Summary of Cultural Care Table 3 provides a listing of more than 200 plants and their cultural requirements. To summarize cultural care guidelines, the following abbreviations and coding numbers are used. These guidelines apply to actively growing indoor plants. L = Light Sunny light areas: At least 4 hours of direct sun High-light areas: Over 200 ft-c, but not direct sun Medium-light areas: 75 ft-c to 200 ft-c Low-light areas: 25 ft-c to 75 ft-c T = Temperature Cool: 50°F night, 65°F day temperatures Average: 65°F night, 75°F day temperatures Warm: 70°F night, 85°F day temperatures H = Relative Humidity High: 50% or higher Average: 25% to 49% Low: 5% to 24% W = Watering Keep soil mix moist Surface of soil mix should dry before re-watering Soil mix can become moderately dry before re-watering S = Suggested Soil Mix For specific ingredients, refer to the various growing mixes in “Soil/Growing Medium.” The soil mixes are keyed as follows: Flowering house plants Foliage plants Bromeliads Orchids Succulents and cacti Ferns African violets and other Gesneriads Table 3. Indoor plants and their cultural requirements (adopted from McConnell, D. B. 1978) Botanical Name Common Name Cultural Care L T H W S Abutilon hybridum Flowering Maple 1 1 2 2 1 Acalypha hispida Chenile Plant 1 2 2 2 1 Achimenes hybrids Magic Flower 2 2 2 1 7 Acorus calamus Sweet Flag 2-3 2 2 1 2 Acorus gramineus Miniature Sweet Flag 2-3 2 2 1 2 Adiantum raddianum Maidenhair Fern 2-3 2 1 1 6 Adromischus cristatus Crinkle-Leaf Plant 2-3 2 2 2 5 Adromischus festivus Plover Eggs 2-3 2 2 2 5 Aechmea fasciata Silver Vase 2-3 2 2 2 3 Aechmea miniata ‘Discolor’ Purplish Coral Berry 2-3 2 2 2 3 Aechmea ‘Royal Wine’ Royal Wine Bromeliad 2-3 2 2 1 3 Aeschynanthus marmoratus Zebra Basket Vine 2 2 2 1 7 Aeschynanthus pulcher Lipstick Vine 2 2 2 1 7 Agave Americana ‘Marginata’ Variegated Century Plant 1 2 3 3 5 Agave victoriae-reginae Queen Agave 1 2 2 2 5 Aglaonema modestum Chinese Evergreen 3-4 2 2 2 2 Aglaonema ‘Silver King’ Silver King 3-4 2 2 2 2 Aglaonema ‘Silver Queen’ Silver Queen 3-4 2 2 2 2 Allamanda cathartica Allamanda 1 2 1-2 2 1 Alloplectus nummularia Miniature Pouch Flower 2-3 2 1-2 1 7 Aloe aborescens Candelabra Plant 1 3 3 3 5 Aloe barbadensis Medicine Plant 1 3 3 3 5 Aloe brevifolia Brevifolia Aloe 1 3 3 3 5 Ananas comosus Pineapple 1-2 2 2 1 3 Anthurium clarinervium Dwarf Crystal Anthurium 2-3 2 1-2 1 2 Anthurium hookeri Bird’s Nest Anthurium 2-3 2 1-2 1 2 Anthurium scherzeranum Flamingo Flower 2-3 2 1-2 1 6 Aphelandra squarrosa Zebra Plant 2 2 2 1 2 Araucaria heterophylla