Healthy Living

INDOOR PLANTS FOR THE BLACK-THUMBED

Sure, your Aunt Millicent could stick a leaf in a pot of soil and end up with a beautiful, blooming houseplant that thrived on a windowsill for years. If you didn’t inherit her green thumb, don’t despair. There are houseplants even you can grow, with minimal fuss and no skill. Houseplants are worth the effort, not only for their aesthetic qualities but because they act like natural air fresheners, absorbing carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen. Just keep them in clean pots with waterproof saucers to catch any moisture or drips, and inspect regularly for the occasional insect that might afflict the plant’s health. If that happens, turn the plant over to someone like Aunt Millicent, who will skillfully nurse it back to health, and start over with a new one. A wide variety of easy-to-grow, established plants are readily available from nurseries and home improvement centers, including these nearly foolproof choices:

Arrowhead Vine—Leaves will keep their handsome variegation even in low light.

Schefflera—Tropical looking, glossy foliage that works well with almost any décor.

Ponytail Palm—Actually a succulent, this plant stores water in its trunk, and can survive long periods without watering.

Spider Plant—An old classic. Easy to grow, and the plantlet “babies” that it sprouts can easily be tucked into soil or water to start new plants.

Snake Plant—Often called by the unfortunate name of “mother-in-law’s tongue”, the snake plant features vertical, stiff, sword-like leaves that are nearly indestructible.

Philodendron—The pretty heart-shaped leaves of this plant adapt easily to low-light spots.

Wax Plant (Hoya)—Glossy and sturdy, requires little water and sports waxy, fragrant pink flowers.

Rubber Plant—Buy a big one for a dramatic statement in any room. They are ridiculously easy to care for.

Cast Iron Plant—As the name implies, this elegant, upright plant withstands neglect, low light, low humidity and a wide range of temperatures. If you manage to kill it, call it a day and switch to silk. Nobody’s perfect.