Are you in love with all of the beautiful houseplants you’ve been seeing on Pinterest and Instagram lately? The white pots, the minimalist furniture, the bright, glossy leaves twining their way down from the perfect, simple shelves?
Want to have that look, or, even more, that feeling in your home,
but you’ve never been able to keep a plant alive?
Is your
thumb so black that you think you once killed an artificial fern?
Welcome to the Club
I’ve been there. I tried keeping houseplants over the years, but I was not a great indoor-plant mom. I did okay with outdoor gardening, but I when I tried to grow anything green in the house, I just didn’t know what I was doing.
I was also busy being a mom to kids and pets, who were constantly demanding my attention.
Those African violets in the corner, though? They didn’t make a peep. They also didn’t run around in circles, to remind me that they needed watering. They just kind of quietly waited, gathering dust. Until I found them, months later…
That’s how I became a serial houseplant-murderer.
Turning over a New Leaf
But I’m reformed! (I also have a bit more time, as the kids have grown older, but really, I’m taking better care of my plants!)
Now my plants are part of what makes me happy in my space. Yes, they’re beautiful, but they also affect a room in other ways: soften it, lighten the mood.
They add peace to the house. I love having them around me, and I love looking for more to add to our space.
You can do this, too. With a little bit of know-how, and some tips on choosing the right plants for your space, you can start growing the indoor jungle of your dreams. Or have little airplants hanging everywhere in glass geometric planters. Or build a wall of succulents. Or fill an entire freaking conservatory.
Whatever makes your little Pinterest-y heart beat faster.
Houseplants 101
You can have that feeling of peace, and of light, and of being surrounded by green, growing things in your own space. Without spending your entire paycheck, and without all of the senseless plant-murdering.
Because that’s in the PAST. You’re a good plant parent, now. And I’m going to help you keep those plant babies alive!
We’ll cover the basics, like water, light, and soil.
You can even learn to propagate new baby plants from the plants you have, growing on and on until your home is stuffed with green things. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Let’s start at the beginning, with a few questions:
Plant-Parenting
First, what’s your plant-parenting style?
My what?
Your plant-parenting style. Okay, it’s not a flashy name for it,
but bear with me.
You have a vision of how you want this
houseplant thing to go, right?
But you haven’t succeeded in
the past. We need to look at why. And you definitely have
plant-tending habits.
In fact, you probably fall into one of
these three types of plant parents:
- I don’t water. Pretty much ever. I buy a plant, bring it home, but then forget about it, because it just sits there not making any noise. *shrug*
- I Water. Maybe even too much. But I’m nervous about transplanting, and I panic whenever a plant is sick. I just don’t know what to do. Is that bad?
- My thumbs are completely green, and plants magically grow when I look at them. I would never forget a plant child. I’m just here looking for soil and fertilizer recipes that I can tweak.
I’ll address these in reverse order.
Type 3s: If you identify as green-thumbs, feel free to dig around in the links! I will be adding more articles as the site grows, including under the Digging Deeper category, where we’ll talk about everything from worm composting to propagating plants.
This page is mostly written for my fellow plant-killers, who have turned a new leaf (ahem), and who now want to keep their houseplants alive.
Type 3s, you may even want to avert your eyes for this next part. We’re about to dig into our own special brand of houseplant guilt.
Type 2s, you first:
It Isn’t You, It’s Me (The Plant’s Goodbye)
Was it the care, or was the plant itself just not a good fit in your life/home/space?
You probably know if it was the care. But I’m here to absolve you of all guilt in previous plant deaths.
If you’re still feeling bad because you never repotted that peace lily that eventually died, it’s okay. We’ll work on how to recognize a rootbound plant, and how often (or if) you should be transplanting.
Did your plant get sick? Did it wither, drop leaves, get weird white spots, yellowed leaves, or was it eaten by something small and mysterious? Again, it’s okay. We’re going to learn about what those symptoms are trying to tell us.
I’m not going to make you recite some pledge of the Anti-Plant-Murdering Guild.
When we know better, we do better. (Apologies to Maya Angelou, but we use what works!)
Let’s move forward.
You Just Weren’t a Match
It’s quite possible it was the plant that didn’t match your space. That it needed more light and you have a windowless office. That it was a tropical plant and you live in the high desert.
I know, I know, that’s just a twisted way of looking at it. If you’d known it needed its own misting chamber, or that freshly collected coconut oil had to be lovingly applied to its leaves twice a week, you could have kept it alive. So it was the care, right?
Nah. When that box store put that houseplant out on the shelf, they knew who they were selling to. You buy the pretty plant, take it home; it dies, you come back and buy another.
So, see? It’s still not you (they don’t call me the Queen of Rationalization for nothing). But you can beat this game. Well, the dying plant part, anyway. You’ll still be showing up to buy more.
Still No?
Maybe you’re not convinced. You know yourself, you say. You can’t help it, plants just die in your care.