Norfolk Island Pine 2-3 2 2 1 2 Ardissa crenata Ardisia 2-3 2 2 1 2 Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’ Plume Asparagus 2-3 2 2 2 2 Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ Foxtail Fern 2-3 2 2 2 2 Asparagus falcatus Sickle Thorn 2-3 2 2 2 2 Aspidistra elatior Cast Iron Plant 3-4 2 3 2 2 Asplenium daucifolium Mother Fern 3 2 2 1 6 Asokebuyn budys Bird’s Nest Fern 3 2 2 1 6 Astrophytum myriostigma Bishop’s Cap 2 2 3 3 5 Beaucarnea recurvata Ponytail 1 2 3 3 5 Begonia cubensis Cuban Holly 2-3 2 2 2 2 Begonia metallica Metallic Leaf Begonia 2-3 2 2 2 2 Begonia x rex-cultorum Rex Begonia 2-3 2 2 2 2 Begonia semperflorens Wax Begonia 1-2 1 2 2 1 Billbergia nutans Queen’s Tears 2-3 2 2 2 3 Billbergia pyramidalis Urn Plant 2-3 2 2 2 3 Billbergia zebrina Zebra Plant 2-3 2 2 2 3 Bougainvillea spp. Bougainvillea 1 2 3 3 1 Brassaia actinophylla Schefflera 2-3 2 2 2 2 Brassaia arboricola Dwarf Schefflera 2-3 2 2 2 2 Caladium spp. Caladium 2 2 1 1 2 Calathea insignis Rattlesnake Plant 2-3 2 2 1 2 Calathea makoyana Peacock Plant 2-3 2 2 1 2 Calathea micans Miniature Maranta 2-3 2 2 1 2 Calathea roseopicta Rose Calathea 2-3 2 2 1 2 Calceolaria crenatiflora Slipperwort 2 1 1 1 1 Callisia elegans Striped Inch Plant 2-3 2 2 2 2 Carissa grandiflora ‘Bonsai’ Bonsai Natal Plum 1-2 2-3 2 2 1 Carissa grandiflora ‘Boxwood Beauty’ Boxwood Beauty 1-2 2-3 2 2 1 Caryota mitis Fishtail Palm 2-3 2 2 2 2 Catharanthus roseus Madagascar Periwinkle 1-2 2 1-2 2 1 Cereus peruvianus Peruvian Apple Cactus 1 2-3 3 3 5 Ceropegia woodii Rosary Vine 2-3 2 2 2 5 Chamaedorea elegans Parlor Palm 3-4 2 2 2 2 Chamaedorea erumpens Bamboo Palm 3-4 2 2 2 2 Chamaerops humilis European Fan Palm 2-3 2 2 2 2 Chirita lavandulacea Hindustan Gentian 2-3 2 1-2 1 7 Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’ Variegated Spider Plant 2-3 2 2 1 2 Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’ Spider Plant 2-3 2 2 1 2 Chrysalidocarpus lutescens Areca Palm 2-3 2 2 1 2 Chrysanthemum morifolium Chrysanthemum 1 2 2 1 1 Cissus antarctica Kangaroo Vine 2-3 2 2 2 2 Cissus rhombifolia Grape Leaf Ivy 2-3 2 2 2 2 Cissus rotundifolia Wax Cissus 2 2 3 3 2 Cissus striata Miniature Grape Ivy 2-3 2 2 2 2 Citrofortunella mitis Calamondin Orange 1-2 1 2 2 1 Clivia miniata ‘Grandiflora’ Kafir Lily 2 2 2 2 1 Codiaeum variegatum Croton 1 2 1 1 2 Coffeaa arabica Coffee 2 2 2 2 1 Coleus blumeri Coleus 2-3 2 2 2 1 Colummea hybrids Goldfish Plant 2-3 2 1-2 1 7 Cordyline terminalis Ti Plant 2 1-2 2 2 2 Crassula argentea Jade Plant 2-3 2 2 2 2 Crassula falcata Propeller Plant 1-2 2 