Low Light: 4 Signs Your Plant Isn’t Getting Enough Sun

June 18, 2020 by micah catherine 1 Comment

Scenario. You spot a beautiful plant at the store and can’t help but bring it back home, only to notice a few weeks later that it’s slouching and frail, a pale reflection of its once thriving self. While houseplants can unfortunately fall victim to many ailments, today we’re talking about one of the most harmful: low light.

A lack of adequate sunlight can starve a plant of its natural food source, the sugars it produces through photosynthesis. As you can imagine, this is bad news, in more ways than one. Here’s how your plant will tell you it’s lacking light:

Leaf Color
Most plants have rich green leaves, or colors that appear vibrant when healthy. These glorious hues that make plants so aesthetically pleasing are from the amount of chlorophyll within their leaf cells. Without sun, plants can’t function at full capacity and won’t be able to photosynthesize. Over time, the leaves will lose their vibrancy and pale, eventually growing yellow and weak. They’ll easily fall from your plant if nudged.

Stem Height
As the primary source of energy, sunlight drives a plant’s ability to grow tall and strong. Plants living in a low light situation, especially those that need bright and direct light, may experience stunted growth. A plant without an adequate light source can grow lanky, with spindly stems and leaves that are widely spaced. If you’ve noticed that your plant doesn’t seem to be growing anymore, it may be due to a lack of light.

Leaf Size
All plants have leaf sizes unique to their particular breed and current level of growth. However, if your plant isn’t receiving the proper amount of sunlight and nutrients, the leaves may stop growing at a smaller size than normal. They may also feel much thinner and softer, even after they’ve reached maturity. If they also have brown edges, this is a sign of stress, often due to low light.

Plant Tilt
If it appears as though your plant is straining toward a source of sunlight, it probably is. The proper definition of this phenomenon is phototropism. The cells in plants (auxins) on the sun side will grow shorter and sturdier, while they’ll grow long and spindly in the shade. This creates a plant that “leans” toward light. If your plant is tilting dramatically toward a window, it’s a clear sign that your plant needs more sunshine.

How to Revive a Light-Lacking Plant
First, research your plant and read up on the level of light it needs. All plants are unique in their need for sunlight. While some plants prefer indirect sun, others require multiple hours of bright light each day to thrive. Once you know what your plant needs, place it in an area of your home that will provide the proper level of light. Remember to water it properly, and in a few weeks, it should be looking perky and healthy.

Have you ever had a plant struggle from lack of light? Or need help knowing what to do? Comment below!

XO,
Micah

Monstera Deliciosa: The Lush Floor Plant with Iconic Leaves

June 11, 2020 by micah catherine 1 Comment

Last weekend marked a significant life event for me as a plant owner: I finally bought myself a Monstera. There’s something special about this floor plant… it has caught my attention time and again. It might be those unique “swiss cheese” leaves. Or its deep, forestry green color. Whatever the reason, the allure of this unique plant led me to purchase one. I love it.

Contrary to some people’s first thought, this plant’s full name—monstera deliciosa—isn’t the name of a spell from Harry Potter. (You life-long HP fans would already know this, but hey, it’s me.) While there’s some debate as to why half the name means “monster”, it is clear that the epithet, deliciosa, is in reference to the delicious edible fruit it produces. Unfortunately, as an indoor floor plant, Monstera plants won’t create any fruit, though they will grow gloriously tall and lush. Here’s what you need to know to take care of these split-leaf beauties:

Light Level
Monstera plants are tropical, hailing from the dense, soggy rainforests of Central America. They’re actually vining plants that will make their way up trees to be closer to the light. In fact, it’s theorized that the holes that develop as leaves mature is to help light reach lower leaves living near the shaded forest floor. As the ornamental floor plant in your home, however, a Monstera will thrive in bright indirect sunlight. And you’ll still get to watch the “fenestration” process of these growing leaves. Be sure to occasionally wipe the dust off these large leaves to ensure proper photosynthesis.

Pro Tip: If your Monstera plant casts a shadow, it’s getting too much sun! Try moving it further from a window so it receives more indirect light.

Water Schedule
Monstera plants are tropical, but that doesn’t mean they prefer moist soil at all times. Wait until the first 1-2 inches of soil are dry to water your plant again. Then slowly pour clean water around the entire base of the plant until it begins draining out the bottom of the pot. Remove this excess water immediately to avoid root rot. Mostera plants also like humidity, so a daily misting is a great way to keep them happy, especially if you live in a dry climate.

Vining Support
In addition to their underground roots, Monstera plants also grow aerial roots designed to provide leverage when climbing trees. Without any support from a trellis or wooden climbing stick, your plant may grow sideways instead if up. If you’re noticing that your plant seems to be spreading out, install a support system and encourage the plant to grow upward by securing it gently with rubber twist ties. If this seems like too much trouble, you can always prune and propagate them!

I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly excited about my new “monster” plant. Has this plant been on your list? Do you already own one? I’d love to know your thoughts!

XO,
Micah

6 Unique Plants to Give Your Home an Exotic Touch

June 4, 2020 by micah catherine

By now, you’re probably all too familiar with the usual assortment of houseplants. You know, the fiddle leaf figs and philodendrons that add a splash of green without giving off too much flair. But if you feel your plant collection is starting to look similar, it might be time to add a few unique plants to the mix.

Like the Red Aglaonema pictured above, a great assortment of unusual plants exists that can give your home a pop of the exotic. The good news is that none of these unique plants need special care, so they’ll be an easy addition to your plant family!

1. Rose Painted Calathea
This tropical plant is known for its fun patterns and lavish colors, notably the magenta undersides of the otherwise green leaves. Like most plants, it enjoys a life in bright, indirect sunlight though, unusually, it prefers soil to be moist at all times and high humidity.

2. Fishbone Cactus
With leaves resembling a zig-zag pattern (or ric rac ribbon, if you’re into sewing), this exotic plant initially grows upright before gracefully vining. If you need more unique hanging plants, this one is it! These plants prefer partial sunlight, humidity, and warm weather and prefers the soil to dry out complete between watering.

3. Red Algaonema
Known for it’s beautifully pink and red leaves, this plant can add an elegant pop of color to your home. These plants thrive on bright indirect sunlight, where it will produce the richest leaf colors. A lover of high humidity, they enjoy routine misting and prefer the soil to remain moist during summer.

4. Bird’s Nest Fern
These tropical plants have large, light green fronds that appear wavy along the edges. These fronds emerge from central fuzzy rosettes hidden at the plant’s base that resemble bird’s eggs (hence the name). These ferns prefer filtered sunlight and humidity, with consistently moist, but not wet, soil.

5. Nerve Plant
Aptly named, the nerve plant has delicate, silver, pink, or light green veins running through its richly green leaves. Though more temperamental that other indoor plants, it’s a good choice if you can fulfill its request for high humidity. These plants prefer partial shade and may collapse if the soil is not kept moist.

6. String of Dolphins
Uniquely shaped, like most succulents, this plant has leaves that look identical to miniature jumping dolphins. This oceanic vibe makes the humidity-loving succulent a fun addition to the kitchen or a child’s bedroom. Keep this plant where it receives bright and indirect sunlight and allow the soil to dry completely between watering.

Ready for a new plant?
I hope you’re feeling as inspired as I am to take a trip to the nearest plant nursery. If you buy one of these unique plants, I’d love to know. Share which one in the comments!

XO,
Micah