Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with houseplants

Stay Away from the Banana Plant

billysumday — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:13:19 -0800

My cat is slowly killing my indoor banana tree by scratching the hell out of it. Now what? I live in Central Pennsylvania and in the spring of this year purchased a dwarf plantain plant/tree. It grew very well outside in the summer but now that the weather has taken a turn for the cold, I've brought the plant indoors and have placed it on a small table in front of our large south-facing window. It's continued to thrive and is still sprouting new leaves, but my cat is intent on killing it. He loves to scratch at its trunk and tear at the leaves. He doesn't dig at the soil or eat the plant, so I don't need advice regarding that. Just: how to keep the cat away from the plant? I'd prefer to find a solution that saves the tree while keeping it aesthetically pleasing - i.e., I'd rather not wrap the tree in aluminum foil. My strategy thus far has been to shoot him with water from a water bottle when he gets up in/on the plant, but now it's like he just jumps up there and looks at me for attention. If I don't shoot him, he'll cry and then scratch at the tree until I do shoot him, at which point he runs away. He's a bit challenged in the brain department.

Are there any sprays or anything I can use that would cover the plant in some sort of anti-cat repellent? I did some Googling but came up empty.

Thanks, mefi.

Preventing mold from house plants

Coventry — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:26:43 -0800

Is there an easy way to keep mold spores from potted plants at bay? It's getting cold, here in Ithaca, and we've brought our recently acquired house plants in from the porch. Shortly after that, I started coughing a lot. I think it's mold from the plants' soil. The coughing is worse if I hold one of the pots up to my face, so I'm pretty convinced that's the cause. I'm wondering what solutions there are, short of getting rid of the plants.

I've heard of sterilizing the soil, but that seems like a short-term solution: there's still a nice, moist environment for the mold to grow back into. I would trust it more if you could mix the soil with some kind of anti-fungal, like the one in krud kutter. Is that possible?

I've also heard of covering the soil with aquarium gravel. Does that really work? It seems like there would be plenty of interstices for the spores to escape through...

I've also thought about wrapping the pots in some kind of filter fabric, with holes for the plant stalks. Anyone ever tried something like that?

Recommendations for tall indoor tree?

chaoscutie — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:25:51 -0800

I am looking for recommendations for a tall indoor tree--6-7 feet- -I have very high cathedral ceilings in my family room, and just bought a large leather sectional couch. I realized that the couch now dwarfs the plant I currently have--I would like a tall indoor tree to balance the whole look. Help me hive mind! I don't have a clue what to look for, and my google fu is not helping me

Make my small, dark, warm space into a non-toxic jungle!

Knicke — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:32:28 -0800

Make my small, dark, warm apartment into a non-toxic jungle! I'm looking for a houseplant or two (or ten) to liven up my small apartment, but have run into some snags. Namely, no direct light, fairly high warmth (the apt. is above the boiler room - toasty!), and two curious kitties who get into EVERYTHING and despite my best efforts will probably be getting at least a good nibble from whatever plants I bring into the place, if not mowing them down completely.

I've been doing some research, but most plants I've found that can tolerate low light and warmth well are also toxic to cats. For instance, philodendrons are out. I have a fairly green thumb and I'm not picky at this point - anything green would be an improvement. Suggestions?

Mystery Houseplant

hydatius — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:52:58 -0800

Can anyone identify this splendid mystery houseplant? It was received as a gift, but without any accompanying little plastic tag, and I'd just like to know what it is so I can figure how how best to take care of it. It doesn't have a strong smell, if that helps at all.

No holes in the roof please

Xurando — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:59:22 -0800

Help: My Norfolk Island Pine is about to grow through the roof. Our Norfolk Island Pine is growing ever higher. We've had it for twenty years and it is now two inches from our eight foot ceiling. Soon I'll bring it down to our dining room where the ceilings are 6 inches higher, but I'm looking for a long range solution. We live in the Northeast so planting it outside is not an option. I have considered driving it down to Florida and planting it in the in-laws back yard. Is pruning an option? My long range goal is to keep it alive, where might I find someone with high ceilings to adopt it?

uninspired home allergy question

yonation — Thu, 17 May 2007 08:16:51 -0800

trying to isolate sneezing allergy source in my house, think it may be my plant. I have horrible sneezing problems that i've pretty much isolated to my room (ie usually if i sleep elsewhere it isn't a problem). its not a sinus infection, and i dont have watery eyes, itchiness, etc. just horrible sneezing. here are two pictures. what kind of plant is this? i know that it periodically flowers and produces quite sticky "sap". Can this be the source? i also have a wandering jew plant in my room, could that be it? thanks for any help!

