We may still be looking at our Christmas trees, loving the exotic beauty and accentuation that they bring to our city apartments. We know that in another few days though, it will be time to toss them to the curb (or to take them to the park for mulch-making). It’s dreary outside, and all of our Brooklyn tree-lined streets are leafless. The winter months ahead call for some houseplants, pronto! Here’s a list of some that I can earnestly say don’t die easily.
Aloe– For some beautiful reason, these plants want to thrive. A little water every few days, some light, and they don’t need anything else. I keep mine in our bathroom, and it seems to be quite happy with the shower steam and open windows that it’s subjected to daily.
Cactus– Again, once in a while I throw a little water into mine, and it needs nothing else except light. I love adding rocks and crystals to the pot around the cactus plant, so that they textures of the spikey needles can be contrasted with more shapes and colors. Fascinating, and easy as heck. Everyone loves succulents now, so cactii fit into that look and make perfect gifts…definitely in style.
Jade Plant– There’s nothing like a warm room in the winter, with some sweet music playing and a substantial jade plant soaking it all in. They can deal with incense, artificial light, and the comings and goings of multiple family members. These plants have a generous vibe to them, and you know you’re doing well when they grow forever without dying. They reflect the spirit of their owners, I have found.
Peace Lily- Great with or without their flowers, these plants are beautiful but a tiny bit toxic, so keep them up on a shelf or mantle away from small kids and animals. As a perennial, it will live for more than two years.
Norfolk Island Pine- Mist, mist, mist. These sweet small pines need to feel like they’re in a foggy forest in order to be happy. Allow the soil to dry completely out before watering again, if you decide to water. Try not to put them anywhere under 50 degrees. Another tip about these great plants is that they adore natural light. There’s never enough for them! Turn them around every few days to keep their light-loving branches growing symmetrically.
Dieffenbachia- As I have production designed a number of student films, commercials, and videos of all sorts, I know these as the quintessential “office plant.” Let’s take that stereotype, re-pot it from the bland plastic pot that it came in, and turn it into something more glamorous. These indoor gems can take a beating, so if you live in a basement, or have a room with limited light, don’t be afraid to bring a dieffenbachia into the mix. It’s OK.
Areca Palm- Also known as a Victorian Parlor Palm, this is a great plant for a wintery New York City room.
Fiddle Leaf Fig- usually grows indoors in living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms- where filtered sunlight is available. Putting it in direct sunlight is not advisable. That being said, it likes warm and bright environments
Snake Plant– otherwise known as “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue” plants can really weather a lot of neglect from busy families. You don’t need to worry about this one. It’s happy to just have a home.
For some more information, I spoke with one of New York City’s best Ecological Landscapers, Justin Hova, who also has a degree from the New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture. He says that, “A good cure for the NYC winter blues is to take a trip to 28th street flower market (go in the morning if you can), get a plant, and cab or Uber it home. If you have at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, there’s nothing better than a standard Meyer Lemon tree for fragrant blooms and a gorgeous fruit. Standards are plants that are pruned to look like mini trees. Make sure you have good drainage, most pots come with trays you can use underneath, or, better yet, you can get a decorative ceramic pot and insert a plastic liner in if you’re concerned with spillage. A good rule of thumb is to have two finger lengths between the root ball and the edge of the pot. I almost always transplant after purchase, even if it is to a better quality plastic pot. If you have low light, I recommend Begonias (from Logees online catalog). I suggest getting three and combining them in a planter with Wire Vine or Baby’s Tears, Bird’s Nest Fern, Limelight, and Hoya Wax Plants. If you have lots of high light, get a Fiddle Leaf Fig, Pony Tail Palm, or a Dwarf Date Palm.”
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Ecological landscaper Justin Hova is currently managing an 88 acre estate in Westchester and consulting on a 34 acre property on Martha’s Vineyard. He is working with noted landscape architect Darrel Morrison developing native plant communities and non chemical maintenance programs. Justin is involved and responsible for all aspects of sourcing, planning and budgetary concerns as well as installation and maintenance personnel. Previously Justin was installing and maintaining roof gardens in NYC. He has also worked for NYC parks department. He began his career working on summer homes and estates in Columbia County, and the Berkshires. He is a graduate of NYBG’s SOPH program.
Rebecca Conroy is an artist, stylist, and Editor of A Child Grows in Brooklyn. She is from New York City, and has an MFA from Columbia University in screenwriting. Rebecca often finds herself on film and photography sets making things run or look better, and is the mom of two outrageously wonderful kids.