How Long Does Interior Foliage Typically Last
How long do indoor plants typically last? Houseplants can live a long time, especially when provided the right environment and with proper maintenance from interior foliage services.
Some plants may be short-lived under indoor conditions, but others can last two to three years, even longer.
Researchers at the Bronx’s New York Botanical garden, however, say that plants don’t have a specific lifespan. The only exceptions are the “annuals” that live and die for one growing season.
The lifespan of any plant heavily depends on the growing conditions variety and their care. In other words, it’s completely in your hands. How you take care of the plants can dictate how long it’s going to live.
What Can Shorten the Lifespan of Interior Foliage?
Lack of trimming
There are no limits as to how far or tall plants grow if the conditions are right. If they’re not trimmed, they will continue to grow until they can no longer support their own weight.
When they’re left to grow big, water from the roots will not reach all the way to the branches. Eventually, the branches die, and the rest will follow.
Misinformation
A houseplant may be advertised as able to survive in low light. When placed in a dim corner, however, it dies.
Because the reality is, an indoor plant can survive in low light but will thrive more when exposed to the right amount of sunlight.
It is important to remember that:
- A plant that can tolerate dry air temporarily can adapt to dry air but has better chances of long-term survival with good humidity.
- Carnivorous plants can tolerate tap water but only for short periods. If they are to live a longer life, then they must be watered with rainwater or distilled water.
- Some orchids can be watered by placing ice cubes on their roots. Such practice does not apply to tropical species, however.
- Air plants need watering just like any other plants. So, the moisture from the surrounding air is not enough to keep them alive for a long time.
- When decorating your home with interior foliage, it is best to get the correct information from the garden centers or trusted providers of such plants.
Know your houseplants
True houseplants will live longer given good humidity, good light, appropriate watering, and other interior foliage services.
The world’s oldest indoor plant is said to be the Eastern Cape giant cycad (Encephalartos altensteinii) that has been growing in the Kew Gardens’ greenhouses since 1775.
To this day, it continues to grow and remains in perfect health.
With proper care, Bonsai trees can live for several hundred years. In Japan, there are reported bonsai trees that are over 800 years old.
The bonsai tree that was in the Yamaki Family for 6 generations and was donated to the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington DC survived the 1945 Hiroshima bombing.
Other plants that can be passed down through generations are:
- Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis)
- Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)
- Jade Plants (Crassula)
- Rubber Plants (Ficus elastic)
- Snake Plants (Sanseveria)
- Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)
Regardless of the type of houseplants you have, their survival greatly depends on the way you take care of them. On that note, hire interior foliage services from Green Thumb Interior for your convenience.
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