Farmer's Almanac Weather Prediction for Ontario: "Cold flurries."
Top Ten House Plants for 2001
Last year at this time I wrote a list exposing the plants that had succumbed under my care throughout the course of that year. This year I thought that rather then focussing on the negative, I'd present a list of my favourite house plants.
I have a lot of house plants. The number lies somewhere around 60. While I love all my plants, I have to admit that a bit of a hierarchy of affection exists. I try to be equitable in the division of care, but I can separate a few that I have some sort of emotional tie with.
There are a number of reasons for this inequality and they all aren't as simplistic as pure vanity. Some plants have been with me for many years, others have teetered on the brink of death and made it back to flourish. I am mostly attracted to plants that are odd, or just strangely beautiful. Their alien appearance is endlessly fascinating. Often these plants are difficult to care for, or in my case not particularly suited to my environment. After some mistakes, I have become more adept at recognizing my limitations. All of the following were chosen, not just because they're pretty, unusual or fascinating, but because I've come to some sort of understanding regarding their needs that has allowed me to grow attached to them. Okay some of them are just really cool and fun to look at.
Rat Tail Cactus (Aporocactus) - The aporocactus is an epiphytic cactus. I've mentioned many times my special affection for epiphytic plants. If I was forced to choose a favourite, this would probably be it. It's just so crazy looking. I really wish I could get a good photo of it to capture the quirkiness of it's shape. It has long stems (leaves) that project from the base in all directions, with smaller stems that branch off at points. Some hang down very low, while others somehow manage to be kept upright. The plant is very spiny. Moving it is a nightmare. I have to wear gloves and layers of protective clothing covering my arms from their sharp bites. Not only are the spines sharp, but they grab hold of your skin and stay embedded -- nearly impossible to remove. And they itch once they get in there. Oh god how they itch. I got this plant as a gift from Davin last Christmas and it took me over six months to get up the courage to remove it from that ugly white plastic hanging basket. I put it outside for a month over the summer (in a shady spot) and it now lives in a prime spot on a table in my office. I recently took some cuttings and am attempting to root them. I'm really just starting to understand this plant's needs. I know what they are on paper, but putting it into practice with my own plant has been tricky. I'm holding out hope that it will bloom this year.
 Stone Plants (Lithops) - I currently own three of these. My most recent (the largest) was purchased only a month ago, the others nearly a year ago. They aren't however my first stone plants. My first plant was purchased nearly two years ago and ended in disaster. It was on last year's death list. But that first plant taught me alot about stone plants. It taught me to only water on sunny days when the water will evaporate quickly, and to keep the plant in a warm, sunny location at all times. This is another one of those crazy looking plants I was talking about. Some look like brains, some have translucent areas (windows) on top -- I can't resist them. I'd grow them by the hundreds if I had the space. Every single one is so different and so neat. The rock-look is an adaptation to protect them from grazing animals in their native South African habitat. Aliens have already invaded earth and they're living in the form of tiny rock-like plants!
Variegated Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia) - I purchased this plant for a mere $3.49 a year ago at a certain American Department store (let's call it USA-Mart) of all places. At the time of purchase it had what looked to be tiny pink flowers on it (I now realize that it might just be colouration of the young spines on areas of new growth), and variegated leaves that ranged from a dark green to chartreuse and then to a pale cream. I had never seen this kind of variegation in a cactus -- I didn't even know such a thing existed. I didn't even realize when I bought it that it was an opuntia. I was able to make an identification in the house plant judging area at last year's Canada Blooms Garden Show. Over the summer the plant lived on my deck where it received lots of light and attention. As a result it is covered in new pad-like leaves and tiny, pimple-sized leaves that line the base of some of the larger pads. I have another opuntia. It's pretty cool and I love it alot. But even I have to admit that this one is just a bit more exciting.
 Urn Plant ((Aechmea fasciata)) - Some people say this bromeliad is too showy, too domesticated, too common. I say "whatever" to those people. I agree that the flower can be a bit over-the-top, but flowerless, this plant is simple and beautiful. One of my favourite features of many epiphytic plants is the strange, grey stuff that covers the leaves. This silvery powder is absorbent and is used by the plant to suck up water. I like the way the leaves of the urn plant are banded with it. I also really like the spiny leaf edges despite the fact that I am constantly scratching my arms and hands on them when I reach over the plant or pick it up.
In my next entry I will reveal the remaining six of my top ten current favourite house plants.
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