Plants with long stems are often seen growing straight up on tall branches – examples include dracaena trifasciata and dancing-lady orchid. These plants are referred to as leggy plants, which indicates that they have long stems with a few leaves on top.
Which are grown outdoors, and which are indoor or best office plants and what are the ideal conditions for these unique house plants?
Read on to find out more about them.
Contents
Types of Plants With Tall Stems To Marvel At
1. Dracaena trifasciata
Dracaena trifasciata is a common houseplant native to Asia and Africa. It is distinguished by its evergreen sword-shaped tall leaves, which grow straight and resemble artificial foliage.
Dracaenas, also known as snake plants, are popular as an indoor plant because they are visually appealing, have plenty of health benefits, are easy to care for, and require minimal water to thrive.
– Growing Season
The optimum seasons for growing dracaena are spring and fall. When the temperature climbs too high in the summer, it should be kept out of direct sunlight; when the temperature drops, it should be placed indoors with enough sunlight and kept at a steady temperature of over 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
– Specific Needs
Dracaenas love bright, indirect light but may also handle some direct sunshine. They do, however, grow nicely (albeit slowly) in shady corners and other low-light regions of the house. Avoid transferring your plant from a low-light region to direct sunshine too rapidly, as this might cause shock.
2. Dancing-lady Orchid
The orchid plant, also known as the oncidium orchid, is one of the popular indoor plants with a long stem. The enormous leaves can grow to be up to two feet long.
With dozens of blossoms, their huge flower sprays frequently droop. This makes them ideal for hanging baskets.
– Growing Season
A normal orchid cycle includes leaf growth in the summer and early fall, a bloom spike in the late autumn or early winter, and blooming in the early spring. Some orchids bloom for months before wilting and falling off.
– Specific Needs
Oncidiums are light-loving orchids with some tolerance for full sun. They thrive in temperatures ranging from 60 – 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night to 70 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.
The vast majority will thrive in a window facing east, west, or south, with a sheer curtain to soften the light and create the dappled shadow these tree-growing orchids are accustomed to.
Like all orchids, an oncidium that receives enough light will produce light, yellow-green leaves. Orchids that do not receive enough light have dark green leaves, but orchids that receive too much light may have red-tinted leaves.
3. Cholorophytum Comosum
The spider plant (chlorophytum comosum) is a great houseplant with long stems which require minimal care.
Lengthy, wiry stems up to 2 feet , sometimes with a few small leaves, are produced, especially after at least three weeks of short days and long, uninterrupted nights.
– Growing Season
They are most abundant from late winter to early fall. At the tips of long arching stems, small white flowers appear. If pollinated, they will produce seeds.
– Specific Needs
The requirements of the chlorophyte plant are quite simple. Position the plant in bright to moderate light in a comfortable setting. Keep the soil slightly moistured.
Once-week irrigation is sufficient in the spring and summer. In the winter, allow the soil to dry slightly more between waterings.
4. Ornamental Allium
Ornamental alliums are tall plants that grow quickly and have circular flower heads with dozens of star-shaped flowers. The flowers form clusters and are most popularly recognized as round pom-poms. But they can also be star-shaped, cup-shaped, semi-circular, or pendulous.
– Growing Season
After the earliest spring bulbs have died, most allium bulbs mature quickly and bloom in the spring or early summer. However, a few varieties bloom later in the season, even into the fall.
– Specific Needs
The most common allium species prefer dry to fresh soil, while some prefer very dry soil with a high concentration of coarse soil particles like sand and gravel.
Depending on the species, the soil should have a modest nitrogen level yet be high in potassium and lime – plant tall alliums in a sheltered location to prevent the stems from falling over in strong winds.
5. Herbstonne Rudbeckia
Herbstsonne is a clump-forming, erect, rhizomatous perennial coneflower that reaches 4 – 7 feet tall. These plants are native to North America. They are grown for their spectacular, daisy-type flowers, which usually have a dark center eye of disk florets encircled by yellow ray florets. Herbstonne can truly transform your summer garden into a pollinator paradise as it attracts bees and butterflies.
– Growing Season
It is possible to plant it whenever the ground is not frozen. If you’re planting in the summer, keep the plants well-watered until they’re established. The ideal time for plants to bloom is from late summer through early autumn.
– Specific Needs
Herbstonne is an incredibly adaptable plant. It favors moist soil but will grow in various soil types, including clay, and may occasionally withstand drought and flooding.
Plants grow more compact in the sun but produce more blossoms in partial shade. The flowering stems are remarkably strong and only need anchoring during wet growth seasons or when planted in extremely fertile soil.
6. Tall Bearded Iris
The tall bearded iris is a lovely flower in various colors and makes wonderful cut flower bouquets. The lengths of their stems range from 28 to 40 inches. Regardless of the cultivar, all produce flowers with six upright and three descending petals.
– Growing Season
Bearded iris blooms in the late spring and early summer but can bloom as early as March in some areas. It’s a perennial plant, which means it can live for many seasons and, if properly cared for, will continue to produce the most beautiful flowers. Plant them from late summer through early October. If you have trouble making your Iris bloom, we have you covered!
– Specific Needs
Bearded irises prefer well-drained soil and full sun (6 – 7 hours plus direct sunlight per day). Diseases are more prone to occur in a shady location or in damp and poorly drained soil.
Water frequently and thoroughly, especially during the summer drought. Maintain rhizome exposure. Unlike bulbs, which flourish deep underground, bearded iris rhizomes require sunlight and air to dry out. They will rot if they are covered with dirt or crowded by other plants.
Conclusion
Plants with tall stems are highly useful in providing support and anchor to other plants. The stems help hold buds, flowers, and leaves. In some plants, the heightened stems are also used to store food for the plants.
- If you want your summer garden blooming with dazzling colored petals, try planting tall bearded iris, herbstonne, or orchids.
- Best indoor plants that require minimal care and give your interior a vibrant aesthetic include snake, spider, or dracaena.
- Most houseplants have immense health benefits as they improve air quality and help remove toxins.
Now that you know most characteristics of these plants, which one do you think you will grow?
References
- https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/nwep14b.html
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