Congratulations! It’s a plant!

June 13, 2019 7:16 PM

I would like to enter into the world of plant mom, with very beginner, low light plants in hanging planters. Tips? Tricks? Can one learn to plant mom?

I’ve managed to keep a lucky bamboo alive for a few years and have a succulent barely holding on. On the other hand I've killed three air plants. I don’t know how. But I really want some greenery.


Desires / Environment :
-Hanging planter above end tables, so something full with possible vines/cascades
-Norther windows with a patio overhang on one wall, not much direct light
-Utah, so fairly dry
-LOW maintenance

I’m thinking a pathos or heart leaf philodendron, or something else?

-What should I get?
-What plant care sites/advice do you trust for it?
-Is there a good solution for drainage/spritzing without having anything drip onto the floor/furniture - for example a double planter or filler below soil?

posted by Crystalinne to Home & Garden (16 answers total)

Pothos. What you want is a hanging planter with an attached saucer. OR and this is better- when you water you take it down and water it in the shower or tub and let it drain completely before hanging it back up. And make sure to let it dry out *completely* before watering it again. Pothos's roots can rot if they're watered too much. As we say at my job, the number one reason house plants die is too much water. Make sure the potting soil you use is super well draining too. It'll grow nice too- you might have to trim it occasionally if you don't want it to go from pleasingly bushy to arrgg too much plant though.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 7:33 PM on June 13, 2019 [2 favorites]

Pothos for sure, also many Tradescantia species, (unfortunately, (still)) known to many as ‘wandering Jew’, eg this, see also here, under ‘plants’.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:38 PM on June 13, 2019 [2 favorites]

Riffing off Homo neanderethalensis, when you trim the pothos use a pencil to make a hole in the dirt and just stick the cut branch in there. Pretty soon, it'll root and help fill out your plant. Easy peasy.
posted by DrGail at 7:38 PM on June 13, 2019 [2 favorites]

I was also going to say Pothos, but my instructions were going to be just kinda water it occasionally. They are very easy to care for and do well in low light.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:39 PM on June 13, 2019

For real, this is where Pothos shine and there are some beautiful variegated ones for extra dazzle. I’ve seen some beautiful wall installations using WallyGro planters.
posted by quince at 7:46 PM on June 13, 2019

The ZZ plant is very easy to care for and doesn't need a ton of light.

Beware though that your northern window is super low-light. Even plants that like indirect light won't be super happy with only a northern exposure.
posted by hydra77 at 7:47 PM on June 13, 2019 [1 favorite]

Golden Pothos is the variety I will most likely be getting soon.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 7:48 PM on June 13, 2019

I've had a pothos for approximately 18 years that has thrived (and that I've propagated a couple of times - it's as easy as others say above) in three different apartments, two of them with exclusively north-facing windows, and this at a latitude well above Utah's.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:19 PM on June 13, 2019 [1 favorite]

For variety I'd also consider spider plants. They do well in low light and cascade beautifully. They do need a little more water than pothos but once a week is enough.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 8:52 PM on June 13, 2019 [1 favorite]

I've had a pothos for two years and it's almost unkillable.
posted by Jeanne at 8:57 PM on June 13, 2019 [2 favorites]

+1 on spider plants. Mine at least makes cute little baby plants like this - if you ask around you might be able to get some for free from someone (if you're around DC I will be happy to share).
posted by exogenous at 6:05 AM on June 14, 2019

Do you have animal babies? If so, make sure your new plant isn’t toxic to them.

I am an inveterate killer of spider plants, but pothos have survived my love.
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 6:25 AM on June 14, 2019

Pothos is toxic to dogs and cats.
posted by Preserver at 7:44 AM on June 14, 2019

Pothos sounds more like what you're looking for. I have a ZZ plant in my office for the same low-light reasons, but it's going to be desktop or floor plant because it gets big and heavy (eventually) and pothos will be a great hanging plant.
posted by bile and syntax at 8:20 AM on June 14, 2019

Response by poster: I think I’ll look into a Pothos then (also darn auto correct, I know it’s not pathos.) No kids of human or fur kind, forever. Any recommendations on where to get one? Should just about any garden center have them now?
posted by Crystalinne at 1:10 PM on June 14, 2019

Pothos are common enough that you won't have to look in more than three stores for them. If you're pressed for time, it may help to call or check websites to verify that a store has house plants / tropical plants before you go there, as garden centers are still pretty focused on outdoor gardening right now, but places like Lowe's, Home Depot, local florist shops, garden centers, and grocery stores with flower departments are all good places to look.

The solution I use for drainage-water drips is to take the plant to the bathtub when it needs water, soak the soil, and then let it drain into the tub for 10-15 minutes before putting it back in place. Depending on the design of the pot, it can sometimes help to tip the pot sideways while it drains, too.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 8:53 AM on June 15, 2019