Houseplants

After seeing pictures of captiva's giant plant, it reminded me that I would really like to have more houseplants in my apartment.

Problem is, I tend to kill everything. I tend to forget to water the plants. When I was younger, I even had a cactus dry out because I forgot to water it (yes, it's possible!)

I'm a little better now but I still need plants that are very resistant to harsh conditions.
I have one plant right now and it's doing alright. I've had it for almost a year and it's still alive. Must be really though! I have sometimes forgotten to water it for weeks and it was still fine. I don't remember what that plant is called. I'll try to find out.

Within the last year, I've had other plants but most of them died very quickly. Including a really nice ficus that died within a week of purchase!
Obviously it wasn't from forgetting to water it. It just dried out and lost all its leaves almost instantly. Not sure why a plant would die so quickly!

Anyways, are there any types of plants I could get that would do well with very irregular watering?
I have windows facing S-E and N-W so they would get a reasonable amount of light
I would LOVE to get another ficus but I'm afraid it would just die right away.
Growing food / herbs would be nice too.

Any suggestions?
(oh, and preferably something non-toxic, of course! )

I'm certain you can do a surf search and find a good variety of plants. There are "waterers" you can stil in the pots (not real attractive but easy) . Here is an example http://www.plantastic1.com/ I have seen something on how to make these yourself out of plastic pop bottles. I will try to find a link for you.

Buy a Jade Plant. As they are a succulent they can be forgotten for a week or two without any ill effects!!. Plus if the plant gets a bit leggy you can hack it to whatever shape you want!!

I agree with jades, aloes are good too.
I do not advise any of the ficus species (except rubber plants) for plant novices, they are very tempermental.

Spider plants are easy, they even tell you to water them (their blades curl shut when they're thirsty).
"Air" bromeliads are good too, and often very pretty.

Some of the fake ficus trees look quite nice. (Some are pretty cheesy looking, though. You have to be discriminating.)

I am also bad about remembering to water plants. One thing I've found that seems to work, though, is that now instead of taking the cats' water dishes to the sink to replenish them, I put water in a big quart plastic measuring "cup" (really more like a bowl; I make pancakes in it) and bring it to where the cats' dishes are, pour in what they need, and then pour the excess in my plants.

Originally Posted by evnshawn

Some of the fake ficus trees look quite nice. (Some are pretty cheesy looking, though. You have to be discriminating.)

I am also bad about remembering to water plants.

One thing I've found that seems to work, though, is that now instead of taking the cats' water dishes to the sink to replenish them, I put water in a big quart plasting measuring "cup" (really more like a bowl; I make pancakes in it) and bring it to where the cats' dishes are, pour in what they need, and then pour the excess in my plants.

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yes, I'd have to do something like that. Unfortunately, I don't have a bowl for the cats... I have an automatic waterer. I was afraid that I would forget to water the cats just like I do with the plants.

spider plants are nice. I'll look for one. I'm not familiar with the other plants that were suggested... I'll look into them!

I can sympathise with the "black thumb", my hubby calls me the serial killer of the herb world.

Funny thing is I don't forget to water them and do try to do as suggested by the books and what not and I still manage to kill them off in a two week period...very bizarre. So now I have given up lol I plan on planting some catnip around the garden and leaving it be. Maybe my lack of attention will make it thrive.

We only have one house plant. I think it has probably been with us for almost ten years now. It has survived weeks, probably even months without being watered and of course plenty torture from our many pets!

I'm the same way about houseplants. The problem is they become part of the "background" and I stop seeing them as it were. I have however managed to keep a philodendron that my sister gave me alive, and actually grown it out some! Unfortunately philodendrons are toxic ; this particular plant is in the den in a hanging planter behind closed doors where curious kitties can't get to it. Since it's right by the dryer, I've taken to keeping a pitcher of water on the dryer and when I see the pitcher, I remember to test the soil in the pot and then water if need be. If you've got somewhere around your plants where you could keep a pitcher, or a jug of water perhaps, it might jog your memory.

Also, I seem to remember reading how plants can also be fussy about the air currents or lack of same in a home or apartment. Along with humidity levels it might lead to them being less than happy. I've never been that dedicated to finding the right spot for indoor plants, though. 99% (except for the afore-mentioned philodendron) of my indoor plants are silk. They take my neglect just fine .

I've just reduced myself to having plastic ones!

More people kill planst by OVER WATERING than underwatering (although every plant does need a drink from time to time...even a cactus!)
They also need proper light for the type of plant that they happen to be....so do check the tag when you get a new one...or look it up on the net to see what it`s needs are (light-water-fertilizing)
I used to have a lot of plants before we got our "boys", but knowing that some can be toxic, and also knowing that kittens would do them in even if they were`nt...I gave them all away.
Now that the cats have turned a year old I`m wanting to have at least a few. I started with a Sweedish Ivy because it grows fast....it`s in a hanging basket....so far the cats have not been able to reach it. (Not because of not trying though!)
I personally think that the tags on plants should be marked if they are toxic to animals or children!
You can get lists of plants that are toxic on the internet....but all the lists are not in agreement on all plants..so check out a few when you are deciding.
Happy gardening!

The bizarre thing is that of the five million or so cats that we have, none of them ever bother any of my plants. Except for knocking them completely over, I mean. But besides that, nothing.

Also be very careful what type of plants you get. Some are toxic to cats. I'm not sure about the aloe plant and cats but I've put mine in a hanger from the ceiling.

I would imagine it depends on aloe species.
I have had a whole aloe plant consumed by ex's cat, all it did was give her the runs.
Not sure which species it was though.