What Are Some Very Small House Plants?
- Small house plants fill smaller spaces in your home.Shamrock image by Phantome from Fotolia.com
Whether you are dealing with a small apartment terrace or a windowsill in the kitchen, small house plants can fill the space with a variety of easy-grow foliage. Tiny-leafed plants are chosen for their blooms or herbal properties. Many herbs grow in relation to the pot size and space they have. Thyme makes a fine tiny leaf addition to any kitchen sill garden, growing heartily with frequent clipping. Small house plants can take advantage of sunny spots that may not suit a larger plant. - Miniature roses are one of the smallest varieties of flowering house plants. They range from 6 to 18 inches with roses that measure from the size of a dime to a quarter. They grow in a wide range of colors, from the Texas yellow to deep red. Blue is the only color not available in this species. Iowa State University suggests them as ideal for container planting. Miniature roses do best with about six hours of direct sunlight a day with frequent run-through watering (pouring the water slowly in until it runs through the soil and out). For continuous blooming, deadhead the plant by cutting away flowers that are past prime bloom. Watch the plant for spider mites, which have a particular fondness for the rose varieties.
- The shamrock plant symbolizes the birth theme of the spring season. The little trios of leaves close during the night and open again with the sunlight. They are easy to grow and can be separated to create more plants. The hardy shamrock is a perfect plant for beginners, needing only a cool sunny spot. They are generally grown from bulbs, though some varieties grow from root tubers. They prefer moist soil and slip into dormant periods a few times a year. The University of Vermont cautions against planting the shamrock with other houseplants because of its dormancy period. When the leaves die, the plant must be pruned back and set in a cool dark place until new sprouts come up.
- Spider plants (chlorophytum comosum) are easy quick-growing houseplants that can be kept to a smaller size. They are usually planted in hanging baskets and do best in high and indirect sunlight. The tips of the leaves will burn if the plant is placed in full sunlight. The plant sprouts flowers from the base, and little "plantlets" grow from the attachment points of the flowers. To develop a new spider plant, cut plantlets from the main plant and put them in water. Once roots begin, the new plant can be placed in soil. According to Colorado State University, spider plants should be fertilized every two or three months, depending on the amount of light they receive (two months for high light; three months for medium light).
