Black Thumb With House Plants

Well Im new to house plants and want to start a collection of plants before moving out of my moms house and into my first apartment. I have a Venus Fly Trap in my room that I just got and is what got me into wanting alot more diversity. My mom has Geraniums, Elephant Ear Plant(???), Golden Pothos, Spider Plant, and Jade Plants. The Pothos and the Elephant Ear are the only two inside. I want to keep something with a similar leaf shape and also something that grows very much like a tree, or possibly a dwarf tree. Is there any advice on which plants will be good for my black thumbs.

Try ficus elastica (rubber tree) or dracaena marginata (dragon tree) or dracaena fragrans (Corn plant). There are different variegated types of these, and they all are easy house plants. BTW, Venus Fly Trap is not an easy plant to keep indoors. It needs high humidity and has to be watered with rain water only or bottled water, no fertilizer.

I've found Schefflera arboricola (Umbrella plant) is pretty easy too, there are variegated and all-green forms.

Chinese Evergreen likes low light and is easy care: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/70490/
Dragon Tree and Good Luck Bamboo: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=dracaena&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Mother In Law's Tongue does well in low light: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/431/
Cast Iron Plant likes low light situations also: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/606/
Devil's Ivy (Pothos) another good houseplant http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/51451/
Elephant Ear would probably need a bright light location: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/188/
Weeping Fig gets pretty tall but can be pruned: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/719/

Good luck in your new apartment, how exciting for you! All the best also with the plants you choose to grow! Have fun with growing, don't let a setback here and there dismay you. If one dies just try to figure out what caused it's demise and try again! I have been into house plants for 40 years and with trial and error did get the hang of it eventually! I used to kill my plants by over watering. Now, I only water when the plants are almost dry. Some wilt when they are in need of watering but perk back up once I do water them. Too much water will cause root rot but too little water will cause stress also and when a plant is stressed, that is when disease can take hold. I have learned so much since joining Dave's Garden and gotten a lot of help with my plants from some very knowledgeable folks here!

Wishing you many years of happy growing!

Thanks everyone. I know much of trial and error with Aquatic Plants and that has to be where I really got my love of live plants. I know the basics there and the need of N-P-K(Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium), light, co2 and the balance between them. Being only 17 at the time I dont get much say as to what I can use to decorate but with an apartment lined up and a job on the way I feel like its going to be my chance to try and make my "house" my own and there is no better way than plants IMO.

EDIT: I also was looking into peace lilys and peacock fern as petsmart sells both of these plants for cheap and they grow and flower fine.

This message was edited Jan 9, 2008 8:50 PM

The latter are both good plants for a beginner, just dont over water and no bright sun light, the peace lily likes to get its pot really filled with root and growth for good flowering, once the flowers fade, cut them off so you dont get seed heads growing or the flowering may stop. good luck with your move, just remember to always stay safe and dont be too afraid to call Mum if you feel a bit homesick at times, been there and done it with my daughter, my husband and I gave her an envelope with enough for a return fair home, she was to promise never to use it for anything else, she never did use it to come back home, but she said that just knowing she could was a great help when she was a bit homesick. go forward and enjoy your new beginning. WeeNel.

Thanks weenel. See I will be only about 25 miles away from my birth mom and 10 or sos miles from my friends parents who are like mine. So it really will be no strain to see them if needed. I am going to be living with my friend of 6 years now as well so it helps. Thanks for the tips about the peacelily.