The 5 Places You Can Buy Indoor Plants

August 27, 2020 by micah catherine

Buying plants for the first time can be an overwhelming process. Not only do you have to consider which plants to purchase for your home, but where to even find them! There are certainly many places you can buy indoor plants, but not all of them are created equal. Follow this handy guide the next time you go plant shopping:

Grocery Stores
You’ve most likely noticed that grocery stores often have a selection of plants available in their floral department. Generally, they offer a basic selection, such as shelf plants like succulents and peace lilies. These plants are also often cheap, which may also reflect on their overall quality, though they’re usually already eloquently potted. Plants in grocery stores may also not be properly cared for or have knowledgeable staff to help you make a purchase.

Online Retailers
Another increasingly popular way to buy indoor plants is online through websites like The Sill, Etsy, Amazon, and even Facebook Marketplace. You’ll be able to find more unusual plants sold through these retailers than you’d find at the grocery store or garden center. This tends to be a more expensive option, especially if you pay for shipping, and you won’t see the plant you purchase until it shows up at your door.

Pro Tip: Always read the reviews of online plant retailers to learn about the quality of their plants, their condition after shipping, and customer service rating, in case something goes wrong.

Garden Centers
Big garden centers, such as Home Depot or Lowe’s, are reliable places to shop for indoor plants. The selection at these stores is generally much larger, ranging from small houseplants to large landscaping palms and grasses. You’ll find many of the popular types of plants, including fiddle leaf figs, succulents, golden pothos, and all kinds of flowering plants. They should be better cared for than other places, but it seems to vary between garden centers. You’ll most likely pay a bit extra for these plants, too.

Boutique Shops
Boutique plant shops are often found in bigger cities where high-end plant shopping is more common. These shops, though often styled beautifully, usually come with a higher price tag for their plant selections. You may find the occasional rare plant in these stores however, which may make the elevated price worth it. Keep a lookout for classes and workshops from these shops where you can learn more about plant care or DIY projects.

Plant Nurseries
Local plant nurseries are by far the best places to find a wide variety of quality and healthy plants. At nurseries, plants are generally well cared for, with proper feeding schedules and growing in good soil. Employees of these nurseries are generally knowledgeable, know now to properly care for the plants, and can assist you if you have questions about which plants are best for your home, light level, etc. The selection at nurseries also ranges from small houseplants to large landscaping foliage, along with rare and native species. You’ll never be without a great selection!

Ready for More Plants?
There are many different places to buy indoor plants, all with their own benefits. Remember, in addition to buying online and locally, you can always ask your plant friends for some cuttings, too! Where is your favorite place to buy plants?

XO,
Micah

Aloe Vera: The Peppy Plant with a Purpose

August 13, 2020 by micah catherine 2 Comments

Even if you’ve never owned an Aloe Vera plant, you’re probably aware of (and maybe even made use of) its soothing benefits for sunburn. However, this mild-mannered succulent can provide tropical flair to your home or workplace, too. And unlike some houseplants, Aloe Vera plants are easy to care for and forgiving in instances of both forgetfulness or over-loving.

Aloe Vera plants will happily grow indoors if you give them the right conditions. Keep your plant healthy and happy by following these tips:

Water Sparingly
Like all succulents, Aloe Vera plants store water in their plump leaves so they don’t require frequent watering. Let the soil dry out completely before each watering. In the summer, this may be a few weeks, while in the winter, this could be a couple of months. When you do water your plant, soak it thoroughly until the water drains out and don’t let it sit in water.

Use Well-Draining Soil
Equally important to a proper watering schedule is the type and quality of the soil. Your Aloe Vera will thrive in well-draining soil meant for cacti and succulents. This soil will have perlite or pumice to help aeration and water drainage to avoid root rot. Keep them snuggly in a terra cotta pot where they will grow happily. Repot if their weight is causing them to tip over.

Keep Things Bright
Aloe Vera plants, not surprisingly, love light and especially so when they’re kept as indoor plants. The more sun the better, so your plant will do best near a south or west facing window. Just be sure you don’t keep it too close or the leaves will burn). If your plant isn’t getting enough light, the leaves will begin to droop. It may even go dormant and stop growing.

