Indoor Plants

[Natooke]

I received an e-mail this week from someone new to Sweden, who had done a search on Amerikanka about gardening. They wanted to know about indoor plants … where to buy them? … Which ones are the best? … where does one buy indoor plants in Stockholm??? Etc
As I don’t own indoor plants … I couldn’t give her concrete advised. I suggested PS (Home & Garden) as I thought some of you could lead her to the best place. I did suggest this to her.

The one piece of advice that I can
give you with indoor plats is.. in this climate during the winter, people
feel that it's too dry inside due to the elements. I rest a rectangular cake
pan with water over the element. I've bought ceramic cups that hang on the
elements at a fairly cheap price 99 sek for 2 (or around that price) They
are called (KERAMIK LUFTFUKTARE) You can purchase them through
www.sparkop.com/ just click onto nyheter sortimentet and scroll down.

Even if this person doesn't join and ask about indoor plants it still is a topic some may be interested in

[Pam]

I'm not near Stockholm but here we have Blomsterlandet in Eurostop. Plus Coop, Maxi, Konsum, and other stores like that which have plants. The indoor plants may need a little more water in the winter, especially if they are placed in a window above an element but most do fine. Finding which kind this time of year is really easy....the ones the store has inside are the ones you can have inside. We brought in ivy, geraniums and a couple of others from our planters outside in the fall. They are all doing fine inside. They let you know if you have neglected them.....their leaves droop and/or turn yellow. If they seem dry but the soil is moist, mist with a water bottle.
Good luck and happy gardening!

[Leslie]

I get my plants mostly from the supermarkets, like Pam mentioned. But another great place is called Plantagen. I know of at least 2 locations in the Stockholm area.

[Carolyn]

I can't advise on Stockholm specifically, but in Örebro, besides the grocery stores, the florists (and there are tons of them) usually have a section for indoor plants, PLUS we have plant people that set up in the squares most days, unless it's BITTERLY cold, and they have a selectoin of "indoor" plants too, that apparently are pretty rugged if they take the Swedish winters, even with some tarps for protection.

I guess we're going to have to replace all our indoor plants. Our tenant has apparently managed to kill everything, including two aloes and a ficus that Anders raised that were older than his children (at least 22 years old).

[Hazel]

I have problems with plants...

I only have one healthy plant...hopefully will survive long enough. Most were half dead and was already discarded by my husband

I like to have plants but I don't think they like me

My mother in law told me that maybe I watered the plants too much...I think that's what I did.

I think it take special skills to look after plants...mmmmmm.... at least I know what I'm good at...to look after patients and live healthy life ;D

[Carolyn]

A lot of times too, it's a question of finding the right plants. Some are remarkably resistant to abuse and even over-watering. Others, no matter what you do, do NOT like living indoors and especially through the Swedish winters, with the dry indoor heat and the real lack of natural light (unless you want to spend the big bucks for grow lights).

What I have the most success with are pothos (kind of an ivy trailing plant with the heart-shaped varigated leaves), draecana (long tall leaves often edged with dark red) and a house palm (mist daily). Those three plants are pretty indestructable. My husband, on the other hand, is very good with ficus (VERY nervous plant) and is currently growing a nectarine from seed. I generally stay away from HIS plants.

[Sabeine]

What are those cups to hang over the radiator? I could use them. I have put out pans to give my plants extra water, and my cats drank them all up! They are sneaky. One of them also chews on my ficus.
When I lived in CA I didn't trouble at all with indoor plants, they thrived and I considered myself a person with a green thumb, here I am lucky if I can keep a plant alive for 6 months. What is going on?

[Carolyn]

You can also place damp washclothes or small towels on the radiators and the cats can't drink THOSE.

[lizardek]

I'm a plantkiller, too, but have found several that seem impervious to my best efforts... My method nowadays is a little bit of water once a week, period.

try these:

succulents (jade plants especially)
philodendrons
corn plants
"garderobsblomma" (anyone know what these are called in English??)
baby pine trees (the kind they sell at Xmas)

[Pam]

Last year at Maxi we got a couple of plastic vent/tray thingies that hang over the elements. The cats couldn't drink out of those. I have both in my bedroom now and my throat lets me know when they need more water.

[Sabeine]

Hi, do those vent trays looks almost like little radiators that hang in the front of the actual radiator?

Anders bought one today and we put it in the living room. I think we need to get 2 more, it gets dry in this apartment.

[Pam]

Yes, that's the one. Last year we had one in the bedroom and one in the livingroom. I put them both in the bedroom this time and the air is greatly improved. I'm going back for two or three more when I get a chance.

[Sabeine]

How much did you pay for yours? We paid 119sek each and I thought that was expensive. We couldn't find any cups that Carolyn had described.

[Pam]

We only paid 60 sek each but it was a year ago and in the middle of the season. There is a little shop at home catalog around here somewhere with ceramic dishes that hang on the element that aren't too expensive. I'll look for it. The 'real' ones are unglazed pottery so the water evaporates through the pot instead of just the opening. I still don't see why they should cost so much more, though.