CityView Magazine

36 March 2022 4. The Dieffenbachia Plant Dieffenbachia, also known as dumb cane, is an incredibly easy-to-grow houseplant, which makes it quite popular. LIGHT – Just like most tropical houseplants, grow dieffenbachia in a relatively warm, humid spot with plenty of filtered light. Dieffenbachia prefers filtered sunlight or partial shade, but will tolerate full shade, which is why it is well-suited as a houseplant. It thrives in temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. WATER – Dieffenbachia plants like regular watering, but they don't ever want the soil to be wet or soggy for extended periods. Because more indoor plants die from over watering than under watering every year, it's best to keep dieffenbachia on the dry side if you're in doubt about whether to water it. During the summer, it's also important to provide a lot of water. Soil has to stay moist but never fully wet – being wet can promote the root rot. During the winter, all the watering should be reduced. FEED – This also depends on the growing season. During the growing season, meaning, March to October, you should feed it every other week, when watering. It's best to use a complete liquid food. During the winter months you should not fertilize at all – this is when you should water only, and make sure to reduce even that one. SOIL – The Dieffenbachia plant likes well-draining soil. It's best to use two parts peat moss and one part perlite. Another good choice is to use an African violet mix. NOTE: The Dieffenbachia Plant should be handled with care and be kept out of the reach of pets and children. The sap from this plant is toxic and can cause allergic reactions, painful rashes, numbness and other problems. When handling the plant, avoid getting any of the sap in your eyes or mouth. It's always best to wear gloves when working on this plant. 1. The Aloe Vera Plant LIGHT – Proper light is important for aloe vera plants to thrive. Place in bright, indirect sunlight or artificial light. A western or southern window is ideal. Aloe plants that are kept in low light often grow leggy. Aloe vera plants prefer temperatures between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures of most homes and apartments are ideal. WATER - Aloe vera plants do not like cold weather. Water aloe vera plants deeply, but infrequently. Water the aloe plant only when the soil has dried out completely, or every few weeks to discourage root rot. Water it even less in winter. To water the aloe vera, pour water onto the soil near the base of the plant until the soil is thoroughly wet. FEED - Fertilize sparingly (no more than once a month), and only in the spring and summer with a balanced houseplant formula mixed at half strength. 3. The Snake Plant Snake plants are a type of Sansevieria, and the plants in this category share characteristics like narrow, upright leaves and short, thick roots. Native to West Africa, snake plants are known to help to remove harmful toxins from the air and are popular with plant lovers because they are so easy to care for. LIGHT – Give your snake plant bright, indirect light if you want it to do well. While it can survive in low-light conditions, it will grow slower and have less color. A good spot for it would be about 3 to 6 feet away from a window that gets a lot of light. WATER – Because snake plants have succulent leaves, they don't need a lot of water. Keep the soil slightly moist and never overwater. If you water too often your snake plant will become mushy and start to rot quickly. SOIL – Snake plants are sensitive to water and prone to root rot, so it's important to plant them in soil that drains well 2. Pilea LIGHT – Pilea loves to be in front of a window where it can get a lot of bright indirect light, but almost no direct sunlight. Since too much sun might stress the leaves, a north or east- facing window will work best. Make sure there will be enough space between the light source and the plant. Pilea's leaves tend to grow in the direction of the light source. For this reason, you will need to rotate your plant a few times a week if you want it to keep a nice and symmetrical shape. WATER – Water this plant when the soil is completely dried out. If it takes too long to dry out, it may not be getting enough sunlight.

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