2 3 5 Crassula hemisphaerica Arab’s Turban 1-2 2 2 3 5 Crassula lycopodioides Toy Cypress 1-2 2 2 2 5 Crassula schmidtii Red Flowering Crassula 2-3 2 2 2 5 Crassula teres Rattlesnake Tail 2-3 2 3 3 5 Crossandra infundibuliformis Crossandra 2 2 2 1 1 Cryptanthus bivittatus ‘Minor’ Dwarf Rose Stripe Star 2 2 2 2 3 Cryptanthus fosteranus Stiff Pheasant Leaf 2 2 2 2 3 Cryptanthus zonatus Zebra Plant 2 2 2 2 3 Cyrtomium falcatum ‘Rochfordianum’ House Holly Fern 2-3 2 2 2 6 Davallia fejeensis Rabbit’s Foot Fern 2-3 2 1 1 3 Dieffenbachia ‘Exotica Perfection’ Exotica Perfection 2-3 2 2 2 2 Dieffenbachia maculata Spotted Dumb Cane 3 2 2 2 2 Dizygotheca elegantissima False Aralia 2-3 2 2 2 2 Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’ Janet Craig 2-4 2 2 2 2 Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckii’ Warneckii 2-4 2 2 2 2 Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’ Corn Plant 2-3 2 2 2 2 Dracaena marginata Marginata 2-4 2 2 2 2 Dracaena surculosa Gold Dust Dracaena 2-4 2 2 2 2 Dyckia brevifolia Miniature Agave 1-2 2 3 2-3 2 Dyckia fosterana Silver and Gold Dyckia 1-2 2 3 2-3 3 Echeveria agavoides Molded Wax 1-2 2 3 3 5 Echeveria elegans Mexican Snowball 1-2 2 3 3 5 Echinocereus reichenbachii Lace Cactus 1-2 2 3 3 5 Epidendrum atropurpureum Spice Orchid 2 2 1-2 1 4 Epiphyllum hybrids Orchid Cacti 2 2 2 2 1 Epipremnum aureum Golden Pothos 2-4 2 2 2 2 Epipremnum aureum ‘Marble Queen’ Marble Queen 2-4 2 2 2 2 Episcia cupreata Flame Violet 2 2-3 1 1 7 Episcia dianthiflora Lace-Flower Vine 2 2-3 1 1 7 Episcia reptans Scarlet Violet 2 2-3 1 1 7 Euphorbia coeralescens Blue Euphorbia 2-3 2 2-3 2-3 5 Euphorbia mammillaris Corncob Cactus 1 2 2-3 3 5 Euphorbia milii splendens Crown-of-Thorns 1 2 2-3 3 5 Euphorbia pulcherrima Poinsettia 1-2 2 2 2 1 Euphorbia tirucalli Milkbush 1-2 2 2 2 1 Fatshedera lizei Botanical Wonder Plant 2-3 1-2 2 2 2 Fatsia japonica Japanese Aralia 3-4 1-2 2 2 2 Ficus benjamina Weeping Fig 1-3 2 2 2 2 Ficus deltoidea Mistletoe Ficus 2-3 2 2 2 2 Ficus elastica ‘Decora’ Rubber Plant 1-3 2-3 2 2 2 Ficus lyrata Fiddle-Leaf Fig 1-3 2 2 2 2 Ficus pumila ‘Minima’ Dwarf Creeping Fig 2-3 2 2 2 2 Ficus retusa Cuban Laurel 2-3 2 2 2 2 Ficus sagittata Rooting Fig 2-3 2 2 2 2 Ficus willdemaniana Dwarf Fiddle-Leaf Fig 2-3 2 2 2 2 Fittonia verschaffeltii Red-Nerved Fittonia 2-3 2 1 1 2 Fittonia verschaffeltii argyroneura Silver-Nerved Fittonia 2-3 2 1 1 2 Fuchsia hybrida Fuchsias 2 1-2 1 1 1 Gasteria hybrida Ox Tongue 2 2 2 3 5 Graptopetalum amethystinum Jewel Leaf Plant 2-3 2 2-3 3 5 Guzmania lingulata ‘Major’ Scarlet