Cast iron plant care guide

The cast iron plant earned its name in dark Victorian homes full of gas lamps and cold drafts, where little else could survive. It handles low light, cool rooms, and missed waterings. It grows slow, but it lasts for decades. It is also safe for cats and dogs.

Light

Cast iron plants grow in low light, such as a north window, a hallway, or the back of a room. Medium light makes them grow a bit faster.

Direct sun bleaches and scorches the leaves.

Water

Water when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer. In winter, it may need water only every few weeks.

Soggy soil is the main way to kill it. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a well-draining houseplant mix.

It grows slow and likes a snug pot. Repot every three to four years in spring, one size up. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Average room air is fine. It handles a cool room, an entry, or a sunporch that stays above 7°C (45°F).

Feeding

Feed two or three times in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Too much fertilizer browns the leaves and fades the stripes on variegated types.

Pruning

Cut brown or damaged leaves off at the soil line. Wipe the big leaves with a damp cloth now and then.

Propagation

Cast iron plants spread from thick, creeping roots called rhizomes. In spring, ease the plant out of the pot and cut the clump into pieces, each with a few leaves and roots. Pot each one up. They grow slow, so expect a year or two before a division looks full.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Yellow leaves, wet soil	Too much water
Pale, bleached patches	Direct sun
Brown leaf tips	Dry soil, dry air, or too much fertilizer
Stripes or spots fading	Too much fertilizer, or too little light
No new leaves for months	Normal. It grows slow.

Pests

Pests are uncommon. Spider mites, scale, and mealybugs can show up. Check under the leaves.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists cast iron plant as non-toxic to cats and dogs. It is one of the best plants for a dim room in a home with pets.

Varieties

• Plain green is the classic and the toughest.
• ‘Variegata’ has leaves with cream stripes.
• ‘Milky Way’ has dark leaves speckled with small cream spots.
• ‘Spek-tacular’ has leaves with bold yellow speckles.
• ‘Asahi’ has green leaves that fade to white at the tips.