| 17 October 2003
With the fall season upon us, you may be looking to add a few splashes of autumn color to your home. There are some houseplants that have the oranges and reds you may be looking for. Here are a few suggestions and care tips for some that we recommend.
[flickr photo=3636736546 align=right vspace=10 hspace=10]Croton: These shrub-like plants have leaves with a variety of green, red, yellow, and orange. They need a pretty high level of light, as well as plentiful watering.If you have one that is struggling, the most common culprits are spider mites, or not enough light. There is also the “Gold Dust” Croton, which has green leaves with yellow spots.
Marginata: For an autumn look, we recommend the “Tri-color” Marginata.A basic Marginata has solid green leaves, but a tri-color has green, red, and cream coloring, creating a much different look. These come in many sizes, but are typically a larger, taller plant. They are considered a low-light plant, but we recommend at least medium light levels. The soil must dry out somewhat in between waterings. A struggling Marginata is usually due to over watering or spider mites.
[flickr photo=3636736586 align=left vspace=10 hspace=10]Bromeliad: These come in many varieties of colors, with many different shapes and sizes. The most common have green leaves, and all have a single flower growing through the center. The flowers come in many different colors, including yellow, orange, and red. They require a moderate amount of light and water. Be careful not to over or under water however. They also react to excessive heat or cold.
Cordyline: This plant has a variety of colors such as green, red, pink, and cream. The shape of the plant could be described as an “upright shrub”. They need a high amount of light, and the soil must not dry out too much.
Prayer plant: (left) These vine-like plants have leaves with different shades of green, as well as a reddish color, and sometimes greenish-brown. They need to be in medium to high light (but not full sun), and given a moderate amount of water.