Ten Easy Houseplants for Problem Places

Some houseplants have specific needs that require constant care and attention. But thankfully, there are some other plants that have a wider range of adaptability, and can survive where many others may not.

Cast Iron plant (Aspidistra) gets its name from its ability to withstand hardships. It is tolerant of poor light, high temperatures, low humidity and improper watering. It has dark green vertical leaves up to two feet in length.

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) has waxy leaves of either solid green or with variegation. It grows a foot or more tall, but may lose lower leaves and eventually become leggy. The top can be cut off and easily rooted in clean, moist sand. It is tolerant of poor light and overwatering.

Snake plant (Mother-in-law’s tongue) has long stiff, upright spear-like leaves. The dwarf bird’s nest form is also very durable. Snake plant grows best in good light, but endures poor light.

Heartleaf philodendron, along with other philodendrons, is well adapted to home conditions.

Devil’s Ivy (Pothos) looks similar to heartleaf philodendron. Leaves usually contain yellow or cream-colored variegation. It also tolerates fairly poor light and erratic water. In conditions with good light and higher humidity, leaves develop larger and become more colorful.

Corn plant is one of several dracaenas that make good houseplants. The leaves project from the main stem in all directions, and are shaped similarly to the leaf of corn. Leaves may also be banded, striped or margined with yellow or cream. In poor conditions lower leaves may gradually drop off, but the bare stem is still attractive, giving taller plants a tree-like effect.

Spider plant (Airplane plant) is excellent as a hanging plant. It has long drooping leaves with white stripes. Small plants are produced on stems after flowering. This occurs after plants are potbound. Runner plants may be left on the old plant, or removed to start new ones. Leaf tips brown under low humidity or other poor growing conditions.

Ponytail palm (Elephant foot) stores water in the base of its swollen stem so it works well for people who forget to water. Although it is fairly tolerant of low light, it is a plant that needs bright light to grow and develop well. It has a tuft of long, thin leaves on top of a central stem that swells greatly near the soil line.

Inch plant (Wandering Jew) refers to several different vining plants with small leaves that are most used in hanging containers. Although they are durable, vines become stringy and occasionally must be renewed by starting new plants from cuttings that root easily.

Burn plant (Aloe Vera) is a plant that has gained popularity because of its apparent ability to ease damage to the skin. It is easy to grow, but needs good light. It is a durable novelty.

Dealing Safely With Leftover Garden Pesticides

Labels on most household chemical products contain important information on the use and storage of that specific product. Unfortunately, the storage and disposal information is found toward the end of the pesticide label and most homeowners admit to not reading that information.

Contact the Household Chemical Collection Center or other various waste districts for further directions or for safe disposal options.

Proper storage of pesticides requires owners to pay attention to the label. First, read the label to determine if there are temperature or light requirements that impact the storage of the product. Generally, powders and granules are not affected by low temperatures, but moisture can wreak havoc on these materials. Even with proper storage, the shelf life of a pesticide can be affected. There may be a variation from two-plus years or more.

For more information, contact the nearest University of Missouri Extension Center and request the following guide sheets: IPM1013, "Pesticide Storage," WM6000, "Safe Use, Storage and Disposal of Pesticides," and IPM1012, "Temperature Effects on Storage of Greenhouse, Ornamental and Turf Pesticides." These same publications can also be found and downloaded from extension.missouri.edu.

Calendar a Poor Guide for Mulching Plants

People who follow the calendar as a guide to mulching perennial plants might be making a big mistake.
Fall Missouri temperatures have remained well above average, delaying the natural dormancy process of most plants.
The purpose of mulching plants is to stabilize temperatures and to prevent rapid change around the root systems of most plants.
Plants mulched prior to soil cool-down and dormancy actually experience a delay in dormancy, which sets plants up for a rude shock when air temperatures rapidly decline.
A rule to remember is to delay mulching until night temperatures hit the low- to mid-20s Fahrenheit for a few days to cool the soil temperatures. Mulches can then be applied to stabilize soil temperatures and reduce soil-temperature fluctuations.
Any material that reduces the variation of soil temperatures around plants can be used as mulch. This is important in areas where there's change in temperatures from week to week. Some of the best choices are hardwood bark mulches or sawdust since they are readily available.
Straw works very well for strawberries and many other common perennial plants.

Don't Forget Plants When Making Vacation Plans

Amid the excitement of planning for and taking a summer vacation, many people neglect to have someone look after their indoor and outdoor plants during their absence.
If you are going to be away from home for more than a week, you may return to find substantial damage has occurred to plants left unattended. The ideal solution is to ask a friend who is knowledgeable about plants to check on your plants regularly and water them when necessary.
Before you leave, move indoor plants away from sunny, bright windows, so they will use water less rapidly.
This doesn't mean putting them in a dark room. They still need bright, indirect light to stay healthy while you're gone. Right before leaving on your trip, thoroughly water all of your indoor plants. Even allow some water to stand in the saucers beneath the plants' containers, something you normally would not do.
However, plants in containers outside need to be watered almost every day.
Place all of your outdoor container plants, including any hanging baskets, in a shady location near the northern side of a building or under the protective cover of a large shade tree or covered patio. Group plants fairly close together since this, along with the shady location, will help slow water loss.
If a person can't find someone to water for them, inexpensive water timers, used in conjunction with sprinklers, can work well, especially if the plants are together in a water grouping.

To Water of Not to Water Your Indoor Plants

In winter, when indoor heating and the generally dry air help create shriveled potted plants aplenty, home gardeners need to watch the moisture of the soil carefully to keep plants healthy.

Overwatering, as well as underwatering, could kill your plants, Going on a fixed "every Thursday" schedule isn't a good solution because watering when a plant doesn't need it could drown the plant.

To monitor the situation of your indoor plants, get a moisture meter, stick the meter deep into the soil where the plant's roots are, and let the readout tell you if your plant is thirsty or not.