Monstera deliciosa COMMON NAME SWISS CHEESE PLANT An absolute stalwart of the indoor plant world, you’re sure to find a Monstera deliciosa in the collection of any indoor gardener worth their salt. A tropical beauty hailing from parts of southern Mexico through to southern Panama, it makes a graphic and decidedly lush statement in any space. CARE LEVEL novice LIGHT bright, indirect WATER moderate SOIL well-draining HUMIDITY medium PROPAGATION stem cuttings Its solid, heart-shaped juvenile leaves It can be propagated from a stem cutting GROWTH HABIT are beautiful in their own right, but it’s with a leaf node and aerial root (ensuring climbing as the plant matures that those fabulous that it includes the dormant bud), which is fenestrations for which the Swiss cheese good to know for when your plant requires POSITION plant is known come into their own. taming or outgrows its home. floor Apart from its good looks, this houseplant While its Latin name is derived from TOXICITY is one low-maintenance monster. In a the ‘delicious’ fruit the plant bears in the toxic position enjoying bright, indirect light wild which tastes like a mix of banana and with a consistent watering schedule and pineapple, indoor conditions rarely (allowing the top 5 cm/2 in of soil to dry out promote fruit development. There’s no in between drinks), M. deliciosa will "lourish. loss, though, when you have those glorious Be sure to give it room to grow as these leaves to admire. Be sure to keep the large guys get big, fast. A solid stake is useful for surface area of the leaves dust free with a wrangling Monstera deliciosa, giving it much- regular wipe down or a shower every now needed support on which to climb. and then. Misting will also be appreciated. FOLIAGE PLANTS 75 Calathea lietzei COMMON NAME CALATHEA WHITE FUSION The Calathea lietzei and its cultivars are truly striking, but in return they require some special attention. CARE LEVEL green thumb LIGHT bright, indirect WATER moderate SOIL well-draining HUMIDITY high PROPAGATION division For this Latin American beauty, high slightly lower-light conditions, but to humidity goes with the territory and maintain the variegation for which this GROWTH HABIT anything less will result in brown edges plant is so adored, ensure it enjoys bright, clumping marring that fabulous foliage. If you’re indirect light avoiding direct sun. Keep the POSITION really serious, investing in a humidi!ier is soil consistently moist, watering when just tabletop your best bet, but frequent misting and the top layer has dried out; conversely, be TOXICITY sitting your plant on a pebble tray with sure to avoid overwatering. It’s all about pet friendly water is the next best thing. getting the balance right, which you will Here we feature the most common learn as you get to know your plant. cultivar, Calathea lietzei ‘white fusion’, Although more !ickle than some other whose leaves look as if they have been calatheas, the white fusion does have painted by a master with strokes of white the ability to come back from a little and light and dark green, with purple-pink mistreatment. Simply cut off any damaged undersides. leaves and return it to a regular watering The calathea white fusion can handle and misting schedule. FOLIAGE PLANTS 83 Goeppertia orbifolia COMMON NAME PEACOCK PLANT syn: Calathea orbifolia Large, bright green foliage with silver stripes that increase in size with each new leaf, the Goeppertia orbifolia is a true show-off, just like its namesake bird the peacock. CARE LEVEL green thumb LIGHT low–moderate WATER moderate SOIL moisture-retaining We love it for these striking leaves and the windowsills. Use !iltered water where pos- HUMIDITY fresh, graphic vibe it brings to any indoor sible and be sure to keep the soil relatively high jungle, but keep in mind that these good moist but never soggy, and always remove PROPAGATION looks don’t necessarily come easy. This any excess water from saucers. Fertilise division diva demands high humidity akin to the every fortnight with a half-strength liquid GROWTH HABIT levels it’s used to in its natural habitat, fertiliser during spring and summer, and clumping and it’s safe to say that this is the most use a damp cloth to wipe the leaves clean. crucial care factor for this plant. Be sure In general, we suggest avoiding shine POSITION to keep it clear of cold draughts and sprays, but particularly in this instance as tabletop air-conditioning units, and close to a the foliage is sensitive. Instead, opt for TOXICITY source of humidity whether that be your horticultural oil or eco-oil for the same pet friendly trusty mister, a pebble tray !illed with glossy result without the nasties. water and/or grouped with lots of other Goeppertia orbifolia can be propagated humidity-loving plant pals. every couple of years. In spring, gently Hailing from