House plants

[Clever username]

A thrilling thread, I know, but I'm clueless when it comes to things like this. Basically, I'm wondering if there are any green, leafy house plants that don't require an abundance of light. I'm pretty sure a lack of light is why my last one died, but there's no spot in my apartment that really gets a lot of direct sunlight. It may also have been my inconsistent watering, but I'm more thinking it was the light issue.

And yes, I could get a cactus, water it twice a year and not worry about it, but I don't want one.

 

[zeke12]

Get a spider plant or the vine-like ones labeled pothos.

They're hard to kill and cheap to replace.

 

[buckweaver]

Cactus, contrary to popular opinion, are easier to kill than one is led to believe.

Or, maybe it's just me. :-\

 

[Clever username]

Get a spider plant or the vine-like ones labeled pothos.

They're hard to kill and cheap to replace.

Spider plant -- genius. My mom had like 47 of those. They never did die. Never even thought of that.

 

[zeke12]

Get a spider plant or the vine-like ones labeled pothos.

They're hard to kill and cheap to replace.

Spider plant -- genius. My mom had like 47 of those. They never did die. Never even thought of that.

And, once a year or so, your spider plant will have babies.

Snip those ****ers off, fill an ice cube tray with water and stick the little plants into the water. Wait a couple days until you can see roots.

Bingo. More spider plants. Give 'em to your friends.

 

[Dyno]

Philodendrons are pretty low maintenance. You just have to water them about once a week and they grow like weeds. I've got some cuttings from one growing well in just a vase full of water.

Sadly, like buckweaver, I've killed a cactus, too.

 

[Clever username]

How do you kill a cactus?

 

[Dyno]

How do you kill a cactus?

I watered mine too much. It rotted from the inside.

 

[zeke12]

How do you kill a cactus?

Over watering. Which is actually how most house plants get killed.

 

[buckweaver]

Mine didn't get enough sunlight, I presume. Didn't really have a chance in my old place, though.

 

[Mayfly]

How do you kill a cactus?

Stab it's tires.

Oh wait. That's how to stop a prick driving a BMW.

 

[Clever username]

Yes, I am that bored.

 

[Eagleboy]

Yes, I am that bored.

Dude, that was awesome.

 

[Firstime Caller]

How do you kill a cactus?

Ashamed to admit, but I've actually killed a few succulents.

Once on a REALLY hot day, I bought one and had it in the car for a few hours. Even with the windows open, it wilted in the heat and never really recovered after I got it home and planted it.

Another one, I don't know if I watered it enough or if it didn't get enough light in my yard, but it was getting sort of wilted out there. So I moved it inside to try to get it some different light and tried watering it a bit more, but I couldn't save it.

I think I actually underwater my succulents because everybody always tried to impress on me not to overwater them.

 

[joe]

Mine didn't get enough sunlight, I presume. Didn't really have a chance in my old place, though.

Focker.

 

[User 1019]

My wife is better at killing plants -- indoors or out -- than anyone I've ever seen. So bad, in fact, that I scream "murder" whenever she even looks at a plant or potting equipment.

=====

And I can't believe no one here's made a pot joke. Jeez. You people are slipping.

 

[Clever username]

And I can't believe no one here's made a pot joke. Jeez. You people are slipping.

Maybe Jones has a story to tell, you know, as soon as he gets done terrorizing the neighborhood kids.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Cactus, contrary to popular opinion, are easier to kill than one is led to believe.

Or, maybe it's just me. :-\

I have killed every plant I ever owned, until one recently. One was a cactus. I had bought it for my mom when I was in 2nd grade at a school sale. When my dad sold his house he wanted me to have it. It took me 6 months to kill this plant that had grown humungous and thrived for 25 to 30 years. It depressed the hell out of me, because my mom is dead, and I felt like I had done her wrong.

My one success story is a bamboo plant. It was given to me as a gift about 5 yeras ago. It is in my office. I water it every day (my motto first thing is that I don't drink until it drinks) and it sits in the sun. It has really thrived and grown large. I am proud of it. Plus bamboo plants are supposed to be good luck.

 

[i look at pictures]

I kill plants like no other. I even kill other people's plants. Subletting an apartment a few summers ago, I promptly and effectively killed the owner's herb garden.

My sister, on the other hand, has had the same damn plant (even after moving across the country a few times) since she graduated undergrad 6 years ago.

I did keep a beta alive for 2 years, but he wasn't a plant.

 

[writing irish]

Snake plants. They don't need much light at all.

Cacti need a LOT of light to be happy. And the soil needs to drain well, otherwise almost any water might hurt them. They're actually pretty easy to kill.