Happy Houseplants

Recently, it was time to divide and repot my houseplants. I love having growing things in my house. Not all of them stay alive, but many of them do. I’m also lucky enough to have family and friends who also enjoy houseplants. Even if one of my plants doesn’t make it, there is a good chance that one of my friends can give me a cutting or starter so I can try again.

I think a lot of houseplant fanatics have a signature plant. One they really enjoy and which they have experience and special knowledge to make grow. In other words, the plant that makes you think, “I might have a green thumb after all!” For a neighbor of mine, it was amaryllis. For my mom, I think it is African violets. Some people love succulents.

I’m not sure what my signature plant is yet, but here are some of my favorites that I currently have around my house.

African Violet

The African Violet comes in a variety of purple shades, as well as white and some pinks. Its sweet rounded leaves feel velvety to the touch. Since this is my mom’s specialty, I have a few varieties growing around the house. African violets have their own special style of flower pot. The pot comes in two parts, with an inner pot where you put the soil and the plant, sitting inside a rounded pot. With this kind of pot, you just make sure there is water in the lower part and it is absorbed through the inner pot, always giving the plant the right amount of moisture. It tends to like it more moist. Feeling the soil in the special pot gives me a reminder of how moist to keep the other violets which do not have a special pot.

Spider Plant

A spider plant doesn’t have much special in the way of blooms, but its fun, crazy leaves do make it look like a spider. My favorite thing about this plant is how it propagates. When it is mature, a stalk will come up from the main plant and a new plant will start growing in mid air. When it is big enough, it can be cut from the main plant, and put in water until its roots grow. Sometimes, you might see a dozen or more “baby spiders” coming off the main plant. A few different years, I took clippings from our classroom spider plant to give to my students as an end of the year gift. They got to watch the roots grow in clear vases before I planted them.

Snake Plant

Another plant without blooms which still manages to look lovely. Snake plants can differ slightly in the coloring of the leaves, but most have a striped variety.

Philodendra

This classic house plant is low sun and likes to drape. It is a fun one to hang from the ceiling or place on a high shelf. This one came from my grandparents.

Kalanchoe

Ok, this might be my signature plant. I love its scalloped edge leaves and the bright clusters of long lasting blooms. I have a white one which has been doing well in my kitchen window. Last year, I rescued a purple one from the office (it came with a note which said “Adopt me, help me, save me!”). I bought a larger red one for my porch this summer. When we were potting, my mom gave me an orange variety. So excited to get some more of this plant this year! I put three different color varieties in a matching set of three small oriental style pots to line up on a window sill. I love the effect!

I got this set of test tubes at a yard sale a few years ago and use it for plant propagation. I am trying to start some new lavender plants, Calico Kitten, and Philodendra.

What houseplants do you have? Would you say you have a favorite or specialty?