Add Photo to Journal
|
|
| Photo Credit: AgriStarts 3 |
| Put Nepenthes ventricosa in a hanging basket inside your home and it won’t be ignored by your guests. |
Tired of your houseplants? We all seem to get stuck in the same rut of big, leafy green plants or fussy, hard-to-bloom flowering ones. Well, here are a few notably different plants to bring you out of your doldrums and spark conversations when your friends and neighbors stop by.
By now we’ve all probably tried growing the infamous Venus flytraps, but did you know that there’s a whole family of carnivorous plants to enjoy? Two easy favorites are both pitcher plants: Nepenthes ventricosa makes a stunning hanging-basket plant thanks to its long, red modified leaves (called pitchers) that hang down below the basket. And Sarracenia x ‘Scarlet Belle’ is a low-growing potted plant whose pitchers are upright. The ends of this plant’s unusual pitchers are decorated with red veins and white markings, making it a standout. | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: AgriStarts3 | | Sarracenia x ‘Scarlet Belle’ is not your everyday houseplant! |
Because pitcher plants are native to bog areas, they don’t like to dry out. Use a moderately draining potting mix to help retain moisture without overwatering them.
For an easy-to-care-for but unusual potted plant, try Kalanchoe thyrsiflora. Commonly known as flapjacks, this clumping succulent has large, flattened, grayish-green leaves whose edges turn a deep red when grown in brighter light. Set this beauty next to a bright window and really see the colors pop!
|