From: lynx@surrey.amigans.gen.nz (Lynsey Gedye)
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Office plants?
Date: 8 Oct 92 11:27:09 GMT
Organization: Prime Line, Wanganui, New Zealand

In article <Roger.Duvall.4.0@AtlantaGA.NCR.COM> Roger.Duvall@AtlantaGA.NCR.COM (Roger Duvall) writes:
>I think I would like to grow something on my desk.  
>It has to be small.  
>It has to grow well under two flourescent bulbs.  
>There are no windows nearby -- typical office atmosphere.  
>I want something special.  Any suggestions?

  Hi Roger:

  Mildew, perhaps?  =:)!

  I imagine that a nice log with tree oyster mushrooms would look very special.
  (dactylanthus? shiitake? I can see it now, "I've got fairy rings on my desk")

  Well, sounded good to me =:)... you know, typical office atmos - keep 'em in 
  the dark and feed 'em on...

  Some more subdued suggestions...    just MHO, ok?
  
  Resist african violets - it's true they'll do all the bits you want and they
  are quaint but frankly not very special.  If you must do gesneriads I suggest
  you go for Streptocarpus caulescens.  It has a flower very like a real violet,
  but grows more like a little tree, with purple stems, dark green fuzzy leaves
  and tops out at about 30cm high.  Nice, not soppy.

  Your office plant really is a statement about you, so maybe you should tell
  us more about your desired image.

  For sheer smallness, Lithops.  "Long Live Lithops - yay!!!"  If you set
  the pot up nicely you can play spot the plant.  A company IQ test.  And then
  when you thought it was too hard - a bright flower.  (Might need more light
  for flowers tho.)  They're really interesting.  I love 'em, even tho' they're
  usually pretty expensive.

  For sheer butchness, IMHO, you can't go past a varigated pineapple - Ananas
  comosus variegatus.  These seem to have a type with mild spines along the
  leaf edges, but the first one I got...  this town was not big enough =:).

  Bromeliads are great - they respond to love, but they'll do pretty good if
  you score that contract that takes you to Abu Dabi for 6 weeks.  I like the
  Silver Vase - Aechmea fasciata - it's quite sculptural, and easy as to grow.

  Cryptanthus - also a bromeliad - they're tiny - a big one would be 150mm
  from tip to tip.  C.`Starlight' and C.bivittatus minor are my faves.  Bigger,
  and softer, Guzmania zahnii variegata is lovely, but needs plenty of misting.

  But if you want a REALLY special plant, why have one on your desk?  Use you
  coat stand.  No, not a soppy hanger, get a Tillandsia usneoides - the 
  Spanish Moss.  I used to have one in my office - called "Cousin It".  Cool++
  You don't need a pot, potting mix or any of the other trivia.  It's just
  plant - nice flowers, no pruning worries, house trained.  You can wear it
  to office cocktail parties.  These plants are just great. 

  OK, Roger, there's a starting list.  Me, I'm gonna go get Cousin It and
  bring it back in my office - it's about time for flowers.

--                                                . 
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 great whites need loving too!      '',,,''  , ' '  ',,,''  , ' '
 lynx@surrey.amigans.gen.nz    lynx@amigans.gen.nz