Check out all our blog posts on Indoor gardening.
Most of the time, a red air plant is a healthy one. An air plant turning red is usually blushing before it blooms, or it’s reacting to strong, bright light, and neither one means the plant is sick. Many Tillandsia species shift from silvery green to red, pink, or orange right before they flower. The … Read more >>
If you or someone in your home has allergies, the worst indoor plants for allergies are the ones that shed pollen, release spores, or carry allergens in their sap. The plants I’d skip first are weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), chrysanthemums, African violets, ferns, and strongly scented bloomers like jasmine and hyacinth, because each one puts … Read more >>
A dracaena that looks like it’s dying can often be saved, because these plants store a lot of energy in their thick canes. As long as part of the cane is firm and some roots are white or tan, the plant can push out new leaves once you fix the cause. To save a dying … Read more >>
A Boston fern is one of the easiest houseplants to keep in a home with pets. The ASPCA lists the Boston fern as non-toxic to both cats and dogs, so a nibbled frond won’t poison your pet. That’s good news if you’ve just found a shredded frond on the floor. Boston ferns are safe for … Read more >>
My top pick for most bedrooms is the snake plant, because it handles low light, dry winter air, and weeks without water better than almost any other common houseplant. If your room is darker still, a ZZ plant is the next safest bet, and a spider plant or parlor palm is the better choice if … Read more >>
The most reliable way to get rid of ferns in a garden bed is to dig out the crowns and the creeping roots, then keep cutting or pulling every new frond until the plant runs out of stored energy. Small clumps often clear in a single season. Large, spreading patches take repeated work over two … Read more >>
Lemongrass that shows purple or red is usually reacting to its surroundings. Most of the time the cause is cool nights, a reddish stalk base that’s normal for the plant, or stress from sun, dry soil, or hungry roots. In most cases, lemongrass turning purple is a harmless response to cool weather or mild stress, … Read more >>
For most homes, I’d pick a ZZ plant if your room is dim and you want a full, leafy shape, and a snake plant if you need height in a narrow spot or have a brighter window. Both handle dry indoor air and missed waterings. The ZZ plant copes better with low light, while the … Read more >>
The most reliable indoor plants that don’t need sun are the ZZ plant, snake plant, cast iron plant, and parlor palm, because each one keeps healthy leaves on the weak light of a north window or a spot deep in a room. Pothos, heartleaf philodendron, Chinese evergreen, peace lily, and Dracaena ‘Janet Craig’ round out … Read more >>
Yes, you can put your ZZ plant outside for the summer, and it often grows faster out there than it does on a shelf indoors. You can move a ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) outdoors once nights stay above 55°F, as long as it sits in shade or filtered light and comes back inside before nights … Read more >>