The New Botanist

We're on a short break, but will be back soon with more plant advice. In the meantime, just a few things to look out for while your plants wake up from their winter slumber. 

Prayer Plants are formed of several genera of plants, all of which have striking foliage. The leaves of these plants also move, closing during the night and opening during the dawn resulting in their common name. These bold houseplants were first discovered deep within the Amazon jungle. The ornate foliage of Prayer Plants caused its rapid popularity in the 70s, making a comeback fairly recently. 

The Trailing Wax Plant, or Hoya Linearis is a trailing succulent. This beautiful plant with needle like leaves is relatively easy to care for, it's really fast growing and relatively disease resistant. This plant is originally from the Himalayas and prefers bright indirect sunlight with moist soil. In the wild, the trailing wax plant can often be found growing on other plants - it is an epiphyte. When the plant is really happy, it produces clusters of white flowers with distinctive pink and yellow coronas.

The Monstera, or Swiss Cheese Plant, has been an iconic houseplant ever since the 1950s. This gorgeous evergreen climbing plant has evloved holes in its leaves to help deal with the heavy downpours common to the tropical climate of the south of Mexico. This houseplant comes in a huge range of types and colours, including some extremely rare (and very expensive) variegated white ones. 

The Madagascar Palm or Pachypodium lamerei is a lesser known houseplant. It is a highly unique stem succulent from the southern region of Madagascar. The Madagascar Palm grows in bright direct sunlight with regular watering, up to every other day in the summer months! In ideal conditions this succulent can grow up to 30 cm per year. This houseplant will add an unusual tone with its glossy blue stem that comes with long thorns and thin leaves arranged  in a pineapple-like pattern.

The Mother-in-Law's Tongue or Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) is a perennial evergreen herb that is native to tropical parts of west Africa. This iconic houseplant is highly tolerant to low levels of light and water. It comes in a huge range of colours and snakes that can even be plaited into secondary shapes. It is elegant and can beautify even the smallest spaces in your home.

Devil's Ivy or Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular trailing or hanging houseplant, which comes in a plethora of colours, from golden to light green to variegated. Devil's Ivy are very tolerant plants that can grow in low light levels. They do enjoy higher humidity levels of the kitchen or bathroom. In the wild, the can be found climbing on trees in the rainforests of South East Asia. This houseplant can  be propagated easily by leaf and stem cuttings placed in water. 

The ZZ Plant, full name Zamioculcas zamiifolia is a hardy glossy dark green leaf houseplant that grows well in indirect sunlight. This plant is originally from eastern parts of African, so quite drought tolerant and can easily be propagated my leaf cuttings. The ZZ Plant was first popularised by Dutch growers and has recently become highly fashionable.

There are over 10,000 species of ferns, which come in a plethora of types, colours, sizes and shapes. From the delicate looking Asparagus Fern to the more tough rugged looking Staghorn. Ferns add a bit of sophistication to any household from their ancient roots, evolving over 360 million years ago. Instead of having leaves these ancient plants have stylish fronds. Ferns generally prefer partial shade with moist soil. 

The Chinese Money Plant or Pilea peperomioides is a unique looking plant that was popularised in Scandinavia before it saw fame in the rest of the world. The Chinese Money Plant has a variety of other names including the UFO and Pancake Plant, all referring to the shape of the leaves. This plant is native to Southern China and it's a very forgiving houseplant that prefers to grow in partial shade with moist soil. In addition, these plants will produce many babies (or clones) from the bottom of their stems.

The Spider Plant or Chlorophytum coscum is a classic houseplant, which was popularised in the 70s when placed within a macramé hanging planter. The spider plant is widely spread and is native to parts of Africa, Asia and Australia. One of the unique features of this houseplant is the growth of babies (or more accurately clones) that form a cascade of miniature spider plants. This plant grows well in indirect sunlight with moist soil, and is non-toxic to pets. 

One episode, one plant. What does a Monstera like? How do you water a plant? What does indirect light actually mean? Find the answers in The New Botanist podcast where botanist Andrew answers Carinne's questions to help her stop killing her plants!