Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart to allow room for the plant's tendency to spread as it reproduces. It needs full shade and really cannot take any direct sun as this will scorch the leaves and cause them to turn brown. Due to its slow-growing nature, it takes a long time for the plant to reach a saleable size and, as such, it is quite an expensive plant to buy. It is used as training material for the seika form of ikebana. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. In fact, you may have to actively try to kill this plant as lack of water and sun rarely leads to its demise. It is also known as a ballroom or iron plant. No, when you are growing a new plant, the stem has to be planted in soil to get the roots to grow. Originates in East Asian forests - living in the dense shade on the ground - No wonder it's called the Cast Iron Plant. Seeds are not available to purchase. Aspidistra seed Posted on March 29, 2014 by Plant Delights Nursery While cutting back winter damaged cast iron plants in the garden, we discovered a nice seed crop on Aspidistra … The leaf blades range from 1 foot to 2 1/2 feet, atop a 6 - 8 inch grooved … These plants will have a lot more details displayed including an image. Normally, the Cast Iron plant does not need to be repotted but if it does, do it in the spring. Prepare a shady spot in your garden. Once a very popular houseplant it was a common feature of many a Victorian hallway, although its popularity has faded slightly since this period and is now less common in modern homes. So easy to grow and 'neglect' but at its best when cared for! Google "photos of cast iron plant" and you will see many pictures. It will grow well in a soil that is well-draining, and only needs to be fertilised during its growing season. Clip away any brown leaves in late summer to encourage new leaves to grow in spring. I hope you enjoy the content here! Aspidistra elatior is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a slow rate. It is hardy to zone (UK) 7. A tough foliage plant for foundation plantings or interior use. If you see this, make sure that you nip off the leaves that are affected immediately. Anthracnose—this is a fungal disease that will turn the tips of the leaves brown or yellow. The plant can survive even the most extreme conditions so it is great for those that do not have a lot of time to take care of plants. Water lightly. Growing Your Aspidistra Elatior Or Cast Iron Plant This is the ideal plant for anyone who has a “brown thumb”. This little known species of cast iron plant from a Crug Farm collection in Taiwan, produces 28" x … Choose heavily worked, acidic, loamy soil if possible. If you enter just a plant name, you will see results from the old RHS Plant Finder and Selector databases; If you select any attributes with or without a plant name, you will see a much narrower selection of results taken only from the old RHS Plant Selector database. Central Phoenix -- Aspidistra elatior is not a plant that would spring to mind when you think of things to grow in the desert. Aspidistra does better in the shade. How to Remove Leaves From Bushes & Shrubs, University of Illinois Extension: Cast Iron Plant -- Apridistra Elatior. It is a member of the Lily family and is a native of China. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Slugs, snails. You want to do this in the spring before the growing season starts. Reply ↓ Plant Delights Nursery on January 13, 2018 at 8:46 pm said: Indeed. The soil needs to be moist at all times during the summer and the spring. It’s one of the rare plants that helped inspire an entire novel: George Orwell’s “Keep the Aspidistra Flying” (published in 1936). She also authors blogs on nail art blog and women's self esteem. During its growing season, which is spring and summer, the Cast Iron plant should be watered regularly to help establish their extensive root system. I love spending my free time in my garden planting and taking care of my plants. If you plant becomes infected, the entire plant needs to be thrown away. Jane introduces a plant that's practically indestructible "If you're looking for a plant that does well in a shady spot, this is the one for you. You may also need to trim some of the leaves at the stem near the soil if they start to deteriorate. It’s commonly known as the “cast-iron plant” or “iron plant”. It will grow to its mature size in four to five years. The strappy, upright leaves grow from an underground rhizome. Mealy bugs, spider mites—if your plants are affected by these insects, you should try to separate the healthy plants from the ones that are deceased. Find a location that doesn't receive much direct, full sun. Keep the soil relatively dry. I've never seen Aspidistra seed. It’s probably due to the fact it grows slowly so it’s not really appre… You can also separate the stems from the roots and repot them to grow other plants. If you forget to water yours, give it a dark spot and just