Have you ever wondered which plants would be ideal for your office at Halloween?
As we creep into spooky season stocking up on sweeties for Halloween and sipping spiced pumpkin lattes, the Simply Plants team have put together their top 5 indoor plants ideal for Halloween that give us the chills:
5. The Spider Plant
Chlorophytum
Starting things off and mainly picked for its nickname we have the spider plant (also known as the Airplane Plant but that doesn’t sound as scary!) Its Latin name is Chlorophytum comosum and it is nicknamed the spider plant not because they attract and harbour spiders, but rather the little plantlets or offshoots at the ends of long wiry stems are “spidery”.
Easy to grow
This plant is very popular and easy to grow, provide the spider plant with well-drained soil and bright, indirect light and they will thrive. Water them well but do not allow the plant to become waterlogged as this can lead to root rot. Spider plants prefer to dry out some between watering. If you wanted to know more about keeping a spider plant check out the link below:
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-Spider-Plant
4. Ficus with doubled Spiraled Trunk
Next on our list was picked purely for aesthetics, the Ficus is also known as the weeping fig can be grown with a spiralled shaped trunk, this trunk is magnificent to look at but does give an eerie strange vibe to the plant.
Conditions
Ficus plants do well in bright, sunny conditions, but can also tolerate considerable shade. It requires a moderate amount of watering in summer, and only enough to keep it from drying out in the winter. The plant is very sensitive to cold and should be protected from strong drafts. Here is a handy article with a few tips for growing a Ficus tree in your house: https://gardenandhappy.com/ficus-tree/
3. The Snake Plant
Different Names
Another Top 5 spooky indoor plants commonly known as sansevieria, this plant has a few names including the snake plant and the comically named mother in laws tongue.
We picked the snake plant as the name gives us the chills but also because of its ascetic, The way the foliage grows twisting and turning makes the plant look snakelike, adding the green and yellow hues gives this plant a serpent-like feel.
Conditions
Sansevieria are quick growers in the right conditions, they tend to grow to around 1-2 feet, with some growing more than 3 feet, depending on the environment. They are also fantastic air cleaners, purifying the air by absorbing toxins through the leaves and producing pure oxygen. The Sansevieria is an ideal bedroom plant. Whereas most other plants release carbon dioxide at night (in the absence of photosynthesis), the Sansevieria produce oxygen. For more information on the snake plant read this article: continues to https://www.proflowers.com/blog/snake-plant-care
2. Devils Ivy
One of my favourites on our list, Devils Ivy aka golden pothos. It is called devil’s vine or devil’s ivy, because it is almost impossible to kill, it stays green even when kept in the dark. The name Devils ivy conjures images of something sinister and scary but coupling that with the fact this plant grows well in the dark, well that’s enough to creep us plant enthusiasts out.
Locate it in the wild
When Devils Ivy grows in the wild, the plant attaches itself to other items and trees through aerial roots. It then sends shoots of stems down until it reaches the soil beneath it, where the stems themselves take root and begin to grow across the ground.
Conditions
It is quite an invasive species if left to grow in the right conditions, much similar to its family member the English Ivy that can be seen up and down the country. For hints and tips about how to tame and care for this plant check out this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfSkfg2VRR8
1. The Venus Flytrap
This plant had to be top of our list as it embodies everything spooky and is a pop-cultural phenomenon when associating Halloween with plants. One of the things making this plant so sinister is that the leaves of Venus’ Flytrap open wide and on them are short, stiff hairs called trigger or sensitive hairs. When anything touches these hairs enough to bend them, the two lobes of the leaves snap shut trapping whatever is inside. Ultimately the plant digests whatever is trapped inside, providing this plant with the nutrients it needs to survive.
Carnivorous
The Venus flytrap is probably the best known of the carnivores. Carnivorous plants are not at all difficult to grow indoors, as you have a buggy spot for them to live. A sun porch window where doors open and close frequently to let in insects is perfect. For more tips about the Venus Flytrap follow the link: https://www.flytrapcare.com/venus-fly-trap-care-basics
At your local garden Centres
All of the plants on this list are available from local garden centres or online retailers so if you fancy spooking up your interior plant displays for Halloween pay them a visit them. Remember to follow the links provided for more information about particular specimens and most importantly we hope you liked out Top 5 spooky indoor plants and have a Happy Halloween from the team here at Simply Plants!
Take a look for your spooky plant in our shop here.
