CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Evade the Drafts

CasaSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:15:29 -0700

Houseplants tend to be comfortable with the same temperatures their owners prefer. They can handle the daytime heat, the nighttime chill, and, of course, room temperature. But just as you shrug your shoulders when brushed with a burst of chilly wind, houseplants can be decimated by a cold draft. So, you shouldn't keep yours near a drafty window, a door that is constantly opening and closing, or a window or wall that's poorly insulated. If need be you can make a draft blocker for your window or learn to fix a leaky door. Just remember to put yourself in your indoor plant's shoes.
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Cool Idea: I.V. Self-Watering Plant Pot

CasaSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:00:47 -0700

I once showed you how to make a self-watering planter from a recycled soda bottle, and while the DIY was pretty easy and inventive, I will admit it wasn't the most handsome pot I've ever seen. I'm not someone who thinks we should need to make sacrifices when it comes to good design, so I kept my eyes peeled and was silently hoping for a sexier alternative. Then came the Vitamin I.V. Self-Watering Planter ($375), an ingenious pot that comes with a refillable I.V. bag that regulates the flow of water to your plant with its drip feed. The lightweight fiberglass pot has a sleek, modern conical shape that's a far cry from the do-it-yourself look of that surgeried soda bottle. Unfortunately, I.V. is quite large (as is its price) at 12.5 x 21.25 inches, and is really meant to hold a tree, so now I'm not-so-silently hoping Vitamin will release a mini version for more petite plants.

Plants That Purify: Bamboo Palm

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:14:29 -0800

We all could benefit from a cheap and beautiful way to improve a home's indoor air quality. That's why I'm bringing you an ongoing series on house plants that are particularly good at purifying the air.

Next up in our series is the bamboo palm.

To find out more about this hardy house plant, just read more.

Bamboo palm, which is also known as reed palm, is a low-maintenance houseplant that prefers rainwater or distilled water to tap water. This plant is susceptible to spider mites and mealy bugs, so be careful to avoid insect infestations. Place your bamboo palm in indirect sunlight and allow the plant to stay moist, but not wet. If any water accumulates in the bottom of the planter, dump it out, as bamboo plants hate to sit in water.

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Plants That Purify: English Ivy

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:00:03 -0800

We all could benefit from a cheap and beautiful way to improve a home's indoor air quality. That's why I'm bringing you an ongoing series on houseplants that are particularly good at purifying air.

Next up in our series is English ivy.

To find out more about this hardy houseplant, just read more

English ivy can be found in close to a hundred varieties and has been known to also help remove benzene from the air. It is considered an invasive plant outdoors, since it spreads so quickly and can smother wildflowers and other native plants. However, it's a great plant if kept indoors.

To control growth, pinch leaves off of your English ivy plant. Also, make sure that your plant has sufficient humidity. Keep it away from heat registers or changes in temperature, and if your house is dry, it might help if you keep your ivy plant on a tray of pebbles that can have water added to it daily. Ivy likes indirect light, and its flexible stems allow it to be trained in predetermined shapes. In the home, plant diseases are very rarely a problem.

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Plants That Purify: Dracaena

CasaSugar — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:15:47 -0800

Next up in our series is the dracaena.

To find out more about this hardy house plant, just read more

There are many varieties of dracaena. The one shown in the photo is a Dracaena marginata, or Madagascar Dragon Tree. Dracaenas are known for being rugged, carefree houseplants. They have a tropical appearance that is attractive in many different decorating styles. Many tolerate low light conditions, though they grow best in bright, indirect light. Let soil dry slightly between waterings, and avoid watering with cold water.

Warning: Dracaena can be poisonous to your pets and children!

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Plants That Purify: Ficus

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:11:21 -0800

Next up in our series is the ficus.

Ficus benjamina, or the weeping fig, is one of the most popular trees that are grown indoors. Bright green leaves grow abundantly on the ficus, but leaf loss is common, especially when their environment is changed, or when there is a drop in temperature. Place ficus trees by a bright window, wipe off their leaves when they get dusty, and water them regularly (but do not overwater), and they'll be happy trees indeed.

Warning: plant sap from a ficus tree may cause dermatitis or allergic reactions.

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Plants That Purify: Chrysanthemum

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:59:46 -0800

Next up in our series is the chrysanthemum.

Chrysanthemums are a beautiful, autumn flower, and if you decide to use garland chrysanthemums as a Thanksgiving centerpiece, they can do double duty in a salad, since the flowers are edible!

Although chrysanthemums are usually associated with outside fall flower beds, they also grow well in pots indoors. Chrysanthemums come in a wide variety of colors and prefer full sun, except when in bloom. Keep the soil from becoming compacted, and only water when the soil has dried out. Chrysanthemums flower as a response to short days and long nights, and while old plants are usually not rebloomed, you can grow new plants from cuttings. To force chrysanthemums to bloom, provide them with 14 hours of darkness for 10–12 weeks.

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Plants That Purify: Chinese Evergreen

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:00:50 -0800

Next up in our series is the Chinese evergreen.

Calling all black thumb gardeners! To find out about this black thumb-resistant plant, just read more

This tropical foliage plant is one of the most durable houseplants. It will forgive you if you put it in a poorly lit corner, blast the air conditioning, subject it to dry air, and even forget to water it for a few weeks.

Keep your Chinese evergreen out of direct sun and grow them in a standard soil mix with extra humus. If you can remember, try to keep the soil moist. Varieties include Emerald Beauty, which is rich green with pale green markings; Parrot Jungle, which has silvery markings on dark green leaves; Queen Julienne, which has silvery feathering on dark green foliage; Silver King, which is heavily silvered and grows 24 inches tall; and White Rajah, which has bold white markings. Warning: This plant is toxic, so keep it away from kids and pets!

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Plants That Purify: Peace Lily

CasaSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:00:56 -0800

Next up in our series is the peace lily.

Peace lily, which is also known as the friendship plant, produces an abundance of long, dark leaves and, if it receives proper amounts of sunlight, fertilizer, and water, the lily will produce a beautiful bloom that looks like a small ear of corn covered by a white hood. Most peace lilies grow between 1- to 4-ft. tall and wide.

The peace lily will tolerate low, interior light but thrives in bright, filtered light. But like fair-skinned folks, the peace lily will sunburn if placed in bright light. This plant prefers well-drained soil and minimal fertilizer. Wipe the leaves with a damp, soft cloth to remove dust. If your plant isn't flowering, try placing it in brighter - but not direct - light to encourage floral growth. If the edges of the leaves turn brown, you can reverse the problem by either watering more regularly or reducing fertilization.

Make sure to check out Sgdish's beautiful peace lily that she posted in Su Casa.

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Plants That Purify: Mother-in-Law's Tongue

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:04:32 -0800

Next up in our series is mother-in-law's tongue.

Mother-in-law's tongue, or snake plant, produces long narrow leaves, that can grow up to five feet tall. While the name itself is obviously meant to disparage mother-in-laws, I think that the gorgeousness of this hearty, easy-to-care-for plant reverses that ill intent. This plant requires little care and is drought tolerant. Warning: All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.

Mother-in-law's tongue is ideal for anyone with a black thumb, as they will thrive under almost any conditions. Just don't leave them in a snowbank. Anything short of that extreme bad care and these plants will do right by the blackened of thumb gardener. Oddly, while most plants hate to be root bound, the mother-in-law's tongue will most likely flower if its roots are cramped in the container. Plants which are not root bound seldom blossom.

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