generally forget it exists for a bit, it will merrily make do on its own. Since then it has gone in and out of fashion. On average, if it needs repotted, it will be once every two –three years. It is also known as a ballroom or iron plant. You can also use a soapy mixture to lightly spray the leaves. Aspidistra Elatior Milky Way is an easy, low maintenance and drought tolerant plant that is recommended for beginners and travelers, as it can survive without water for a time. Aspidistra elatior, the cast-iron-plant or bar-room plant, also known in Japanese as haran or baran is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to Japan and Taiwan. The Aspidistra plant prefers to grow in light shade and will not be able to withstand the direct sun. Aspidistra is a member of the lily family and produces long-lasting, glossy, leathery, strap-like leaves that grow up to 24 inches in length. The dark green leaves are healthy and robust and will tolerate low indoor lighting. Aspidistra are sometimes known as the Cast Iron Plant because they’re almost impossible to kill. The Cast Iron plant is a hardy houseplant and in some regions, it is a perennial favorite. When the Cast Iron plant matures, it will have reached the height of about two feet and leaves 24 inches long. This plant… I have lots of it and it all came from a couple of original plants in the early 1990s. If the problem continues, you may have to transfer the plant into another pot with new soil. The Cast Iron plant grows best in a 10 inch pot. Pot into pieces of the rhizome that include at least two leaves. First starting from the seed. Cast Iron Plant Varieties Aspidistra Elatior. They are not easily damaged by cold weather. A Jill-of-all-trades, Lillian Downey is a certified Responsible Sexuality Educator, certified clinical phlebotomist and a certified non-profit administrator. The Victorian favourite also known as the 'cast-iron-plant' - the aspidistra is well known for being able to withstand neglect, and is extremely tolerant to lower levels of light. 4:09. It requires little care and is easy to tend to. Cast Iron Plant is prone to a variety of diseases, including: Hi, my name is Victoria and I´m the owner and main author of hobby plants. Although the flowers may be hard to see, what you cannot miss is the hardy, robust, dark green leaves. This is the most common form of the Cast Iron Plant that you are likely to find, with large and shiny dark green leaves growing to over 20 inches in length. Aspidistra elatior dislikes having its roots disturbed very often. You may have to use a fungicide if you have a severe problem. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra Elatior) Care & Growing Guide, Corn Plant (Mass Cane) Care & Growing Guide, Dragon’s Tongue Plant Care & Growing Guide, Crested Euphorbia Plant Care & Growing Guide. For this reason, aspidistra as been a popular shade garden and houseplant since the Victorian era. When I was in the US they did have some seedlings there as well. One unique thing about the Cast Iron plant, when grown indoors , is that you should water it with filtered water. It actually thrives more and looks better the less you take care of it. Sturdy and easy to grow, matures to 1 ½’ tall by 1’-3’ wide. Fertilize no more than once per season, in early summer, for the most vibrant foliage. How to Grow Roses From Cuttings Fast and Easy ... All about the Aspidistra or Cast Iron Plant - Duration: 4:09. All you need to do is remove the infected leaves. Aspidistra elatior or the Cast Iron Plant belongs to the lily family and is native to China and Japan. The Indoor Garden TV show 25,164 views. Tolerant of neglect, it is widely cultivated as a houseplant, but can also be grown outside in shade where temperatures remain above −5 °C. Of those 5 are variegated, and the others are … You do this by separating the stems from the roots. Aspidistra daibuensis BSWJ312B (Taiwan Cast Iron Plant) Light Shade to Shade Zone: 8-10 28" tall Origin: Taiwan alternate image Open House/Web-Only! One way to know if your Cast Iron plant needs to be repotted is to look and see if the roots are growing over the edge. For todays post I wanted to share the process of repotting a vintage plant that I've had in my family for over 30 years! While aspidistra survives in most types of soil, you'll get the best looking plant in poor soil. Similarly, transplant indoor-grown Aspidistra into a new pot when the plant is actively growing in spring or early summer. Pot into fresh potting soil and keep moist and warm until new shoots begin to emerge. Aspidistra elatior, the "cast-iron plant", is a popular houseplant, surviving shade, cool conditions and neglect. The name ‘cast iron’ gives you an indication of just how tough this plant is. When I first picked up the aspidistra we now have in our flat I was warned about how slow growing they are, but I wasn’t prepared for what that would look like for us because my word they grow so slowly in low light environments.