shade - Houseplants

aglaonema crispum – chinese evergreen

the genus aglaonema belongs to the araceae family and contains about 40 species. some of them are popular houseplants or used as office plants because they tolerate some poor conditions. but if you like to have a healthy and beauitful plant, give it some care. they are native to the tropical asia.

the chinese evergreen (aglaonema crispum) is available in a lot of varieties with silver or light green variegated leaves.

care

aglaonema crispum is tolerating low light but does best if located bright without direct sun. the variegated cultivars will need low to moderate light otherwise they can produce solid green leaves.

the chinese evergreen can be grown in a good regular potting mix. keep it constantly moist but not wet, sitting in water can cause rot. a moderate drying between the waterings is ok, but the soil shouldn’t dry completely.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter. new bought or recently repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.

aglaonema crispum likes it warm (20-25 °c/68-77 °f) and needs a winter minimum of 14 °c/57 °c.

a high humidty is welcome but not needed. spraying it over with water keeps its leaves free from dust.

aglaonema crispum

propagation

aglaonema crispum can be propagated with cuttings or by division.

anthurium andraeanum – flamingo flower

the genus anthurium belongs to the araceae family and contains more than 800 members. most of them are native to the rain forests of central to south america. anthurium andraeanum is commonly known as flamingo flower. there are cultivars with a white or pink spadix available.

care

the flamingo flower does best if located in bright light without direct sun. but it also can be placed from light shaded to shaded.

it can be grown in a good regular potting mix. this has to be kept evenly moist but not wet, sitting in water can cause rotten roots. a slightly drying of the soil’s surface between watering will be tolerated, but it shouldn’t dry completely.

anthurium andraeanum welcomes a high humidity. it can be increased by spraying it over with water every day or placing the pot on a large plant saucer, filled with water. to assure that the pot do not contact the water put it in a smaller plant saucer.

it can be fed with a water soluble fertilizer at half strength. monthly in spring and summer and every six to eight weeks in fall and winter.

the flamingo flower likes it warm throughout the year with a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

propagation

the flamingo flower can be propagated with cuttings or by division.

aspidistra – cast iron plant

the genus aspidistra belongs to the ruscaceae family and contains approx. 80 members, all native to east asia. they are commonly known as cast iron plants. there are also some cultivars, with white/creamish stripped or dotted leaves available. find more info about these plants here: aspidistra care.

aspidistra elatior

asplenium nidus – bird’s nest fern

the genus asplenium contains about 700 species and some of them are called bird’s nest fern. the most famous species asplenium nidus is a very popular houseplant. it can produce leaves up to 1 m in length.

care

the bird’s nest fern can be placed from bright to full shade, without direct sunlight. but it’s doing best in bright to light shade.

asplenium nidus can be planted in a good regular potting soil or a mix between humus, gritty and some sand (3:1:1).

keep the soil evenly moist but not wet, sitting in water can cause root rot. also avoid a complete dry out.

a half concentrated water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly.

the bird’s nest fern likes it warm throughout the year with a winter minimum of 15 °c (59 °f). it loves to be sprayed over with water regularly. to keep its leaves free from dust, a weekly shower can be given.

chamaedorea elegans – neanthe bella palm, parlour palm

chamaedorea elegans, better known als neanthe bella palm, parlour palm and sometimes good luck palm is a very popular houseplant because it’s easy to grow. it is native to the latin american rain forests and can get two to three meters tall.

care

the neanthe bella palm likes a bright to half shady place without sun. the sun will bleach its leaves. it needs room temperature throughout the year and a winter minium of 15 °c (59 °f).

chamaedorea elegans can be plantet in a regular potting mix. keep the soil constantly moist but not wet, “wet legs” over a long time can cause root rot.

if placed at room temperatur water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly (spring, summer) and every six to eight weeks during fall and winter. in half of by the manufacturer indicated concentration.

the neanthe bella palm likes it when it’s sprayed from time to time. this also keeps the leaves free of dust.

propagation

chamaedorea elegans can be propagated by seeds.

Euphorbia “Diamond Frost”

Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ is a cultivar based on Euphorbia hypericifolia. This easy-to-care-for houseplant is becoming increasingly popular. Here in Germany, it is sold as a balcony plant.

How to care for Euphorbia “Diamond Frost”

Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ is suitable for sunny, bright, lightly shaded, or shaded locations. If placed in a sunny to lightly shaded spot, it can be a non-stop bloomer, while in a shaded place, it produces fewer flowers.

You can use regular potting soil or a mix of humus and a bit of sand (3:1). Keep the soil moist but not wet, and allow it to dry at the soil’s surface between waterings.

In spring and summer, you can give it a half-diluted water-soluble fertilizer monthly. If it’s placed at room temperature during fall/winter, fertilize every six to eight weeks. If it’s in a colder winter location, there’s no need to feed.

