| Houseplant
Cultural
information: If you need a plant that's low maintenance
and easy to keep...
a "Cast Iron Plant" is the right houseplant for you.
Cast Iron plants perform well in nearly all lighting conditions,
temperatures and environments. They tolerate neglect and heavy
traffic areas very well. Their durable foliage is often used in
fresh cut flower, and tropical flower arrangements.
Cast Iron plants are very slow growing and usually cost quite a
bit more than other houseplants that are in similar container
sizes. "Cast-Iron" plants produce
beautiful star shaped flowers just under the soil line. If your
lucky... some day when you're poking around in the soil you may
see them.
Cast Iron plants can be placed in nearly any lighting condition
except hot direct sunshine or total darkness.
As
with any plant... the higher the lighting the plant receives, the
more water it will use. Check your Cast Iron Plant for water
weekly until you become familiar with its needs. Allow the soil to dry
one to two inches from the surface soil before watering. In
low light conditions your Cast Iron plant could feasibly go two
weeks between waterings. Never allow your Aspidistra to sit in a
saucer of water as this will soon cause root rot.
Feed bi-monthly with Peter's Houseplant Food to help keep the
foliage glossy green.
Since Cast Iron plants are so forgiving you may have good
success propagating your Aspidistra plant. Propagate by dividing the plants rhizomes. Remove
the plant from the pot and carefully break the root ball into two
halves. Re-pot each half with a quality potting soil, water thoroughly,
and within a couple of months you should have two thriving Cast
Iron plants.
Common houseplant pests can include: Scale or Spider mites on
rare occasion. For control measures see our articles under
houseplant pests.
Small Aspidistra's are available in 6" pots. Larger specimens
will be available in 8", 10", 12" and 14"
containers at your local garden center or from an interior
plantscape firm.
|