Maybe you need to start with some easy, “beginner” plants. We’ll talk about plenty of those – who doesn’t like easy?
Easier than Easy
Which brings us to the Type 1s:
You definitely need to start with some beginner houseplants. You’ll get the hang of this.
But I won’t water them! I’m telling you, I’ll forget.
Okay. Do you basically need plants that almost never require water?
If you want to find plants that will survive dry conditions, you’ll still have choices, but you’re going to be limited.
Now, in today’s world, with the amazing range of calendars and reminder systems we have at our fingertips, you can set up ways to get into the habit of checking on your plants.
But if you’re still not convinced that you’re ready to be a responsible bearer of water, that’s fine, we’ll start here –
I will give you a list of plants that don’t mind a bit of a dry spell (some thrive on it), and some tips on finding your plant-watering groove (there are even cool gadgets to help you with this!), and when you’ve decided that you’re loving this houseplant thing and want to hear more about that “indoor jungle”, come back and move on to the next question with me:
What Kind of Plant Scene are You Into?
Yes, there are different levels of houseplantery. Some people collect one type of plant, chasing down every last variety like they are Pokemon. Others want to create a sanctuary, or really enjoy having a little desk garden in their office.
Or maybe you’re into the latest plant trends? Absolutely had to have a Chinese Money Plant and a Monstera deliciosa as soon as they started showing up on Instagram?
Before you pick out any plants, you should ask yourself:
Why
do you want houseplants?
What’s Driving You?
Now, if you are just here to find out how to keep the Christmas cactus alive that you inherited from Aunt Mabel, then by all means, check out the Plant Index (which I’m working on expanding!), but if you really like the idea of having more plants in your house, then seriously think about this question.
Do you want plants that will add to your home’s décor? Are you going for a certain “vibe”? Do you feel less alone with plants in your space?
Houseplants for Décor
If style is your thing, then the plants you choose will depend on your space. Do you want exotic palms in giant pots in the corners of your rooms? Vines draped over the tops of your windows? A couple of small accent plants on a bedside table?
Is there a certain type of plant that you love? A shape to the leaves?
Are you drooling over whatever is popular and trending? Instagram and Pinterest are definitely going to be information sources for you. Jot down the names of houseplants mentioned by your favorite Instagrammers. A bit of Googling, or checking the plant care sheets here should tell you if the plant will be a match for your space.
I’ll also share plans for some DIY plant-stylin’ displays.
Comfort and Companionship
Does looking at and tending to living things make you happy?
Do you want cute, fuzzy little friends that you can keep in tiny pots on your desk or windowsill, where you can talk to them every day?
You might be drawn to miniature plants, or collections of succulents – they come in an insane range of shapes and colors, from fuzzy, blooming cacti to “hens and chicks”.
Many succulents are also easy to propagate, so if you tend to hoard tiny, cute things, you’re in luck!
Create a Sanctuary
Would you rather have plants that grow like crazy? Climb walls? Take over your shelves?
Do you want to build a jungle around your favorite chair, so you can read in peace?
Hanging plants, climbing vines, and anything with lush growth will help you create that secret hideaway. The varieties will depend on the available light in your space.
Or maybe you want to have a spa experience, every time you walk into the personal oasis of your bathroom. You can create that with humidity-loving “shower plants”.
Houseplants as a Hobby
Have you always been interested in growing houseplants? Maybe even enjoy outdoor gardening and want to expand into the indoor arena? Houseplants often originate from other regions than where we live, and so the requirements can be tricky. Bringing a tropical or desert plant into your livingroom and helping it to thrive means learning about its specific needs.
Do you envision yourself spending hours hunched over your precious bonsai collection, grooming and shaping the perfect specimens until you reach a state of zen?
Or maybe you want that wall of succulents after all.
With endless options for developing your passion for all things green, there are resources and communities out there for every interest. I’ll share the cool ones I’ve found, along with tips on getting started with some of the more unique houseplant hobbies.
Houseplants and Your Health
Are you looking for plants that will clear and purify the air in your home, boosting oxygen levels and even fighting mold and other monsters? There’s a list of plants for you!
Do you just want to look up from time to time and see living things around you? You’re not alone! Studies have shown that plants do make people happier.
Speaking of health, do you have children or pets? You’ll want to check the ASPCA list for plants that are safe for your pets, and look up the toxicity of any plant you are considering buying.
For a short list of some easy starter plants that are safe around cats, you can check out my post on creating a feline-friendly plantspace: Finding Safe Plants for Cats
Undecided
Maybe you identify with a bit of all of the above, or you don’t know yet. That’s okay! Poke around, click some links, check out some different plant profiles, read about plant and gardening communities that interest you.
The point is to jump in!
I’ll be around, working on adding more content that will help us both, as we show our plants a little more love. I’m still learning new things about houseplants every day, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve found.
This site is growing as fast as my plant collection, so if you’d like to be notified of updates, sign up here: [LINK]
You’ve got this.
Let’s get started!