Question
I should have said that I am looking for indoor plants at 6' in height, the same as our Corn Plants.  I'd prefer palm trees.  Our smaller plants do very well especially the Pothos.  Our Kentia Palm died in one month.
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Followup To

Question -
Our company is looking to purchase indoor plants.  We are in Southern California in low light (fluorescent lights) conditions as they will not be around windows, building temperature goes from 70-90 degrees mostly around 75.  Care is minimal.  We have some Corn plants now but some are doing fine while others are not.  Can you recommend any indoor plants for this environment?  Plus how often do you water a Corn Plant?  What do you use when the leaves turn brown?  I read that you use lime in the soil because we have alot of Flouride in the water.  Please help.

Answer -
Hi David,

You have far more questions here than I can answer in this space. If your company is considering an investment in plants that you want to keep and have them add to your office ambiance, then I recommend that you contact a local interior landscaper to assist you. Not only can they help you select the right plants, they are trained to properly care for plants in an office environment.

Plant care does not lend itself to simple rules of "water your plant every so-many days" or "brown leaves  mean...."  In addition, there are rarely simple "fixes" such as soil additives or supplements that work. Matching plants with the available light and knowing how to water those plants are the keys to successful plant care. It has taken me 20 years to learn what I know. I cannot teach you that in one answer.

I am not trying to be unhelpful here, but you should understand that simple answers do not work.

I have written an article on low light plants that will work in your office environment. If you send a request to me at [email protected], I will email you a copy to help you get started in selecting plants.

How often you water a corn plant depends on how often the top quarter of the soil dries out. That varies with light, temperature, humidity, pot size and soil composition.

A brown leaf can be a symptom of under or over watering, excess fertilizer, too little light or hard water.

Lime will counteract soil that has become to acidic. It will have no affect on fluoride. Normally fluoridated water is not a problem for potted plants.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]  

Answer
Hi David,

Some professional on-site assistance would still be helpful, but I will do my best to give you some ideas to work with.

The best low-to-moderate light palm is a Rhapis palm. It holds up better than a Kentia and does not demand as much light as other palm species. Rhapis also come in the size that you want. They are not cheap, but they are a good value. They do not tolerate very dry soil, so regular watering (weekly) will be necessary.

Dracaena 'Janet Craigs' and Dracaena 'Lisas' are good alternatives for office locations away from windows. They both come in heights up to 6+ feet. No plants will survive in lower light than these two plants.

None of these plants should be repotted. They should be fertilized very sparingly or not at all. If your local water s on the hard side, then use filtered or distilled. Do not expect them to grow very much as they are in low light and light determines growth rate. In low light, plants require minimal care so don't fuss with them too much.

One final note: Buy from a reputable (non-discount) source. Quality really does matter when it come to plants.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

If this information has been helpful, please remember to give me a rating and nomination.