As we settle in for the cold winter months ahead, we want our homes to feel peaceful and cozy. Adding just one plant can completely change the energy in your space, bringing a sense of calm to any room. Yet for some of my clients, caring for indoor plants can be stressful. They may dream of having a houseful, but after killing a few they’re nervous to dive back in. The good news is that some plants are practically indestructible! For those who feel botanically challenged, or are just starting out, here are three of my favorite easy-to-care-for plants:

ZZ
Zamioculcas zamiifolia

The ZZ is one of the most popular plants we offer. Perfect for the forgetful plant owner, ZZ can survive for months without much care. Water them once a month and they’ll be fine. While happiest in bright indirect light, ZZ’s will tolerate low and even fluorescent lighting.

Is it fake? Nope. The sheen of their smooth, dark green leaves has many fooled. ZZ’s lush foliage fills out a pot beautifully and makes a lovely gift for friends. They come in a variety of sizes.

Snake
Sansevieria trifasciata

Snake plants, aka Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, don’t like a lot of attention. They actually prefer being left alone, so water no more than once a month. They do best in bright indirect, but will be okay in bright light or even a shady corner.

Their long, vibrant leaves provide a striking contrast among your other plants. They come in a variety of sizes and colors. The snake plant is said to clean air better than most other indoor plants as it has the ability to absorb excessive amounts of carbon monoxide. It also emits oxygen and filters other toxins from the air such as benzene, xylene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde.

Pothos
Epipremnum aureum

Pothos is arguably the easiest of all houseplants to grow, even if you have a habit of forgetting to water. They are very forgiving, and will bounce back if it gets too dry. Ideally, pothos should be watered once a week. The trailing vine has pointed, heart-shaped leaves that are sometimes variegated with white, yellow, or pale green. While pothos like bright indirect light, it can thrive in areas that don’t get a lot of sunlight. They do well with fluorescent lighting, making it ideal for offices and dorm rooms.

Happy Planting!

Laura

If you would like to read more information on gardens and indoor plants check out our Get Inspired newsletter.

“If I see it in nature, I know it will work in a home.”
—Miles Redd

Pairing your plant with the perfect pot is no easy feat. Size and drainage requirements are essential factors, and finding a pot that accentuates the beauty of your plant is key. To help you sort through it all, here are ten tips to keep in mind when choosing indoor containers.

1. Buy your plant first, then the container. It’s much harder to find the right plant to fit the container.

2. Keep your plant in the nursery grow pot. It makes it easier to change containers, won’t disturb the roots, and grow pots have better drainage because of the extra holes. Remember to always take the grow container out of the “nice” container to water your plant.

3. We love West Elm pots, but they are often too wide for standard-sized grow pots. While the height might be right, the width will likely be off.

4. While we are on the subject of West Elm, keep in mind that their pots rarely have holes for drainage. Drainage holes are a MUST for any pot.

5. Make sure your container is at least a ½ inch bigger in diameter than the nursery grow pot. You should be able to lift the grow pot up and out of the container. If your grow pot is 10 inches, choose a container that is at least 10.5 inches.

6. If you want to transplant, your planter should be about 1-2 inches larger than your grow pot.

7. For groupings, buy pots in the same color scheme and in mixed heights.

8. Stay away from all green pots as they don’t provide needed contrast with the leaves.

9. For larger plants, try a self-watering container. Check out our recent article for more info.

10. Order your containers from The Inspired Garden! I’ve spent many hours researching and testing to make sure grow pots will easily fit into our containers.

Happy (indoor) planting,

Laura

If you would like to read more information on gardens and indoor plants check out our Get Inspired newsletter.

“My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plants’ point of view.”
– H. Fred Dale

Nothing transforms the energy in a room more than a plant. Plants bring a bit of zen and beauty into any space… something we need now more than ever. Not much of a green thumb? Not a problem. I’ve helped many nervous clients navigate their first plants, as well as plant-challenged clients who have killed their fair share. My dos and don’ts guide will give you the knowledge and confidence you need to keep your houseplants happy and healthy for years to come.

DO: START WITH ONE

It doesn’t take a bunch of plants to make a dramatic difference in a room. Just one plant can change everything!

DON’T: WATER ON A SCHEDULE

Many plant owners try to keep things simple by watering on a schedule. This is a huge mistake because every plant is different, and each has different needs. Some need to be watered every week, and some every month. Some are in colder rooms, and some are near radiators. Plants grow slowly in the winter months and require less water. If you water every plant on the same day, you will end up overwatering most of them.

DO: PURCHASE A SOIL METER

I tell all of my clients to purchase a soil meter. It’s a total game changer. Most people water way more than a plant really needs, whereas a meter will guide you as to when to water and when to stop. When a client calls me with plant problems, it’s easy for me to understand what’s happening just by reading the soil measurements. I promise this will be money well spent.

DON’T: BUY CONTAINERS WITHOUT DRAINAGE

Make sure your containers have drainage holes at the bottom or your plant can get root rot. If you have a dish under your pot, empty it or the roots will become overwatered.

DO: KEEP YOUR PLANTS IN THE PLASTIC POTS THEY COME IN

I am a big fan of keeping plants in their plastic grow pots, and then placing these into the “nice” containers. This makes switching plants around much easier. The grow pots also have extra holes that are better for drainage. Remember to take the plant out of the “nice” container to water.

DON’T: FORGET ABOUT YOUR PLANTS

When you go on vacation, remember your plants won’t do well if you turn off your heat in the winter or turn off the air conditioning in the summer.

DO: KNOW YOUR LIGHTING SITUATION

Many times a plant isn’t doing well simply because it isn’t in the right spot. Here’s a quick primer:

• Bright light is when the sun comes directly through a window and hits your plant. Most plant’s leaves will burn if they are in direct light.
• Indirect bright light is the sweet spot. Either trees or a curtain dapples the light, or it is away from a bright window.
• Low light doesn’t mean no light, it just means that the room gets some sun but it isn’t very bright. If you can read a book in a room during the day the light likely isn’t low.

Happy (indoor) Planting!

Laura

If you would like to read more information on gardens and indoor plants check out our Get Inspired newsletter.