The cast iron plant or as some call it aspidistra is one of the plants that is very resistant to drought and temperature changes and tolerates low light well. If you are looking for a very resistant plant with low watering and your house does not have enough light, cast iron plant is a good option for your home.
The Cast iron plant is a model of plant resistance! It is almost indestructible and can withstand neglect and lack of care for a long time. But be careful not to put it in a dark corner and leave it alone to collect dust on its beautiful leaves. Take care of it and enjoy it!
It is very easy to keep a cast iron plant, provided that we get to know it completely and provide the environmental conditions of the house according to its wishes and needs. Continuing this article from the thehplants website, we want to teach you how to care for cast iron plant.
Introduction to cast iron plant
One of the most beautiful indoor plants is the cast iron plant. This plant is from the Liliaceae family and is native to China and Japan. cast iron plant or aspidistra has no distinct stem, and its long, elongated leaves arise from rhizomes. The resistance of this plant to changing conditions is very high, so it is also called a steel flower. The beauty of this plant is its dark green leaves, sometimes leathery. If you take good care of this plant, it will give beautiful purple flowers, which do not last long.
Common Name | bar room plant – Cast Iron Plant |
Scientific Name | Aspidistra elatior |
Family | Asparagaceae |
Soil Type | Well-draining, rich potting mix |
Origin | China, Japan, and Taiwan |
Soil pH | Acidic, neutral |
Toxicity | Non-toxic to humans and pets |
Temperature | 15-24°C (59-75°F) |
The Cast iron plant has branched and yellow roots. It does not have a true stem and has short rhizomes from which the leaves grow. The leaves of this plant are wide and leathery and have long petioles with stipules. The length of each leaf is 40 to 50 cm (15 to 20 inches), and they are permanent and evergreen. The small flowers of this plant are purple and appear on the surface of the pot, and are not ornamental.
Care of cast iron plant
In general, the cast iron plant likes humid weather and shady places. However, it has relatively good resistance to adverse environmental conditions. The beauty of cast iron plant leaves makes it difficult to find someone who can resist buying and keeping it. Of course, its resistance is another reason for its popularity. Because cast iron plant is a low-expectation plant and even in cities with moderate climates, it can be used as a suitable flower for planting in the garden.
Suitable temperature for cast iron plant
This plant is very resistant to low temperatures, tolerating temperatures around zero. The best temperature for its proper growth is about 11 degrees Celsius (52 Fahrenheit). But generally, a healthy cast iron plant can live at a temperature between 7 and 30 degrees Celsius (44 to 86 Fahrenheit). The maximum temperature it can withstand is 30 degrees Celsius. Less and more air is very harmful to it.
cast iron plant light conditions
This plant has a very high resistance to sunlight and can tolerate shade well. Cast iron plant is very sensitive to direct sunlight, and this causes its leaves to dry and burn. Therefore, placing it under indirect sunlight is necessary because low light also causes many problems and diseases of cast iron plant . Behind the north and east windows is the best place to store it. The way to keep cast iron plant in the garden is to plant it in the shade and avoid direct sunlight.
So, in summary, it should be said that in terms of light requirements, it is one of the least expected plants. It grows best in indirect light. It has a relatively good resistance if it is placed in a dimly lit place for a long time.
Watering cast iron plant
One of the reasons for the resistance of cast iron plant is its need for water; if you forget to water it, there will be no problem. Cast iron plant is one of the flowers that does not need much watering. One of the reasons for its resistance is the bushy nature of the roots. These plants, along with their long leaves, store a lot of water in themselves, and this causes the high humidity around the plants to cause them to rot. Therefore, to care cast iron plant at home, it is necessary to let the potting soil dry. Check the pot’s soil by hand; if the soil is dry, repeat the watering. It is necessary to make a few holes in the bottom of the pot so that excess water can leave the pot and not damage the roots.
