Notes

A Provocative Rant About Colorful House Plants
Add Colorful House Plants to Your Home

Bring some color to your home, without having to rely solely on flowers. These houseplants with brightly colored leaves are easy to grow.

Pinstripe plants are a part of the philodendron, also known as snake plant. They have bands of color on their long leaves. These tropical houseplants thrive under low lighting conditions.

Croton

The vibrant, diverse markings on the croton leaves can add visual interest to any room. This exotic house plant is most known for its fiery colors however the variety of shapes and sizes makes it a standout all on its own.

This exotic plant can be cultivated indoors or outdoors. The narrow leaves are flecked with reds, greens, purples, and yellows creating an array of colors.

Bring it inside during cold snaps. This croton is prone to losing its color when exposed to cool temperatures or drafts. It is also susceptible to pest activity so be sure to check it often and spray with a horticultural insecticide if needed.

Fittonia

Fittonia is an eye-catching plant with dramatic deep green foliage and striking white, pink or red veins. It can brighten up a dark area and looks particularly mesmerizing when it is placed in a Terrarium.

It thrives in high humidity and warm temperatures, just like other tropical houseplants. Keep it in a warm space, away from cold windows and heaters that may dry out the air.

It grows best in well-draining potting soil, and it must be repotted every year. If it begins to appear like it's straggly, trim the tips to encourage bushier growth.

As with most tropical plants nerve plants require a weekly application of a liquid fertilizer designed for house plants during the growing season. It is recommended to apply a balanced 5-5-5 fertiliser diluted half strength. It also thrives in humid environment, so mist the leaves or introduce an air-tight tray to keep the humidity levels around it.

Calathea

If you choose to go with the bright green pin-stripe calathea, or the peacock plant that has dark purple, dark green and silver brush marks, these exotic house plants look gorgeous as a table centerpiece. Alternatively, their large oval leaves be used as floor plants that can be placed on low plant stands. Calatheas like moist air (between 50 and 80% humidity), but they don't thrive in moist soil. They do well in a well-drained potting mix comprising 2 parts peat and 1 part coco coir and a bit of orchid bark.

Water calatheas every week when the soil's top layer is dry to touch. Using filtered or rainwater rather than tap water will help prevent the accumulation of salts and other chemical compounds in the water that can cause damage to the plant. This is particularly important during winter, when the growth of the plant slows. It's also a great time to feed your plant with a liquid fertilizer for houseplants, diluted to half strength.

Red-edge Dracaena

Red-edge Dracaena offers a striking tropical look to your home. The plant is often mislabeled as to be a palm. It has slim stems and multiple canes, with clumps of thin green leaves that are cut in dark red or yellow.

It is easy to grow and thrives indoors, like all dracaenas. They prefer indirect light with a bright hue, but can tolerate less light conditions. They thrive in well-drained potting soil, but they might require fertilization on occasion. Root decay, brown tips or margins and insects are common problems.

These plants are famous for their ability to purify air. According to NASA's Clean Air Study, they are especially good at removing benzene from the air (produced by cigarette smoking, synthetic materials, and car exhaust), as well as xylene and formaldehyde. They are also extremely easy to propagate from cuttings which can be done at any time during the growing season by submerging them into rooting hormone and then placing them in a pot filled with moist soil.

Aluminum Plant

Pilea cadierei (commonly called aluminum plant or watermelon pilea) is a tropical houseplant which develops as a mounded mound of quilted green leaves with distinctive silver stripes. It's an extremely attractive and easy to grow plant however it can be susceptible to spider mite infestations.

It prefers moderate humidity and indirect warm light. The temperature should be in the range of 60-75 degrees F (16-23 degrees C).

It is a low-maintenance species that prefers moist, but the top quarter inch of soil must be dried before watering it again. In the active growing seasons of spring and summer, it is important to water the soil enough to keep soil damp. Water less frequently during dormancy in winter and autumn. It is recommended to use liquid fertilizer every month during the growing season. Cuttings from stems can be used to help propagate this plant vegetatively. These root easily in a mixture of peaty and loamy soil.