the forest !loor, this divide the root system into two plants and gorgeous plant is tolerant of lower-light then immediately repot both into fresh conditions, but it will thrive in bright, potting mix. Keep your new plants warm indirect sunlight. Direct afternoon rays and moist and soon enough you’ll have will damage the leaves, so keep clear of grown a G. orbifolia for every room. FOLIAGE PLANTS 87 Philodendron bipennifolium COMMON NAME HORSEHEAD PHILODENDRON If you’re looking for a philodendron a little out of leftfield, look no further than P. bipennifolium. Large, fiddle-shaped leaves that are glossy and green are what gives the horsehead or fiddle-leaf philodendron its common moniker. CARE LEVEL novice LIGHT bright, indirect WATER moderate SOIL well-draining HUMIDITY medium PROPAGATION stem cuttings GROWTH HABIT climbing This plant is known as a hemi-epiphyte, before allowing water to drain away and POSITION meaning it starts life in the soil before allow the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil to dry bookshelf or stand attaching to a tree and climbing towards out before watering again. Keeping the TOXICITY the top of the rainforest canopy with large foliage dust free facilitates good toxic its long stem and the assistance of photosynthesis and keeps this houseplant aerial roots. It is for this reason that this happy. Repotting every couple of years to fast-growing tropical does best when refresh the soil is recommended, but you supported by a solid stake or totem. won’t need to increase the pot size each Originating in the tropical rainforests time as these guys like to be snug in their of southern Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia, container. As with all philodendrons, they horsehead philodendrons require bright, are considered toxic so keep away from indirect light to thrive. Water deeply pets and small children. FOLIAGE PLANTS 91 Philodendron tatei ssp melanochlorum ‘Congo’ COMMON NAME CONGO PHILODENDRON This Philodendron cultivar has a self-heading growth habit that, much like the Philodendron erubescens on page XX, grows outwards and upwards, peaking at about 60 cm (25 in) in both height and width. CARE LEVEL novice LIGHT bright, indirect WATER moderate SOIL well-draining HUMIDITY moderate PROPAGATION stem cuttings GROWTH HABIT clumping Sold in a range of colours, it’s one of smooth-edged, oval-shaped leaves. POSITION several cultivars of Philodendron that has Caring for these hardy and tolerant covered balcony been recently developed by growers. philodendrons is easy-as. Apart from TOXICITY The ‘rojo Congo’ (pictured here) extreme cold they will withstand a variety toxic displays striking large leaves that emerge of conditions and, as such, work well both a bright red, almost copper colour, indoors or on a covered balcony. Bright, maturing to a deep burgundy and then indirect light (lots of it for the ‘rojo Congo’) !inally to a very dark green. Its stems is best. The Congo will handle periods of and petioles (leaf stalks) on the other drought, but ideally water once the top 5 hand retain a rich red hue. The ‘Congo cm (2 in) of soil is dry. Keep in mind that if green’, as its name suggests, sports exposed to lots of bright light your Congo glossy all-green foliage but with the same will need to be watered more regularly. FOLIAGE PLANTS 113 Ficus elastica Ficus elastica ‘robusta’ COMMON NAME RUBBER PLANT With robust, lustrous leaves and the capacity to grow nice and large, the Ficus elastica is one strapping specimen of fig. With an upright growth habit which makes it well suited to a position on the floor, mature specimens in particular make a strong statement in a bright corner or on a covered balcony. CARE LEVEL novice LIGHT bright, indirect WATER moderate SOIL well-draining HUMIDITY medium PROPAGATION stem cuttings This hardy !ig is low maintenance and bay. Avoid hot and cold draughts, as the GROWTH HABIT will even let a little neglect slide. It will rubber plant can be sensitive to drastic upright communicate its thirst by wilting, and its changes in temperature. As with all !igs, leaves may also curl after long periods the sap can cause irritation on contact as POSITION of drought. Avoid getting to this point well as if ingested, so keep clear of pesky floor by implementing a regular watering pets and curious little ones. TOXICITY schedule. A good soak roughly once a With a range of spectacular variegated toxic week should do the trick, but as long as options also available – from mottled the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil have dried out, cream, green and blush-coloured ‘tineke’, you are good to water again. The rubber to the moodier red tones of the ‘ruby’ – plant’s wide leaves gather dust easily, so Ficus elastica can add colour and pizazz wipe them down regularly with a damp to your indoor jungle.