The plant was introduced into Europe and then America over 100 years ago. The cast iron plant was originally introduced as an ornamental. This plant was popular during Victorian times and typically served as a parlor decorative plant.  The plant was widely considered to be a middle class plant for some time.

The cast iron plant has been in and out of fashion since Victorian times. While it might be considered a tropical plant it can survive near the Himalayas.  It is also used in the southern US as a ground cover under large trees.  The cast-iron plant has been reported growing year round outdoors in southern New Jersey.

Planting Outdoors

When growing this plant outdoors, water regularly during the initial growing season. This will help your plant establish an extensive root system. You can reduce the watering schedule for your cast iron plant after the roots are established. Fertilize with a general-purpose fertilizer in spring before new growth begins.

If you are not a good gardener, or feel you’re not, this common house plant might just be your salvation. It will grow with little tending to, is always green and can grow in deep shade.

The Perfect Choice

The cast iron plant is perfect for anyone, really. If you are a plant lover, you will enjoy having this plant in your collection because it is different and you will love the way it looks. If you are a “brown thumb,” then you may want to look into this type of plant because there is not much you can do that will kill it. If you get one you will find that you can pretty much do anything and your cast iron plant will tolerate it. After all, that is how it got its name.

Whatever your reason for getting this common house plant, you will be glad you got one. Yes, they are a little more expensive than snake plants, but they are so much more interesting.

Remember this cast iron plant is one of the best house plants you can have. The best part about this type of plant is that it is basically maintenance free. It is the best choice for an indoor house plant because it can thrive in dim light. It grows best in 10 inch pots. Be sure to use a somewhat moist soil for potting.

You only need to water when the pot is dry. It is the perfect plant choice for those who forget to keep up on watering or caring for a plant.  Keep your plan in a dim lit area and wipe its leaves a couple of times a year to keep the leaves looking bright green. You may also need to fertilize the plant every few months as well.

They look nice outside on the deck or patio. They can be put in a container and placed on the porch for a nice decoration. They also provide a great background for flowers if you would like to create a flower arrangement to display.

The bottom line? If you have limited time or travel a lot then this is the perfect house plant for you.

What You Should Know About Cast Iron Plant

The cast iron plant (also called Aspidistra eliator) is a very tough plant that is almost indestructible, like snake plants and philodendrons. The cast iron plant is capable of surviving in low light conditions, together with temperature extremes and irregular watering. This iron plant is perfect for people who think they cannot keep plants alive indoors.

Some say this type of plant is a native of Japan and others say China. One thing is for sure this plant is tough. The cast iron plant has dark green, shiny corn like leaves that can grow to 24 inches long, and occasionally produces small, purple-brown flowers near the base of the plant. It also has a variegated form and the light markings on this form of the plant help lighten up a dark corner as a potted plant; it’s well worth checking out.

The tough foliage lasts for weeks and makes a nice addition to cut flower arrangements and it is generally pest free. It is, however, disposed to leaf spotting diseases. Leaf spots are caused by fungus. To your your plants safety avoid planting in low lying areas near water.

The stems, which remain right below the surface of the soil, can thrive even in a small pot and do not require rich soil. You can usually grow this plant in 6, 8 and 10” azalea pots.

The iron plant is slow-growing and long-lived. It is a bushy plant, growing up to three feet tall. It looks like a tropical plant though it is hardy enough to survive in the Himalayas. The cast iron plant can survive dust, cold, heat, wet and dry soil, neglect, and low light. It can endure temperatures under 30 degrees, and light as dim as candles.

There is also a dwarf form of this plant that is named Aspidistra “Milky May” with black and green leaves and having white spots. The plant grows slower and somewhat expensive to purchase, but well worth it. You might want to acquire all three variants and display them together.

The cast iron plant is a member of the Lily family (Liliaceae), but does not have fancy flowers like other lilies (day-lilies, tulips, and hyacinths).  It does produce flowers; however, they are quite small and modest. The flowers can be overlooked even when they are in full bloom because they are a dull brown-purple color, one inch in diameter and appear at the soil surface. Plus they are often hidden by the foliage.  A small, dark, one-seeded cast-iron berry may follow the cast-iron flower bloom.

