Hello, friends!
The lilies have faded, and pansies and chrysanthemums have taken their places. They’ll lend an autumnal backdrop as we sip pumpkin lattes while wearing plaid flannel shirts around the firepit, but then what? Once the leaves have dropped and the black-eyed Susan seedheads have become brittle, brown shadows of their former selves, where’s a plant lover to turn?
Houseplants! They’re having a moment, with indoor “jungles” filling Instagram feeds, and trendy-but-fickle plants (orchids, anyone?) disappointing many new houseplant parents.
But if you’re new to houseplants, fear not: There are plenty of options that are virtually impossible to kill. To get started, try one of these four:
Chinese evergreen
Water it regularly or forget for a few weeks. Totally fine. Give it a lot of light or a little. It. Just. Doesn't. Care. (Toxic to people and pets).
ZZ plant
An excellent choice for first-timers, this lowlight plant commands attention with its glossy foliage and upright habit. It’ll reach up to 3 feet tall and doesn’t require a lot of care — or water. (All plant parts are poisonous; keep out of reach of children and pets. And wash your hands after handling.)
Spider plant
Safe for pets, safe for humans (that doesn’t mean they’re edible, though, obviously), spider plants are lovely roommates. Plant in potting mix that's well-draining and formulated for houseplants, give them bright, indirect light and remember to water them now and then. Trim off baby spiderettes and twist them into soil to make new plants. If tips turn brown, trim them. (You can learn about Lila here.)
Pothos
Any light. Any soil. Heck, they don't even need soil. These tough guys can grow in straight water. Toxic if ingested by people or pets.
If you have small children, take care to place all houseplants out of their reach. Consider, too, the lure and accessibility of vining plants; place them on high shelves. Even if they are not poisonous, they can be pulled down and cause injury. And all plants can pose choking hazards.
Check with National Capital Poison Control (poison.org/articles/plant or 800-222-1222) before bringing a houseplant into a home with children and be aware that plants labeled as safe for cats or dogs might not be safe for humans (and vice versa).
And remember that just because a substance (or plant) is not considered “poisonous,” that doesn’t mean it isn’t “toxic.” If it’s neither, it can still be harmful if eaten. To be safe, stick with African violet (a diva, unfortunately), begonia, Christmas cactus, coleus, dracaena, jade, spider plant and kitchen herbs, which are among those considered safe for growing around children, according to the nonprofit National Capital Poison Center (poison.org).
More on pet-safe plants:
💡 If you do one thing this week…
Plant spinach from now through Thanksgiving, and it will be ready for a spring harvest.
📬 Ask Jessica
DEAR JESSICA: Can I leave this year's landscape cloth in place for next year or should I pick it up and put it back down next spring? I used it under our vegetable garden plants, and we had great growth and minimal weeding.
It took my husband quite a while to measure it and stake it down. He really wants to leave it in place and use it next year. He hopes we can fertilize into the places that are open where we put in the plants next year. —Marilyn Gilbert
DEAR MARILYN: Since what you have (confirmed via email) is “landscape fabric,” which is typically woven with polyester, and not plastic sheeting, you can certainly leave it in place, and I do understand why your husband would want to.
However, just know that the fabric will deteriorate over time. Leaving it in place during winter, when it will likely be exposed to several freeze-thaw cycles and be buried under snow for some of the time, will require you to replace it sooner than if you were to remove it during the off-season. (Plastic sheeting should always be removed because just as it suppresses weeds by smothering them, it also kills earthworms and beneficial insects and can diminish soil nutrients. Plus, some harmful chemicals from the plastic can leach into the soil.)
👏 Sunday shoutout
Robert A. Rehm enjoys a seasonal succession of color in his Jericho, NY, garden. I see two different rhododendrons, peonies, daylilies, lilies, hosta -- and amaryllis! Beautiful!
👉👉If you’re enjoying this newsletter, why not share it with a gardening friend?
📧 Send me your feedback!
I welcome your comments and suggestions, so please send them along — as well as any topics you’d like to see covered and questions you’d like answered in the Ask Jessica section.