4 Houseplant Mistakes and How to Fix Them

April 9, 2020 by micah catherine 2 Comments

If you’re like me, having just one houseplant is never enough. But if you’ve had bad luck keeping plants alive in the past, it may be daunting to think of trying again. The solution to keeping your new plant alive might be easier than you think, however. Have you been making these common houseplant mistakes? If so, read on to learn how to fix them!

1. Buying plants because they look pretty
There are certainly many beautiful plants available for purchase. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean they’re the best ones for your particular region or home’s normal conditions. Is your home in a humid or dry climate? Does it lack good natural light or is usually kept at a cold temperature? Keep these questions in mind when shopping for a new houseplant. Many shade-loving plants exist, like golden pothos, while options like the snake plant thrive in humidity.

2. Watering too much or on the wrong schedule
Overwatering is all too often the most common mistake plant parents make. Most houseplants require little water to remain healthy, especially those that also don’t require much sunlight. Different plants require different amounts of water and frequency of watering, too. While it’s easier to simply water all your plants once a week, opt for testing the soil before sticking to such all all-encompassing routine. If the plant’s soil is dry a few inches before the soil, it’s time to water! If not, check back in a few days.

Pro Tip: Trouble remembering to water your plants at all? Succulents and cacti are a great choice for you, but only if you have a window that receives bright light.

3. Putting all your plants in direct sunlight
We all know that plants need sunlight to stay healthy. But many plants don’t need bright sunlight. In fact, a lot of plants prefer low-light conditions and stay healthy despite a lack of sun. Research before you buy a houseplant, whether your home has a lot of natural light or none at all. Many sun-loving indoor plants like aloe vera or fiddle leaf figs won’t stay healthy in a dark home. However, leaves of more low-light plants like philodendron and the peace lily can burn if kept in direct sunlight for too long. This doesn’t mean you should never put these plants in the sun. Just be sure it’s soft, indirect light.

4. Leaving your plants near radiators, drafts, or air vents
Plants are sensitive to temperatures, especially those that fluctuate regularly. Your houseplant may provide a stylish upgrade for an unattractive windowsill or radiator. But this could lead to their demise. Drafts, cold air, and high heat temperatures are too extreme for most indoor plants. Heating and cooling also removes humidity from the air, so place your plants in other locations to keep them happy.

Have you caught yourself making one or more of these mistakes? I definitely have. But taking care of each houseplant based on what it needs makes a big difference. Happy planting!

XO,
Micah

How to Propagate Plants from Cuttings

April 2, 2020 by micah catherine 2 Comments

If you ever visit my home, you’ll notice that many shelves and tables hold glass jars with philodendron spilling out over their edges. These plants aren’t newly purchased from a local nursery. They’ve all been propagated. That’s simply a fancy term for trimming long vines and sticking them in a separate container of water. This both keeps parent plant healthy and provides you with additional plants for your home. Now seems like the perfect time for a tutorial on how to propagate plants from ones you already have! While you can propagate just about any indoor plant, I’ll be showing you the steps for vining plants like philodendron and golden pothos. You’ll need the following:

Parent vine plant
Pruning shears
Jar filled with water

Step 1 – The first step to propagate plants is to find a root node about 6 inches up from the last leaf of the vine. This node is brown and knobby, usually found on the opposite side of where a new leaf has grown off the vine. When placed in dirt or water, this node will begin to grow a root, which is all your newly propagated vine will need to gather nutrients from the soil or the water.

Step 2 – Where you find the root node (above my thumb in the photo), you’ll want to gently cut this vine from the parent plant. Cut above the node so that it remains part of the vine you’re removing. Remove the leaf closest to the root node, as it will be submerged in water and may rot. Since this leaf has no root node, it will not grow on its own, so you can discard.

placing propagated plants in jar of water

Step 3 – Fill your jar with warm water, then gently set your newly propagated plants into the jar. They may be a little top heavy, so be sure to gently wedge them into the jar. The root nodes need to be fully submerged in order to start forming roots. When these roots have reached a few inches in length, you can repot these vines in soil. You can leave them in the water as well.

Step 4 – As the roots of your propagated plants grow, be sure to keep your jar clean. I usually wash the jars and rinse the roots of these plants every couple of weeks. This will keep the roots and plant healthy!

That’s it! Propagating vine plants is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to keep your plants happily growing. Plus, it’s a fun activity you can enjoy without needing to leave your home or buy new plants. Best of all, keeping your propagated plants in jars of water requires far less maintenance than those in soil. And they fit snugly in every corner of your home, an elegant decor item no matter where they’re placed!

Have you attempted to propagate plants? Are you going to give it a try? I’d love to know!

XO,
Micah

Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver

March 19, 2020 by micah catherine 1 Comment

Today marks the first day of spring.

Amid the turmoil and stress, I find nature to be a place of peace and quiet rest. And, if possible, I take respite in a walk along the ocean. A beach meandering does wonders for the soul, but in the morning, especially so. I find it difficult to wake early, but the ocean calls in the most mysterious ways.

Imagine for a moment, the waves telling you, with every break along the sand, to shhh shhh and listen and feel and breathe in the salt-soaked air. And then the sun awakens to ease us with warm touching. A simple, yet wonderful welcome of a new day. Here is Why I Wake Early, another favorite poem by Mary Oliver:

Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety—

best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light—
good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.