Add Colorful House Plants to Your Home
Give a splash of color to your home without having to rely on flowers. These houseplants that have brightly colored leaves are easy to grow.
As a cousin to the philodendron snake plant or peace lily pinstripe plants display bands of color along the elongated foliage. These tropical houseplants thrive in low light conditions.
Croton
The bright, varied patterns of croton leaves provide visual interest to any space. This exotic houseplant is known for its fiery colors however its array of shapes and sizes make it stand out.
This exotic plant enjoys bright indirect sunlight and can be grown outdoors or indoors. The leaves are narrow and covered with reds, greens purples and yellows creating an kaleidoscope.
Bring it inside during cold snaps. The croton is susceptible to lose its color when exposed to cold temperatures or drafts. It is also susceptible for pest activity. Be sure to check it often and spray horticultural insecticides when needed.
Fittonia
Fittonia is a striking, deep-green leaf with pink, white or red veining. It is able to brighten up an otherwise dark area and is particularly stunning in the planter.
Like many tropical house plants, it thrives in hot conditions and high humidity. Place it in a warm room and away from cold windows and heaters that could dry out the air.
It thrives in well-drained pots, and requires repotted every year. If it begins to appear straggly, prune the tips to encourage bushier growth.
In the spring and summer, nerve plants also require a regular application of liquid fertilizer specifically designed for houseplants. It is recommended to use an optimum 5-5-5 fertilizer, diluted to half strength. It is also a great choice for a humid environment so spray the leaves with mist or use an air-tight tray to keep high humidity around it.
Calathea
These exotic house plants make stunning centerpieces for tables, regardless of whether you pick the calathea with its bright green pinstripes, or the peacock with dark purple, dark green and silver brush marks. Their large oval leaves make great floor plants when placed on low plant stands. Calatheas thrive in humid air (between 50 and 80% humidity), but do not thrive in soggy soil. They thrive in a well-drained potting mix comprising 2 parts peat, 1 part coco coir and some orchid bark.
The water calatheas every week when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Using rainwater that is filtered rather than tap water will help prevent the buildup of salts and other chemicals from the water, which can cause damage to the plant. This is especially crucial during winter, when growth slows for plants. It is also a great time to feed your plant with a liquid fertilizer for houseplants, dilute to half strength.
Red-edge Dracaena
The Red-edge Dracaena will give your home a tropical feel. Sometimes, it is mistakenly referred to as a palm, this plant features slender multiple stems or canes, with clumps or clumps of long, thin green leaves, trimmed in a dark red or yellow.
Like all dracaenas, it is a great indoor houseplant and is easy to grow. They prefer bright indirect light, but can tolerate less light conditions. They prefer a well-draining pot mix, but might require fertilization on occasion. Root rot, brown tips or margins and insect infestation are common issues.
They are renowned for their ability to purify the air. According to NASA's Clean Air Study they are particularly good at getting rid of benzene (produced by smoking cigarettes, synthetic substances and car exhaust), xylene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the atmosphere. They are also extremely easy to propagate from cuttings, which can be done anytime during the growing season by dipping into rooting hormone, then lanting them in a pot of moist soil.
Aluminum Plant
Pilea cadierei (commonly known as aluminum plant or watermelon pilea) is a tropical houseplant that is an mounded mound of embroidered green leaves with distinctive silver stripes. It's a beautiful and easy to grow, but it can also be susceptible to spider mite infestations.
It is a fan of moderate humidity and indirect, warm light. The temperature should be between 60-75 degF (16-23 degC).
It's a low maintenance plant that likes soil that is moist, but the top quarter inch of the soil should be dry before re-watering. In the growing season of active growth, the spring and summer, water enough to keep the soil moist. Water less frequently during dormancy in winter and autumn. A liquid fertilizer is a great idea to apply every month throughout the growing season. Cuttings of stems can be used to propagate this plant in a vegetative manner. The roots are easily placed are cultivated in a mix of peaty and loamy soil.
Waffle Plant
Hemigraphis Alternata, also referred to as the purple waffle plant, has metallic green-purple leaves with an unusual puckered surface. It is a great indoor plant to grow in a hanging basket or a terrarium. It is also able to be grown outside, however it is less tolerant to cold temperatures than some other house plants.
In its native equatorial rainforest, Hemigraphis alternata thrives with bright indirect light and high humidity. To replicate this environment it is possible to mist your Hemigraphis alternata routinely with a distillate water spray, or place it in a pebble tray that is filled with water that has been filtered to increase the humidity.
You can trim Hemigraphis alternata as it becomes big and swollen to encourage growth, or to add aesthetic appeal. Apply an insecticide, or a mixture of warm Neem oil and water to kill mealybugs, if it is susceptible. You can propagate Hemigraphis alternata by cutting 4 to 6 inches stem tips collected in spring and summer.
Rex Begonia
Begonias thrive in the indoors and are a great choice for those with a showy foliage. They are distinguished by their distinctive veining puckering, ruffling and ruffling together with streaking, spotting and splotching in mixes of silver, greens white, reds and pinks.
extra large house plants require regular watering. Water the plant whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, avoiding pools of water that can lead to root rot.
To add a smooth texture to your soil mix 50% of normal potting soil with 25 percent peatmoss, orchids bark, or coco coir. This mixture can also aid in retaining water. If you have a problem with mildew, cut down on the amount of water your begonia receives and move it into a brighter space to eliminate the mold. You may also see mealy bugs on your begonia. A cotton ball soaked in alcohol can help to eliminate these.
Alocasia
Alocasia"Black Velvet" is a striking, greenish-black leaf that are adorned with prominent veins, resembling scales. The undersides of the leaves have a whitish, or even a purple tint. This adds a dramatic contrast with the foliage. This variety is suitable for indoors throughout the year or outdoors in the summer in zones 4-8.
This tropical beauty is thriving with bright indirect light, which prevents scorching the leaves. A bright, sunny window is ideal, however many varieties will be tolerant of filtered light or shaded by dappled.
The soil should feel damp but not spongy. Every month, a light all-purpose fertilizer is recommended. Avoid feeding the plant during the winter months when it is in dormancy. Look for the appearance of brown or mushy roots which could indicate a nutrient shortage. Alocasia is prone to root rot, which can be fatal.
Bromeliad
Bromeliads add the color of rooms where a variety of house plants can struggle. They're tropical and thrive in humid conditions created. They thrive with a consistent routine and their vibrant colors can add a pop of color to otherwise dull spaces.
They produce large colorful "flowers," called bracts, that are actually specialized leaves that attract pollinators. The actual flowers of the plant are hidden in bracts and only show up after the flower is fertilized.
As the plant grows, it will produce offshoots which look like miniature versions. The pups can be propagated into new bromeliads. Watering is the same as for the parent. Avoid watering with hard tap water, as it can cause the foliage to become spotted. Use rainwater or filtered whenever you are able to. This is important for bromeliads in pots.
Hedgehog
The hedgehog is one of the smallest members of the mammalia group, Animalia. This nocturnal mammal has cool quills that won't hurt. They are among the oldest mammals on the planet and have a distant ancestry to Shrews and pigs.
In the wild, they are omnivorous, devouring toads and frogs and also grass roots, mushrooms, and fruits. If threatened or scared, the hedgehog rolls itself into a ball of spin and only the strongest predators can pry it open.
If you see a hedgehog on the ground, place it back into its nest or cover the area with natural material. If you have to take it out of its habitat, keep it in a large container away from your bedroom and give it as much shelter as possible. They are best kept in a place that is warm (73-80 degrees).