h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've got a new friendly houseplant - rubber ficus. Could anybody suggest anything more friendly. (no poison and long sharp thorns) I'm mad about friendly houseplants (a littlebit about the others too).

Plectranthus - Easy to propagate, easy to keep alive
Tolmeia Menziesii - Piggyback plant: ditto
Anything from the Oxalis family

Whatever you get: don't overwater, especially at this time of year! And don't give up! Have fun
Cloviscat

How about a Fern?

How about a Fern?

I kill ferns: what am I doing wrong?

I have some ferns.Usually they need quite a lot of very mild water. They should never dry out. If the pot or soil turns white,you have to replant it immediately. only medium light. I've found out already what is Plectranthus - I have it! - ,and Oxalis - I haven't seen it sold here neither does anybody have it whom I know. I'm still working on Tolmeia Menziesii - Piggyback plant - as I'm not original english-speaking I don't recognize all plants.

I've got a peace lily here, which seems to be thriving. The indirect semi-shade of my office seems to be suiting it well. It sorts out toxins in the air, has lovely flowers, and my mate Esther says you can't kill 'em.

Good tip with houseplants, if in doubt don't water...

Percy Thrower used to say if a little soil sticks to your finger, it's damp enough, lots of soil is too much water, and no soil-sticking means too dry...

God rest old Percy...

A

Begonias are quite easy to grow, the big ones, not the windows box fillers.

Wish we could email cuttings

I recommend cyclamen. I have one that has survived several years now and still flowers beautifully every Winter. It thrives on being left neglected in a dry, darkened cupboard over the Summer and asks only a draught free windowsill, a little water and the odd drop of plant food during its active winter months.

Peace lily is fine,also I have a small cyclamen. I failed with begony but I'm going to try again. I used to live in an apartment with extremly dry air,now I moved and the air is better but there's a lack of light. I want to put an additional light to my plants, but I have no experience in this field, do you?