Go for it CrazedHoosier Enabling is so much fun

You'll never know and understand the plant better till you get one.

Just to add one more suggestion:
Aspidistra elatior. I have the variegated version. Oh this one is really true to its cast iron attribute. Takes in the cold very well, we got cold outdoors down to 30F, got rained on. It is the shadiest side of my patio where none of my other plants like later when we get into thermal heat levels. Handles 100F and higher very well, I just do twice a week watering by then.

Makes its own blooms, quite easy to miss, since it grows so close to soil line, so pretty much most people just grow them for its foliage.
22 Mar 2017


09May2017


24July2018


11Feb2019 - just minor leaf edges getting brown, overall still doing good.

Cast Iron plants are about the hardiest house plant there is. Variegated ones are harder to find. I suggest you start with a plain green one. But, again, go with what looks good to you. I have had visitors tell me my cast iron looks boring.

I don't mind the variegated one but meh to the all green ones.

Yes, that is why I got that variegated one, so it does not go boring. I also want to find the variety called Milky Way and the other one Asahi. Such nice variegations and to find an affordable priced one, they do come quite expensive since they are slow growing.

This may be my final update on this thread, as I filled up pretty much all my plant spots! I ended up getting a Norfolk Island pine, and a marble queen pothos! I love them, and think they're gorgeous. Anyone have any experience with a Norfolk? Would love to know the growth rate and any specific tips or tricks of the trade. I've ended my house plant addiction (for now), with 2 orchids, 2 African violets, 1 peace lily, 1 spider plant, 1 philodendron Brazil, 2 aloe vera pups, 1 Norfolk pine, 1 tidbit coleus, 1 rabbits foot fern, and 1 marble queen pothos! Here is a picture of my setup! https://instagram.com/p/BuM1l3...

That does not look like enough light, IMO. You are still calling it an obsession with 13?

gasrocks said:That does not look like enough light, IMO. You are still calling it an obsession with 13?

It's an overcast day, and I darkended it in instagram because it was all blown out. It in reality is a west facing window, so I believe it'll be enough. I'll be posting another thread pretty soon if it isn't, though. 13 plants is a lot for my poor, small wallet!

Gene's only been collecting since he was 1 year old.

Hamwild said:Gene's only been collecting since he was 1 year old.

That's one way to get to 800 plants! Maybe I'll get to 30 someday! I actually have a fear that I'll get a bunch of house plants, and then screw something up, and kill all of them. I wanted a prickly pear cactus, but quickly realized they need more sun than I can give. Gotta stick to lower light plants in this room...

I started my house plant collection when I returned to the US after Viet Nam, 1968. Did you read my story about how I became interested in house plants? Before that I cannot ever remember being interested in plants of any type.

To learn how to take care of house plants you will probably kill a few hundred along the way.

gasrocks said:To learn how to take care of house plants you will probably kill a few hundred along the way.

That's a bit heartbreaking. I'm emotionally invested in these plants already!

Glad to hear you are invested, that you care, that you are excited about house plants. All good things. We need more people like you in that way.

I'm intrigued Gene! My Dad is a Vietnam Vet too.

gasrocks said:Glad to hear you are invested, that you care, that you are excited about house plants. All good things. We need more people like you in that way.

Thank you. It means a lot coming from an expert! Now I'm just nervous I'm going to accidentally kill all my plants, haha. What's your plant origins story?

Oh boy. I only tell humorous or inspirational stories from Viet Nam. Yes, there are a few others that still haunt me and some I have never told to anyone. Back to house plants. Cooped up with a bunch of guys that you would probably never want to know otherwise, it was always time for a break. I knew how to get past the wire and mines that surrounded us and would sneak out to go for a walk by myself. Stupidity for sure. One day I got through the jungle and came out onto a field full of flowers. The most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. About knee high. Imagine in the middle of war coming across something truly beautiful. It affected me immensely. I got about 1/2 way through that field when the sirens went off. Means we are bring attacked and get you butt back here. I turned to go back and gasp, there was a path of dead flowers were I had just walked. I killed beauty. I made myself a note to find out what those flower were when I got back home. Sensitive plants. At the first rain drop or touch by an animal they fold their leaves and stems downward to avoid getting too wet. They will look dead but soon recover. That is how I became avidly interested in plants. Gene

gasrocks said:Oh boy. I only tell humorous or inspirational stories from Viet Nam. Yes, there are a few others that still haunt me and some I have never told to anyone. Back to house plants. Cooped up with a bunch of guys that you would probably never want to know otherwise, it was always time for a break. I knew how to get past the wire and mines that surrounded us and would sneak out to go for a walk by myself. Stupidity for sure. One day I got through the jungle and came out onto a field full of flowers. The most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. About knee high. Imagine in the middle of war coming across something truly beautiful. It affected me immensely. I got about 1/2 way through that field when the sirens went off. Means we are bring attacked and get you butt back here. I turned to go back and gasp, there was a path of dead flowers were I had just walked. I killed beauty. I made myself a note to find out what those flower were when I got back home. Sensitive plants. At the first rain drop or touch by an animal they fold their leaves and stems downward to avoid getting too wet. They will look dead but soon recover. That is how I became avidly interested in plants. Gene

Wow, what an amazing story. To see something so beautiful, during a time I can only imagine to be extremely stressful, dark, and frightful, must've really stuck with you. I guess it is sort of like that quote "the sun wouldn't matter without the rain". You may not have ever felt that beauty and inspiration if you had never went through that dark time. A beautifully, inspiring story. Thank you for your service, as well!

Thank you.

OK, pushing the limits here I will relate one of my own personal favorite Viet Nam stories but not plant related. Again on the theme of getting out of camp for a break. One day 3 of us went for a walk. Fully loaded. A very quiet walk through the jungle. Trust me you do not want to make any noise. The silence was almost calming though. All of a sudden the guy next to me squeezes my elbow. This means take your rifle off of safety onto full auto. We are about to be attacked. My first thought is that we are seriously outnumbered. I look up and there are no troops. But about 30 yards away in the jungle is a full grown Bengal Tiger walking through the jungle who has not seen us yet. Do you have any idea how big they look when there are no bars between you and it? He stops and looks at us and gnarls. We freeze. I am getting myself ready physically and mentally for what is about to happen. I do not want to move or make a sound but did toy with the idea of grabbing an extra ammo clip. Foolish idea. He would be on me before I could empty the clip I had. Even though it would probably haunt me for the rest of my life, I would have to try and kill him if he came in my direction. I turned and looked at the other 2 guys. They were getting ready to run. The single most stupid thing one could do! You know the old joke about how you do not have to outrun the tiger, just your friend? They were going to leave me there! I turned and just like talking to a dog I said "stay." The tiger gnarled a few more times while starring at us and then turned and continued his walk through the jungle. Whew.