How to Care for Aspidistra?

Aspidistra is a model of plant resistance! It is almost indestructible and can withstand neglect for a long time. But be careful, this does not cause you to put it in a dark corner and leave it alone to dust on its beautiful leaves. Take care of it! Continue reading this article in TooPlant in order to learn more about how to grow and care for Aspidistra.

Introduction of Aspidistra (Cast-Iron Plant)

Before addressing how to care for Aspidistra, please allow us to give you a brief introduction about this houseplant.

If you have not been very successful in caring for houseplants, Cast Iron Plant is a good choice for you. Aspidistras are evergreen and fresh and can grow well in very low light environments. For example, you can put it on the stairs and not worry about the light it needs, now is the time to put the plant in your shopping list.

This hardworking plant will live very well in hot and dry summers. It is usually not damaged by cold weather in winter. Insects do not want to be with it and diseases and pests will not bother it!

In this article, we want to provide you with information about how to care for Aspidistra, so stay tuned with Tooplant.

Care for Aspidistra

In this part, we will focus on the most important aspects which you need to take into consideration while treating this houseplant. The best methods of how to care for Aspidistra include as follows:

Aspidistra Light Requirements: What light is best for Cast-Iron Plant?

Light is among the first important issues to care for Aspidistra. The best light for the Cast Iron Plant is soft, filtered and indirect light. The Aspidistra is destroyed by direct sunlight, and direct sunlight causes it to turn yellow and brown, and eventually, the leaves fall off. So it is better to place it in bright places of the room that are not exposed to direct sunlight.

The best place for an Aspidistra Elatior is near a north window, and if you keep the Aspidistra outdoors (such as a yard, balcony, etc.), place it in the shade so that it is completely protected from direct sunlight. Places like by a wall or sheltered by taller plants and trees.

So, as shown above, light plays a significant role to care for Aspidistra.

Aspidistra Watering: How often should you water an Aspidistra (Cast-Iron Plant)?

In the rest, concerning the tips of caring for an Aspidistra, it is better to know that Cast-Iron Plant can tolerate dehydration well, but they also need a small amount of water.

Just be careful never to overwater it, as it will quickly cause root rot and plant death. Therefore, watering is another important aspect in order to care for Aspidistra.

Allow the plant soil to dry well between waterings. You can use your fingers to touch a few centimeters of the soil surface and measure its moisture content. It is enough to keep the soil always moist.

The leaves of this plant absorb dust quickly, so always clean them with a damp cloth.

Never allow the water coming out from under the pot to come in contact with the soil or the pot as this will cause the soil to dry out later and this is not suitable for Aspidistra.

In this way, to care for Aspidistra, watering is considered to be of great significance.

Cast-Iron Plant Soil: What is the best soil for an Aspidistra?

The other crucial matter is soil intending to care for Aspidistra. Soil condition has a great impact on the growth of this plant. Suitable soil for Cast Iron Plant is soil that has a pH between 5.5 to 6.5 and it is also better to mix the soil of this plant with equal amounts of sand.

Potted Aspidistra requires compost-based potting soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. But if planted in the garden, it can grow well in sand and clay.

Thus, it can be said that, soil is another basic and important issue so as to care for Aspidistra.

Aspidistra Temperature Tolerance

Now, we come to temperature which is assumed to be principal to care for Aspidistra in addition to light, watering and soil that are mentioned above. A healthy Aspidistra can live in temperatures between 7 and 30 degrees Celsius. In general, the Cast Iron Plant is not sensitive to air temperature and humidity.

Aspidistra Elatior survives low temperatures and even frost but loves the normal room temperature. Although it grows in the shade, indirectly filtered light is more suitable.

Aspidistra Humidity: Does Aspidistra like humidity?

Moisture is another thing which we need to inevitably pay attention to when talking about how to care for Aspidistra. This plant does not need to provide moisture, and if the plant provides too much moisture, it will be lost.

You can only provide moisture to the plant once a week during the summer by spraying. But if your plant is kept next to other plants, its moisture is provided by other plants and there is no need for spraying.

Be careful not to spray the plant at all during the resting season of this plant, ie winter. Apply the spray action to the plant away from direct sunlight.

Therefore, please do not forget to take humidity into consideration in order to care for Aspidistra in the best way.

Aspidistra Fertilizer: What is the best fertilizer for a Cast-Iron Plant?

