Add Colorful House Plants to Your Home
Add some color to your home without having to rely solely on flowers. These house plants with vibrantly colored leaves are simple to grow.
Related to the philodendron, snake plant or peace lily, pinstripe plants have bands of color across elongated foliage. These tropical houseplants thrive in low light conditions.
Croton
The vibrant, varied markings of croton's leaves add visual interest to almost every room. This exotic house plant is most known for its fiery colors however, the variety of sizes and shapes makes it a standout by itself.
This exotic plant can be cultivated indoors or outdoors. The leaves that are narrow on this croton are speckled with green, red purple, and yellow creating a kaleidoscope of hues.
The croton is famous for its leaves turning brown when exposed to cold temperatures and drafts, so bring it inside during cold snaps. It is also prone to pests, so inspect often and spray with a horticultural insecticide as required.
Fittonia
Fittonia has a striking, deep-green foliage that is adorned with white, pink or red veining. It can brighten up a dull area and is stunning when placed in the terrarium.
Like many tropical house plants that thrive in hot conditions and high humidity. Place it in a warm space, away from drafty windows and any heaters that may dry out the air.
It is necessary to repotted every year. When it begins to appear straggly, prune the tips to encourage more bushy growth.
Like most tropical plants, nerve plants need a weekly application of a liquid fertilizer designed for houseplants during the growing season. A balanced 5-5-5 fertilizer that is diluted to half strength is ideal. It also thrives when it is in a humid environment. Mist the leaves, or make use of a humidity tray.
Calathea
These exotic house plants are beautiful centerpieces for tables, regardless of whether you choose the calathea with its bright green pinstripes, or the peacock with dark green, purple and silver brush marks. Their large oval leaves are great floor plants when placed on low plant stands. Calatheas thrive in moist air (between 50 and 80 percent humidity) however, they do not grow well in soggy soil. They thrive in a potting mix that is well-drained comprising 2 parts peat one 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 instead of tap water will help prevent the buildup of salts and other chemical compounds in the water, which can cause damage to the plant. This is especially important during the winter when plant growth slows. This is also the ideal time to feed the plant with a liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to 1/2 strength.
Red-edge Dracaena
The Red-edge Dracaena can give your home a tropical look. Often mislabeled as a palm, this plant features slender multiple canes or stems with clumps of long thin green leaves that are trimmed with yellow or dark red.
It is easy to grow and thrives indoors, like all dracaenas. house plants names prefer bright indirect light however, they can also tolerate low lighting conditions. They thrive in well-draining potting soil but may require occasional fertilization. Root problems like brown tips, rot, margins, and insect infestation are all common issues.
They are well-known for their ability to cleanse the air. According to NASA's Clean Air Study, they are particularly adept at removing benzene from the air (produced by smoking cigarettes, synthetic materials, and car exhaust), as well as formaldehyde and xylene. They are also easy to propagate from cuttings, which can be done anytime during the growing season by dipping them into rooting hormone and then lanting them in a pot filled with moist soil.
Aluminum Plant
Pilea cadierei (commonly known as aluminum plant or watermelon pilea) is a tropical houseplant which grows as an mounded mound of embroidered green leaves with distinctive silver stripes. It is an attractive and easy to cultivate plant, but it can be susceptible to infestations of spider-mite.
It is a fan of moderate humidity and indirect, warm light. The temperature should range between 60-75 degrees F (16-23 degrees C).
It's a low maintenance plant that likes soil that is moist, but the top quarter inch of soil should be dry before re-watering. During the active growing season in spring and summer, water often enough to keep the soil wet. It is less frequent to water during dormancy in winter and autumn. It is recommended to apply liquid fertilizer each month during the growing season. Stem cuttings are a simple method of vegetative propagation for this plant. The roots are easily placed in a mixture of loamy soil and peaty.
Waffle Plant
Hemigraphis Alternata, also known as purple waffle plant has a metallic green-purple leaf with an unusual puckered surface. It thrives indoors in a hanging basket or in a planter. It can be planted outdoors, however it is less tolerant of cold temperatures than other house plants.
As in its equatorial rainforest habitat, Hemigraphis alternata thrives with bright indirect light and high humidity. To tall houseplants can mist your Hemigraphis alternata regularly with a distilled water spray or place it on a pebble tray that is filled with water that has been filtered to increase the humidity.
Hemigraphis Alternata is a good candidate for pruning when it becomes gangly. This will encourage growth that is bushy and increase the visual appeal. Use an insecticide, or a mixture of warm Neem oil and water to eliminate mealybugs if it is prone. You can propagate Hemigraphis alternata by cutting 4 to 6 inches stem tips taken during spring and summer.
Rex Begonia
Begonias are hardy plants that thrive indoors, especially ones with a showy leaf. Begonias of the Rex variety are distinguished by their distinctive veining puckering and ruffling as well as splotching, spotting and streaking in a mix of silver, greens pinks, whites and reds.
These colorful plants require regular watering. Water the plant when the soil's top layer feels dry to the touch. Avoid pools of water that can cause root rot.
To add a soft texture to your soil mix 50% normal potting soil with 25% peatmoss, orchid bark or coco coir. This mixture also helps the begonia to retain moisture. If you find yourself struggling with powdery mildew, reduce your begonia's watering and move it to a brighter area to get rid of the mold. There may be big house plants on your begonia. Soaking a cotton ball in alcohol can help remove these.
Alocasia
Alocasia 'Black Velvet' has bold, green-black leaves with prominent veins that resemble scales. The leaf undersides have a whitish or purple tint that creates a striking contrast to the foliage. This jewel-type variety is well at home all year round or outdoors in warmer climate zones 4-8a during the summer months.
houseplants near me thrives in bright indirect light that keeps the leaves from burning. A bright sunny window is ideal, however many varieties can be tolerant of filtered light or shaded by dappled.
The soil should feel damp but not spongy. Once a month a weak all-purpose fertilizer is recommended. Avoid feeding the plant during winter when it is in dormancy. Be on the lookout for brown or mushy root growths which could indicate a nutrient shortage. Alocasia is susceptible to root rot, and it can be fatal.
Bromeliad
Bromeliads bring a splash of color to rooms where other house plants can struggle. They are tropical plants and thrive in humid conditions. They can be easily cultivated through regular maintenance and their vibrant colors are able to make dull spaces look more vibrant.
They produce large, vibrant "flowers," called bracts which are actually leaves that attract pollinators. The real flowers of the plant are hidden in bracts and only appear once the flower has been fertilized.
As they grow, the plant creates offshoots that look like miniature versions of the parent plant. These pups can be propagated to create new bromeliads. They require the same care as the parent plant, which includes watering. Avoid the use of hard tap water, which could cause foliage to be spotted. Instead, use rainwater or filtered water. This is essential for bromeliads that are in pots.
Hedgehog
The hedgehog is a tiny mammal of the Animalia class. This nocturnal animal has cool quills that aren't harmful. They have distant ancestry with shrews, pigs, and shrews. They are among the oldest mammals that exist on earth.
In the wild they are omnivorous, eating toads and frogs, and also grass roots, mushrooms and fruits. If threatened or scared, the hedgehog rolls itself into a spiny ball and only the strongest predators can pry it out.
If you see a hedgehog that is rooted in the ground, you can put it back in its nest or cover the area with natural materials. If you must remove it from its natural habitat, place it in a large container away from your bedroom. Give as much shelter as you can. They must be kept in a space that is warm (73-80 degrees).