what plant would survive my basement abode?

Question

Hi

I live in a basement with very little natural light, fairly low temperatures (although never too cold) and with above average humidity....

Is there a plant on earth that would survive this?

Ideally I want a plant for my bathroom window-ledge (a tiny bit of natural light comes in here, but the bathroom is usually the coldest and dampest) and one for my living room (no light at all but usually kept at a reasonable temp) and one for my office (there is a bigger window here).

I first joined Yahoo! Answers in December to try and save my Aloe Vera from extinction but sadly I was too late....

I want it to look nice, ie. not mushrooms. I would also prefer it to be legal.

There is a tiny bit of sunlight in the bathroom and a little more in the office (esp. at 11am it gets direct sunlight), but nowhere else.

Answer 1

Seriously - why not consider a fake - some of the quality ones are truly amazing and that way you can have whatever you want & in any colour - with no upkeep and they remain in bloom 24/7....the problem is if you go for 'real' you may well end up with boring 'green' plant - that flowers ( if your lucky ) once a year and the rest of the time it holds you to ransom ( water me or i will die on you sucker)....not much fun and to be honest - it will eventually die anyway just to spite you.

Go for fake ... not plastic though - look for the silk ones - we have a whoesalers near us and they have full bloomed plants with bulbs the lot! they are even potted up like real plants ! You really cannot tell its fake till you touch it. They cost about 20 quid but money very well spent.

Answer 2

Obviously you dont want anything that needs a lot of light like succulents and cacti.

I have lived in the conditions you are describing and the absolute best plant you can get is a philodendron! You can get little ones with just a few leaves or you can get big huge mega ones that have vines growing off of it like crazy! You can get them almost anywhere that sells plants.

Best part is that they are impossible to kill. Just water them thoroughly when they look like they are wilting, and they'll perk right back up! And they need very little light..almost none at all!

Here's a link to a picture. Im sure you have seen them before.

Answer 3

Hi

Two you might like:
Spathiphyllum -- dark green leaves on the end of a slender stalk; also called the peace lily .... graceful, slender

Boston Ferns -- the following gives instructions for their care:
www.tinyseeds.com...light green in color, rather plain shaped fronds .... but pretty ....

The only place in your apt. that would do for a live plant is the office .... you did not specify if there is sunlight, or just light ...


Peace & Love

Answer 4

Why bother with real ones? Good quality imitation ones look just as good as real ones, especially in the lower light levels you say you have.
There is a lady on eBay who sells some brilliant ones which I use on the North facing side of my house where the light levels are much lower than the South side. She sells some superb Bonzai trees in their pots which are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing and very stylish.

Answer 5

Most Cacti are fair on nearly ompossable to kill. Least ways i ain't managed yet! You can abuse the life out them and they just keep going. Spider plant like is totaly not killable. Ivy and fernes absolutly love damp dark conditions. The main problem with house plants is ofton over watering. Treat them mean keep them keen works for plants. Feed them every 6 weeks or so and they should be fine.

Answer 6

Chinese lucky plant live happily in darkness.
It's a magical plant with green stem and pointing leaves. It is a cut plant living in a vase only with plain water. I found it in my friend's windowless bathroom for a few years. I think you can buy in China town. I might have seen them at IKEA a few years ago (Sorry, it's no use).

Answer 7

you say there is not any gentle on your position. which ability you may't strengthen any flora because all flora favor a minimum of a few gentle daily. in case you set up a pair of cabinets with gro-lamps, you're able to coax some thing to strengthen, in spite of the undeniable fact that it received't strengthen a lot. purchase your self a sturdy man made plant(s). I actually have 2 Ficus Benjamina 'timber' which i purchased in a thrift save. i have not in any respect had man made flora in spite of the undeniable fact that the gentle in my homestead isn't adequate to strengthen a respectable real plant. sturdy success.

Answer 8

I'm not sure what it's called, but I have a plant that I can't kill.
I'll figure it out and let you know.
hello back!

Answer 9

Try some ferns

Answer 10

Sun Flowers work wonders in a place like that.