Euphorbia “Diamond Frost” can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year but can be wintered at +/-10°C/50°F, requiring less watering during this time.

Propagation

Euphorbia “Diamond Frost” can be propagated by cuttings.

fittonia verschaffeltii – mosaic plant, nerve plant

fittonias are commonly known as mosaic plant or nerve plant. there is a wide range of cultivars with a colorful fooliage available. fittonia verschaffeltii is native to peru.

care

fittonia verschaffeltii grows best if located bright and protected from direct sun. but it’s also suitable for light shaded to shaded positions.

it can be planted in a regular potting mix. keep it evenly moist but not wet, sitting in water can cause rot. the drying of the soil’s surface will be tolerated, but it shouldn’t dry completely.

a water soluble fertilizer at half strength can be given monthly from spring to fall and every six to eight weeks at winter time. recently bought or repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first six to eight weeks.

the mosaic plant can be grown at room temperature the year round and needs a winter minimum of 15 °c/59 °f.

a high humidity is welcome. to promote denser foliage and shape plants the ends of growing stems can be pinched off.

propagation

fittonia verschaffeltii can easily be propagated with cuttings.

pellaea rotundifolia – button fern

the button fern (pellaea rotundifolia) is native to the temperate forests of new zealand. it’s also known under the common name roundleaf fern.

care

pellaea rotundifolia likes a bright place with a bit morning and/or eving sun but is also doing good if located light shaded.

a regular potting mix can be used. this has to be kept evenly moist but not wet. avoid overwatering such as completely drying out.

a water soluble fertilizer diluted by half can be given monthly during spring/summer and every six to eight weeks in fall/winter. if placed colder at this time there is no need to feed.

the button fern shouldn’t be placed to warm (+/-24 °c/75 °f) during summer but can be wintered at 10-15 °c (50-59 °f). it likes to be sprayed over with water regularly.

propagation

the button fern can be propagated by dividing its rhizom.

spathiphyllum wallisii – peace lily, white sails

the peace lily (spathiphyllum wallisii), sometimes called white sails, is a easy to grow and nearly “unkaputtbar” (undestroyable) indoor houseplant like we say here in germany. there are cultivars available with variegated leaves.

care

in it’s natural habitat the peace lily is growing under trees. so it’s liked to be placed bright to shady, without direct sunlight. sun can bleach the leaves and turn them brown.

spraying with water from time to time makes the peace lily happy and keeps the leaves free of dust. after the flowers have died out, they can be taken away. the peace lily starts blooming again in approx. four to twelfe months.

the soil, a standart potting mix can be used, should kept constantly moist but neither wet nor dry.

at room temperatur a water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly during spring and summer, and every six to eight weeks in fall and winter. in half of by the manufacturer indicated concentration.

the peace lily likes room temperatur througout the year but is tolerating a short time of approx. 10 °c (50 °f) in winter time.

propagation

spathiphyllum wallisii can be propagated by division. new crowns, formed at the plants side can be cutted and re-potted.

stromanthe sanguinea – stromanthe

the genus stromanthe belongs to the marantaceae family and contains about 13 members which are originally located in south and middle america. from stromanthe sanguinea are some cultivars available, very popular is “triostar”.

like the other members of the marantaceae family, stromanthe sanguinea is folding up the leaves in the night. if they are staying during the day this can indicate that it’s placed too to sunny or needs some watering.

care

stromanthe sanguinea can be placed from bright to half shady without direct sunlight. some morning and/or evening sun will be tolerated. if the colored cultivars are placed to dark they probably will show more greenish leaves.

a good regular potting mix can be used. keep it constantly moist but avoid overwatering such as drying out. wet legs can cause root rot.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks during fall/winter. there is no need to feed for the first six to eight weeks if you have recently re-potted.

the stromanthe likes it warm and should not be placed under 15 °c (59 °f) for a longer time. spraying it over with water can increase humidity and keeps its leaves free from dust.

stromanthe sanguinea “horticolor”

propagation

propagation can be done by division, for example when the stromanthe needs to be re-potted.

syngonium podophyllum – arrowhead vine, goosefoot plant

syngonium podophyllum is known as arrowhead vine, arrowhead plant or sometimes goosefoot plant. the popular houseplant is native to central and south america. there are some variegated cultivars available.

care

the arrowhead vine does best on a bright but not sunny place. it will tolerate some shade but then grows a bit slower. if placed to dark it produces smaller leaves.

it can be potted in a good regular mix. keep it constantly moist but not wet and avoid overwatering such as a complete dry out.

a half diluted water soluble fertilizer can be given monthly in spring/summer and every six to eight weeks during fall/winter. if recently re-potted or bought there is no need to feed it for the first eight weeks.

the arrowhead vine can be cultivated at room temperature throughout the year with a minum of 15 °c (59 °f) during winter time.

propagation

the arrowhead vine can easily propagated by cuttings.