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Three house plants to try growing this summer
Now is the perfect time to consider adding more house plants to your collection or starting your collection for the first time.
Watering indoor plants with a water can. Picture: iStock
House plants are one of the most underrated elements of home decor. Perhaps because of how daunting most people find it to bear the responsibility of keeping a plant alive. Keeping plants around has not only been found to have health benefits but it has also been proven to have a good impact on mental health as well.
Now is the perfect time to consider adding more house plants to your collection or starting your collection for the first time.
Here are some house plants to consider keeping this summer:
1. Ficus
A ficus is a tree, shrub, or climber of a large genus that includes the figs and the rubber plant, growing in tropical and warm climates.
According to the Gardening Know How website, ficus trees can maintain their tree-like shape regardless of their size, so this makes them ideal for bonsais or for massive houseplants in large spaces.
They also make great indoor plants as they prefer bright indirect or filtered light. Bright, direct light from being outside may scald the leaves and cause leaf loss.
The website also advises keeping the plant out of cold weather or cold areas. These house plants need to be kept in temperatures between 16ºC and 24ºC.
To care for this type of plant, mist the leaves regularly and avoid getting its roots overly wet. The best way to tell when to add water is to look at the ficus‘ soil. If the soil is wet, the plant is sufficiently hydrated and does not need additional water at that moment.
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2. Monster plants
Also called the swiss cheese plant, the monstera deliciosa is a species of flowering plant native to tropical forests of southern Mexico, south to Panama.
According to Plantify, this house plant can grow up to 3 meters tall, “whilst their dramatic, perforated leaves can grow to 30cm long or more. It’s thus best to give them a bit of elbow room especially as they get larger.”
When it comes to light, these plants need bright light, with no harsh sun but they can handle some gentle sun.
Plantify advises watering the monstera deliciosa thoroughly and allowing the top part of the soil to dry out between waterings.
“Keep the soil barely moist in winter. Yellowing lower leaves are usually a sign of overwatering. Provide good drainage [to remedy this].”
3. Spider plants
Also known as ‘spider ivy,’ ‘ribbon plant’ or ‘hen and chickens’, the chlorophytum comosum is a species of evergreen perennial flowering plant.
It is native to tropical and southern Africa but has become naturalised in other parts of the world.
When it comes to caring for a spider plant, Almanac advises keeping the following in mind:
- Growinh the plant in a soil-based, well-draining potting mix
- Maintaining even moisture as these plants don’t like to be too dry or too wet
- Keeping the plant in bright to moderate indirect sunlight
- The plant may need repotting every second year
- Fertilize this plant up to twice a month in the spring and summer
- Maintain average room temperature (13 – 27°C) and humidity.
“Spider plants can be grown outdoors as annuals during the summer. They look especially good along the edge of a container or bed, as long as they are kept out of direct sunlight.”
