house plants, varied group of plants grown indoors and requiring no special care. They are usually grown singly in pots, but can also be grouped and planted together in dish gardens and terrariums. Some are cultivated for their flowers, such as geraniums and African violets, while others, such as philodendron and sansevieria (snake plant), are grown for their decorative foliage. Growing house plants successfully can be greatly facilitated in many cases by maintaining a cool temperature and raising the atmospheric moisture either by the use of humidifiers or simply by placing evaporating pans on radiators.
See M. Free, All about House Plants (1947); E. D. Ballard, Garden in Your House (rev. ed. 1971); C. M. Fitch, The Complete Book of Houseplants (1972); G. Taloumis, House Plants for Five Exposures (1973); Reader's Digest, Success with House Plants (1979).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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