A Plant for Every Black Thumb

People often ask me for advice on houseplants. I guess because I have so many and they are all in relatively good form, people assume I have a green thumb. And if having a green thumb is some intangible, magical thing that necessitates very little effort and a whole lot of luck, then yes, I definitely have one of those. Because aside from watering my guys once a week (or less, never more), I don't do anything special. Fertilizer? What's that?

Having said that, some plants are more finicky than others. I love Boston Ferns, but they are one of the most difficult plants to keep, in my opinion. My advice is always the same: Get a succulent. These fleshy, desert-dwelling plants not only possess otherworldly beauty, they are virtually impossible to kill. Their only enemies are too much water, and to a lesser degree, not enough sunlight. So if you are worried about neglecting your plants, this is the houseplant for you...believe it or not, succulents actually thrive on neglect.

With so many breathtaking varieties of succulents, trust, me, you will have a hard time picking just one. One of the most common--and practical--varieties is the humble Aloe Vera plant. Keep this tentacled beauty nearby and you will never have to splurge on Polysporin again. Simply snip off a bit of the leaf, and squeeze.

Perhaps my favourite of my succulents, is my Burro's Tail, if only because I spent waaaaaay too much money for it at a florist's in a strip mall in Scarborough where they made up prices on the fly. They are pretty rare to come by, though, so maybe I wasn't totally ripped off.

Most florists and garden centers, including Home Depot, carry some succulents. If you're in the Hamilton area, i fiori (http://i-fiori-flowers.blogspot.ca) on James St. North, has some wonderful miniature varieties for under $5. I bought this Sempervivum "Oddity" there. I'm crazy about the tubular leaves.

Cacti fall under the succulent category and are another remarkably easy plant to care for. Just give them very little water. A little bit every month or less is my philosophy. I'm not a crazy plant lady who names her plants, but this here is Ace, my Rat Tail Cactus. He never ceases to amaze me.

The Pencil Cactus is another really interesting-looking, fast-growing succulent that will undoubtedly get lots of attention from guests. I just found out that the sap from this plant is toxic, however, so best to keep away from babies and big, brawny types with a fetish for breaking pencils.

There you have it. A brief intro to the wonderful world of succulents. Now go out there and add some green to your house!