BY THE SEED OF YOUR PLANTS

SPRUCE UP YOUR SPACE WITH HOUSEPLANTS

WORDS

PHOTOS

LOGAN WAGNER KASIA KUCERA

KASIA KUCERA

it’s a pandemic — not covid -19, but plant blindness. As humans continue to develop the earth, people are separated from nature. Plants don’t play the same role in our lives that they used to. General perception of them is devolving into mere objects or even obstacles, and not breathing, growing, complex forces of nature. Our monkey brains struggle for the capacity to empathize with plants, or really anything that doesn’t have forward-facing eyes. Keeping plants can force you and the people around you to notice plants more often and acknowledge how neat they can be. The more attention people pay to nature, the more they appreciate it, and the more they protect it. Keeping plants is environmental activism. Here are 12 suggestions to get you going.

Aspidistra elatior cast iron plant

If you don't have a green thumb (more like a black thumb), this plant could work for you. They may grow slow, but at least they are hard to kill. Just dust the leaves and water every now and then, and you are good to go.

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Crassula ovata jade

This plant is natively found in dry parts of South Africa and Mozambique. Allowing soil to dry in between watering sessions will mimic its natural environment. In the wild, they grow to shrub size, but starved of space and restrained in a pot, it will stay miniature.

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Dracaena Trifasciata snake plant

This exotic, leafy plant is native to tropical West Africa and Nigeria. If you seem to neglect plants, this one is for you! You couldn't get more classic with this houseplant. This plant will take up more vertical space than horizontal if you're tight on room.

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Chlorophytum comosum spider plant

After producing small white flowers, these plants will produce pups, which can be separated and grown individually. Ideally, water these plants about every three days, but they can go up to a week without water. asparagaceae

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POT SHOPPING

Drainage is key — or rather imitating natural draining processes is key. To prevent your soil turning into soup, opt for up-cycled or second-hand containers with drainage holes, or set up a false bottom using found gravel. Natural soil conditions should be emulated as closely as possible, because you do not want root rot for your cute little plants.

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SCIENTIFIC NAMES

Beyond being the most accurate way to identify plant species, scientific names offer an excellent gateway to understanding order connections, plant lineage and habitat origins. "Snake plant," for instance, tells you little to nothing, while Dracaena belongs to a group of plants mainly from Africa that are built of dragon-like scales, and the scientific epithet, trifasciata, relates to its three-bundled growth habit. Acknowledging that both the snake plant and the spider plant both belong to the Asparagaceae family and seeing structural similarities already puts you on a good path to understanding synapomorphies, the patterns of plant family heritage. Understanding the structural patterns allows you to identify and categorize plants without having seen them before in your life.

Phalaenopsis ambilis moth orchid

Commonly found in your grocery stores, these exotic plants normally grow on trees and have stunning flowering displays that can last up to three months. Check American Orchid Society's website for culture sheets for best care practices.

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Schlumbergera bridgesii christmas cactus

Not a lot of plants bloom during the dreary months of Thanksgiving through Christmas, but this cactus won't disappoint. Unlike the cacti in the Grand Valley, these plants are epiphytic, meaning they naturally grow in trees or on rocks in the humid coastal mountains of Brazil.

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Guzmania lingulata scarlet star

This tropical beauty is characterized by a pop of color. They are relatively short-lived, but they produce enough pups to multiply. Keep its cup (the center of the plant) filled with an inch of water, and dribble enough water to the roots to keep them lightly moist. Water every two to three weeks.

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A WORD ON EPIPHYTES

Tree-dwelling plants can be tricky to care for but are very rewarding. Since they play by a different set of rules than their terrestrial counterparts, they aren't suited for soil, or at least not in the conventional sense. Take note how your epiphyte grows in the wild and replicate their soil environment. They have specialized roots for clinging to various trees or rocks, so they require specific substrates. American Orchid Society has excellent culture sheets, no matter what species you get your hands on. Otherwise, the internet is your friend.

Fun fact: Orchidaceae contains the greatest number of species of any plant family on the planet, and seven native terrestrial orchids call Mesa County home.

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Aloe Vera aloe vera

This plant grows wild in tropical and semi-tropical areas around the world. It works great to soothe sunburns! When it's hearty enough, break off an arm from the plant and enjoy the cooling sensation on your skin. Aloe plants are robust and grow well indoors.

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Echeverias lilacina hen & chicks

This plant is native to semi-desert areas, particularly Mexico and Central America. These are your classic succulents. Their rosettes offer a unique feature. With the potential to grow up to 8 inches wide, the plant’s leaves vary greatly, featuring different shades, colors and textures.

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Peperomia caperata emerald ripple

This plant is a magnoliid, meaning its ancestors diverged from early seedbearing plants before the more evident monocot or dicot clades came about. It has interesting leaves that are wrinkled with a deep green color and features a flower spike, commonly known as a mouse tail.

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Hedera Helix english ivy

This is an evergreen, climbing vine that can be diversely used to spruce up your space. Keep its soil slightly moist with excellent drainage. Fun fact: the aerial rootlets on this plant bind to its surroundings and can hold up to half a pound of weight!

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Ctenanthe Burle-marxii fishbone prayer plant

This pet-friendly variegated plant will close up its leaves at night, like praying hands — hence the common name of prayer plant. The underside of each leaf is a deep purple color. The new leaves present as a cylinder and unravel in a spiraling motion.

marantaceae 12 LET THERE BE LIGHT

If you are dorm-bound, chances are that the plants you have will never get too much light. Many houseplants can survive low-light situations, but there are very few that won’t improve with more light. If you can, try to hog south-facing windows or add supplemental light with your desk lamp or a LED grow light — shoot for full-spectrum.

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