Written and edited by Tammy 26th February 2023.
As a self confessed plant junkie I know that excitement and thrill of going shopping for plants and driving home with a car full of lush healthy indoor plants dreaming of being able to create the same look seen on Pinterest or the pages of a magazine.
Resist the temptation, try to do a little research first on the care requirements for the particular plants you like.
By doing some research upfront you can save yourself a lot of time, money and heartache pouring all your efforts into something that’s going to constantly struggle, and instead choose a plant that’s going to work perfectly in the position you’ve got.
Humans, plants and animals are adapted to the environment they live in.
A cactus comes from an arid, hot, dry climate with next to no water so it would probably struggle in a shaded moist or humid environment, the same way a tropical plant that originates from a jungle would struggle in a desert.
When researching plants, keep this in mind, does it come from a shaded warm tropical environment? Can I replicate this? Maybe there’s a corner in your bathroom for a plant like that, have a quick look at the post I done recently on my Hares foot fern that's thriving in my bathroom where it's getting the moisture and humidity it needs and bright but filtered light.
Another thing to consider is how much maintenance and upkeep the plant is going to need. Some plants are ‘sooky’ and fussy, susceptible to insect infestations like spider mite, or prone to drooping or going crispy if their watering regime is not on point. These are perhaps not the best plants for a newbie. On the other hand, there are some easy care, low maintenance plants like Zansibars and Snake plants that need minimal water and almost thrive on neglect. Think about how dedicated you plan to be or more importantly, how much time you have to invest.
I hope this helps you a little and perhaps even saves you a few dollars in rookie mistakes, rest assured I’ve had a few misfortunes along the way too! With a lighter wallet I've learned to stick to the ones that I have success with.
And on that note, I’ll leave you now with a few pics of one of my favs…my Philodendron Squamiferum. Touch wood this IS one of my success stories. Thriving in my lounge room that’s not very bright but, does get some nice early morning Easterly light through the sliding doors.
Almost 7 foot tall now in a 52 litre heavy ceramic pot with a lightly sanded tree branch to climb and cling to. She about 4 years old now and puts on 4-5 new leaves every year over the summer months when all plants are actively growing.
One 9 litre watering can full of rainwater with a dash of Seasol seems to be adequate every 4-5 weeks with even less over the winter months, and a feed of good quality indoor plant food in the Spring when most plants begin to actively grow again. I've wrapped a set of warm fairy lights up throughout the stems of mine for some elegant night time ambiance. You're only limited by your own imagination.
What’s your favourite indoor plant?🪴
Happy gardening😘🌺
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