Calling all Green thumbs..

[CrazyJames]

I need your help.

I've recently moved into a new house, my first non-basement suite and am desperate for some green leafy things to enjoy.

Can anyone make any recommendations?


My living room is north facing and does not get any direct light (probably moderate amounts of light..)



I was gifted a phalaenopsis orchid as a house warming present and am interested in getting some more plants to make the place look less like a bachelor pad


Any thoughts?

Suggestions?

The only window with a southern exposure that gets direct light is my bedroom and not in the best position to put plants infront of..

[CrazyJames]

My kitchen is east facing but the houses are fairly close together..



I was thinking some "Airplants" for the ledge above the sink if i could find them locally.

[callisto9]

Grow some weed dude.



But seriously, buy what you like. My only mistake was buying plants and not paying attention to the light requirements. If you don't have good light, don't get plants that need high light. You'd think it was a no-brainer, but I failed miserably at this kind of thing when I bought plants.

I've personally done well with my ficus, but my fave plants end up being the ones that survive my random and errant watering habits. I've never done well with palms and succulents.

I like the air plant idea. I'm all for anything that doesn't use dirt.

Also, I'd recommend the AeroGarden. It's super cool, techy and you can grow all kinds of stuff in them. There's a silver 3pod one in the outlet store.

[FineExampl]

If you just want houseplants, buy a ton of philodendron and other such plants. They don't need much light, water them a couple times a week and yer all set. Dracaena is also good for homes as they both purify the air.

The Aerogarden is cool if you want some flowers or fresh herbs/veg year round. Otherwise i suggest you move to growing outdoors. Get yerself some BC bud growing.

[CrazyJames]

Hmmm whats the germination period?

We only have about 170 growing days a year here..

though do have sun light about 20hrs of the day during july...

[Fl_bug]

Try some Fake Flowers

[CrazyJames]

Originally Posted by Fl_bug

Try some Fake Flowers

How helpful.

Thank you, I think i will!

I never could have figured out to buy stuff i wouldnt kill!

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by CrazyJames

Hmmm whats the germination period?

We only have about 170 growing days a year here..

though do have sun light about 20hrs of the day during july...

Are you referring to the AeroGarden? They grow and grow fast! Plus, if you cook, you have fresh herbs all the time (if you go with that kit).

[CrazyJames]

Originally Posted by callisto9

Are you referring to the AeroGarden? They grow and grow fast! Plus, if you cook, you have fresh herbs all the time (if you go with that kit).

I was thinking more about growing weeds

I'm going to have my work cutout for me this spring, as the place i am renting is chock full of rosebushes and a veggie patch, and all kinds of other mysterious plants.

All of which have their tags in the garage thank god.

I do know which one is the monkshood which i shouldnt eat.

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by CrazyJames

I was thinking more about growing weeds

I'm going to have my work cutout for me this spring, as the place i am renting is chock full of rosebushes and a veggie patch, and all kinds of other mysterious plants.

All of which have their tags in the garage thank god.

I do know which one is the monkshood which i shouldnt eat.

The AeroGarden is for indoors and requires little/no work.

OK, I'm done talking it up now.

[CrazyJames]

So far this is my only houseplant.



And its on my new plant stand.

[CrazyJames]

With matching end tables



Its a start..

i wouldnt mind something tall like a palm, or a ficus for the corner by the TV... give the room some height.

[Ghia_Roadster]

Originally Posted by Fl_bug

Try some Fake Flowers

i couldnt agree more...neighbors will ogle at your flower garden in the middle of the winter...

[CrazyJames]

Originally Posted by Ghia_Roadster

i couldnt agree more...neighbors will ogle at your flower garden in the middle of the winter...

Thanks AJ.

I dont know what i would have done without this advice.

Perhaps solved world hunger, or created world peace.

I live for your next tidbit of advice.

[Ghia_Roadster]

hahaha!! ahh dont mind me...but i have seen it happen...moms front yard has a bunch of fake crap. people drive by all the time and wonder how we keep everything so green in january...

[Lnzbug]

Originally Posted by CrazyJames

So far this is my only houseplant.



And its on my new plant stand.

I'm no orchid expert but I do know they are a tropical plant & as such need a moist environment. Directly above a heating vent is not that kind of place. Get a larger shallow pan & keep rocks & water in it with the orchid pot sitting in it. That's a really nice table too. A palm would be nice or a banana tree. How about a peace lily, that's something you can't kill. And watering plants more than once a week is overkill in my book.

[CrazyJames]

Originally Posted by Ghia_Roadster

hahaha!! ahh dont mind me...but i have seen it happen...moms front yard has a bunch of fake crap. people drive by all the time and wonder how we keep everything so green in january...

...

Yeah have i mentioned that i'm not a redneck living in a trailerpark?

[CrazyJames]

Originally Posted by Lnzbug

I'm no orchid expert but I do know they are a tropical plant & as such need a moist environment. Directly above a heating vent is not that kind of place. Get a larger shallow pan & keep rocks & water in it with the orchid pot sitting in it. That's a really nice table too. A palm would be nice or a banana tree. How about a peace lily, that's something you can't kill. And watering plants more than once a week is overkill in my book.

Thanks for the tip ellen;

I'll be getting a pan this weekend so my orchid doesnt dry out, i've been misting it trying to keep it happy humidity wise.

I had already planned on getting a Peace Lily just waiting till it isnt negative cold outside so i dont shock it and kill it.

<hot fuzz>That way I can go home and water my my Peace Lily instead of going out to celebrate! </hot fuzz>

[Ghia_Roadster]

Originally Posted by CrazyJames

...

Yeah have i mentioned that i'm not a redneck living in a trailerpark?

haha!! thats funny...

[Mazzzja]

Ah, yes, your place needs some green
My suggestion is, if you don't have green thumbs as you call it, I'd get low maintenance plants if I were you.
At least I seriously don't have a green finger on my body as I managed to kill a cactus
I do have plants in my livingroom, real plants and they are sansevieria's and fatplants (now to find a translation....)
Okay, a plant from the orpine family does the trick well.
I have 3 sansevieria plants in my room, or the mother in law tongue plant as it seems to be called in English. They need low low maintenance and they grow!
And because they have 2 colours green it doesn't make the plant look compact.

Aaaaaand... a big NO to fake flowers or plants! They are ugly, how well made they are and they gather lots of dust for you to dust of.