As my name suggests, just about anything I touch dies. Luckily for the poor plants, I will not be holding them long. I'm going back to Knoxville (hometown) from Chattanooga where I'm attending school here in 2 weeks or so to visit family and friends, namely the lady friend. She finds getting flowers sort of cliche and dislikes them anyway. ("Here honey, have this bouquet of dead things" is how she put it when I asked, if I remember right.) Anyway, I decided that since she's very fond of the outdoors and I want to give her something unusual, I'd give her a plant, or more likely a pair of plants, for her dorm room. I've been poking around and have been strongly considering a ZZ plant, which I've heard wonderful things about, but I'm keeping my ears open to any other suggestions. I'm looking for something that will do ok with typical dorm conditions. She says her room is fairly cool most of the time, low to medium sunlight. She loves to mother things, so if it needs frequent watering or an occasional re-potting, that's not really an issue. I should probably really give her at least one that's kind of needy. I have a feeling she'd drown something arid. Anyway! Suggestions are most welcome. Needy plants, preferably pretty-ish, cool environment, no real direct sunlight available. Edit: I forgot two things. Size isn't *that* big a deal, but no trees here. Maybe a 2 1/2-3ft MAXIMUM height. And I'm currently still in the job market down here, so if we could keep them on the cheap end that would be lovely. I've read that some places charge as much as 30-40 for a ZZ, and that made me wince.
Aspidistra Pothos Chamaedorea elegans or parloe palm Spathiphyllum/ Peace lily zamioculcas zamiifolia/ zz plant Aglaonema/chinese evergreen Sanseveria/ snake plant ferns dracaena, and a few more I'm sure someone will list.....
When my son went into the dorm for a year, we sent along a jade plant. He neglected it, forgot to water it and put it in a low light window. A year later it was twice the size and happy. They are comon enough to find them in any plant store.
Hmmm. Mentioning guy stuff for a dorm room is not appropriate for these forums? Curious indeed. Too macho maybe? Plants really aren't appropriate for a guy's dorm room either. Did you see any houseplants in delta house? Ask a guy what he might want for his dorm room and houseplant probably won't be anywhere in his wish list. Especially in the home state of Elvis!!!
getting back on topic, i was going to suggest jade or other crassula's. also was going to mention philodendron. they're both SO easy to care for and either will do well with high light or lower light conditions. it's the comment about the cool conditions that held me back...both of those DO like warmer temps (not under 65). if you're looking for something that really likes to be babied, then peace lily would be it. they need maintenance and if she's the kind that wants to check the plants every day and water frequently, then that would be a good one. draceana would also be good - there are enough varieties that you could find something she'd like. they don't require a lot of watering though. croton would be another to think about. again, lots of varieties and some are REALLY interesting-looking. it's a high-care plant, too. not sure about lower temps, though for that one.
If there is a Lowe's, or Home Depot near you, your sure to find something that's not a lot of money, under $10. Also, you may get lucky if you check out nearby grocery stores for inexpensive houseplants..... By the way, I only paid $7 for a zz in a 4" pot at Lowe's.
Sanseveria, yes, but dunno about ferns---they need space and shed a lot of leaves. Philodendron, definitely: can stand dryness and dimness better than most. Christmas cactus maybe. And as an orchid friend I will put in a good word for these beautiful yet tough plants---if given the right location out of direct sun and cold drafts (both the air and beer varieties) an orchid could do well in a dorm room.
Sanseveria is something of a pest in Florida. My only houseplant at the moment is a Christmas cactus, putting up happily with a rather dim bathroom. Dendrobium orchids seem to be equally happy outdoors or in. I haven't grown Aspidistra indoors, but they are really undemanding outdoors. In the 19th century, they supposedly thrived on tobacco juice. Pothos ("philodendron") may qualify as a guy plant.
just to clarify: pothos is not the same as philodendron. yes, both are in the araceae family...different sub-family/tribes though. pothos is monsteroideae and the genus is epipremnum and the phil's are philodendreae with the genus being philodendron.
Went back and read the original post. Steve, the plants are for a lady's room. The writer is but the conduit for their delivery. And why are plants not appropriate for ANY dorm room??? ---Again, and even more so, I say orchid. I am a paphiopedilum fancier: these orchids do well in shady conditions. However, since they are terrestrial orchids, overwatering can lead to the dread mold/fungus thing. BrownThumb, I would recommend phals or dendrobiums, the kind available just about anywhere. These babies are tough, and, if you get one growing in bark, you lady can water away as she likes (as long as the pot has good drainage). You could even get her a water -misting bottle to go with them, since she likes to be attentive. (Hopefully to you as well!) Make sure plants have nice fat healthy roots, smooth shiny leaves, and exhibit signs of new growth. In a store you're gonna pay about $20 per each...but just imagine how happy she will be! You are a prize among men to be this observant and considerate of her desires and preferences. I wish much happiness to you, your lady friend, and to whatever plants you do adopt. Let us know what happens!
togata57 should be worth paying attention to. Dendrobiums live happily in my yard (so long as they're out of reach of snails) and seem pretty much like cake indoors. I'm pretty incompetent at growing things (I remember killing petunias), so stick to plants that pretty much care for themselves. So, yes, the variegated cast iron plants under the dendrobiums seem to be proliferating.
the original poster stated that the conditions in the room will be on the cooler side. some orchids won't do well in constant cooler temps. we really need to know just what temp the room will be, actually, if we're to make good suggestions!
I am aware that some orchids dislike constant cool temperatures. There are in fact other plants who dislike them as well, among them the dracaena and croton you suggested above. In addition, these latter prefer more light than the room in question will provide. Shouldn't we need to know just how many lumens or foot-candles of light will be available to the plants, as well as the exact temperature? ---I am most certainly fallible---but I strive to always offer good suggestions. I stand by my orchid.
i don't have all that much experience with orchids...had a few phals and they need some amount of warmth...can deal with cool nights though. the dendrobium definitely needs more warmth to do well and a fair amount of sun if the one i have is any indication (it started doing better once i put it in a sunny spot). the croton i wasn't sure about temp needs (as i said). i know a few people who have drac's that they keep in cooler conditions than i do and they do okay. you're right, a better description of the lighting situation as well as the temp range really would be helpful. the poster hasn't posted again...might not even have read any of our replies, either. so we can only work with what we have :)
