, even if I had the space. It would be nice to have a plant around that would clean the air, but plants and cats don’t mix. I was complimenting a friend on her plants, and she admitted that they were from Temu. I think that I’ll probably go that route as well.
I do not have a green thumb. I love deep in the woods where nothing- indoor or out- gets proper sunlight. But I have a southern facing kitchen windowsill just packed full of happy little plants! I can’t believe my continued luck with them. The funny thing to me is it seems their “growth spurt” time is in the winter! …when the trees outdoors have lost all their leaves & let the sunlight thru more freely. I have a syngonium neon robusta that has outgrown my windowsill many times & I now have multiple cuttings growing at various places in my house. I have the Chinese money plant just like you pictured. He tends to be forgotten & has a few yellow leaves in complaint. I have a fun little fellow that a friend gave me several years ago- a pink veined nerve plant. He faints dramatically when he feels thirsty, & springs up again happily when watered. And then I have a darling little string of pearls that continues to thrive tho I hold my breath many times in fear of killing it. I want one of those plant stands with grow lights! I think it would be just the ticket for a cherry little spot in my sometimes dim house. Loved your post! Katrina
Multiple typos in above post. 🙄 Insert the correct words in your head as you read. 🙃