Episode 284: Aspidistras, aglaonemas, choosing plants for a front room and potting mix packaging
This variegated Aspidistra elatior is kept under a growlight in winter to maintain its cream stripes. Photograph: Jane Perrone.
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TRANSCRIPT
Host Jane Perrone answers four listener questions, and we hear an intriguing story from listener Greg about the airplant Tillandsia tectorum.
Want to ask me a question? Email ontheledgepodcast@gmail.com. The more information you can include, the better - pictures of your plant, details of your location and how long you have had the plant are always useful to help solve your issue!
The Victorians loved their aspidistras, so much so that the plant became a symbol of 19th century respectability.
Chapters
0:02:22 Question 1 - sustainable packaging for potting mixes
0:09:17 Question 2 - where to buy an aspidistra
0:11:35 The Origins of the Anti-macassar and its Decline
0:14:09 Try garden nurseries for good aspidistra deals
0:20:46 Tillandsias and their possible connection to Avatar
0:22:03 Question 3 - choosing plants for a living room that gets morning sun
0:31:31 Question 4 - why are colourful aglaonemas more expensive than green ones?
0:39:10 Music credits
Notes to accompany this episode…
QUESTION 1 - potting mix packaging
Samantha wanted to know where to buy potting mixes in the UK in paper or cardboard rather than plastic packaging.
i suggested The Plant Point in Leeds, Growell Echothrive which is sold in carboard boxes, and Formyplants.com’s 27 litre bags of potting mix.
It’s also worth checking in with your local houseplant shop, as some now have ‘substrate bars’ where you can dispense various potting mix ingredients into a container you bring along.
QUESTION 2 - aspidistras
Mark wanted to know where to buy the cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) as they seem not so easy to get hold of. The answer is that this plant is slow growing and therefore it takes a while to grow to a saleable size.
My tip would be to try garden nurseries rather than houseplant shops as they tend to offer them at a slightly better price. Perhaps surprisingly, this plant is extremely cold hardy and does well growing in shady spots outside.
I found Farmyard Nursery in the UK is selling Aspidistra elatior in two or five litre pots, while deserttojungle.com have the species as well as a couple of other species of aspidistra. I got mine from Cotswold Garden Flowers but they seem to be out of stock at the moment. In North Carolina in the US, Plant Delights Nursery has a really lovely range of aspidistras.
There’s a whole chapter of information about the cast iron plant in my book Legends of the Leaf: Unearthing the Secrets to Help Your Plants Thrive. Get your hands on a copy now.
Also have a listen to episode 138 of On The Ledge podcast where I meet Aspidistra National Collection holder Philip Oostenbrink.
QUESTION 3 - finding plants for a front room
Mica got in touch to ask for help choosing plants for a front room. I suggested that given the relatively low light (morning sun only, positioned away from the window) the bookshelves could be adorned with the reliable classic grape ivy (Cissus rhombifolia - which is a synonym of Cissus alata).
I also suggested Tradescantias (possibly sourced as cuttings from friends or family) as a cheap and reliable option.
Mica was also looking for a freestanding specimen so I suggested the swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) or a moss pole-mounted devil’s ivy/golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum).
QUESTION 4 - Aglaonema pricing
Kai wanted to know why Aglaonemas - the colourful pink and red ones, that is - are so expensive compared with the green and silver ones.
Thanks to Dave Bovenlander from Dutch Aglaonema producers Ansu for helping me answer this question. There are a couple of reasons, but a major one is that highly variegated plants contain less chlorophyll than plain green ones, so tend to grow more slowly, and are therefore more epnsive to produce.
Aglaeonema breeding has exploded in the last few years - the green and silver older cultivars are cheap to produce as they don’t have patents or Plant Breeders’ Rights rules that push up the price.
The Aglaonema breeding paper I mention from the 1980s is this one by RJ Henny.
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CREDITS
This week's show featured the tracks Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops, The Road We Use To Travel When We Were Kids by Komiku and Whistle by BenJamin Banger (@benjaminbanger on Insta; website benjaminbanger.com).