Is a St. George Spade Plant Good for the House?

Appropriateness

• St. George's lance grows rather tall and wide compared to other spade plants more commonly grown as houseplants. Its leaves are stiffer and more wide-spreading, each topped by a singular sharp spine. Even if grown in a small container, these leaves flay outward and reach a height of 4 to 5 feet and spread of 2 to 4 feet. The potential for injury from the spine tip on the rigid leaves makes the St. George's lance more problematic in homes short on space or with children.

Indoor Conditions

• If safety and space isn't an issue in the house, a St. George's lance grows well in most indoor conditions. This tropical succulent perennial tolerates full sun to partial shade, including very bright indirect light. Place the St. George's lance near any sunny or bright window. It tolerates lower light as well, such as in the distant corner of the room opposite the windows. St. George's lance also has a low watering need, so it excels in a hot, arid location -- such as a sunny western window -- or if you tend to forget to water, it won't suffer greatly. Dry air drafts from air conditioning and heating vents also aren't problematic for this plant.

Growing Requirements

• In addition to very bright light, grow St. George's lance in a container with a drainage hole, as it will not tolerate soggy soil or having the roots sit in a basin of water. Use any regular peat-based potting mix -- ideally a houseplant mix -- that does not contain any topsoil, which compacts and hardens when it dries. Keep the soil slightly moist in spring and summer, and drier during fall and winter. In low light conditions, always keep the soil on the drier side. Overwatering causes roots and leaves to rot, so err on the side of light watering. Moreover, lots of water and fertilizer increases growth rate, which warrants more frequent repotting.

Tips

• The sharp-tipped and wide-spreading leaves on the St. George's lance are dense and heavy. Use a heavy container to steady the plant, especially as it gains size and height. It may be grown in a plastic container, but slide that container into a slightly larger decorative pot, such as one made of porcelain or glazed terracotta. A toppled St. George's lance is challenging to upright, as you risk a puncture wound from leaf tips as you stoop and place your face, chest and arms around the container to upright it.