What (tradionally outdoor) plants should I have in my apartment?

ArgentCorvid — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:56:59 -0800

What kind of plants should I grow in my apartment? Bonus points for traditionally outdoor plants. During my visit to the Badlands last summer, I was suprised to see a little Prickly Pear cactus hanging out in the the northern prarie. A few months later I noticed that my local grocery store carries Nopalitos, which while not the same species, are a kind of prickly pear. This coincidence, some research, and my own cheapass-ness inspired me to buy a nopalito (instead of the smaller, rarer, more northerly kind), and plant it in a pot. So far it seems to be doing fine, and I was wondering what other weird plants I could have in my apartment.

Some more info:

I have already started a garlic plant.

I know tomatoes/peppers are easy to grow, but I'm not really a fan of them.

Perennials are preferred, I guess, but I'm not too picky.

I don't have a balcony, and I don't think a window box will work with my windows; they are the horizontal sliding kind, with screen.

My apartment is on the corner of the building, with Eastern and Southern facing windows.

her favorite foods are cigarette butts and junk mail, should I add basil to the list?

Kellydamnit — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 11:29:32 -0800

Will my cat eat basil? What happens if she does? So the local grocery has basil plants on sale, and I was thinking it would be pretty nice to take advantage of the massive amount of sun my place gets, buy two or three, and set up a big pot of the stuff for use whenever I want.

The problem is, I have a cat. A terror of a cat, to be more specific. One who, while she will use the litterbox, has resisted any attempts at training above and beyond that. (she was used, so I suspect the problem was beyond fixing once we got her. I'm just happy she now knows enough not to jump on tables when we can see her).

If I do this will she eat the basil (well, odds are she will, she's a nut). More specifically, is basil something cats are drawn to?
And if she does eat it, will it harm her in any way?

sad wilted bonsai

crush-onastick — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 07:04:51 -0800

so, the person in charge of my (gardenia) bonsai while i was gone let it dry out. the branches are all still green where i scratch the bark, so i know it's not dead, but the leaves are all shriveled and faded (instead of dark, glossy and pert). i really know nothing about caring for the tree (it was a gift) but it was in great shape when i left it with buds about to open. what should i do to bring it back to good health?

Growing Plants in Water Alone

bibliowench — Sun, 07 Aug 2005 16:05:13 -0800

I need suggestions for decorative plants I can grow in a small, clear vase with just water, no soil (and that can withstand my black thumb). I received a wonderful hanging planter made from four inverted lightbulbs. I’ve grown Pothos cuttings in two of them but have had no luck with what I’ve tried in the other two (such as spider plants and mint). What else grows well hydroponically (if that is the term) and is easily available? I know there are web sites on the subject, but I’m interested in hearing specific success stories. For the record, I’m in a very dry climate, and the planter gets southern exposure.

Houseplants for basement apartments?

CaptApollo — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 09:32:39 -0800

The only window in my basement apartment faces north and is fairly obscured as well. I would really like a plant or two to liven the place up. Suggestions? Are there plants that will survive on the few hours of lights-on when I am home and not at work/sleeping?

Care for Sensitive Plants (Mimosa Pudica) and other houseplants?

sirion — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 10:45:46 -0800

Any tips on how to make Sensitive Plants (the fern-like ones that close their leaves when you touch them) thrive? I can usually keep them pretty happy for a few months, but they gradually become more and more unresponsive and eventually die. I'm in Southern California and will be moving to a new place with a greenhouse, and am fairly ignorant in the ways of plant-tending. Another question, just for sucking as much possible information out of this as possible: Anyone have any indoor plants they really like? If so, how do you make *those* thrive?

help keep a gerbera daisy alive

Shoeburyness — Wed, 14 Apr 2004 13:25:12 -0800

Help the Black Thumb:

I am terrible at keeping plants alive. The only plants I don't kill are philodendrons, and you pretty much can't kill those things. I was given a gerbera daisy in a pot, but apparently I overwatered it. The plant still seems alive, but the flowers have drooped over. I drained the excess water, but the flowers aren't perking back up. Are they permanently wilted? Should I cut them off and hope the plant flowers again? I googled, but got nothing more useful than "Avoid overwatering".