Pothos: The Cheerful Indoor Plant Anyone Can Grow

Posted on by micah catherine 2 Comments
golden pothos plant in white vase on black stand in front of white concrete wall

The first plant I ever officially owned was a Golden Pothos, plucked carefully from a tableful of greenery at Home Depot.

That tiny, unassuming little bunch of leaves has quietly grown thick and full. Its trailing vines I now keep routinely trimmed at around 4 feet. And its propagated vines occupy vases around my home and turn into gifts for friends and coworkers.

Weekend day trips to my sunny back window and a generous weekly water soak are all pothos plants need to stay hydrated and happy. If you’re looking to be a first-time plant parent, a Pothos may be perfect for you! Here’s why:

#1 – They’re Nearly Invincible
Pothos plants can easily outlive a variety of other vegetation (I’m looking at you, succulents), even if they’re not receiving proper sunlight and water. In fact, this undemanding plant can very nearly thrive in a dusty, dark corner of a bookshelf. Obviously, would not recommend. But I’ve returned from a long vacation to some wilting leaves, only to have them spring merrily back to life with just a little love. And by love I mean, sun, water, and a pep talk from yours truly.

#2 – They’re Low-Maintenance
Pothos plants prefer ordinary soil and bright but indirect light, which means they’ll grow relatively well in virtually every room of your home. Keeping your pothos near a window will provide all the sun they need. If your plants are strewn all over the house like mine, an afternoon of bright window light once a week will keep them happy. Pothos also prefer the soil to dry completely between waterings. I generally water my plants every 7-10 days, depending on how sunny it’s been. An easy way to tell if your Pothos is ready for a drink is by investigating the leaves. Collapsed leaves with dark spots mean the soil is too wet. If they’re starting to droop or look yellow, it’s time to water!

Pro Tip: Pothos plants need soil drainage to avoid root rot. Choose a pot with a drainage hole to keep water from pooling at the bottom.

#3 – They’re Purifying the Air
Pothos plants remove toxins and common indoor pollutants, like formaldehyde, benzene, CO2, and ozone, from the air … just by being themselves! The greener the leaves, the more clean oxygen these plants are emitting into your home. This air purification system doesn’t come without its drawbacks, however. Be sure to keep children and pets from ingesting any part of the plant.

#4 – They’re Versatile
The trailing vines of pothos plants can be trained to grow in virtually any direction (like elegantly over door or window arches). Or they can be left to cascade freely if your pot is perched on a high shelf or hung from the ceiling. Pothos also fit comfortably on bookshelves, as table centerpieces, and best of all, as faithful companions on your desk at work. My pothos plants currently reside in all corners of my home in vases, pots, mason jars, and even dollar store bowls strung from the ceiling by a hand-made macrame hanger.

#5 – They Keep On Giving
Pothos plants are one of the easiest plants to propagate. Once you notice your plant vines have a few extra inches to spare, simply snip off the stem and place it directly in a vase of water. This new vine will grow roots, at which time you can either let the vine continue to mature in the vase or plant it in a pot. If you trim the vines regularly, you’ll begin to notice that pothos plants grow exceptionally fast! Just remember, the longer your vines remain in the water, the harder it will be for them to adapt to soil. If you plan on potting your propagated vines, plant them when the roots reach 3-4 inches long.

Pro Tip: Propagate vines that are 6-12 inches in length, cutting directly below the root node. Remove any leaves that fall below the waterline.

Try the Second-Chance Plant
If you’ve killed every succulent you’ve ever owned or are convinced you lack a green thumb, don’t give up just yet! Inexpensive and non-intrusive, Pothos plants are the perfect starter for your new indoor garden. Have you already succeeded in raising a Pothos plant? I’d love to hear your stories!

XO,
Micah

How to Arrange Flowers for Maximum Enjoyment

Posted on by micah catherine 6 Comments
cut sunflowers on white background

The sunflower has long been a favorite of mine, as much for its striking golden color as for the intricacies and heartiness of the flowers. When I heard the Saturday Morning Market was once again in full swing, I hastened to my favorite sunflower-selling vendor and chose the sunniest bunch.

Arranging a bouquet of flowers may seem a straightforward task, but it’s this illusion of ease that may be keeping your masterpiece from lasting more than a few days. You’ll only need a few supplies to get started:

  • Your favorite flowers
  • Scissors
  • A vase
  • Warm water

Step 1 – Prepare Your Vase

sunflowers and cut stems with mason jar full of water on white table

Vase preparation is just as important as preparing your actual bouquet. Make sure you sanitize your vase by letting it sit filled with hot, soapy water while you prepare your flowers. This will keep the growth of bacteria to a minimum. When your flowers are ready for arranging, fill your vase 3/4 of the way full with warm water.

Step 2 – Trim the Stems

woman cutting sunflower stems with scissors over white table with mason jar

Measure your flower stems against the height of your vase. Generally, a well-proportioned arrangement extends 3-6 inches above the top of your vase. I always add an additional 1-2 inches to this line before cutting the excess stems. This gives me the freedom to vary the height of each flower as I arrange them later, giving my final bouquet a more robust appearance.

Pro Tip: Trim the stems of your flowers and greenery at a 45-degree angle. This provides a greater surface area, allowing the stems to absorb water more easily.

Step 3 – Add The Flowers

woman adding sunflowers to mason jar on white table with sunflowers

Be sure to remove any leaves that will fall below the waterline as this will keep your water cleaner longer, then begin adding your flowers one at a time. For a bouquet consisting of all the same type of flower, I like to add the larger ones in the center and use the remaining smaller flowers as support around the edge. If you want a bouquet that includes a variety of flowers and greenery, choose blooms with different colors, textures, and shapes that complement each other.

Step 4 – Arrange and Rearrange

woman styling bouquet of sunflowers in mason jar of water on white table

It often takes me a few minutes to style my bouquet to my liking. This is where I may trim the stems of certain flowers to improve how proportionate my bouquet looks. There is no right or wrong way to style your flowers, so it’s simply a matter of preference on where you want each flower to go.

Step 5 – Take Care

woman in blue and white striped shirt holding mason jar bouquet of sunflowers

To help keep your bouquet fresh and thriving as long as possible, set your vase in an area of your home that receives soft, indirect light. As you admire your new bouquet, keep on the lookout for drooping flowers or cloudy water. I normally change the water, remove wilted leaves, add plant food, and re-trim stems every few days.

Pro Tip: Keep your bouquet alive longer with natural plant food! For every 1 quart of water in your vase, add 2 tablespoons each of granulated sugar and natural lemon juice and swirl.

Practice Makes Perfect

Simple, yet stunning sunflowers add a pop of color to your home without needing meticulous arranging or maintenance and are a great place to start if you’re new to floral arrangements. Have additional tips and tricks or favorite flowers and/or greenery to style? I’d love to know!

XO,
Micah