He’s very tolerant of irregular watering, let his soil dry out completely before giving him a drink.
He’s maybe the least fussy plant you’ll meet. He’ll deal with almost any light level (he’s not mad on strong sunshine).
Keep his leaves green and lush, and avoid brown tips, by giving him a mist every few days.
Botanical name
Aspidistra Elatior
Nickname
Cast Iron Plant; Bar Room Plant
Plant type
Indoor
Air purifying
Yes
Plant height (including pot)
40-50cm; 60-70cm; 90-100cm
Pet/baby safe
Yes
Nursery pot size
13cm; 17cm; 21cm
Aspidistra are sometimes known as the Cast Iron Plant because they’re almost impossible to kill. They’re practically bomb-proof (we have not tested this). 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.
They’ve built up that tolerance for poor conditions by growing in the shade under larger trees in China and Vietnam. Their resilience has made them an extremely popular houseplant, because anybody can care for one. If you’re just beginning your plant parenting journey, there’s no better starting point. You’d have to try weirdly hard to kill him (don’t try).
Did you know?
The aspidistra was massively popular in Victorian times, because it easily tolerated the poor light and air quality of 19th century homes.
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