Indoor plants for the winter

In science class, the 6th graders are learning about autotrophs and heterotrophs.  Almost all plants are autotrophs, which means they can make their own food.  They make their own food from sunlight, which they turn into glucose.  Plants also need water, carbon dioxide, soil.

We are keeping plants in the windowsills of the library.  Ms. Lucy taught us about them.  Even though they are inside, houseplants still need sunlight, carbon dioxide, soil, and water.  Different plants have different adaptations that make them good inside plants.

Some of the plants are desert plants.  There is not much water where these plants are originally from, and the soil cannot hold much water.  So they need to be able to store water in their leaves.  The leaves of these plants feel fat compared to other plants.

Other houseplants are subtropical.  In their natural environment, these plants don't get much sunlight because the trees shade them.  That's why it's ok to have these plants inside where there is less sunlight.  Since it's rainy in their natural environment, we need to give them more water.

This plant's leaves feel hard.  Kalanchoe is the name of the plant. It grows in a dessert-like place.  We only have to water it once a month

This is a burro's tail.  The leaves have water inside them. It has to store water inside its leaves to save water because it comes from a dry place.  We only have to water maybe once a month.  If you put a leaf on soil it will grow roots and make another plant.

This is an aloe vera, or medicine plant. You can can use it to help sickness.  The plant will get nice and green if you give it just a little water, since it stores water in the leaves.

This is a hibiscus. It's a flowering pant which grows in the South.  It will need water once a week, and since it produces flowers we will need to give it fertilizer every once in a while.

Peperomia is a vine plant.

This is Sansevieria trifasciata, also called snake plant or mother-in-law's tongue.