A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2003 Plant ideas

I am just full of questions today. I'm going to have to go to gardening next, for my outdoor plants.


I am looking for ideas for a plant/tree for the corner of my living room.

There are two windows in the middle of the north wall. There are no trees or shrubs outside to block any of the light from the windows, and I make a point to open the shades every morning.

The corner I want to fill is at the connection of the south and west walls, there will be no light coming from the backside. The corner is about 15 feet from the window.

There isn't anything other than distance that would block the light between the window and the corner.

That might be too much information, but I wanted to give as much as I could. I would like a plant/tree that would grow up, but not out too much so it feels in the corner nicely. Something that blooms would be cool, but is not a requirement. Any ideas?

Thank you.

Will will be along with more ideas later, but for now, this is what I would do. If you want blooms, a peace lily would do nicely if you put it on a plant stand and turn it a 1/4 turn once or twice a week. A rubber plant is good, any of the dracaena family, or a schefflera. the peace lily is the only one that will bloom that I am aware of, but it will only get as large as it's pot and blooms better if it is pot bound and a little neglected (read - allowed to start to wilt before watering). I have one that gets turned when I water it in my southwest facing kitchen window. hope this helps,
like I said, Will will be along with more ideas.

Thank you again Jiffy!!!

I have a peace lilly upstairs, or at least a variation on it, big broad leaves, but same style of growth and bloom as the thinner leaves I am used to. It sits in a south window and is doing great.

I also have a dracaena (cane style) in the opposite corner of the room from the one I am looking to fill. I like your taste in plants though!

The rubber plant sounds like a good idea.

What is a schefflera?

Scott

a schefflera is also called an umbrella tree, but there is another plant also called the umbrella tree. the shefflera has 7 leaves growing from a center stem and grows by putting out a new stem from the base of the last one, creating a cane like effect while having those gorgeous green leaves that just gett bigger and bigger until the leaves form a sort of "umbrella". the "umbrella" will get about as big as a saucer before they stop growing.

Ahh, I have something called an umbrella tree but I don't think it is the same thing. As it only has five leaves coming off the stem. I got it from a cutting and it hasn't grown yet, so I don't know what it will do then.

Scott

There's another name for that tree, I believe it's called an arboricola. Don't know if it's exactly the same one, but I had one, and I think it's the same. Hope it helps! Happy gardening!

Scott,

The information that you provided was all essential. (I wish others were as detailed as you are).

Light intensity drops off dramatically (geometrically for the mathematically inclined) as distance from the light source increases. Fifteen feet from an unobstructed north window is very low light. That limits your plant options severely.

Forget the rubber plant and the Scheffleras. Dracaena 'Janet Craig' and Dracaena 'Lisa' are upright plants that will look good in a corner. They survive low light even better than the ubiquitous corn plant. A pothos 'totem' would do well and fit nicely into a corner. A Chinese evergreen is suited to the low light, but has a shorter and fuller appearance. A peace lily will do OK, but it will not flower much in that light. Finally, a Kentia palm is an excellent choice, if you have lots of money to spend (accept no substitute palms).