Star 2 2 1 2 3 Guzmania monostachia Striped Torch 2 2 1 2 3 Gynura aurantiaca ‘Purple Passion’ Purple Passion 2-3 2 2 2 2 Haworthia cuspidata Star Window Plant 1-2 2 3 2-3 5 Haworthia fasciata Zebra Haworthia 1-2 2 3 2-3 5 Haworthia subfasciata Little Zebra Plant 2 2 3 2-3 5 Haworthia truncata Clipped Window Plant 1-2 2 3 3 5 Hedera canariensis Algerian Ivy 2-3 1-2 2 2 1 Hedera helix English Ivy 2-3 1-2 2 2 1 Hemigraphis alternata Waffle Plant 2-3 2 2 2 2 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Chinese Hibiscus 1 2 2 2 1 Hippeastrum hybrids Amaryllis 2 2 2 2 1 Howea belmoreana Belmore Sentry Palm 3-2 2 2 2 2 Howea forsterana Kentia Palm 2-4 2 2 2 2 Hoya carnosa ‘Variegata’ Wax Plant 2-3 2 2-3 2 2 Hoya kerrii Sweetheart Hoya 2 2 2 2 2 Hyacinthus orientalis Hyacinth 2 1-2 2 1 1 Impatiens wallerana ‘Variegata’ Busy Lizzie Impatiens 2-3 2 2 2 1 Ixora coccinea Ixora 1 2 2 2 1 Jatropha integerrima Peregrian 1 2 2 2 1 Justicia brandegeana Shrimp Plant 1-2 2 2 2 1 Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Christmas Kalanchoe 1-2 2 2 2 1 Kalanchoe pumila Dwarf Purple Kalanchoe 1-2 2 2-3 3 5 Kalanchoe tomentosa Panda Plant 1-2 2 2-3 3 5 Malvaviscus arboreus Turk’s Cap 1 2 2 1 1 Mammillaria bocasana Powder Puff 1-2 2 3 3 5 Manettia inflata Firecracker Plant 2 2 1-2 2 1 Maranta leuconeura erythroneura Red Nerve Plant 2-3 2 2 2 2 Maranta leuconeura kerchoviana Prayer Plant 2-3 2 2 2 2 Mikania ternata Plush Vine 2-3 2 2 2 2 Monstera deliciosa Philodendron Pertusum 2-4 2 2 2 2 Monstera obliqua Window Leaf 3 2 2 2 2 Nautilocalyx lynchii Black Alloplectus 2-3 2 2 1 7 Neoregelia carolinae ‘Tricolor’ Tricolor Bromeliad 2-3 2 2 2 3 Neoregelia spectabilis Fingernail Plant 2-3 2 2 2 3 Neoregelia zonata Zonata 2-3 2 2 2 3 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’ Boston Fern 2-3 2 1-2 2 6 Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Fluffy Ruffles’ Fluffy Ruffles 2-3 2 1 2 6 Nidularium innocentii nana Miniature Bird’s Nest 2-3 2 2 1 3 Opuntia vilis Little Tree Cactus 1-2 2 3 3 5 Opuntia vulgaris Irish Mittens 1-2 2 3 3 5 Oxalis flava Finger Oxalis 1-2 2 2 2 1 Oxalis rubra Red Oxalis 1-2 2 2 2 1 Pachyphytum oviferum Pearly Moonstones 1-2 2 2-3 2-3 5 Pachystachys lutea Yellow Shrimp Plant 2-3 2 2 2 1 Paphiopedilum hybrids Ladyslipper Orchids 2-3 2 2 1-2 4 Pedilanthus tithymaloides ‘Variegatus’ Devil’s Backbone 2-3 2 2 2 5 Pelargonium hortorum House Geranium 1-2 1-2 2-3 2 1 Pelargoniium peltatum Ivy Geranium 1-2 1-2 2 2 1 Pellaea rotundifolia Button Fern 2-3 2 2 1-2 6 Pellionia pulchra Satin Pellionia 2-3 2 2 1-2 2 Pentas