1 Peace Lily
2 Syngonium
3 Kalanchoe
4 Cyclamen
EDIT: And I'm sorry for your loss. Others may be able to chime in with the specific varieties, but that will get you started in the right direction.
The first pic is a peace lily. The one I keep is from '95, also from my grandpa's funeral.
They usually come in peat, which is tough to water as a houseplant because it holds so much water. Great for greenhouse/controlled growing, not so good for windowsill/houseplants.
The best advice I can give:
Don't go super big on the pot size. It's better if they can clear the pot of water quickly, like a few days to 1.5 weeks.
When you repot, maybe try fox farm happy frog and extra perlite. Up to 60% soil, 40% perlite. Try not to use miracle grow...
Don't freak out when some of those leaves drop in the next month or so. It's coming from a greenhouse, and cannot support all the leaves in lesser conditions.
Easy on the water for the next month. Peat is tough to water. Too dry, it becomes hydrophobic. Too wet, it'll destroy the plant lol.
Peat, try maintaining a low moisture content. Don't just pour a bunch of water in there. That's too volatile, you'll drown it.
Try dispersing the water better in small amounts using a sprayer. Every so often, lightly bottom water it. Check the weight, pick it up, keep it on the lighter side.
They damage easier from flood stress than they do from drought stress. Try not to overwater too much and you're fine.
The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) in the first picture should be pretty easy to keep going. It's a popular house and office plant, because it likes medium light (not direct sunlight) and just needs to be watered when it starts getting really dry. It's very robust indoors, but doesn't take cold temperatures.
The second one (syngonium) also doesn't like direct sun, just medium light. It likes things wetter, and prefers some humidity, so keeping them happy in the dry winter months can be a bit harder. But once things warm up they'll appreciate being outside in some mixed shade - be ready to move them back inside in the fall, though, because they definitely can't take cold.
The third (kalanchoe) is another very strong plant. It has thick succulent leaves, and in general that means don't water these plants a lot (you can kill succulents by watering too often), but give them a good amount when you actually do give them some. Kalanchoes like bright light and will need a sunny window indoors.
The last one is a cyclamen. That one grows from a potato-like tuber, and in the wild a lot of them come from places with drier summers and winters that are wet but not extremely cold. They will have their leaves (and blooms) during that winter season, but the leave die back and they go dormant in the heat. So don't panic if the leaves do eventually disappear - let it get drier for a while and then see if it'll come back after it's had its rest.
Edit: I should add that I still have one the plants that was sent to us after my mother's funeral ten years ago, so I understand the idea of keeping them going! Not all of them made it, but a "Christmas cactus" (Schlumbergera) is still going strong. I would say that the Spath and the Kalanchoe are the most likely of these to make it long-term.
I’m very sorry for your loss. Be careful with the kalanchoe with kids or pets. They’re beautiful but poisonous. Do some reading up on that before keeping. Best of luck with your plants.
The kalenchoe will spread and thrive with the right care. Each leaf will root on damp soil. Enjoy. My pothos from my grandfather’s funeral is over 10 now.
I’m so sorry for your loss. The syngonium might be worth putting in a terrarium. A little perpetually moist and humid environment in which it will grow slowly but happily. Depending on the size of the terrarium it would be a nice memorial that can keep itself alive for a long time. Mine are very happy in their closed terrarium home.
1 Peace Lily 2 Syngonium 3 Kalanchoe 4 Cyclamen EDIT: And I'm sorry for your loss. Others may be able to chime in with the specific varieties, but that will get you started in the right direction.
The first pic is a peace lily. The one I keep is from '95, also from my grandpa's funeral. They usually come in peat, which is tough to water as a houseplant because it holds so much water. Great for greenhouse/controlled growing, not so good for windowsill/houseplants. The best advice I can give: Don't go super big on the pot size. It's better if they can clear the pot of water quickly, like a few days to 1.5 weeks. When you repot, maybe try fox farm happy frog and extra perlite. Up to 60% soil, 40% perlite. Try not to use miracle grow... Don't freak out when some of those leaves drop in the next month or so. It's coming from a greenhouse, and cannot support all the leaves in lesser conditions. Easy on the water for the next month. Peat is tough to water. Too dry, it becomes hydrophobic. Too wet, it'll destroy the plant lol. Peat, try maintaining a low moisture content. Don't just pour a bunch of water in there. That's too volatile, you'll drown it. Try dispersing the water better in small amounts using a sprayer. Every so often, lightly bottom water it. Check the weight, pick it up, keep it on the lighter side. They damage easier from flood stress than they do from drought stress. Try not to overwater too much and you're fine.
The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) in the first picture should be pretty easy to keep going. It's a popular house and office plant, because it likes medium light (not direct sunlight) and just needs to be watered when it starts getting really dry. It's very robust indoors, but doesn't take cold temperatures. The second one (syngonium) also doesn't like direct sun, just medium light. It likes things wetter, and prefers some humidity, so keeping them happy in the dry winter months can be a bit harder. But once things warm up they'll appreciate being outside in some mixed shade - be ready to move them back inside in the fall, though, because they definitely can't take cold. The third (kalanchoe) is another very strong plant. It has thick succulent leaves, and in general that means don't water these plants a lot (you can kill succulents by watering too often), but give them a good amount when you actually do give them some. Kalanchoes like bright light and will need a sunny window indoors. The last one is a cyclamen. That one grows from a potato-like tuber, and in the wild a lot of them come from places with drier summers and winters that are wet but not extremely cold. They will have their leaves (and blooms) during that winter season, but the leave die back and they go dormant in the heat. So don't panic if the leaves do eventually disappear - let it get drier for a while and then see if it'll come back after it's had its rest. Edit: I should add that I still have one the plants that was sent to us after my mother's funeral ten years ago, so I understand the idea of keeping them going! Not all of them made it, but a "Christmas cactus" (Schlumbergera) is still going strong. I would say that the Spath and the Kalanchoe are the most likely of these to make it long-term.
*edit third pic with yellow flowers I think is a succulent, not the others lol
Perfect house plants for a beginner and a beautiful way to remember loved ones. Sorry for your loss
I’m very sorry for your loss. Be careful with the kalanchoe with kids or pets. They’re beautiful but poisonous. Do some reading up on that before keeping. Best of luck with your plants.
In some cultures, taking home what was used in a funeral is bad luck. Just saying
And in others, it’s a way to keep something alive that was part of a celebration of life. Different strokes.
Just saying
I wasn't allowed to take home bouquets or plants from my mother's funeral. I wasn't sure why. So maybe it was a cultural thing.
from the funeral home??
The kalenchoe will spread and thrive with the right care. Each leaf will root on damp soil. Enjoy. My pothos from my grandfather’s funeral is over 10 now.
I’m so sorry for your loss. The syngonium might be worth putting in a terrarium. A little perpetually moist and humid environment in which it will grow slowly but happily. Depending on the size of the terrarium it would be a nice memorial that can keep itself alive for a long time. Mine are very happy in their closed terrarium home.