When did they get into our homes? A brief history of houseplants When did they get into our homes? A brief history of houseplants “More sun? Less sun? What do you want? More water? Less water? Why don’t you speak? Answer me now! (1) My grandma loved plants. She kept dozens of them with their terracotta vases precisely aligned on the ground or suspended on iron frames close to the staircase. When I was young, I liked to see her taking care of red and pink hairy geraniums or repotting asparagus ferns and spider plants. She also cultivated flowers – small white roses, flowering quinces, asters, and jonquils – that in Spring and Summer gave her plenty of fresh bouquets she brought to the cemetery every Saturday afternoon.