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copyright ©1999-2005 |
seeing
green
houseplants
for black thumbs by Yee-Fan Sun | 1 2 3 continued from page 2 foolproof foliage, continued For bright rooms… Cacti: Cacti tend to be slow-growing, which is why a nice big one will generally set you back quite a few clams. But you can get little cacti in an array of fun shapes at a very reasonable price; choose a few and group them together for a miniature cactus garden. As long as you give them plenty of sunshine, most cactus are a cinch to care for. And if you think they're ugly, think again. Cactus flowers are among the showiest on earth. Aloe: These succulents generally have firm, fleshy leaves; the kind you're probably most familiar with is aloe vera, an attractive plant which has the added bonus of having skin-soothing properties (handy when you burn yourself in the kitchen, or spend too much time in the sun). Whatever plant you choose to bring into your space, don't leave it in that bashed black plastic pot that it probably came in when you bought it. You don't necessarily have to re-pot your plant -- that can be a hassle, and besides, you risk disturbing the roots when you re-pot too frequently -- just find a container that's slightly larger than your original and you can plop the potted plant right in. If the decorative container is too high, spread some small rocks along the bottom to provide the plant a little pedestal that'll raise it up (actually, this isn't a bad idea even if your container's basically the right height - the rocks will create an extra layer for drainage). Basic red terra cotta pots are perfectly nice in and of themselves of course, but you can always paint pots to match your décor. Or try a galvanized metal water pail, a ceramic pitcher, those bowls you made from your old records, whatever. Get creative. And enjoy your new green housemates. o flower power: flower arranging | green scene: indoor herb gardening
---------------------------> lounge . nourish . host . laze . home.
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