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Suggestions needed for very small, fast-growing houseplants

9 years ago

I need ideas for small, fast-growing houseplants

I want to test various potting media (grit, coir, peat, bark, etc.), and need to use very small, fast-growing houseplants so the experiment doesn't take too much time or space. I want to see results fast!

I saw someone did this with African violets in soil and Al's gritty mix, but I don't know diddly about violets. How do they grow in winter? What else would you suggest for this time of year (keeping in mind that I have VERY limited funds, and limited space).

I'm thinking of using my philodendron oxycardium. It grows like a weed, and there's plenty of it for cuttings. I also have a million green spider plant pups, but I think they might actually be TOO hardy to make good test subjects. Oddly, and one of the reasons I have to test these growing media for myself, my fastest growing plants are still in their nursery soil, while normally fast-growing plants like pothos are falling behind (P. oxycardium is 2x the size of E. aureum purchased at same time).

Ideas, please. Thanks.

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Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
grass seed???

ken
kwie2011
Original Author
9 years ago
Yep, grass seed certainly would be fast. ;-).

I'd like to find something a little more familiar as a houseplant. I don't know whether grass ever does well as a houseplant, and I know nothing about growing the stuff.
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summersunlight
9 years ago
Syngonium.
Wandering jew
Swedish Ivy.
The Hoya cultivar named 'Pink Silver' grows extremely aggressively in my experience. It has to be 'Pink Silver' though, not just any hoya. The more common carnosa hoya is a slug in comparison.

This post was edited by summersunshine on Thu, Oct 30, 14 at 22:18
kwie2011
Original Author
9 years ago
Excellent suggestions! Thank you. Wandering Jew and Swedish ivy both root SO easily too. Brilliant!
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
Coleus might be fun, wax (or other cane type) Begonias. Various Rhipsalis. Callisia repens (inchplant.)

I love experiments. Let us know how it goes. Have fun!
kwie2011
Original Author
9 years ago
Can you believe I can't find any good plants for this? Swedish Ivy and Wandering Jew are nowhere to be found. Remember when they were in EVERYONE'S house? (I might be revealing my age).

I am not familiar with any of the plants you mention, Purp, except coleus, which is an excellent suggestion - FAST grower. I prefer to use plants I know, so maybe I can find it. Will it grow this time of year, in western Oregon gloom? I know it's often treated as an annual, but I don't think it actually is.

I don't suppose any of you have a Swedish Ivy / Charlie or a wandering Jew you're willing to pinch for the cause? I'll pay shipping, of course.

I'll have to lookup coleus, and see if anyone has any around here and if it'll grow okay.

I will start a thread and post updates once I get this little experiment off the ground.
lynngun
9 years ago
My fastest growing house plant is a pothos. Sorry that I can't be more help.
I wish you success with your experiment.
LG
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
Kwie, happy to send you a for-postage package of WJ & inchplant. I have that coming out of about 25 pots (as filler) when we can find a window of good weather. Send me a PM if you want to discuss it.

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