Green up your house with some houseplants

Or...more aptly titled, houseplants that are very difficult to kill but look nice anyway.

I'm a self-professed black thumb, often lovingly referred to as The Killer. The death toll has to be at 25+ since college. Nonetheless, I still love the way houseplants look as decor, I love that they improve the air quality of our home, they're inexpensive (hello IKEA), and there are all kinds of pretty pots and containers that look great. And face it, a fake ficus tree screams dental office or bachelor pad. No offense to dentists or bachelors. Or single dentists.

There are certain varieties that people claim are "hearty" and should do well, like cacti, ferns and ivies. Yep, killed all of those. I don't even consider buying those anymore (although I briefly contemplate a Boston fern for my front porch each year-they are just gorgeous, but not so much when all dry and brown). We won't even get into the great Bonsai Massacre of '01.

Anywho, if you are as gardening-challenged as me, stick with a few varieties that even The Killer has had great success with.

1. Philodendron. They grow like weeds with even very little sun. They get viney and huge quickly, so they're easy to cut back and propagate in water. These are nearly impossible to kill. Believe me.

2. Spathiphyllum or peace lily. They have kinda leafy-flowers every once in awhile and also grow with just a little light.

3. Oxalis or shamrock. These are all over the grocery stores in March. They're pretty, with little flowers. I got nervous with this one at first, because the leaves wilt very quickly, but it constantly regenerates itself. (This is also been tested by the great Kitty Devouring of '01).

And of course, I couldn't go without some crappy photos of a few of my own houseplants. (Does it matter that I am usually holding a squirmy 5 month old while taking them?? Probably not. They still suck.)









They can even live without dirt and their roots totally in water. Right up my alley.




I love how the shamrock's leaves close at night.

And I now realize I forgot a peace lily photo. Try to contain your disappointment.

Next gardening adventure: my trip to the nursery for my veggies. I haven't planted a vegetable garden since before the little guys. This should be interesting.