How to keep an Aspidistra growing (Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior))

Member Name: Zmugzy

Product:	Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Date:	02/05/06 (11591 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to keep and little care needed

Disadvantages: Everyone's got one

The Cast Iron plant (also known as the Aspidistra Elatior) is a common indoor plant and is a very easy plant to grow. They are members of the Liliaceae family and are derived from four species that originated in regions of the Himalayas, China and Japan.


The Apidistra was made infamous by George Orwell's third novel, 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying', published in 1936. It told the story of Gordon Comstock, who packs in his successful job in an advertising to become an unsuccessful poet. The Aspidistra of the book's title comes from the pot plants to be found on nearly every window sill of the period. For Comstock, these plants symbolised all that is wrong with the "mingy, lower-class decency" from which he was desperate to escape.


The Aspidistra is not mingy at all! In fact it retains a certain elegance that would enhance anyone's living room or vestibule.

The Aspidistra is a very slow grower but on the other hand it is a very tolerant species that will often survive untold neglect and even abuse from those lacking green fingers. It will stand up well to gas, fumes, cigarette smoke filled rooms, extreme changes in temperature and periods of drought (during holidays for example).

It produces a very rarely seen bright purple flower that is cup shaped and rather fleshy. You will be lucky if you ever see one as it only lasts a day or so.



Light:
They will do well in dark corners and dislike direct sunlight.

Watering:
Water well twice a week during the summer and no more than once a week in winter.

Feeding:
Beware of over feeding. Only do so once every month or so in summer but stop immediately if the leaves start splitting.

Cleaning:
Unlike many indoor plants, the Aspidistra dislikes its foliage being sprayed with leaf shine. Instead the leaves should only be sponged with water to remove dust.

Growth:
The plant will usually develop four or five new leaves per year.

Pruning:
None necessary.

Soil:
For normal potting a loam based compost no 2 is best.

Repotting:
This will only be necessary once every 2-3 years. Like all members of the Lily family the plant has rhizomes and these should be well covered by compost and not left above the surface.

Life Expectancy:
This is one of the longest living house plants.

An Aspidistra is one of the easiest house plants to grow. If you can't keep an Aspidistra growing, perhaps you should stay away from all house plants.

Summary: A good houseplant for beginners