Expert: Darlene K. Kittle - 6/22/2009

Question
Hello, I have a Peace Lily in a very huge pot. I wanted to plant another plant or flower with it in the same pot. Can you recommend some that can be potted with it. I know some plants can't be potted with certain species. Thanks.

Answer
Jill,

You want to look for another plant that doesn't need a lot of sun so it would need the same requirements as the peace lily.

These tropical and subtropical plants we call “houseplants”, grow in the tropical islands, central Europe and the Americas where temperatures stay above freezing. These plants grow at the edge of the jungles and receive half sun, half shade as the sun passes over each day. This plant group has good air cleaning power. They are great for home or office How Do We Define “Medium Light”?
North, East or West exposures with 1 to 4 hours of direct sun. Curtain filtered means Southern exposure with 4 to 6 hours or more filtered sun. This plant group grows easily in these exposures or with equal amounts of sunlight anywhere indoors with larger than average window areas.
On the reverse is a list of plants for medium light. You may notice that many of these plants also appear on our list of High Light or Low light plants. That is because in the plant world there are no absolutes and these plants can tolerate either setting. For watering and fertilizing recommendations refer to the code following each plant name and proceed as follows:
WATER:
M = Moist, never allow to dry out
SD = Slightly dry, plants in this group must dry slightly between thorough
waterings
D = Dry, soil must dry out between thorough waterings.
FERTILIZER:
1 = 30-10-10 For all green foliage plants
2 = 15-30-15 For blooming plants (exceptions: Gardenia, Orchid varieties,
citrus, and hibiscus.)
Plants for Clean Air are marked with *
(OVER)
1. African Violets (SD) (2)
2. Aglaonema - Chinese Evergreen (SD)
(A)
3. Aloe Vera (D) (1)
4. *Anthurium (SD) (1)
5. Aralia - All varieties (SD) (1)
6. *Arboricola Mini Schefflera (SD) (1)
7. Ardisa Coffee Plant (SD) (1)
8. Asparagus Fern (SD) (1)
9. Ardisa - Corral Berry (SD) (1)
10. Aspidistra - Cast Iron Plant (SD) (1)
11. Bromeliads (SD) (1)
12. Begonia, Rex (SD) (1)
13. Cacti (D) (1)
14. Calathea , Second Chance Plant
(SD) (1)
15. Cissus - Grape Ivy (SD) (1)
16. Clivia (SD) (1)
17. Crown -of- Thorns (SD) (2)
18. Cyclamen (SD) (2)
19. *Dracaena - Corn Plant
20. *Dracaena - Dragon Tree (SD) (1)
21. *Dieffenbachia - Dumb Cane (SD)
(1)
22. Epecia - Trailing violet (SD) (2)
23. * Fern, Boston types (SD) (1)
24. Fern, all indoor types (SD) (1)
25. Ficus, creeping (SD) (1)
26. *Ficus, Tree or bush (SD) (1)
27. Ficus, Rubber Plant (SD) (1)
28. Fittonia - Nerve Plant (SD) (1)
29. Gardenia (SD) (1)
30. Gold Fish Plant (SD) (2)
31. *Hibiscus (SD) (1)
32. Hoya (SD) (1)
33. *Ivy - Green varieties (SD) (1)
34. Jade (SD) (1)
35. Jasmine (SD) (1)
36. Kalanchoe (SD) (1)
37. Lipstick Vine (SD) (2)
38. Maranta - Prayer Plant (SD) (1)
39. Musa - Banana Plant (SD) (1)
40. Norfolk Island Pine (SD) (1)
41. Orchids (SD) (1)
42. * Palm Areca (SD) (1)
43. *Palm, Bamboo (SD) (1)
44. *Palm, cat. (SD) (1)
45. *Palm, Fishtail (SD) (1)
46. *Palm, Kentia (SD) (1)
47. *Palm, Lady (SD) (1)
48. *Palm, Majesty (SD) (1)
49. *Palm, Queen (SD) (1)
50. Palm, Sago (SD) (1)
51. Persian Violet (SD) (2)
52. Pepperomia (SD) (1)
53. *Philodendron hybrids (SD) (1)
54. Pilea (SD) (1)
55. *Pothos (SD) (1)
56. *Rad. China Doll (SD) (1)
57. *Regenia, White Bird-of-Paradise
(SD) (1)
58. San. Snake Plants (SD) (1)
59. *Seloum Philodenron (SD) (1)
60. *Shefflera Umbrella (SD) (1)
61. *Song of India (SD) (1)
62. *Spath - Peace Lily (SD) (2)
63. Stralitzia, Orange Bird-of-Paradise
(SD) (2)
64. Syngonium Butterfly (SD) (1)
65. Tree ferns (M) (1)
66. Zygo Cactus (SD) (2)
67. Zebra Plant (SD) (2)

* Clean air plants

Any of the above plants would work but you have to be careful not to overwater both plants in that large of a pot. Most plants need to dry out between waterings and in too large a pot it is impossible to get them to dry out. If you have more questions write again. Good luck.

Darlene