Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
Spider plants are moderately fast-growing plants that grow rosettes of slender, gently arching variegated leaves.
Mature plants regularly send out long stems that bear small, star-shaped flowers.
Light: Outdoors, spider plants prefer to grow in light shade. They can tolerate heavy shade, but their growth won't be as robust. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. Indoors, a bright window or patio door that gets indirect sun is ideal.
Soil: These plants can grow in a variety of soil types, but they favor loose, loamy soil with sharp drainage. Spider plant prefers a fairly neutral soil pH but can tolerate slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil.
Water: Spider plants like lightly moist but not soggy soil. These plants are sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in water, which can brown the leaf tips, so if possible use rainwater or distilled water for container plants.
Ti Plant
Cordyline fruticosa
Ti plant is a tropical broadleaf evergreen plant with colorful palm-like leaves.
It can be grown as a landscape specimen in tropical climates but is more often grown as a potted houseplant.
Light: Ti plant is considered a full-sun specimen (six hours or more per day), but when grown outdoors, it will benefit from being shaded during the hottest hours of the afternoon. It can, however, tolerate a location with bright filtered light for the entire day. In low-light conditions, these plants may lose some of their bright color and become greener. When grown indoors, give ti plant as much bright indirect light as possible.
Soil: Ti plants prefer slightly acidic soil that is fertile and well-drained. Sandy or loamy soil with plenty of organic matter works well. Avoid wet or hard clay and sites with salt spray.
Water: As a garden plant, ti plant grows best in soil that is kept moist but not constantly saturated. In Fall and WWinter, water more sparingly—once every two weeks is usually sufficient.
Dracaena Corn
Dracaena fragrans
A tropical African evergreen tree popular in Europe as an indoor plant since the mid-1800s, corn plants look a lot like palm trees, which is why they’re sometimes called “false palms.”
They make good houseplants because they are tall and narrow, typically only reaching around four to six feet tall in containers, and easy to maintain.
Light: The ideal indoor location for a corn plant is near a window with filtered sunlight.
Soil: A loose, loamy potting soil mix and a pot with good drainage is the best option for growing corn plants.
Water: Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy during the growing season (Spring through Fall). Reduce watering in the late Fall to Winter. However, never let the soil completely dry out nor get too wet.
False Shamrock
Oxalis triangularis
Purple shamrock, also known as false shamrock, is one of the uncommon plants with deep purple, nearly black foliage. The leaves are triangular and typically grow in groups of three and look like fluttering butterflies. At night (or on particularly cloudy days) they fold up almost like an umbrella, but they open again with the morning light.
Light: This plant grows well in full sun to partial shade, meaning roughly four hours of direct sunlight on most days. Regularly rotate the pot, so all sides of the plant end up facing the light and growing evenly.
Soil: The purple shamrock can grow in a variety of soil types as long as it has good drainage. A loamy or sandy soil is best. And for container growth, a general, well-draining potting mix should be fine.
Water: Maintain an even amount of soil moisture on young purple shamrock plants. Established plants have some drought tolerance and are forgiving if you forget to water. Water whenever the top inch of soil has dried out.
Inch Plant
Tradescantia zebrina
Inch plant is a creeping perennial with oval-shaped green leaves striped with shades of purple.
This fast-growing member of the spiderwort family originated in the tropics but does well indoors in temperate climates with the right conditions.
Light: Inch plants require bright, indirect light to keep their coloration and maintain their vigor.
Soil: Plant in a moist, well-drained potting mix. Standard houseplant mix works well.
Water: Water your inch plant regularly, allowing the top two inches of the soil to dry out between waterings. Water less frequently during the Winter months.