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Dave-Morris

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My girlfriend is an avid gardener and I know nothing about gardening at all. I want to learn a bit so that I can be helpful. I want to start by having a few houseplants. What is an easy plant for me to start with?
 
Welcome Dave-Morris:
My wife keeps strawberry begonia, wandering Jew, spider plants, hens and chickens. All regenerative plants, i.e. plants that have young off shoots that can be potted on their own. Its like rabbits multiplying.
I'm sure there are some better plants in your area. You might want to check with a gardening/landscaping pro.
Glenn
 
There are a lot of resources for you out there to figure out what plants you could keep that are hardy.

I think one of your best resources would be a plant shop. I would check in with local nurseries (if you have any) or maybe the major stores like Home Depot and Lowes. Tell them what you are looking for and they should be able to help.

Sometimes your water company will be able to provide you information, either in a pamphlet or their website. I know my local water company had a number of pamphlets that had information about outdoor and indoor landscaping

Of course to, just plugging into google "hardy indoor plants" should give you quite a listing.
 
The easiest house plants, in my opinion, are Devil's Ivy. They have them every where, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, They are usually in a hanging basket, can be all green leaved or varigated. They are a low light plant, so there is no need to find a sunny location. Water them occasionally, if you forget and see that the leaves are starting to droop, stick it in the tub and soak it for about 15 mins. (Make sure it's done dripping before you hang it back up!) The vines grow extremely quickly and can be drapped anywhere making your home look so much nicer. And if you accidently break a piece off, just stick it in a glass of water and watch it reroot itself! Good Luck!

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IMHO, houseplants can be tricky. Sunlight and correct amount of water are key. Some outdoor perennials are usually much hardier, just make sure you have the right zone for your plants.
 
You need to look at the environment where your plants are going to be and select plants accordingly.
For example, some plants don't like dry air which can be caused by some heating sytems, some plants don't like too much sun. When you have an idea of the type of "climate" you have, then go to a plant supplier and select the best plants for the conditions and your level of knowledge.:)
 
ivy is a good plant to start with , but you did not say about the type of climate you have to select the apt plant.
 
You should try garden with annuals. These plant are very easy and very fast to grow. Here are some tips to gardening with these plants.

1. Planting and spacing: Plant transplants closely so they fill in quickly. Usually, the tag will say to plant 8 to 12 inches apart, so pick 8 inches for a great show of flowers more quickly.

2. Watering: Annuals need water to thrive. Water them deeply two to three times a week after planting.

3. Feed your plants: Once a week, feed your plants with a balanced all-purpose 20-20-20 fertilizer that you mix with water.
 
Gardening is very simple but its a commitment you make when you start growing you own garden.
they are just like humans, will feel bad if left uncared.
since you are a beginner and going to start a garden for your girl friend try any vegetable plants so that when they give flowers and then vegetables automatically you will develop interest once you see them infront of your eyes how your efforts are being rewarded.
first plant tomatoes, onions, chilli... they are easy to grow. the important aspect in gardening is the spacing of the plant see to it you dont place them very near and water them regularly. give them proper fertilizers.
 
Have you checked in the nearby nurseries. You can also try bonsai too. Its rare and all but once it grows it is very fulfilling. You can google how to grow this things in your area since this needs a lot of sunshine.
 
The first plant I ever purchased that didn't die on me was a bonsai money tree (not braided) I bought from Target. That is one hardy plant!

It grew enormous which really felt like an accomplishment for me. You rarely have to water it and just have to make sure it gets some sunlight. Not too much though, or the leaves will burn and turn white.

I pour about 2 cups of water in it every couple of weeks and keep the window blinds open a little some sunlight gets in. It's funny too because the plant will grow towards the light. I used to spray the leaves every morning with a water bottle of water when it was young too.

I bought it 3 years ago and it still looks great.
 
^that's nice to hear Cogarageman.I love bonsai too and given the luxury of time I want to experiment on doing bonsai on normal trees like "guyabano and dalanghita" which are both natives here in my country.
 
Making your own garden is really very nice, In order to build a raised vegetable garden bed, an area of soil can be surrounded with bricks or wood, and this area should have a weed barrier and exposure to a full, hot sun. Gardening for food extends far back into prehistory.
 
I have always maintained that an aloe is the easiest plant to get a feel for. It's hardy, doesn't require a huge a mount of maintenance, it's hardy, has a practical use if you ever need it, it's hardy, and it's easy to breed and replant.

Did I mention that it's hardy?
 
Obviously she already knows that you are not a gardner, so why not tell her that you want to learn and ask HER to teach you. It can take a long time to learn how to grow a variety of plants, most gardeners I know teach themselves through trial and error over time. It will help your relationship and you both will learn a lot, about each other and about gardening.
 
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