Any Geekzone houseplant enthusiasts?

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tehgerbil

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#284234 9-Apr-2021 08:18

I got a Monstera for Christmas and my collection has rapidly grown from there, mainly thanks to the generosity of leafy-fingered friends. I've got a few Monkey mask varieties, Syngoniums and other plants.

First year, can't wait until they've grown up next year so I can give away cuttings to friends too to share the love.

This is the monstera now, her first fenestration!

What do you guys and girls have plant wise?
What are your favourites?

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#2689711 9-Apr-2021 08:42

I used to, and I'm keen, but I think I never mastered watering, over watered I'd say. How do you manage watering? Also, do you need to dose them with Sun regularly?

tehgerbil

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#2689717 9-Apr-2021 09:09

tdgeek:

I used to, and I'm keen, but I think I never mastered watering, over watered I'd say. How do you manage watering?

I'm bad at that too - but also find the heatpump dries them out really quickly, so water more than most do and they're thriving.

For those that just aren't growing I put into the bathroom for a change of humidity and that usually works well. Had a dormant 3yo orchid, within 1 week of going into the bathroom we had a new leaf and others perked up immediately.

tdgeek:

Also, do you need to dose them with Sun regularly?

I rotate putting them on a coffee table in the north facing longue which gets a lot of bright sun, and put them into my West facing bedroom for direct afternoon sun if they're looking a bit leggy/colorless. It's a mission...

There are some which thrive on inattention and look quite striking like the Tradescantia Zebrina. If you don't have one, I can propagate a stem for you? They literally grow like weeds..

Eva888

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#2689726 9-Apr-2021 09:24

My pride and joy is a Bromeliad which I’ve had for many years. It’s been neglected by not repotting, but it’s so big I’m scared it will break off at the main stem if it do so I just water it from above.

Your monstera looks very lush and healthy, mine barely struggles along.

Fred99

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#2689729 9-Apr-2021 09:36

tdgeek:

How do you manage watering?

We tend to use "unnatural selection". They get the attention that they're given, if they don't thrive, then they end up in the compost bin - and never to be replaced with the same type of plant.

Watering when we're away on holiday is more of a problem, we'll usually put the plants in a sheltered spot outdoors where they'll get a bit of spray from the automated garden sprinkler.

The impression I get is that house plant popularity thus what shops stock goes in in trends with "fashionable" plants favoured because they're a bit rare, and that's because they are fussy and hard to grow. When that's something like a maidenhair fern, I may as well just spray the things with roundup as soon as we get them - save all the bother of trying to find just the right amount of water but not too much, just the right amount of daylight but not too much, just the right amount of air circulation, but no breeze, over-feed / under-feed, curse in front of the things instead of speaking nicely, death metal on the stereo vs my SO playing the harp, whatever, they're doomed as soon as they get in the door.

tdgeek

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#2689735 9-Apr-2021 09:44

Fred99:

We tend to use "unnatural selection". They get the attention that they're given, if they don't thrive, then they end up in the compost bin - and never to be replaced with the same type of plant.

Watering when we're away on holiday is more of a problem, we'll usually put the plants in a sheltered spot outdoors where they'll get a bit of spray from the automated garden sprinkler.

The impression I get is that house plant popularity thus what shops stock goes in in trends with "fashionable" plants favoured because they're a bit rare, and that's because they are fussy and hard to grow. When that's something like a maidenhair fern, I may as well just spray the things with roundup as soon as we get them - save all the bother of trying to find just the right amount of water but not too much, just the right amount of daylight but not too much, just the right amount of air circulation, but no breeze, over-feed / under-feed, curse in front of the things instead of speaking nicely, death metal on the stereo vs my SO playing the harp, whatever, they're doomed as soon as they get in the door.

I can certainly relate to all of that :-) . I'll start stocking up, and utilise my much improved outdoor green thumb, see how it goes.

ojo

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#2689742 9-Apr-2021 10:02

Fred99:

The impression I get is that house plant popularity thus what shops stock goes in in trends with "fashionable" plants favoured because they're a bit rare

This is very much the case, $500 variegated monsteras simply fly out the doors of the poncy houseplant stores.

tehgerbil

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#2689860 9-Apr-2021 11:14

Eva888:

I love your bromeliad! I keep my Monstera a lot wetter than most suggest, and that seems to keep her very happy. It's another world of environmental variables to worry about, I can appreciate many just give up trying to find the right spot, especially when information on Youtube/FB/Google is incredibly contradictory!

