The Seedy gardner: Five House Plants You Should Have

By David Emerson

— It's difficult to imagine a home without at least one house plant, especially here where the winters are longer than a visit from Leona Hemsley. If you have a green thumb, you can skip this section. If you think you have a brown thumb, we need to talk. Itís actually not the thumb that counts. Itís the index finger. Most plants are killed by over watering or under watering. The best tool you can possess is your finger. Thrust it about an inch into the soil. If the soil is moist, go have a cup of coffee and relax. If the soil is dry, water the plant. Problem solved. If the soil is too hard packed to get your finger in, you need to repot the plant into a soilless mix. ProMix is a dandy product.
Do a bit of research. There are dozens of fine books available and hundreds of online sites that will give you the basic care requirements of any plant. Think about where the plant came from. A desert succulent isn't going to be happy in a dark corner sitting in a saucer of water. This isn't rocket science; you can handle this one.
Here's the real secret. When your plant gets old and ratty, toss it out and get a new one. I know it's an alien concept, but trust me on this one. Often, you can take cuttings and start a new plant at no cost. Remember that philodendron that you inherited from your grandmother, the one that's 28 feet long with 12 leaves? Newsflash! It's never going to look any better than it does now. If it has a sentimental value, cut it into pieces and root them.
Now for the list of plants that should be in every home:
Spathiphyllum, AKA peace lily — this laid-back, lily impersonator is incredibly easy to get along with. It's tolerant of low light conditions and haphazard care. There are varieties ranging from corner-filling giants to diminutive windowsill models. Keep your peace lily constantly moist. A pitcher of water will bring back a wilted spathiphyllum, but just when you thought you got away with it, a number of leaves will turn yellow. Avoid the problem by not letting it get too dry.

Clorophytum elatum, the spider plant, airplane plant — I know they're as common as dirt, but they're showy, easy to grow, easy to propagate and the remove indoor pollutants from the air. Tainted water or over fertilization may cause the tips to brown. The damage can be trimmed off with scissors. The solid green variety is very robust and a bit more compact than its variegated cousin. Spiders love to summer outside in a spot with dappled shade. You can plant the "babies" in a shady flower bed for annual appeal.
Pothos aureus, devilís ivy — taxonomists have changed the Latin name to Epipremnum aureum. Taxonomists have too much time on their hands. Bright indirect light will keep the plant compact and the variegation vivid. Yellowing leaves are usually caused by too much water.
Rosmarinus officinalis, rosemary — This Mediterranean treasure rewards you with fragrance every time you brush against it and provides a ready, endless supply of fresh flavor. Put it out in the summer and keep it in a sunny window all winter. Rosemary, which lives about four years and can be propagated from cuttings, can be trimmed into standards and topiaries.
Plectranthus australis, Swedish Ivy — This Australian native should be occasionally restarted from cuttings. Fortunately, it's wicked easy to root. Snap of the end of a branch and stick it into soil. Roots will form quickly. Bright indirect light and restrained fertilization will keep it compact. Pinching the tips will create a fuller plant.
May your lawn be resting comfortably beneath the drifts and may your crocus be spring-loaded and ready to go.

From Mount Washinton Valley