Houseplants that I can't kill

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Houseplants that I can't kill

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#306882 30-Aug-2023 21:22

My mother and mother-in-law were/are green-fingered. Despite that, my wife and I have an uncanny ability to kill plants of any type but recently I read about the health benefits (imagined or real who knows!) of having some pot plants in rooms around the house.

I am looking for attractive and incredibly (and I mean damn near impossible) hard-to-kill/low-maintenance.

Edit: No Cactus, or anything that could harm our cats (or kids).

TIA

1 | 2 | 3

545 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 490

#3122013 30-Aug-2023 21:34

I think i found what you are looking for should be easy enough to get locally, link below.

https://tinyurl.com/ycymh4es

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3122015 30-Aug-2023 21:38

Qazzy03:

I think i found what you are looking for should be easy enough to get locally, link below.

https://tinyurl.com/ycymh4es

Heh, I knew that was coming. Did you miss the part about unkillable? I think you underestimate just HOW bad we are with plants.

jarledb

Webhead
3319 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1983

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3122016 30-Aug-2023 21:40

If you kill off artificial plants then more power to you! ;)

Jarle Dahl Bergersen | Referral Links: Want $50 off when you join Octopus Energy? Use this referral code
Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by making a donation or subscribing.

k1w1k1d

1711 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1305

#3122018 30-Aug-2023 21:56

Dandelion.

Gurezaemon

~HONYAKKER!~
1417 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1565

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3122021 30-Aug-2023 22:17

Triffids. Then you'll only have to worry about them killing you.

Get your business seen overseas - Nexus Translations

k1w1k1d

1711 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1305

#3122022 30-Aug-2023 22:21

On a serious note, my wife suggests non prickly succulents.

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

eonsim

403 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 192

Trusted

#3122039 31-Aug-2023 00:02

Spider plants, can survive nearly anything. If the leaves look yellowish add water, if not leave them. They can happily survive a teenage boy who remembered to water them only when they were yellow, if they have a big enough pot that may be once a month.

michaelmurfy

meow
13579 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10910

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3122043 31-Aug-2023 00:07

So there are a fair few nice looking plants that are toxic to Cats - here is a somewhat useful list: https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/pet-insurance/the-good-life/toxic-safe-houseplants-pets

The Wife and I who are both terrible with looking after plants opted for artificial plants along with open windows after killing many.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#3122044 31-Aug-2023 01:03

The reason why many people kill house plants is because they over water them and the roots rot. They may already be damaged when you buy them from a garden centre as they can also overwater them. Lack of light is also an issue. Yuccas are pretty hardly and can survive a long time without water and I have one I got 20 years ago and keep chopping it up can creating new plants. The health benefits are mainly due to ambience. They are said to 'clean the air' and although they do produce oxygen, you would need a lot of plants to make much difference IMO to air quality.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3122135 31-Aug-2023 10:42

k1w1k1d:
On a serious note, my wife suggests non prickly succulents.

Yeah, they're pretty much indestructible. Mother-in-Law Tongues in particular.

It really depends on what you want them for, it's like food, the healthier it is the more bland it tastes until you get to stuff like celery which isn't a food at all but a member of the plywood family. With house plants, the more boring they look the harder they are to kill. If you want them for visual appeal then unfortunately decent fakes may be your best bet.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3122138 31-Aug-2023 10:45

mattwnz:
They are said to 'clean the air' and although they do produce oxygen, you would need a lot of plants to make much difference IMO to air quality.

The "study" that was based on was bogus, you'd need a small deciduous forest in your house to have any real effect, although the sound bite form of it keeps getting cited over and over. So they're for visual appeal only.

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3122140 31-Aug-2023 10:46

michaelmurfy:
So there are a fair few nice looking plants that are toxic to Cats - here is a somewhat useful list: https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/pet-insurance/the-good-life/toxic-safe-houseplants-pets. The Wife and I who are both terrible with looking after plants opted for artificial plants along with open windows after killing many.

Cats?

gehenna

8667 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3883

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3122149 31-Aug-2023 10:51

There are sensors that you can get to monitor water etc, as geeks we should be all over those :)

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3122161 31-Aug-2023 11:04

mattwnz:

The reason why many people kill house plants is because they over water them and the roots rot. They may already be damaged when you buy them from a garden centre as they can also overwater them. Lack of light is also an issue. Yuccas are pretty hardly and can survive a long time without water and I have one I got 20 years ago and keep chopping it up can creating new plants. The health benefits are mainly due to ambience. They are said to 'clean the air' and although they do produce oxygen, you would need a lot of plants to make much difference IMO to air quality.

100%. Best to water from the tray the pot sits in, so it can wick up. Dont be over zealous with water as the simple fix it, for the exact reasons you stated.

Now, if the soil mix was clearly dry, I would pop the pot in the kitchen sink and fill the sink with water so the pot is saturated, soil moisture sorted, allow the pot to drain the saturation away in the sink then put back on the tray. A little water in the tray once a week if needed. Diffuse light not direct (but Google the plant to check that as that can vary)

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#3122175 31-Aug-2023 11:57

Cyclamen

Tradescantia Zebrina

Spider plants

Mother in law tongue

Peace lily

Ficus

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

1 | 2 | 3