Violeta Anselmi likes plants, but the only place she can grow them is her balcony. The problem is that it does not get direct sunlight, for it is shaded most of the time. “Up to now, we have been unsuccessful in keeping our potted plants alive,” she wrote.
Fun out of the sun: Aglaonema, spathiphyllum and dieffenbachia are three of the hardiest houseplants which can be grown in the shade.
To compound the situation, “We do quite a bit of travelling, so constant watering is sometimes not possible,” she added. “Are there any plants which you could suggest to be the best to keep in these conditions?”
Plants need light to be able to manufacture food through the process of photosynthesis, when light from the sun, carbon dioxide, water and the plants’ green pigments, called chlorophyll, combine together to produce carbohydrates that serve as food for the plants. However, some species can thrive in the shade, and can produce food as long as there is light, even if this is not direct sunlight.
Like people, no plants can live without water. But as long as Mrs Anselmi’s travels do not take her away from her plants for months on end, these can survive if she provides enough moisture to sustain them during her absence.
In their natural habitat, some ornamental plants grow on the forest floor under tree canopies, where they get little or no sunlight. Examples are aglaonema, begonia, calathea, dieffenbachia, ferns, monstera, philodendron, spathiphyllum; bamboo palms, both Rhapis spp and Chamadorea erumpens; and some species of dracaena, like Dracaena surculosa and Dracaena fragrans.
Any which way: Pothos can be grown in soil as well as in water.
Even after they have been plucked from the wild, these plants and their descendants retained their ability to grow with little or no direct sunlight. With the exception of begonia, most have insignificant flowers but they make up for it with leaves that come in many different forms and patterns. Most importantly, as long as their basic needs are met, they do not need much pampering.
Looking at the number of plants mentioned above, you may think that the choices are few but the range of native ferns alone comprises more than 650 species, and there are several varieties of Dracaena surculosa (Thais call it phai Philippine), begonia, calathea and dieffenbachia for you to choose from. For Mrs Anselmi, however, I do not recommend ferns and begonias because these need regular watering.
Monstera and Philodendron are genera of plants in the Araceae family. They comprise several species, commonly called by their generic names, that make a shady place come alive with their attractive evergreen leaves. However, they are climbing plants and I do not recommend them for Mrs Anselmi’s balcony either, unless they are grown in large pots with a stake in the middle for the plants to climb, or she lets them climb her wall.
So what is left for Mrs Anselmi to grow? Before the colourful aglaonema hybrids were developed, there was a species commonly known as Chinese evergreen, or keo muen pi in Thai. Its leaves are dark green variegated with silver, and it is probably the sturdiest of houseplants, along with dieffenbachia, or dumb cane (sao noi prapaeng) in its many forms. These, together with spathiphyllum (daylee) and the different species of calathea, or kla, are enough to keep Mrs Anselmi busy growing plants on her balcony.
Even the hardiest of plants, however, will die without water. But if Mrs Anselmi is going away only for a week or two, her plants will survive if she waters them thoroughly before she leaves. Thorough watering is done by submerging the pots in a basin full of water until the bubbling stops, indicating that the soil is fully soaked.
Put the pots on drip trays lined with a layer of pebbles so that the pots sit above the water that drains through; the water will evaporate and raise humidity. Cover the topsoil with dry newspaper, which will serve as a mulch to keep the soil from drying out. Place the plants close together so they can lend each other humidity.
I once did the above for the plants on my balcony before I went on a five-day holiday. When I returned, the first thing that I did was check on my plants. After removing the newspaper covering, I felt the soil with my fingertips. It was still moist, so I did not water the plants until the following day, or six days after I gave them a thorough soaking, although they would have survived without watering for 10 days or more. The newspaper did a very good job of keeping the moisture in the soil, but my plants were under the sun for a few hours in the morning; in the shade on Mrs Anselmi’s balcony the soil should remain moist for a longer period.
Patients needing to be fed or given fluid through the veins are usually administered an intravenous drip. After use it can be recycled to water plants; the water dripping slowly will ensure that your plants are hydrated while you are away.
Alternatively, fill an empty 1.5-litre soft drink bottle with water, punch two or three holes in its cap, turn the bottle upside down and insert it into the pot. The soil will slowly absorb the water at a steady rate, ensuring the plant will not go dry during your absence.
However, if you are often away for extended periods of time, the only plant for you is Epipremnum aureum, or pothos (phlu darng). As it can be grown in water and in the shade, all you have to do is submerge the pot in a big container or basin filled with water when you go on an extended trip.
Keen climber: Philodendrons make a shady place come alive with their attractive evergreen leaves.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.