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"The
beauty of these plants doesn’t end with their versatility. They
are so easy to grow that even a novice with a dimly-lit “problem
room” could keep one alive, and could even see it bloom."
We’ve all been
told that at this time of year (April) the days really are getting longer,
at least in the northern hemisphere. But evidence of this may be in
short supply for a few more months, and even as you begin to be able
to discern that indeed there are a few more rays of light each day,
the interior of your home remains dark as a cave. And that’s no
place to grow plants, is it?
Well, it may still
be possible for you to provide a loving home for a houseplant, even
in a room that isn’t exactly flooded with light. Introducing the
Mauna Loa, or Peace Lily, a plant which is rapidly becoming the
cave-dweller’s best botanical friend.
If you don’t
recognize this plant from your recent trek up Hawaii’s Mauna Loa,
the world’s largest active volcano, you may recognize it from your
trips to the shopping mall. Peace Lilies are favorites of commercial
interior designers, for precisely the same reason they’ll be good
for you: they’re easy to grow, and they can even grow in the
dimmest, innermost sanctum of the shopping mall, where any kind of
natural life seems in short supply.
The
plants — which also go by their scientific name Spathiphyllum
sp.— are easily identifiable by their dark green, elongated oval
leaves. The deep green is offset by the white flower, providing a
striking color contrast.
While
shopping malls aren’t known for their creative floral displays,
these plants certainly won’t look as fake and plasticky in your
home as they do in the food court. A group of them, potted in an
elegant black matte vase, will draw the eye to an otherwise
“dead” corner of a room. Consider the colors in the room where
the plant will be placed; the classic deep green foliage and
brilliant white flower will enhance almost any color scheme.
Likewise, the Peace lilies will fit in with nearly any style of décor.
You can imagine a large, old-fashioned planter, maybe with an
elaborate vine design in bas relief, planted with Peace lilies and
placed in a room furnished in a Victorian style, with an Oriental
carpet and carved mahogany coffee table. Or, picture a Peace Lily
planted in a sleek black marble planter, and set in a room with a
glass coffee table and ultra-modern furniture. Either way, the plant
would only enhance the room, bringing life to an otherwise dull
corner.
First,
consider just how deprived of light any plant feels when
it’s held captive indoors. Even as the days do grow longer,
the light available indoors will only register 500 foot
candles, or less — compare this to the 10,000 foot candles
that are recorded by a bright sunny day outdoors. In the
current political climate, we like thinking of the Mauna Loa
by its popular name, “Peace Lily,” but it’s also known
as the "Closet Plant," because it requires so little
light.
Another good
quality of the Peace Lily is that it does not require a lot of
water. Keep the soil slightly moist and mist occasionally in
dryer conditions. Keeping it humid will encourage it to bloom.
It does, however, require heat, and the air must stay at 65
degrees or above, making it a good choice for you if you have
an over-sized bathroom and you’re looking to bring some
color into it.
Just make sure, as
with any houseplant, that you don’t overwater it. Feel the soil
every few days to see if it’s moist, and water only when the soil
begins to dry out.
Other good choices
for low light areas are the Chinese evergreen, the Nephthytis or
Arrowhead vine, and various palms, such as the
Kentia
Palm, Devil's
Ivy, Cheese
Plant, Aroid
Palm, Peacock
Plant, Lady
Palm, and Parlour
Palm.
by Sarah Van Arsdale
Copyright Sheffield School of Interior Design
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