Welcome New Entering Smithies, Come Meet Your New Plant
Published August 23, 2024
As has been the tradition for many decades, new entering students are invited to the Botanic Garden’s Lyman Plant House during the first few weeks on campus to pick out a plant for their new home. In previous years, that plant was an ivy because of Smith College's deep-rooted tradition with ivies. Nowadays, a wide variety of plants are on offer, including leafy tropical aroids and desert succulents, which are better suited for life indoors. (No more ivies though as that plant is trickier to grow on windowsills.)
Each year the offering is a little bit different. The line up is dictated by what plants are growing too big in the greenhouse and therefore good candidates for making cuttings from for propagation, as well as a couple of staples (we're looking at you jade plants). Here are five of the many species that will be available to students this year.
Kalanchoe daigremontiana - Also known as Mother of Thousands, this plant is hardy, drought resistant and just plain cool looking. That’s partially thanks to the many, many clones it grows along the margins of its leaves, a clever propagation strategy of this plant, and where it gets its common name from.
Philodendron erubescens ‘Pink Princess’ - The Pink Princess is a showstopper of a plant. It has heart-shaped leaves that fluctuate from green to pink, and naturally occurring variegation patterns. Even better, this plant, like many philodendrons, is incredibly easy to care for.
Peperomia elongata - This peperomia is rare in cultivation. It is an evergreen plant with pale green leaves with lighter-colored veins. If well cared for–i.e., not over-watered–this plant will grow leaves longer than your hand.
Dieffenbachia x bausei - In general, the dieffenbachia are easy to grow. They enjoy regular watering, with moderately moist soil that gets dry to the touch before the next watering. The x bausei offers not only ease of growing but also a delightful visual pattern with its light, almost yellow-green leaves flecked with yellow and white spots.
Crassula ovata - The jade plant is a classic first houseplant to grow. It’s ubiquitous on windowsills everywhere, and there’s good reason for that: this plant is resilient. And flexible. Unless you drown it or absolutely neglect it, the jade will continue on.
Now that you know some of the plants that are available, here is what new entering students need to know to pick theirs up:
Plant pick-up starts on Thursday, August 29 and runs for three weeks into September. While there will often be staff around, pick-up is self serve and information on how to care for the plants will be on display in the greenhouse.
The plants are located in the student greenhouse in Lyman Plant House. To find where that is, and your new plant, follow the signs from the building’s front lobby facing College Lane. We ask that you kindly take just one plant to ensure that every new student gets one.
Plant consultation and potting up appointments will be offered through the fall and in the spring, when Botanic Garden Student Educators will be available to assist with any plant care questions or to help pot up your plant as it grows too big for its initial pot. You can stay in-the-know on these offerings, and other Botanic Garden events, opportunities, and workshops, by signing up for the Botanic Garden Student Newsletter.