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Posted By: jdepoy11 House plants for dark room - February 21st, 2007 at 04:32 PM
Hi all! It's been a while since I've posted. I now live in Colorado and I'm trying to get some plants for our basement living room. THere is one window which gives decent light, but that is it. What would be some nice options for plants down there. I have two snake plants and a big palm. I need a nice sized plant that can handle very little light. any suggestions?
Posted By: chenno Re: House plants for dark room - February 21st, 2007 at 04:40 PM
Hi There
here are a few:-)
Spathyphyllum - Peace Lily
Draecena Marginata - Dragon Tree
Aspidistra elatior - Castiron plant
Diffenbachia - Dumb Cane (poisonous)
Aglaonema - Chinese Evergreen
Epipremnum - Pothos
Zamioculcas zamiifolia- ZZ plant or Cardboard Palm
Posted By: Anonymous Re: House plants for dark room - February 22nd, 2007 at 02:24 AM
i think that chenno just nailed it! i don't think i could add a thing! and welcome back.
Posted By: Aaron D Re: House plants for dark room - February 23rd, 2007 at 04:10 AM
well i, have to disagree ZZ plants or the "cycad aroid" (not carboard palm thats a name for a mexican cycad) they will live but... their new growth will become very pale and thin or leggy over time, they prefer lots of bright indirect light... next is cast irons they do very splendid indoors but with out good bright light, they just sit there and dont grow... the rest are excellent low light plants
Posted By: Aaron D Re: House plants for dark room - February 23rd, 2007 at 04:18 AM
many types of Phildendrons do well like the heart leaf vining P. oxycardium more commonly known as cordatum... many types of fern do well but they need a little bit of humidity...
Posted By: Star Dancer Re: House plants for dark room - February 23rd, 2007 at 08:05 AM
ZZ's grow comfortably in light ranging from low (adequate light in which to read a newspaper) to bright indirect. They also only require watering every few weeks - I water mine about once every 3-4 weeks - and are virtually pest resistant. If your ZZ does start becoming leggy, increase the light it receives, however, in my opinion, ZZ's are probably the best and easiest to care for low light plants available.
Posted By: chenno Re: House plants for dark room - February 23rd, 2007 at 04:10 PM
I agree,I have never had a problem with ZZ'S in low light. I think some plants are just easier to grow for some people as well:-) Considering conditions etc:-)
Posted By: jdepoy11 Re: House plants for dark room - February 23rd, 2007 at 09:55 PM
Wow!! You guys are great! That's why I love this site. Any questions or help I need is always provided right away with lots of helpful suggestions!! Thanks again!!
Posted By: chenno Re: House plants for dark room - February 23rd, 2007 at 11:02 PM
Glad it helped you...I know what you mean;-)I always find all my answers here..
Posted By: jdepoy11 Re: House plants for dark room - February 26th, 2007 at 10:34 PM
I have a Dracaena Fragrans..corn plant.. down there right now. They can do well in low light right? I got it as a hand me down and it has a horrible pest problem. Little centipede looking bugs. I was doing the soapy water treatment, but I think the infestation is so bad I'll have to over water it to kill all these bugs. So I'm going to repot with new clean soil ( african violet mix with some extra perlite). Any tips on making sure I get rid of all these gross little bugs? Am I doing the right things here? Duh Duh
Posted By: Aaron D Re: House plants for dark room - February 27th, 2007 at 03:22 AM
corn plants or "mass canes" generally in the trade, will do ok in low light but if you see pale leaf growth or none at all within a few months it wont be enough light. long.. and they roll up into a ball when scared???sounds like millipede infestation i get this all the time at my job... they arent hermful to the plant but they are eating the rotting material in the organic soil, they probably got there from eggs laid by the mother which will take shelter indoors on cold night... the plant and odor from the soil always attracts pill bugs and millipedes... its natural they usually drown when you water the plant
Posted By: Anonymous Re: House plants for dark room - February 27th, 2007 at 03:24 AM
they do. and if you soak it in a tub of water, it will help the bug problem, just let it drain well when you are done.
Posted By: Milin Re: House plants for dark room - February 27th, 2007 at 03:17 PM
I would add five more to Chenno's list:

Begonia foliosa

Euphorbia leuconeura

Microsorum pteropus (a fern)

Pilea microphylla

Selaginella martensii

All of them do very well in almost shade.

Milin
Posted By: chenno Re: House plants for dark room - February 27th, 2007 at 04:57 PM
Good ones Milin thumbup
Posted By: jdepoy11 Re: House plants for dark room - February 28th, 2007 at 06:50 PM
So the bugs won't hurt the plant? That's good news. There are A LOT of them. It's really gross actually. and there isn't any dead leaves or anything in the dirt so I was worried that the bugs were eating the roots. So if I repot and keep watering with the soap water it should take care of it. I can always move that plant upstairs to get more light if necessary, but it seems to be doing just fine with the exception of the free loaders living in the pot. Thanks again for the great suggestions. I'm gonna go shopping this weekend!! : )
Posted By: jdepoy11 Re: House plants for dark room - February 28th, 2007 at 06:54 PM
Oh.. by the way, they've got to be millipedes then because I know what rolli pollies are and it's not that.. smaller and skinnier than rollie pollies.. and grosser. : )
Posted By: Anonymous Re: House plants for dark room - March 1st, 2007 at 02:21 AM
i would just sit the pot that it is currently in, in a 5 gallon bucket, and fill it up so that the water covers the top of the soil. let it sit for an hour or two, then let it drain well. it will "deep" water the plant AND drown the bugs.
Posted By: Aaron D Re: House plants for dark room - March 1st, 2007 at 03:21 AM
yea no need to worry millipedes eat only decaying material and some fungi not live roots
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