Description
The Cast Iron Plant is Nearly Bullet Proof: Indoors or Out
You’re probably wondering why the common name for the Aspidistra elatior is “Cast Iron” Plant. Luckily for inattentive gardeners, it’s because it is as tough as iron.
This evergreen perennial has lance-shaped leaves that grow upright to 20” tall. The China native is actually a member of the Lily family. The plant has small purple flowers that are usually hidden in its dark green foliage. Outdoors, it is an excellent choice for those difficult-to-fill deep shade spots. Over time, a single plant will spread via its roots to create an attractive larger clump. Indoors, you’ll find it blissfully thrives in homes or offices that don’t receive much light. It’s also not finicky about regular watering.
Originating from the forests of Taiwan and Japan, these plants were brought to Europe and America during the Victorian Era. Since then, people have been keeping these plants in their homes. Over the years, the plant has been falling in and out of trend, but in recent times, you can find them everywhere. It is because of its evergreen foliage that the plant is commonly found in offices, homes, and bars.
Caring for your Cast Iron Plant
Even though Cast Iron Plants are not very demanding, but you need to give them the right care to make sure they grow perfectly. There are two very important things you need to consider when you want to grow Aspidistra Elatior. The first thing you must be careful of is not to put your plant in direct sunlight. Keeping them out of direct sunlight is the best option. The next thing you must be sure of is not to overwater the plant, as it can eventually cause the plant to rot.
Light
The cast iron plant does exceptionally well when it gets moderate light. The only thing you need to avoid is keeping the plant in direct sunlight. Any place with shade is fine, which makes it a great plant to grow indoors.
Soil
These plants are not very fond of water, which means that you will need fast-draining soil so the soil does not stay wet for a long time. The best way to go about it is to get a cactus mix and a pot that has holes in it. This will make sure that there is not a lot of water in the soil.
Water
There is no significant need for watering your cast iron plant. If you want to water your plants, it is best to first let the soil completely dry out so that you do not overwater your cast iron plant. To test that, you can put your finger in the soil and feel if it is dry or not. You can also use a wooden stick to check whether the soil is dry or not.
Fertilizer
You definitely want your Cast Iron Plant to grow, and for that, you need to use a gentle liquid fertilizer. This fertilizer is best for summer, which is when the plant is in its growing state. A gentle fertilizer will be the best option as it will go well with each watering cycle.
Common Issues
The cast iron plant is not very susceptible to damage from pests, but there are certain household bugs that can damage it. Other common issues include the leaves and tips browning.
Pests
Household bugs are the most common pests for the aspidistra. Bugs such as mites and scales can affect the plant and keep them off. You can rinse the foliage gently. This may not work if the infestation is greater. In that case, you can clean the foliage with insecticidal soap.
Disease
There are not many diseases that can harm the cast iron plant, but the plant turning brown should be something that concerns you. If you keep your plants in direct light, then that can cause them to brown. This is why it is best to keep your plants in the shade and, more importantly, avoid overwatering them.
Pruning
You do not need to prune your cast iron plant regularly. If you see any yellowing leaves, you can just pull them off. This will help your plant focus on its growth and not waste its energy.
Propagation
To propagate your plant, you can use division, which requires you to unpot your plant first and tip it on its side to work it out of the pot. Get the roots out of the soil and gently massage them off. Once you do that, make sure that the roots are untangled, and then you can easily put the plants in different pots and divide them.
Potting / Repotting
Suppose you want to pot your plant for maximum growth than the first layer of the pot with the soil and then tip your plant sideways. Always leave two inches of headroom on the top of the plant so that all the excess water drains out.
Tanya Williams (verified owner) –
Verified Buyer (verified owner) –
This plant is BEAUTIFUL and lush. It arrived well packaged and perked up super fast!
Andria (verified owner) –
Such a great plant!! It looks great, got the XL and it’s definitely a great size!
Gloria R. (verified owner) –
Very very green BEAUTIFUL healthy plant 🪴
Elsa (verified owner) –
Size was great. However, there were brownish-yellow leaves, brown tips, and splitting leaves upon arrival. I don’t like giving up on plants so I’ve done as much as possible to make sure it gets as healthy as possible
MaryAnn C. (verified owner) –
The plant arrived quickly, and in great shape! And Plant Vine was very responsive when I had to change the shipping address. Highly recommend!!
michael mislan (verified owner) –
beautiful lust plant big
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Look exactly like the picture – the plants look happy and healthy! Super glad with my purchase and thanks so much!
Heather S. (verified owner) –
Beautiful plant. Nice and big, lush and healthy. Packaged really nicely and arrived with no shipping damage.
Tochi A. (verified owner) –
Absolutely stunning
Sierra –
What is the post size for the large?
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Wwwwwwwwwow!!!! Was worth the wait! Hillary gave excellent customer service. Plants were beautifully packed!
Melissa (verified owner) –
Meaghan F. (verified owner) –
JoAnn (verified owner) –
Sophia (verified owner) –
Gorgeous plant that arrived quickly and looking very healthy. Previously purchased another Cast Iron from a different seller, and what I received looked nothing like the photos. It was so nice to see an actual photo of my plant before it shipped, and for the description photo to match what you’re buying. Customer service was also super responsive when I reached out to them about a shipping question. Would absolutely purchase from this nursery again!
Vanessa (verified owner) –
Arrived healthy and lush with lots of leaves. Very happy with this plant!
Curt Brown (verified owner) –
Amazing quality.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
A great experience! Plant arrived healthy and happy, and is settling into its new home. I loved seeing a picture of it before it was shipped.
Kelly Hurst (verified owner) –
Shannon M (verified owner) –
Absolutely beautiful!
charu r. (verified owner) –
Its really big and gorgeous and im happy. Its only been a few days and im giving it time to adjust a bit
Yvette C. (verified owner) –
Plant arrived well packaged and I unwrapped the most beautiful plant!! Loved how they sent a pic of my plant before shipping it out. Will definitely be a return customer!
Nicole O. (verified owner) –
Perfect! Carefully packaged and an absolutely beautiful plant that I could not find at my local nurseries.
Chantal (verified owner) –
I have tried every plant delivery service possible, and I can’t recommend this high enough. The plants are the most full-of-life–beautiful plants and made it DAMAGE-FREE to NYC! I don’t even know how that’s possible (other plant services haven’t been able to perfect that either–trust me).
Ronda Dillon (verified owner) –
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Very full, lush and green
Alison H. (verified owner) –
Beautiful, full and tall plant – as per photo. Although it shipped pretty fast, we were worried when the delivery carrier held it over a very hot weekend. The plant arrived in great condition – perhaps one leaf looking past it’s peak, but everything else fine. Soil had been shaken up a bit and made a bit of a mess, but all good otherwise. Love it!
Hannah (verified owner) –
Super thrilled with my choice! They have the best prices, and I love that you can purchase just the plant in a temporary container. Most places try to sell something pre-planted with a price tag upwards of $150! Also love that they send a photo of your plant before it is shipped. Shipping was easy, and clean as well! The plant looked great right out of the box, and has really opened up since! I will be ordering more for sure
Elizabeth Humphrey (verified owner) –
This was my first time ordering plants and I will admit the un-boxing was a little messy (just extra dirt that was expected) so do it outside but both plants I ordered came in perfect condition. The cast iron plant looks so pretty and it’s BIG. So excited to watch it grow even more 🙂. I’m so glad I found my new place to buy plants!