When you want to care for Aspidistra, one of the important questions that may come to your mind is “what is the best fertilizer?” In what follows, we will address how to fertilize this plant:

During the spring and summer months, give the plant a multi-purpose liquid fertilizer every two weeks. The plant does not need to receive fertilizer in autumn and winter. The important point is that liquid fertilizer should be added to the soil after watering the plant to prevent the roots from burning. Keep in mind that the growth of the Aspidistra is always slow, even when it receives fertilizer.

As a result, we could say that fertilizer is regarded as one of the fundamental issues when someone wants to care for Aspidistra.

Aspidistra Toxicity: Is Aspidistra poisonous to humans and pets?

In order to care for Aspidistra, toxicity is considered to be a major issue because it directly relates to your health especially children and pets. To find answer to the question “is Cast Iron Plant toxic to pets and humans?” we must say that according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, cast iron plant is not poisonous to cats.

Although Aspidistra Elatior is not a poisonous plant and is not considered a danger to humans or pets, chewing or swallowing large amounts of it can cause digestive problems.

Cast-Iron Plant Pruning: How to prune Aspidistra?

Another thing to keep in mind when caring for an Aspidistra is pruning it. The best time to prune Aspidistra is early spring. After pruning, you can feed it with suitable fertilizer. Every branch you prune can grow back and come back with newer, stronger branches. This new growth may take a year or two, but the results are excellent and will give your plant thicker, more leafy stems.

Cast-Iron Plant Repotting: How to repot Aspidistra? (Essential tips)

Repotting is a basic issue to care for Aspidistra. If necessary, you can change the pot Cast Iron Plant every two years. The best time to do this is spring. Like other rhizome plants, the Aspidistra does not need to be potted regularly, meaning you can keep it in the original pot for 4-5 years without damaging the plant. Wait for the signs to change the pot. If the plant comes out of the pot too much and its roots protrude from the lower edges of the pot, it means it is time to repot!

Aspidistra Propagating: How to propagate Cast-Iron Plant?

When you want to care for Aspidistra, another important question that may come to your mind is “how to propagate it.” The best way to propagate Aspidistra Elatior is by division. In this method, the plant should be removed from the soil and the root ball should be gently divided. The best time to do this is in the spring, and it should be noted that at least two to three branches remain in each divided root so that the new plant can survive.

Can an Aspidistra Elatior Live Outside?

Aspidistra can be kept outdoors as long as it is in the shade. This plant can withstand winter cold, but its biggest enemy is the intense and direct sun, which can destroy the plant quickly.

Caring for Aspidistra: Common Problems With Aspidistra

After a description of taking care of an Aspidistra, we will explain the problems and their solutions:

Aspidistra may have spots on the leaves. These spots are in the form of black and brown spots and will continue to grow until the leaves fall. In this case, you should remove all the stained leaves from the plant and use a fungicide to further protect the plant.

Cast Iron Plant may be infested with flour mites, common mites and spider mites. Keep the diseased plant away from healthy plants and keep it separate. To combat flour mites, use compounds containing neem oil.

Common mites can be killed by chemical compounds in the plant itself. To get rid of spider eggs, spray soap and water on all parts of the plant or wash the affected leaves thoroughly. In this case, too, neem oil can help.

Why Are Cast Iron Plant Leaves Turning Yellow?

As “leaves turning yellow” is one of the common problems that you may face when you want to care for Aspidistra, we will try to describe the reasons and the ways to solve it in details. One of the most important reasons for the yellowing of the leaves of this plant is improper watering. Both overwatering and underwatering can cause the destruction of the plant’s root system and as a result, its leaves turn yellow.

Problems such as too much or too little light and pests such as spider mites (especially in hot and dry areas) can also cause the leaves of the Cast Iron Plant to turn yellow.

Why Are Aspidistra Leaves Turning Brown?

As we have said, the Aspidistra indoor plant is, directly and indirectly, damaged by the sun. One of these lesions is the browning of the leaf edges, which may continue along the leaf for some time.

The intense sun causes the leaves to burn, which manifests itself in this way. Overwatering can also be another factor that makes the leaves brown. Overwatering causes damage to the roots of the Cast Iron Plant, which results in the plant losing energy and manifesting itself as brown or yellow spots or edges.

Since “leaves turning brown” is another common problem that you may face when you want to care for Aspidistra, we tried to describe the reasons and the ways to solve it in details.

Infographic Of How To Care For Aspidistra

In this article, we tried to explain to you in an infographic the essential tips in the care of Aspidistra, so that you can briefly and usefully learn the methods of caring for this plant.

In The End

In this article, we tried to provide you with the necessary information about the methods of caring for an Aspidistra.

However, if you have any questions regarding this indoor plant or you need to get advice from our houseplant experts, please share your questions with us through the comments section below.