I love bringing a little life to my home with plants, and I especially love those that are easy to care for, forgiving if slightly neglected, and bloom with interesting and long lasting flowers! So I thought I’d share with you two well known house plants, that are currently in bloom in my home.
Above you can see the Peace Lily, spathyphillum, who just gave us this beautiful flower last week, with a few more on their way, and just in time for the holiday of Shavuos! The holiday starts tonight, and is honored by decorating our homes (as well as the synagogue) with greenery and flowers! Lucky me! There is also a similar flower – anthurium. This flower is very popular with international florists. So why not bring joy to dear ones by sending flowers to Spain, Germany, or anywhere else in the world!
While spathyphillum are generally for sale while in bloom, with proper care, you can expect the plant to re-bloom as mine does each year around this time, namely late spring. The leaves droop a bit when the plant needs water, and because it’s native to the rain forrest where it actually grows in water, you don’t have to worry about overwatering it either! Like most plants it prefers bright light and a little humidity if possible, though I’ve never misted it, and it’s still looking great at least three or so years after I received it as a gift, from a friend who recommended it as very forgiving! I have noticed with spathyphillum that the leaves tend to get smaller over time, but that may be because I haven’t used any fertilizer. Also, spathyphillum can be easily divided to make many more plants, and the leaf clusters (with roots on the bottom) can also be grown in a vase of water if you like!
This plant with heart shaped leaves and a red heart shaped “flower”, which is really more like a leaf as well, is called anthurium, flamingo flower, and has been blooming with a flower or two all year round! I found this one looking very sad, in the garbage a few years ago and couldn’t resist bringing it home……and look at it now, happy as can be! The flamingo flower is also a rain forrest native, though it should be thoroughly watered and allowed to dry out between watering. Sitting in too much water can cause the roots to rot.
It grow naturally as a climber or maybe a sprawler, so as a houseplant it needs some support to grow upright. It loves bright light, and do trim leaves that yellow or wilt to allow for new growth. Oh, and almost forgot, I haven’t divided mine but you can easily see the roots above the soil, allowing one to make many small plants from one big one, if desired!
That’s all for now, enjoy!
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