lanceolata Egyptian Star Cluster 1 2 2 2 1 Peperomia caperata Emerald Ripple 2-3 2 2 2 2 Peperomia crassifolia Leather Peperomia 2-3 2 2 2 2 Peperomia obtusifolia Baby Rubber Tree 2-3 2 2 2 2 Philodendron bipennifolium Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron 3-4 2 2 2 2 Philodendron ‘Emerald Queen’ Emerald Queen 2-4 2 2 2 2 Philodendron ‘Florida’ Florida 2-4 2 2 2 2 Philodendron scandens oxycardium Heart-Leaf Philodendron 2-4 2 2 2 2 Philodendron selloum Selloum 2-4 2 2 2 2 Phoenix roebelenii Pigmy Date Palm 2-3 2 2 2 2 Pilea cadierei Aluminum Plant 2-3 2 1-2 1 2 Pilea microphylla Artillery Plant 2-3 2 1 1 2 Platycerium bifurcatum Staghorn Fern 2-3 2 2 2 6 Plectranthus australis Swedish Ivy 2-3 2 2 2 2 Plectranthus australis Candle Plant 2-3 2 2 2 2 Podocarpus macrophyllus Podocarpus 2-3 2 2 2 2 Polyscias balfouriana ‘Marginata’ Variegated Balfour Aralia 2-3 2 2 2 2 Polyscias fruticosa Ming Aralia 2-3 2 2 2 2 Rhapis excelsa Lady Palm 2-3 2 2 2 2 Rhododendron hybrids Azaleas 2 1-2 1 1 2 Ruellia graeciznas Red-Spray Ruellia 1-2 2 2 2 1 Saintpaulia hybrids African Violets 2-3 2 2 1 7 Sansevieria parva Parva Sansevieria 2-3 2 3 2-3 5 Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’ Birdsnest Sansevieria 2-4 2 3 2-3 5 Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’ Gold-Banded Sansevieria 2-4 2 3 2-3 5 Saxifraga stolonifera Strawberry Geranium 2-3 1-2 2 2 2 Schlumbergera bridgesii Christmas Cactus 2-3 2 2 2 2 Schlumbergera truncata Christmas Cactus 2-3 2 2 2 2 Scindapsus pictus Silver Pothos 3 2 2 2 2 Sedum spectabile Showy Sedum 1-2 1-2 2-3 2-3 5 Sempervivum arachniodeum Cow Web Houseleek 1-2 1-2 2-3 2-3 5 Setcreasea pallida ‘Purple Heart’ Purple Heart 1-2 2 2 2 2 Sinningia speciosa Gloxinia 2-3 2 1-2 2 7 Soleirolia soleirolii Baby Tears 2-3 2 1-2 1 2 Spathiphyllum ‘Clevelandii’ Peace Lily 2-3 2 2 1 2 Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’ Mauna Loa 2-3 2 2 1 2 Stapelia nobilis Carrion Flower 1-2 2 2-3 2-3 5 Streptocarpus x hybridus Cape Primrose 2-3 2 2 2 7 Strobilanthes dyeranum Persian Shield 2-3 2 2 2 2 Syngonium podophyllum Nephthytis 2-4 2 2 2 2 Trillandsia bulbosa Dancing Bulb 2 2 2 2 3 Tillandsia lindenii Blue-Flowered Torch 2 2 2 2 3 Tolmiea menziesii Piggyback Plant 2 1-2 2 2 2 Tradescantia blossfeldiana Flowering Inch Plant 2-3 2 2 2 2 Tradescantia sillamontana White Velvet 2-3 2 2 2 2 Vriesea splendens Flaming Sword 2 2 2 2 3 Yucca elephantipes Spineless Yucca 2 2 3 2 2 Zebrina pendula Wandering Jew 2-3 2 2 2 2
Posted on: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 19:46:42 +0000