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Wakrak

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#2689925 9-Apr-2021 13:29

Have quite a few houseplants. Started off by buying the prettiest looking ones, now I only buy from the clearance section 😄

WATERING
I used to be over the top when I first started; writing a note every time I watered and then trying to turn it into a (every 7th day water) routine. Now after a year of having house plants, I'm used to the signs they give me. Also helps knowing what plants like it dry, what plants like it moist, and shoving my finger into the soil to come up with a decision.

PLANTS
Here's a few of what I have

- Philodendon selloum (though I think it goes by a different name now), Draecena lemon lime, x2 random peace lilies

- One of two ZZ plants I got for $30 all up

- Donkey tail, palm, Gasteria Okavango, and Spaghetti cactus on top of shower.

- Alocasia lauterbachiana, Snake plant & my newest edition: $3 chilli plant.

Few more around the house + a vege garden out the back. I live in a one bedroom apartment so it's a pretty small jungle.

- I've saved a few and killed many. Can't stand aluminum plants after killing all three I tried to grow here 😅.
That Alocasia was on the brink of death. Chopped out all of its rottenness, grew it in water for 2 months, and now it's absolutely thriving. Took me a while to understand its behaviours, especially when it puts out a new leaf and looks all droopy.

networkn

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#2689930 9-Apr-2021 13:41

I love plants, but I have killer instincts when it comes to keeping them alive. My wife is no better. Hence we don't have houseplants.

Both our parents are/were extremely skilled with plants, I am not sure why none of it rubbed off on us.

Eva888

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#2690017 9-Apr-2021 15:11

Hoyas are great plants for the neglectful. Mine is very old and has suffered weeks of us being away in winter and yet on return it gets a drink and continues to live...even after husband decided to secretly repot it for me and managed to break off half. Did he live? Only just.

The Syngonium butterfly plant is also perfect for neglect and can be very happy in a pot that sits in a second pot with water and it just keeps growing.

MadEngineer

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#2690058 9-Apr-2021 16:32

I reckon the easiest indoor plant would have to be the peace lilly. It’s immediately obvious when it needs watering and rather than dying you get permanent brown tips on the leaves as a reminder of your failure. It grows rapidly and new growth will come through replacing the old. Eventually you’ll need to cut it into thirds or quarters and move to new pots - makes great gifts.

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neb

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#2690131 9-Apr-2021 17:46

Eva888: My pride and joy is a Bromeliad which I’ve had for many years. It’s been neglected by not repotting, but it’s so big I’m scared it will break off at the main stem if it do so I just water it from above.

Outgrown bromeliads like that work best outdoors where they can spread. We've got a whole bank covered in them, perfect location, under a weeping cherry tree where they get shade from direct sun in summer but enough sun in winter. If you want some inspiration for this and are in Orkland, go to Eden Garden...

neb

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#2690133 9-Apr-2021 17:48

Fred99:
tdgeek:

How do you manage watering?

We tend to use "unnatural selection".

Dr. Grordbort I assume?

neb

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#2690135 9-Apr-2021 17:55

Fred99:
The impression I get is that house plant popularity thus what shops stock goes in in trends with "fashionable" plants favoured because they're a bit rare, and that's because they are fussy and hard to grow.

Orchids. They may as well just pre-kill those when they sell them. Amazed that the species as a whole hasn't gone extinct centuries ago.

death metal on the stereo

Whatever you do, never listen to this while driving, or this could happen...

neb

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#2690147 9-Apr-2021 18:01

MadEngineer: I reckon the easiest indoor plant would have to be the peace lilly. It’s immediately obvious when it needs watering and rather than dying you get permanent brown tips on the leaves as a reminder of your failure. It grows rapidly and new growth will come through replacing the old. Eventually you’ll need to cut it into thirds or quarters and move to new pots - makes great gifts.

Sound like you could also be describing the cane plant, pretty much identical behaviour.

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