No luck with houseplants? Meet the Aspidistra Elatior or Cast Iron Plant. The cast iron plant lives in the temperate jungles of Asia. this slow growing beauty is almost impossible to kill and has the ability to withstand low light and drought conditions. It makes itself at home in low light rooms and will survive even when you forget to water it. It’s a long-lived plant that with good care, can be with you for years to come.
While they have an almost legendary ability to endure neglect, with a little TLC they can flourish. This article will give you what information you need to help your plant be its best.
Scientific Name: Aspidistra Elatior
Common Name(s): Cast Iron Plants, Bar-Room Plants
DESCRIPTION
The Aspidistra Elatior is a slow growing medium size plant. It can grow to a height of 2 -3 feet and get 1 – 2 feet wide. This plant generally has long, glossy dark green leaves, although the leaves of some varieties may be variegated or speckled.
BEST GROWING ENVIRONMENT
Light
Your aspidistra elatior will not appreciate being in full sun and prefers lower light. Too much light can burn and bleach the leaves. The ideal place for it would be in a northern facing window. If that isn’t possible, and all you have are sunny locations, put your plant a couple of feet away from the window so that it is not in direct sun.
Temperature
Aspidistra elatior do best in rooms with temperatures ranging from 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit. If you put your plant outside during the summer, be sure to bring it indoors before the first frost. Cold weather will kill them.
Water
Did you know that these plants are drought tolerant? They are experts at surviving newbie plant parents’ poor watering habits.
However, just because they can survive a bit of neglect doesn’t mean you should make a habit of not watering them. For best results you need to ensure that your plants get adequate water. Established plants need to be watered deeply (so that excess water runs out the drainage holes).
When should you water your plant? As a rule of thumb, you should water your cast iron plant when the first inch or so of soil is dry.
Be careful not to overwater your plant. Too much water can cause the roots to rot, so be careful not to overwater your plant. Also, if the edges of the leaves are turning yellow, you may be overwatering the plant.
Soil
Aspidstras aren’t overly fussy about their soil. The big thing to remember is the soil needs to drain well and should have organic components. Regular bagged potting soil is fine. Avoid using soil from your garden. It will most likely become compacted in the container and will not drain well. Garden soil may also contain plant diseases, insects and potentially harmful fungi.
Fertilizer
These plants are not particularly heavy feeders. Any good all-purpose fertilizer will be fine for your aspidistra. Water-soluble fertilizers work well here. Feed according to the instructions on the package once a month during the growing season. Do not overfeed because more is definitely not better when it comes to fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can burn your plant.
Potting Tips
You can plant your cast iron plant in just about any container as long as it has adequate drainage. If you use clay pots, remember that the soil in clay pots dries faster than it does in plastic or glazed pots. Keep that in mind when watering your plants.
While they are hardy plants, aspidistra elatiors are very fussy about their roots and may react badly if you handle them carelessly while repotting. Take your time with them and always be gentle with their roots.
Since they are slow-growing plants, you will not have to worry about repotting them very often. Plan on repotting mature plants every 2 – 3 years. To figure out if your plant needs to be repotted, gently slide it out of the container and check the roots. If the roots have grown into a tight ball, or are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container it is time to repot your plant.
When repotting your plant, go up one size. For example, if your current pot is 6 inches in diameter, the new pot should be 8 inches in diameter.
Propagation Tips
As with so many other aspects of caring for your aspidistra, propagation is easy. You can coax your plant to produce new plants for free by dividing your plant.
Your plant spreads slowly by growing new shoots from its sides. These shoots are called rhizomes. Using your fingers, carefully loosen the roots of the rhizome. Don’t use a knife or scissors since they are more likely to damage delicate roots. To ensure strong top growth, make sure there are at least two or three stems on the rhizomes.
The container that you use for the new plant must be clean and have excellent drainage. You’ll want a comfortable fit – nothing too big or too tight. The container should have no more than about 2 inches of space around the root ball. These are slow-growing plants and do not need a lot of room.
Put the new plant in an area with bright, indirect light. Keep the soil moist, but not wet.
Repot the parent plant in a container with fresh soil and water it well. Place the container in a bright area with indirect light.
Because aspidistras are slow growers, you’ll need to have patience with your new plant. It may be a few weeks before you see any new growth, but it will come.
