Cast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatior
The cast iron plant is famous for surviving low light, irregular watering and neglect. Its tall, dark green, glossy leaves grow from the soil in clumps, making it ideal for dim corners and hallways.
Photo: KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Low light, Bright indirect light
Watering
Low
Water when the top half of the soil is dry.
Soil
Well-drained potting mix; pH 5.5–6.5.
Temperature and humidity
5–32 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed two or three times a year.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by division
Cut damaged leaves off at soil level.
Cast iron plant is not toxic to people, cats or dogs.
Top Cultivation Tips
Keep out of direct sun, which bleaches the leaves.
Divide in spring.
Wipe the leaves to keep them glossy.
One of the best plants for low light.
Common problems
Low light problems
Slow, weak growth, pale or fading leaf colour and leaf drop in plants kept in a spot that is too dim for them.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →PestScale insects
Immobile, shell-covered insects that cling to stems and leaves, draining sap and weakening trees and houseplants.
How to treat it →PestSpider mites
Tiny sap-sucking mites that thrive in hot, dry conditions, causing speckled, dull leaves and fine webbing.
How to treat it →
