A while back I was asked to write a post identifying all my house plants, so here it is! It’s a little overwhelming to see them all in one place. I might be a crazy plant lady. It doesn’t seem like I have so many when they’re spread out around the house! (By the way, this is how I keep them alive.)
1. aloe
2. christmas cactus
3. philodendron
4. snake plant
5. donkey’s tail plant
6. lemon lime plant
7. begonia
8. silver philodendron
9. string of bananas plant
10. jade
11. angle wing begonia
12. swiss cheese plant
13. z plant
14. chinese money plant
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It just kills me that I can’t keep plants around my house. My cats will devour them, and it’s not worth the A) money and B) wondering what I’ll find on the floor when I get home.
Lucky you, your plants are beautiful!
Mix up a little hot sauce and water in a spray bottle and spray your plants. Cats will leave them alone.
Your Donkey’s Tail plant… it’s super fragile, right? Do you hang it to keep it out of harm’s way? Have you ever successfully grown new plants from the fallen “leaves”?
Yes, it is fragile. I have it on the coffee table, and whenever it gets bumped it loses a few leaves. I’ve had it over a year now and no plants have grown from the fallen leaves, which makes me sad! I always tuck them into the dirt hoping for new sprouts. I think it might not be getting quite enough sunlight. Do you have a donkey tail plant too?
I do! And I always tuck in my leaves too, but nothing grows… I have mine in a recessed part of the credenza, and the slightest budge breaks leaves—and my heart. I’d love to have more of these little plants (to give to friends or keep myself), but I’ve yet to have it happen.
I also have a Christmas Cactus and it gives me the hardest time. Can you tell me: How much water and sun to you give this plant—like really? If you had to put a number to it all, what would you say?
I believe the answer for Christmas cactus is benign neglect! I have a 6 year old Christmas cactus that is huge — it fills a 10 inch pot that has the self-watering bottom. The leaves actually spans over 16″ frm side to side. I spray the leaves with the hose and fill the bottom reservoir about once every two weeks and then I ignore it. As long as the leaves remain healthy looking, I don’t water any more. Less seems to be more. It thrives in a bright but shaded part of my covered patio (east facing but out of direct sun) until the weather drops into the 30s or the buds are ready to open. After checking for “critters” who might hitch hike on the plant, I bring it inside to flower. When it begins to get too messy, it goes out in the garage until the temperature moderates and it goes back to the porch.
Yes, I agree with Sandi! Don’t love your Christmas cactus too much. :) I water mine a small amount (maybe about 1/4 cup) about every two weeks, or whenever the soil feels dry. I have mine in a bright room (inside all year), but it doesn’t get any direct sunlight. It’s actually a start I got from my in-laws’ older plant last year. I’m hoping this year mine will bloom since it hasn’t yet!
the christmas cactus likes lots of water and very little sun light!!
oh my goodness, you cannot begin to understand how much I appreciate this post! I live in Boston and at the beginning of the summer, I decided to test out my green thumb and buy some house plants. So far, I’ve been mildly successful. I have a snake plant, which are impossible to kill. My philodendron is doing fine, though it’s been outside all summer so I’m hoping it will last now that I’ve brought it in. I’m having trouble with my jade and lemon lime plant though. They’re both in front of a window. I started watering once a week, and that didn’t seem to go over well. The lemon lime has some brown spots but for the most part is okay, but my poor jade is so sad and I can’t figure out why! I’ve tried watering less, moving it around…the leaves are sort of wilting and the stems are drooping…it’s not happy. Do you have any recommendations?
My lemon lime plant seems to do better in lower light. Maybe move yours away from the window a bit? My jade plant is looking scraggly too! I think it hasn’t been getting enough light all summer. We don’t get a ton of light coming in when the trees are full of leaves. I’m thinking it will perk back up in the winter when more light streams in our windows. How long do you leave it in a new location before moving it again? It seems like my plants take a few weeks to perk up if they like the new spot I put them in.
I’ve been wanting to adopt some houseplants and bring them into my home but I think i’ll need to de-clutter first. Or maybe I’m just saying this because I’m nervous to bring them in and kill them. I kill succulents. I can keep a wonderful vegetable garden but houseplants somehow confuse me. I really love the string of bananas plant.
Oh I kill my succulents all the time—they’re bratty. Don’t be nervous! Small houseplants cost the same as fresh cut flowers, and flowers only last a week. Even if your houseplant dies eventually it will last longer than a week. Besides I like it when my plants die, because then I get to shop for new ones. ;)
Oh these plants are wonderful ! My favorite is the chinese money plant !
Me too!
I absolutely love this post! Your photos are beautiful as are your plants. I’ve been really wanting to get a Sansevieria, didn’t realize it was also called a snake plant. At least now I’ll know how to say it at the nursery! There is a nursery just a two minute walk from my new apt, it’s a dream. And now 13 more plants are added to my list :) Thanks for this post!
I’m so happy to have stumbled upon your blog via Pinterest! Love that this is such a beautiful and useful post. No only if I could figure out a way to keep my cats from nibbling on all things leafy and green…
i saw this on pinterest and I’m so glad I clicked through! this is such a great post. and overall, I just love your blog! i’m a big fan of hand lettering so it’s fun to see your process work in your sketchbook.
That’s alot of crazy plant names~
Love seeing your plants…i too am a houseplant lover. have sooo many that my dear husband has had to put in shelving under the railing of our loft so that i can put all the plants there…watering is difficult, but manageable!…jades have shallow roots, so don’t overwater and you are right about the christmas cactus….pure neglect! happy house planting!
Oh man, I know your feeling. I feel like a crazy plant person too – I have so many! One thing – I’m pretty sure number 10 is the chinese money plant, not 14. Great collection though and congrats on keeping them all alive!
I believe I have the numbers correct. :) 10 is jade and 14 is the chinese money plant:
http://www.wildchicken.com/nature/garden/nature_200_040.htm
Wow – I ALWAYS thought that other one was a money plant… no wonder I’m not rich yet…
I love Plants so much, that I have too many. I’m actually giving away about 8-10 of them, because when it gets time to bring them inside, it’s a really headache. The main reason being that they are some of the larger ones that I have. The Pothos and Philodendron that I have seem to be the hardiest plants ever, besides the snake plants that I have. I love to go shopping at Lowes when they put their plants on clearance. I always am on the lookout for something new to grow though, too. You’re plants are beautiful!
We’ve always called #4 Mother-In-Law’s Tongue. Not sure where that came from…
Love this! I need low-light plants. This year I purchased a silver philodendron, two snake plants, and some sort of low-light cactus. The cactus seems very delicate, if it’s bumped pieces fall out. The snake plants seem super hardy though, and I love them!
hey Amanda, did you see that this post was featured on Etsy’s Pinterest? :) http://pinterest.com/pin/155303887121342314/
I didn’t see that, awesome! Thanks for letting me know!
I’m an interior horticulturist, working on putting a series of house plant care tips on YouTube.com/theficuswrangler. Stop by, see if anything is helpful, or leave questions for me. By the way, sanseveria is the botanical name, snake plant and mother-in-law’s tongue are both common names. That’s why, at some point when you get into plants, you’ll probably want to use the correct botanical name to avoid confusions.
I like to know more about the names of the different house plants.