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

The Best Potting Mix for Each Type of Plant

March 12, 2020 by micah catherine 3 Comments

Today is National Plant a Flower Day, which presents the perfect opportunity to talk about potting mix! Though perhaps not the most interesting of subjects, it’s good to become familiar with the different types of mixes available and their benefits for each type of potted plant. After all, potting mix is what your plants will be living in year after year. It only makes sense that you give them the best possible home!

What is potting mix?
We’ll start with the basics: potting mix is not the dirt you dig up out of your backyard. It’s a fine-tuned combination of pine bark, peat moss, and vermiculite to absorb water or perlite to purge water. Unlike potting soil, a potting mix is soil-less and its purpose is to remain “fluffy” and not become too compact when wet. These mixes come in different types to match the specific needs of each plant, including their drainage, moisture, or acidity levels.

Houseplants
Most indoor plants will grow well with all-purpose potting mix, either organic or non-organic. These mixes will retain moisture without becoming too dense or packed. Certain potting mixes may come with time-release fertilizer that will provide nutrients for the first couple of months after potting. You’ll still have to fertilize routinely as your plant will eventually use this limited amount of nutrients. If you’re growing acidic soil-loving plants, such as azaleas, you’ll want to use a well-draining mix with a low pH. Plants like lavender, however, enjoy a sweet alkaline soil with a higher pH.

Herbs
Herbs have either a moisture or drainage preference when it comes to their potting mixes. Mint and rosemary prefer a higher level of moisture, while thyme, parsley, and basil need the soil to dry out between watering. Choose a potting mix that is well-draining to ensure your herbs don’t drown. A vegetable and herb mix will provide the proper type of soil to keep your herbs thriving. If the ingredients has perlite included, this is a good mix.

Succulents and Cacti
Both succulents and cacti are desert plants that thrive in dry, hot climates that receive occasional water. It’s crucial that you pot these plants in well-draining soil. The type of mix for succulents and cacti is generally more gritty, and is light and airy, with plenty of pockets to help the water quickly drain. Like other specialized mixes, your local garden center will have succulent and cactus potting mix that includes rock mineral and the right soil consistency.

Get your hands dirty
Soil is the foundation of a healthy, happy plant and is just as important as proper watering and sunlight. Don’t overthink potting mix, but keep in mind the different types of soil certain plants need. As always, be sure to pot your plants in a container with proper drainage!

Did you know different types of soil existed? Or is this old news? I’d love to know!

XO
Micah