Previous crops basically, or heirloom houseplants extra particularly are a subject you may need heard me point out earlier than. Fairly a couple of years in the past, I wrote about peoples’ plant tales – mainly their connections with specific crops of their properties. After that, a gaggle of us on social media began a gaggle and a hashtag to rejoice these heirloom houseplants additional (#heirloomhouseplants), or crops with histories.
At present’s submit is the second instalment of a 2 Half blogpost. Right here in Half 2 I will probably be sharing extra about my very own heirloom houseplants and the tales of the oldest crops in my assortment.
In Half 1, I provided some recommendations on how one can go about buying some outdated/heirloom houseplants of your individual. I additionally went via some key tips that could implement which is able to assist with bringing such crops into your property. I’ll hyperlink that right here in case you missed it, or if you wish to learn that first.
A few of my heirloom houseplants
These are solely a portion of my ‘outdated houseplant gang’ however are a few of my favourites! I’ve included their tales to assist elucidate how buying crops on this approach can add a richness and sense of connection to your assortment. That is no doubt, one of the crucial pleasurable elements of rising houseplants for me.
Oxalis Triangluaris
Round 7 years in the past, I dug up a handful of Oxalis corms from a kin backyard. On the time, they thought it was a little bit of an eccentric selection for a pot plant, however let me dig away regardless! I had a balcony backyard on the time, so planting them in a pot was my solely choice. Over the 5 years I lived in that place, I’d benefit from the burst of purple foliage and delicate flowers that might burst to life each Spring. Throughout this time, I slowly grew my Oxalis inventory by dividing up the corms yearly. Final Summer season I believe I had about 5 pots in whole!
These crops have develop into fairly widespread on social media as a houseplant lately, however for me, I adore it outdoors on my doorstep. There are a couple of Oxalis posts on Home Plant Home, which I’ll hyperlink right here.
Aspidistra Elatior ‘Okame’
Common readers are seemingly to pay attention to my love for the standard Aspidistra and over time I’ve received maintain of two of those variegated ‘Okame’ cultivars. One got here to me by means of an outdated pal and plant store buyer and the opposite I purchased from a division of a really outdated plant – which was over 100 years outdated, and from a Chapel!
Within the UK not less than, these variegated crops are fairly uncommon. Basically, Aspidistra are generally troublesome to supply and could be comparatively costly. This is because of their sluggish progress behavior. As such, these are a houseplant I’d at all times suggest looking for when looking for outdated crops to amass! They’re resilient and tolerate intervals of neglect so that you may nicely discover one which’s been within the nook of someones’ room for a few years.
Chlorophytum comosum Spider plant
The story of my Spider plant assortment begins in a bit of village in West Wales. A piece colleague introduced me a tiny Spider plantlet from residence after I was writing my PhD thesis. She knew I used to be spending quite a lot of time at my work desk and that I had a rising plant assortment. As a fellow plant lover, her work desk and windowsill was additionally strewn with crops! This little chopping rooted on my desk as I grappled with my research and I quickly potted it up.
Over the next 8 years, this as soon as diminutive plant has flourished. I’ve misplaced depend what number of crops I’ve grown from the runners it diligently produces! I’ve shared them heaps on this time too, together with the crops above – the one on the left is mine and on the suitable was the plant I propagated for my nan. Her bungalow had beautiful mild and this mantlepiece was the proper place and her Chlorophytum. After she handed away a couple of years in the past I inherited it again once more, so it’s come full circle. These are crops which can be nostalgic to me as I at all times affiliate with them rising up. My grandparents at all times had a couple of rising of their outdated home and I discover them such a cheerful plant to develop!
Aspidistra Elatior
A very powerful of my heirloom houseplants is my Aspidistra elatior assortment. These crops are crucial to me as additionally they got here from my grandparents home. Grandpa was a eager gardener and this Aspidistra was rising within the nook of their residence for so long as I can bear in mind! If you’re an everyday reader, I’m certain you’ll have heard me declare my love for these crops earlier than. This week I took some up to date images to indicate you the way they’re trying. Simply have a look at these leaves! The color might be my favorite shade of ‘houseplant inexperienced’ too.
These are all divisions of Nan and Grandpa’s plant and my mum has some too now. The smaller gold pot (beneath left) is a division I constructed from the unique division I made again in 2017. I really like how this little pot seems and it makes a sculptural desk high plant on a extra uncommon scale that’s customary with these.
Mom of hundreds of thousands
Alongside certainly one of my variegated Aspidistras, that is one other plant that has a reference to a Chapel! I discover this peculiarity serendipitous as a result of I’m presently renovating one to stay in. For that reason, bringing this plant to stay in my Chapel from one other – through an condominium and a cottage alongside the way in which – feels fairly poignant. It’s actually deepened my reference to this plant after I give it some thought via this narrative too. Previous crops which can be woven with tales are at all times value celebrating, I believe.
This one got here from my pal Craig a few Christmas’s in the past, who lives in a Chapel in Wales. I bear in mind seeing these rising on his windowsill and as we had been leaving, he handed me one to take residence. You may know this plant as a Kalanchoe daigremontiana, Mom of Tens of millions, Mexican Hat Plant, Alligator plant, Satan’s Spine or Bryophyllum daigremontiana. Regardless of intervals of dangerous positioning within the cottage, this plant is settling in to the Chapel and having fun with life. As you possibly can see, it’s a chaotic trying pot with a number of character. It’s just about taken over the windowsill!
As these crops mature, it’s frequent for the stems to drop down with their weight. The images beneath present this taking place simply after I’d moved in and there was a lot occurring I uncared for it considerably. A couple of weeks later, it had sorted itself out and began rising again up!
Over the previous few weeks, I’ve observed two flower stalks showing that are going to be lovely. Right here is how one is presently trying, alongside a number of plantlets scattered throughout the windowsill! I totally intend to provide this some consideration and work on propagating a few of these plantlets – the best technique to multiply your assortment some extra, therefore it’s frequent identify – mom of hundreds of thousands!
Conclusion
As I hope this submit has revealed, crops reside issues with histories and tales to inform. These outdated and even heirloom houseplants can assist to encourage us to foster extra significant connections with the issues we develop. Our properties can present the backdrop for the subsequent chapter within the tales of those crops. Alongside our care and the apparent necessities of sunshine, water and vitamins in fact!
Hope you loved celebrating some outdated crops with me in at present’s submit! I’ll hyperlink one of many associated blogposts right here in case you fancy studying extra about this topic. You may additionally take pleasure in one other piece I wrote too – A aware method to maintaining houseplants. I’ll additionally hyperlink Heirloom Houseplants Half 1 right here if you need to refer again to it.
Listed here are some pins to save lots of or to share with with somebody which may take pleasure in it:
