Herself's Houseplants

I found this Anthurium planted in volcanic rock at Smith and Hawkins last evening. I couldn’t resist it.

I have it sitting in a copper pan of water. The Anthurium plant is an epiphyte from Ecuador and Columbia.

Anthurium plants want filtered bright light. So put Anthuriums on a desk or counter where the house lights are on most of the time or in a not too bright window. If you are not getting new flowers give the plant more light or more humidity. They will not flower if the air is too dry or too cold. If the flowers have too much green or you don’t have flowers in them give the Anthurium more light.

It is a tropical plant and will not tolerate cool temperatures. Keep it between 70′F to 90′F if you can. It will tolerate occasional temperatures into the low 40’s. But only occasionally and only if the plant is healthy to start.

It will do much better growing in soil than it will on the volcanic rock. Consider transplanting it to soil if it doesn’t do well for you on the rock. Because it is very root bound when planted in volcanic rock, you’ll have to water it daily. It prefers to grow in a soil high in peat moss.

If you transplant it keep it slightly root bound. Water often but do not leave the roots sitting in water.

As with most tropical plants it is important to keep it humid. Keep it in a bathroom or kitchen if your home is dry.

See also:
Exotic plants to dazzle your friends

Useful things:
Bonsai Boy’s Red Anthurium In Hawaiian Lava Rock (“small talk”) Bonsai Tree – Medium
(anthurium andraeanum)

Urn Vine aka Dischidia are epiphyte vines which live on trees in Southeast Asia. Many of them have a symbiotic relationship with ants. Some of the leaves form homes for the ants. You can see a large bubble like leaf in the photo. Roots form inside these areas and feed on the ant waste.

They can grow to be 16′ long. They usually grow on some other plant such as a tree.

They prefer bright indirect light, but will grow in low light.

Wrap the roots in sphagnum moss and mount as you might an air plant or orchid. Water them when the moss gets dry to the touch on the top.

See also:
Use sphagnum moss to make your plants easier to care for

Ming Aralias

Ming Aralias is a very delicate, oriental looking plant. It can grow to four or five feet or it can be trimmed and kept small like a bonsai.

They want bright light and high humidity. I’ve had them grow just fine in low light and drier conditions, but you ‘ll get faster, healthier growth if you have it near an east or north window.

These can be grown in bogs, so it is OK to sit the pot in a dish of water ( ~1″-2″ deep ) as you would for a bog plant. The problem with sitting a house plant in water is bacteria. If you have your plant in water it is imperative you keep the water fresh. Do not let this plant dry out.

I find they grow slowly at first and pick up speed once they get comfortable in your home. This is a very low maintenance plant.

See also:
Choosing plants for decoration

More Information:
Polyscias – Ming Aralias

Jasmine needs to be in a south facing window where it will get lots of sun. If you live in a place where winter strikes you’ll find it is difficult to get this plant all the light it desires in the winter. It is happiest in a sunny, drafty window.

The flowers are heavily scented and there are almost always a couple in bloom. What is nice is that they don’t fill the house with the scent you must be up close to the flower to catch a whiff of the scent. Flowers are usually white, occasionally yellow.

Keep the soil moist watering this plant does not like to be dry.

More information:
Thanks for the photo, also there is more information on Arabian Jasmine here
Simple regimen keeps jasmine thriving