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New office plants

17 years ago

No questions--just wanted to share the excitement of a grape ivy hanging basket for my window and a rosary vine for my desk. Let's hope they do well. I've got artificial CF lights on both.

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Comments (8)

tjsangel
17 years ago
Hi,

I think the grape ivy will be fine for a while. You may have to put your plant in higher light from time to time for it to grow well. The rosary vine is a sun lover, which could be a problem. Maybe you could take it home and place in a sunny window? Other low light plants you could try for artificial lighting are philodendron scandens, african violets, Aglaonema, Peace lily, Sansevieria, Dieffenbachia and the Boston fern. Most plants need some light to thrive, which is why you may have to give them more light temporarily in the office. Good luck!

Jen
odyssey3
Original Author
17 years ago
I guess I should have explained more. I am a big CF light grower-- I have four other plants growing under CF's in my office alone, most of which are not low light plants. I always buy lamps that hold the bulb facing downward, and then put in the biggest CF bulb it will hold. Many higher light plants can be successfully grown this way. The rosary vine is on a stand on my desk directly under a 26 watt CF. The grape ivy is in a window, but I also have two clip-on type lamps on either side of the window, each with 42 watt CF bulbs. That's a lot of light, much more than a sunny window alone. I wasn't worried about the lighting levels, but about pests. Grape ivy usually succumbs to spider mites for me, but it is so pretty I'm trying again.
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Comments (8)
Fast-growing + flowers + dry air + low-light is, I think, an impossible set of criteria. Here's what I came up with that satisfies three out of four, but keep in mind that any of them could suffer heat damage if too close to a hot halogen bulb: Ardisia elliptica (shoebutton tree) is fast-growing, tolerates low light, and is okay with dry air to a point. They do flower, though the flowers aren't especially interesting. They're also not terribly easy to find. Euphorbia millii (crown of thorns) is moderately fast-growing, flowers, and is good in dry air, but needs a lot more light than what you're working with, it sounds like. Tradescantia pallida (purple heart) and T. zebrina (wandering jew) are fast-growing, will flower occasionally, and are good in dry air, but they also need a lot of light. Sansevieria trifasciata (snake plant; mother-in-law's tongue) does okay in low light and dry air, and does occasionally flower (the flowers aren't much to look at, but they're fragrant), though it doesn't grow very fast. Clivia miniata can be grown in low light and dry air (though it would rather not), and the flowers are very pretty, though it's not especially fast-growing, and you're not likely to get flowers without bright light and a cool winter dormant period. Hoya carnosa is good in dry air, forms interesting, fragrant flowers, and is fast-growing when it wants to be, but it would never do any of those things in low light. Chamaedorea metallica (metallica palm) does okay in dry air, grows moderately fast, and is okay with low light, but it's unlikely to flower in low light, and the flowers aren't particularly attractive when you do see them. It's also not very commonly sold, and the overall appearance of the plant is not going to appeal to all tastes (which is why they're not very commonly sold). Spathiphyllum cvv. (peace lily) does fine in low light and dry air, and may flower occasionally in the kind of scenario you're talking about, though it's not a particularly fast grower, lots of people associate them with funerals, the flowers are not particularly attractive, and absolutely nobody seems to be able to water them properly. (It's not that hard! People just seem to want to do it wrong!) Plasticum artificialis (fake plant; artificial plant) is good in dry air and can survive without any light at all. Although they're basically impossible to re-bloom, you can buy them with flowers already on them, and the flowers last forever. They are, however, extreeeeeeeemely slow-growing.
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Comments (20)
Greenthumb, the long list provided might just be moot....first, you have to decide which size of plant the office crew wants to see, wants to put up with. Offices, usually with fluorescent light way up there on the ceiling, are not places to have expectations of plants surviving well. Any artificial light -- without natural light of any kind, will have to be within 6 to 8 inches of the top of the plant. You would be wise to think small, and to think artificial light from a lamp located on your desk, on the filing cabinet, on a nearby shelf, under a shelf, anywhere light can be made to fall within the necessary limits. There are different intensities of lamps expressly for growing plants. Speak to a nurseryman who sells and knows houseplants. Do not trust the sales lady over at Home Depot or Lowes, go to a nursery and get good advice about houseplants they sell. There, they can also advise on what fertilizer -- if any -- should be given the plant you choose. If the office has some avaialable light---and it comes from a western or southern exposure, your plant might do well if sufficient intensity reaches it. Otherwise, if the light coming into the room is very mimimal, then don't trust it to do anything for the plant and you would be best to trust only what artificial light you provide. You know, there are worst things than not having any office plant that needs care. Why not trust artificial...plant that is. Michaels and other places, have beautiful plastic plants you cant tell from the real thing. Best of all, they are always in full glory. Most large houseplants have their clone in plastic. For years, I was always asked to care for a spider plant my sister had while she took vacations. I always watered it faithfully. This I did for at least 5 years. I was very proud of myself in that that plant always looked great when she returned. Then she told me...she found water in the bottom of the pot of her artificial plant and wondered how it got there. Well, that's what makes the world go round...silly buggers like me.
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It's been nearly a year since I asked my original questions, and I want to thank everyone and show you my plant's progress since I put it in a pot. It looks great, and I think it will continue to get better... EXCEPT, I'm also showing you some growth I discovered at the bottom of the pot, and I'm seeking your advice on "what is it?" "is it dangerous?" and "if so, how to clean/fix it?" If it requires repotting, should I cut away any roots and let it dry before doing a repotting? Now is a good time to do this in the middle of Auckland's winter, when it's not doing much growing anyhow. Thank you. Sincerely, Jesse
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Watch out for that Leyland Cypress! Leyland Cypress trees are an excellent choice for those who need a large tree fast because they have a growth rate of 3 to 5 feet per year. For the best results plant your Leyland Cypress Trees in full sunlight. They can tolerate partial shade, but prefer full sun. Southern facing areas tend to receive the most light.
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mrbrownthumb
17 years ago
congrats on the new plants.
odyssey3
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks! Keep your fingers crossed on that grape ivy. This time might be the charm.
greenelbows1
17 years ago
Fleuorescents, either CF or regular tube-types, grow great plants. I've had a Ceropegia (rosary vine) on my light stand for quite a while--have to give it away soon as it's getting too long!
mrbrownthumb
17 years ago
Good luck with the grape ivy.

I almost bought an new ivy this weekend at HD. I don't have the room for them but this one looked so cool. It was a regular green one but some parts of it were growing almost completely white leaves that were shaped like vampire fangs(?) is how best I can describe it.

I love CW I have two kinds and I can't help but want to collect more of them.
odyssey3
Original Author
17 years ago
Good to hear, GE. I hope mine gets to that stage. I'll probably trim it then because it is just so darn pretty in this spot. Have you had to repot at all, or does it just grow down?

MBT, that is funny you mention ivy. I haven't looked at ivy in years--seems so hum-drum. Just today I saw a pink tinged white & green ivy!! That was new to me and I almost bought it. Still might go back. The plant world always has surprises. I never tire of looking!
greenelbows1
17 years ago
re: the rosary vine--it just hangs down, but I did wind it up the other day on its pot. Sometimes they'll root that way to make more vines. I was just afraid it wasn't getting enough light to the ends. Actually I have a friend who was just saying she really likes that, and I have another one, so---

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