humidity need for cast iron plant
This plant likes moisture, but if there is no moisture, you will not have any problems keeping it. It reacts well to fogging, especially in summer. On days when the air is very dry, the possibility of cast iron plant getting sick is very high. Therefore, place a container of water next to the pot of this plant so that its water vapor moistens the environment and freshens its leaves, or put sand under the pot and pour water into it. By making this artificial island for cast iron plant, you will make the water evaporate slowly and keep the environment moist. In addition, the roots absorb the moisture they need from the bottom of the pot. Dusting on its leaves is also very pleasant, especially in hot and dry seasons when the ambient air becomes unfavorable.
suitable soil for cast iron plant
Cast iron plant needs rich soil. You can prepare suitable soil for growing cast iron plant with the following instructions: one-third of garden soil + one-third of sand + one-third of compost or rotted manure. To strengthen the plant, spray your plant once a week with water-soluble chemical fertilizers. Cast iron plant grows relatively well in poor soils. It is also better to consider soil with a PH of 5.5 or 6.5. It is better to combine garden soil with sand to prepare a light soil composition with high drainage.
cast iron plant Fertilization
Some people, seeing the low growth of cast iron plant, think that they should give it chemical fertilizer continuously. But this is wrong. Because cast iron plant is one of the plants that grow little, even if you give it fertilizer, it will not grow more. You can use complete but light fertilizers in spring and summer. For example, one of the methods of keeping the cast iron flower is to strengthen it with 20 20 20 fertilizers once a month. Also, because it needs iron plant , you can use iron plant chelation fertilizer. But remember that you don’t need to strengthen it in winter. Because this season is the resting season of the plant.
Repotting cast iron plant
If necessary, you can repot the cast iron plant pot every other year. The best time for this is spring. Like other rhizome plants, cast iron plant does not need to repot regularly, so you can keep it in the original pot for 4-5 years without harming the plant.
Wait for signs to repot. If the plant is too much out of the pot and its roots protrude from the lower edges of the pot, it means it’s time to repot!
Pests and problems of cast iron plant
In the following, we will examine some common pests that reduce the growth and loss of cast iron plant:
- Insect attack on this plant causes white cotton sores on the underside of the leaves.
- The insect pest causes brown spots on the stem and the lower surface of the leaves, as well as seeing yellow spots along the veins of the leaves.
- If the plant is exposed to direct sunlight, burnt and brown spots can be seen on the leaves.
- The use of chemical brighteners causes small brown spots on the leaves.
- If you see pale leaves, the air is dry, and the soil in the pot is weak.
- The red mite causes the leaves to turn yellow, especially their tips and spider webs can be seen on their undersides.
- Weevils also produce a sticky substance called honeydew, which makes the leaf surface sticky, and the activity of weevils leads to reduced growth and yellowing of leaves.
- Larvae of various insects make holes in the leaves due to the consumption of leaf tissue.
- Fungal leaf spot causes spots on immature leaves that are juicy at first, then red or red-brown, and a yellow spot forms in the center.
- Root and petiole rot is one of the fungal diseases that can be seen on the surface of the soil by the white mycelium of the fungus.
- In case of overwatering, it causes the leaves to turn yellow and fall.
- Too much artificial feeding causes the splitting of the leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cause of white cotton sores on the underside of leaves?
The attack of a special insect is the cause of this complication. Every 2 weeks, spray your plant with a penetrating insecticide to remove the above symptoms. You can also soak the spots with cotton soaked in the poison.
Why do the leaves sometimes turn yellow and fall in this plant?
The reason for this is overwatering. Check the drainage of your pot. Allow the soil surface to dry between waterings.
Why do the leaves of this plant split?
Due to excessive feeding, in some cases, the leaves of the plant are split. You should stop feeding the plant until next summer. Do the feeding every month, only once, and with half of the recommended amount.
Why do the leaves have small brown spots?
It is due to the use of polishing materials. Instead of polishing materials, use a wet cloth and sponge.
What is the cause of plant leaves turning pale?
The reason for this is the pot’s dry air and weak soil. repot and water your plant.
In this article, we tried to explain everything you need to know about the care method of cast iron plant ; if there is anything left unsaid or you have a question that you need expert advice on your plant, you can raise it in the comment section.