Home greenery

MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin has always been a place for people who love the great outdoors. Sometimes, though, that’s just not enough and you want to bring a little nature indoors.

Houseplants add a touch of green to a room, and breathe life – literally – into a living space. Studies have shown that they can even remove some harmful chemicals from the air, as well as reducing stress. And if you get the right kind, they’re remarkably easy to care for, said Breanna Verduzco, owner of Evalee Ray’s Plant Shop in Moses Lake.

“For beginners, I always recommend pothos,” Verduzco said. “It’s a pretty quick grower. You oftentimes see them in clinics, doctor’s offices, because they can do well in lower light. They will survive.”

People who want to liven their homes with plants need to look at several factors before they start spending their money, Verduzco said.

“Does your space have any light?” she said. “Of course they are house plants, but they do require light. I usually recommend, if you can’t read the book in the spot, it’s probably too dark for your plant. Another thing would be, where are you looking to put your plant? Do you have a small area or a big area to fill? Are you wanting to do something small, or are you wanting something to fill the space and be more of a statement piece?”

The third question prospective plant owners should ask themselves is how big a commitment they’re prepared to make, Verduzco said. Some people have the time and desire to take care of finicky plants, but people who have a lot on their plate already, or who are away from home a lot, should probably consider something that doesn’t need constant watering.

Sansevieria, or snake plants, are a good low-maintenance plant for a beginner.

“They’re plants that are indigenous to Africa and parts of Asia,” said Bruce Bailey, owner of Roost in Moses Lake. “Where they grow is between cracks of rocks and everything. So they can be basically ignored for weeks at a time … and still look great.”

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, called ZZ plants for short, and philodendrons are also good for folks who can’t or don’t want to spend a lot of time on plants.

“Obviously you need to put some loving care into them here and there,” Verduzco said. “But I would say those are your classic, pretty easygoing, beginner-friendly houseplants.”

Monsteras are also a popular low-maintenance choice for house plants. As the name would suggest, they can get pretty large, Verduzco said.

What about households with pets? That narrows down the options a bit, Verduzco said.

“Your pet-friendly plants are kind of limited,” she said. “I usually work with something called a hoya. There are a lot of different kinds of hoyas. They are all pet friendly though. If your cat nibbles on it, scratches at it, it’s not going to cause any kind of adverse reaction.”

The same can’t be said of the philodendrons and pothos, she said, which should be kept out of reach of critters.

“Unfortunately, those are all non-pet-friendly,” she said. “If your pet rubs against it, it shouldn’t do any harm, but if your pet was to eat it it could have some slight irritation swelling, itchiness.”

A succulent called string of pearls is also pet-friendly, Verduzco said, and doesn’t require a lot of water.

“They do like a lot of light,” she said. “And they do like to be on the drier side between waterings. So some people who like to give a little extra love sometimes tend to run into problems because they don’t like to have wet feet.”

Bailey agreed, pointing to a string of pearls plant in his shop.

“You know, I think I watered that three weeks ago,” he said. “But that was the last time. Too many people tend to over-water.”

The key thing to remember with plants, Verduzco said, is that if one doesn’t work out, it’s not the end of the world.

“Give it a shot, give it a fair go,” she said. “If you fail one time, it doesn’t mean you can’t. It’s impossible. I think sometimes, and everybody is going to fail once or twice. It’s trial and error, but I think we can all do it with a little patience.”

Joel Martin can be reached via email at jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.