Transcript Interior Plants GGIA Jrx

Interior Plants –
Jr. GGIA Certification
Michael Ferguson
Chinese Evergreen
ovate leaf shape
green outer edges with silvery white
center
often confused with dumbcane
leaves are more linear than dumbcane
1’ to 2’ tall
grows in clumps
Norfolk Island Pine
soft textured leaves
weeping growth habit
can get up to 6’ indoors
needs a bright place indoors
often used as a substitute Christmas
tree
Sprengeri Fern
Sometimes called asparagus fern
airy, cloud-like appearance
sharp needle tipped leaves
red berries
often used as a container plant
used as an accent plant
not really a fern - lily family
Schefflera
distinct palmate leaves
umbrella appearance
can be dark green or variegated
(striped)
Parlor Palm
Tall graceful appearance
compound, arching fronds
can get 6’ tall
grows in clumps
often gets spider mites
Spider Plant
green and white striped leaves
distinct runners with baby plants at
the end.
baby plants have areal roots
confused with variegated liriope
(monkey grass)
easy to propagate
grown in hanging baskets
Croton
Brightly colored leaves – red, yellow,
red.
Ovate leaf shape
many different varieties
Jade Plant
dark green fleshy leaves
green stems
often used as a small indoor plant
or bonsai
doesn’t need a lot of water
Dumbcane
very toxic
– can cause skin irritation if touched.
--can also cause paralysis of vocal
cords, swelling of the tongue, and
excessive slobbering
oval leaves with white variegation in
the center
easy to grow
interesting flower
Dracaena
very common
brown, scaly trunk is often visible with
plumes of long, narrow, spiky leaves
up top.
leaves vary in shape and size among
varieties
Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)
tailing, vine-like plant
stems can grow up to 8’ long
most often bought in hanginging
baskets
heart-shaped leaves
dark green leaves. Some leaves are
green and yellow variegated
Poinsettia
popular plant during the holidays
the brightly colored part or the plants
is the bracts (modified leaves), not
flowers.
mildly poisonous
small yellow flowers in center
photo-periodic – color changes in
response to day length
colors can be red, burgundy, white,
pink, or speckled
Weeping Fig
usually tree-form with exposed bark
white, sticky sap
can grow to be up to 10’ indoors
leaves are green, bark is whitish-gray
trunk is sometimes braided to add
ornamental value
easy to bonsai
Broad-leaved Indian
Rubber Plant
dark, chocolate brown leaves
thick, oval leaves that come to a point
on the tip
reddish, pink apexes to stems where
new leaves unroll
some varieties can have white and
pink variegation on the leaves
white sap used to make latex
easy to grow, can get large
Kalanchoe
thick, fleshy leaves
leaves often produce baby plants
(sometimes called mother of millions)
solid green leaved varieties are more
common with a large assortment of
flower colors and leaf sizes. Rely on
feel to identify
Succulent – stores water in leaves
Prayer Plant
green, flexible leaves that have
symmetrical burgundy spots
grows in clumps
leaves have an unusual characteristic
of folding and bending upright in the
evening (like hands clasped in prayer)
new leaves unroll
Boston Fern
Commonly sold in hanging baskets
can be divided – grows in clumps
fronds unfurl from fiddle heads
Peperomia
rigid, coarsely textured leaves
candle-like flowers
leaves can be dark green to purple
and heart-shaped
Heartleaf Philodendron
dark green, leaves are heart shaped
vine growth habit
confused with Pothos, but there are
no variegated varieties of
Philodendron
one of the easiest houseplants to grow
Aluminum Plant
Shiny, silver leaves
Superhero shield look
small white flowers
grows only 12” tall
Swedish Ivy
Fuzzy leaves and stems
Lemon scented
Repels mosquitoes
Can be used outside in full sun.
Needs bright light area indoors
Drought tolerant
African Violet
very hairy leaves
round, slightly heart-shaped leaf
grown for flowers – purple, white,
pink, or blue
must be watered from underneath
water drops make spots on leaves
grows very short – 6”
Snake Plant
3’ – 4’ tall, stiff, upright leaves with
dark green and light green stripes
Some varieties have yellow variegation
on the leaf edges
sometimes called mother-in-law’s
tongue
easy to grow and divide
Gloxinia
green oval leaves with serrated
leaf margins
grown for flower color
flowers are tube shaped and
come in shades of purple, red,
blue, and white
often confused with African violeta
Peace Lily Flower
Most common indoor plant
large dark green, oval leaves that come
to a point.
Large showy, white flower that looks
like a sail on a sailboat with a straight,
spiky appendage in the middle
Many different varieties . Some
variegated. different flower sizes, but
all are white
Arrowhead Nephthytis
variegated arrowhead shaped leaves
kind of heart-shaped but more pointed
some varieties can have pink leaves
plants stay small – less than 2’
needs a lot of light but easy to grow
Wandering Jew
vine-like, trailing growth habit
small oval leaves
purple leaves with silver stripes. There
are some green leaf varieties
grown in hanging baskets or mixed
containers
very easy to grow and propagate