Propagate By Dividing
Aloe Vera plants are one of the easiest succulents to propagate. But unlike other plants, they cannot be propagated with leaf cuttings. When healthy and growing, they produce new plants on their own. You can propagate from the original plant by separating an offshoot once it has three or more leaves. Then simply place this offshoot into a new pot where it will grow big and strong. To harvest, use a sharp, clean knife to remove an entire leaf from the base of the plant.

Let’s Grow!
Remember, Aloe Vera grown indoors does best with high light and low water. You’ll love watching this low-maintenance grow and most likely enjoy reaping its medicinal benefits, too!

XO,
Micah

6 Common Causes of Yellow Leaves in Plants (and How to Fix Them)

August 6, 2020 by micah catherine 2 Comments

As a plant owner, one of the last things you want your plant to begin developing is yellow leaves. After all, aren’t yellow leaves a sign the plant is a hopeless case and surely on the way to expiring? Not necessarily! In fact, yellowing leaves are one way your plant is telling you it’s time to switch up its care routine a little. Diagnosing the cause of yellow foliage is a bit like solving a mystery, so it may take a little patient sleuthing to solve your plant’s problem. Here are six possible causes:

Overwatering and underwatering are two of the most common reasons a plant’s leaves might turn yellow. Thankfully, this is an easy fix! Dry soil may cause leaves to yellow and fall off in the plant’s attempt to conserve water. Soil that is consistently saturated with water (especially if the pot doesn’t have a drainage hole) will lead to root rot, another culprit of yellow leaves. Test out the moisture level of the soil by pressing your finger a few inches into the dirt. If the soil is dry, it’s time to get your plant on a more routine watering schedule. If it feels soaked, ease up on the watering and let the soil dry out before giving it another drink.
The temperature of your home is another culprit of changing leaf color. If your plant is near a source of heat (fireplace or heat vent) or a source of cold (drafty window or air conditioner), it may show its displeasure by developing yellow leaves. If you know your home has temperature fluctuations or you notice your plant is situated near a problem area, try to provide a more stable environment. Most houseplants enjoy temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees.
Too much or too little sunlight are two other common causes of pale or yellow leaves. It might be easy to assume that all plants need lots of light, but this isn’t always the case. Some plants, like the Golden Pothos, don’t mind shady parts of your home and will develop yellow foliage if left too long in bright light. Other plants, like succulents, prefer vast amounts of sunlight and will pale without it. When purchasing a new plant, read the label to learn what level of light it needs to stay healthy. Otherwise, a quick search on plant care websites like thesill.com will inform you how much sun your plant needs.
Nutritional deficiency is another possibility if your plant is showing yellowing leaves. Without the proper nutrients, either from the soil or fertilizer, plants can quickly become distressed, even if they’re getting the correct level of sunlight and water. If yellowed leaves are also accompanied by a slow-growing plant and browning leaf tips, your plant may be lacking essential nutrients like nitrogen, which promotes healthy foliage growth. You can use liquid fertilizer, slow-release fertilizer, or granular fertilizer to add nutrients to your plant’s soil, but be sure to read instructions carefully to avoid fertilizer burn.
Disease or pests unfortunately can also lead to yellowed leaves on your plant. Insects like spider mites and aphids will cause pale or yellowing leaves, but also show other signs of infestation like cottony fuzz along the stem. Be sure to thoroughly rinse your plant, spray it with neem oil, and remove any affected leaves. Disease that develops on your plant (often caused by pests) will show up as patches of mottled yellow-colored leaves, in addition to deformed and crinkled leaves and stems. This may be the only time your plant cannot be saved and is best removed so as to avoid infecting other plants.
Maturing plants may also rid themselves of older leaves, which will yellow and fall off. In this case, yellow leaves aren’t cause for concern as they’re simply part of the natural aging process. If after careful scrutiny you believe your plant’s yellow leaves aren’t from one of the above problems, you have nothing to worry about. Simply trim back these leaves to allow new growth.

It takes a lot of practice and dedication to make sure all your plants are happy and thriving in your home. The good news is that, in time, this hard work will pay off and you won’t have to diagnose problems as often. Happy planting!

XO,
Micah