Propagating the plant is quite easy. Simply remove it from its pot and section the stems into pieces with a few leaves each and some roots.  Each piece of the plant, when potted up will yield a new plant though it may take some time.

The purple heart plant traces its origin in Mexico and is also known by the name of Wandering Jew. It is a beautiful garden plant that got its name from the color of its leaves. When young, the purple heart plant has a deep color purple that changes hue into a grayish blue as it matures.

It grows best in places with weather that approximates its native land, Mexico. While they appreciate a lot of moisture the purple heart plant thrives on a hot and dry climate and can survive long periods without rain. It prefers to be under sunlight and is not too fond of the shade so think very well where it will be best in the garden. Consider also growing it in hanging baskets and enjoy the view of purple trails. While it can be grown indoors, its color will only bloom at its brightest with a bit of sun. It can also be more sensitive to insect attacks if grown indoors.

Maintaining a purple heart plant is not difficult since it transplants easily. Just ensure that the stem is buried well in the soil, preferably the sandy type. Pruning and cutting back at regular intervals are necessary since this plant easily gets excited when the environment is good and may tend to invade other plant areas. Pruning will also help in producing a thicker bushy growth that will look really good amidst a sea of green.

In summer, the purple heart plant shows off small pink flowers, adding charm to the already stunning color of the plant. It should not be a difficult decision whether to include the purple heart plant in one’s garden. With the exception of weather or climate consideration, growing and caring for this beautiful plant will be very manageable and the delight is watching it grow and bloom will be worth all the effort.

Aspidistra Plant:  Say what?

Have you ever heard of aspidistra plant?  Sounds strange right?  Well, aspidistra plant is said to be a plant native to the country of Japan and it has dark green leaves and during spring may actually bloom purple flowers. This plant is also know as “cast iron plant “ or “ iron plant “ because it is said that they can stand not being taken cared of for a period of time. In short, it is a plant only needing low maintenance. Sound strange even if they belong to the lily family.

If you think you want to grow an aspidistra then no one will blame you. For a plant to grow with the smallest of attention is admirable. One thing though, this plant does not want or need that much sunlight. It can also be grown outside of the house for as long as they are planted in a dark or shaded area of your backyard or garden. It is also okay even if you only plant them in pots. In fact, aspidistra plant will probably anticipate the transfer to another environment if you give them as a gift.

The aspidistra plant, when it develops, grows leaves that are about 6 inches in height.  You can put them inside the house but their leaves may benefit from some dust cleaning from time to time as they become part of your interior decoration. You do not really have to mind them that much as you bring them in. Meaning to say, they do not require much attention and care from you. A little water here and there will do them fine. If you want to reproduce an aspidistra plant, well just observe while new shoots grow from their pots and you can just plant this into small decorated cute pots they can call their own.

Cast Iron Look

Cast iron planters are like flower pots whose design is taken from a different era.  They have that classy look and feel that could brighten up almost any part of your house where you will decide to plant something on them. Cast iron planters are a smart choice for pots because they are done in very intricate designs that will surely delight the eyes.  Although it is not advised that you directly put your soil and plant in this planter as this might cause them to eventually rust.

Cast iron planters is not that hard to maintain. You can clean and wash them once in six months and you can buy something from the hardware store that will prevent it from rusting immediately. Another great thing about cast iron planters is that they come in different shapes and sizes and even in colors. So if you really love plants and would like to put up one in every corner of your home then you should consider using iron planters.

Cast iron planters would also look perfect in your garden.  As they come in other shapes and sizes, these planters are designed intricately to remind us of a forgotten era and deliver that aura of quality into your garden to make it look more coordinated and well-cared for. What makes it an even more enjoyable task to look at is because they are now easily available online with designs and colors that are meant to impress.

For those who have been garden advocates all their lives, if you have not yet purchased this kind of planters for your beloved garden then now is the right time to do so.  This is a kind of buy that you will not regret.  Now, you can give that perfect plant gift by putting them in your cast iron planters.

Information about cast iron plant will be added shortly!