Waffle Plant

Hemigraphis Alternata, which is also known as a purple waffle plant, has metallic green-purple leaves with a unique puckered surface. It is a great plant to grow in hanging pots or a terrarium. It is also able to be grown outside, however it is less tolerant of cold temperatures than other house plants.

Hemigraphis alternateta thrives in bright indirect light and high humidity, as it does in its native equatorial rain forest. To mimic this environment, you can mist your Hemigraphis alternata frequently with a distillate water spray or put it in a pebble tray containing filtered water to increase the humidity.


You can trim Hemigraphis alternata when it gets large to encourage bushy growth or to enhance the visual appeal. Make use of an insecticide or a mixture of warm Neem oil and water to kill mealybugs, if it is prone. You can propagate Hemigraphis alternata by cutting 4 to 6 inches stem tip cuttings taken during spring and summer.

Rex Begonia

Begonias are hardy plants that thrive indoors, specifically ones with a showy leaf. Begonias of the Rex variety are distinguished by their distinctive veining puckering and ruffling together with streaking, spotting, and splotching in a mix of silver, greens white, reds and pinks.

These vibrant plants require a regular watering routine. Water the plant when the soil's top inch feels dry to the touch, avoiding the accumulation of water that could lead to root rot.

Use a mix of 50% standard potting soil with 25 percent peat moss, coco coir or orchid bark to create a light, porous texture to the soil. This mix can also help the begonia retain moisture. If you are having issues with mildew, decrease the amount of water your begonia receives and move it to a brighter area to get rid of the mold. potted house plants may also see mealy bugs on your begonia. A cotton ball soaked in alcohol can help to eliminate them.

Alocasia

Alocasia "Black Velvet" has bold, green-black leaves with prominent veins that resemble scales. The leaves' undersides have a whitish or even purple tint. This adds a dramatic contrast to the foliage. This variety is suitable for indoors all year long or outdoors in the summer in zones 4-8.

This tropical beauty thrives on bright indirect light, which keeps the leaves from burning. A bright, sunny window is ideal, however many varieties can tolerate filtered light or even dappled shade.

The soil should be moist to the contact, but not spongy. Every month, a light all-purpose fertilizer should be applied. Avoid feeding the plant in the winter months when it is in dormancy. Be on the lookout for the appearance of brown or mushy roots which could indicate a nutrient shortage. Alocasia is prone to root rot, and it can be fatal.

Bromeliad

Bromeliads can bring colour to rooms that are otherwise devoid of color. They're tropical and thrive when a humid and moist environment is created. They can grow quickly with a consistent schedule and their vibrant shades can brighten otherwise dull spaces.

Bracts are big, vibrant leaves that are used to attract pollinators. The real flowers of the plant are hidden in the bracts, and only appear when the flower has been fertilized.

As the plant grows, it creates offshoots that resemble miniature versions. The pups can be propagated to create new bromeliads. They need the same care as the parent, including watering. Avoid using tap water that is hard to water your plants. It can cause the leaves to become spotted. Use rainwater or filter it whenever you can. This is especially crucial for bromeliads in the pot.

Hedgehog

The hedgehog is the smallest member of the mammalia species, Animalia. This nocturnal animal has cool quills that aren't harmful. They share a distant ancestry with shrews and pigs and are among the oldest mammals that still exist on earth.

They are omnivores in the wild, eating frogs, toads, eggs and snails in addition to mushrooms, grass roots as well as fruits and other vegetables. If they are scared or afraid, the hedgehog rolls itself into a ball that spins and only the strongest predators can pry it open.

If you see a hedgehog lying on the ground, put it back into its nest or cover the area with natural material. If you have to remove the hedgehog out of its natural habitat, put it in a large container away from your bedroom, and provide as much shelter as possible. They should be kept in a place that is warm (73-80 degrees).

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