My Complete Houseplant Guide- Why I LOVE Houseplants

Houseplants have become my favorite accessory to decorate my home with. I love how a houseplant breaths life into a space. A houseplant is something I think every room needs. And yes! You can keep them alive. Houseplants are so much easier to keep alive then you think. I believe many times we over think it and “kill them with love” because we overwater and let the roots sit in water. Or we don’t come up with a watering schedule and forgot to water. It is important to check what each of your plant’s need for water and sun before you bring them home and just place them where you think they should go. Rather then checking what it needs. They are worth the extra effort. Trust me you can get the hang of it. Because there are so many benefits to houseplants! 

Main Houseplant Tips- 

• Majority of the time plants don’t like change, but sometimes they need it to thrive #lifelesson
• Don’t overwater, water in small amounts. Remember plants don’t like their “feet” constantly wet. Would you? 
• Pick a day to water your houseplants and stick to it. Water Wednesday is easy to remember or Thirsty Thursday!

Benefits of houseplants- 

• Boost mood, productivity, concentration and creativity
• Reduce stress, fatigue, sore throats and colds
• Clean indoor air by absorbing toxins
• Add life to a sterile office, give privacy and reduce noise levels
• Are therapeutic and cheaper than a therapist

I recently added these shelves to this guest bedroom makeover. This is such a great way to manage your plants. You can pick a spot to hang your shelves that gets good filtered sunlight. And it allows you to play with all different types of mini plants! 

Or grab a hook like this hook (similar HERE) and hang a gorgeous hanging plant from it! A long hanging plant is probably my FAVORITE type of plants. The above plant is a String of Pearls or a String of Bananas looks really similar too. (find this macrame hanger here and art in photo above here).

I did a Hoya plant in this macrame hanger and used a clearance hook (check out this hook).

I found that large philodendron at Home Depot recently.  The mini one philodendron in THIS pink pot can be found online HERE. I just got THIS Silver Philodendron and put it in THIS (similar) marble pot. Isn’t it the cutest color? Hanging in the window is the philodendron that is struggling a little by the bright window. It is newer, so I think it is just adjusting. The pant in the gold planter is an Air Plant. Another easy plant to care for!  I added a hanging planter with a philodendron by why friends oven to soften the edge of the kitchen cabinet. I used THIS ceiling hook. You do have to make a hole with a drill bit (on the back of the product it says drill bit size for instance 5 1/16″). Then you hammer in your anchor where you just drilled your hole. Then  twist in the hook! Pretty simple. Just make sure the hook is strong enough to hold the weight of whatever you get.  Also if your planter has a hole in the bottom you want to make sure to not over water or put something under the planter when you water! 

The above plant is the philodendron family, a monstera plant! I found this one at Home Depot. Find online HERE.

Succulents- Great Houseplants for beginners! Including Aloe Vera Plants and Snake Plants

• LIGHT– Sunlight Bright, full-sun to medium, filtered light. Full sun is ideal. (Learn more about light requirements here) 
• WATER– Size matters. Water every two weeks for smaller succulents or monthly for larger ones. Do not overwater as overwatering will cause plant to rot. Better to underwater than to overwater. 
• WHERE TO FIND- You can shop Succulents online HERE, or check local nurseries and home improvement stores. Snake Plants HERE or Home Depot and Lowes. Also I find them at Trader Joe’s too!

Above plant find HERE

I found the two succulents in the bookcase at Trader Joe’s! Groceries and plants, easy!

Top shelf is an Aloe Vera Plant that I water about once a month, same with the plant in the face jar. You will kill it if you try to over water. So it is really easy!

The succulents above did awesome on our back porch all summer! I didn’t water them once, just the rain! See below how the succulents like now, 6 months later! Easy houseplant! 

Snake Plant–

The above Snake Plant came in that pot, find the combo HERE. Snake plants are often called “Mother in-law Tongue”. Also I learned that the snake plant of all the different oxygen producing plants, this one is unique since it converts a lot of CO2 (carbon dioxide) to O2 (oxygen) at night, making it ideal to have several in your bedroom. Another one of the easiest houseplants too! Just remember not to overwater. 

Snake Plant–

The above Snake Plant came in that pot, find the combo HERE. Snake plants are often called “Mother in-law Tongue”. Also I learned that the snake plant of all the different oxygen producing plants, this one is unique since it converts a lot of CO2 (carbon dioxide) to O2 (oxygen) at night, making it ideal to have several in your bedroom.

The Favorite Houseplants- 

Kangaroo Plant– 

This is one of my favorite houseplants! I found mine at a local nursery (find HERE too). I brought it home and put it in this bookcase and it has stayed here for about 9 months. It has done well in the bookcase because it gets some light from the window. I water in small amounts once a week and don’t let it sit in water. I did not re-pot it yet. I just put it in a planter on top of rocks so the water can drain out. I will repot it in the spring. 

I also love to cut ling pieces of my Kangaroo plant for jars in bookcases.

Kumquat Plant–

I have had that plant for about three months. I have enjoyed it! But I did feel like it is on the edge of dying. But I did a little more research and found the I  need to soak the kumquat’s soil thoroughly when watering it, until water runs out of the drainage holes! We do have a little bud that I am so excited about! (Find it HERE)

Clippings from my houseplants is another way to bring some life to a space. Above is a little clipping from my Kumquat plant.

Peperomia

The peperomia is such a pretty plant with thick leaves. I have one on my kitchen counter in an old candle jar!  They do well in low-medium light, watered weekly. This houseplant is pet-friendly! Find it HERE. Easy plant!

Air Plant

Air Plants are perfect for bookcases or somewhere that is is hard to reach to water often. And they are just a really fun style of plant! I water mine every two weeks, soak your air plant in room temperature tap water  for 10-20 minutes, depending on size. After soaking gently shake excess water from your plant.They require bright, indirect light and water weekly. *Pet-friendly house plant! (Find them HERE).

ZZ Plant

The ZZ Plant is characterized by its thick waxy green leaves. They do well in low-medium light. And thankfully they do ok if watered infrequently. I water in small amounts every week. This is a great air purifying plant and great for beginners. (Find HERE). Easy plant!

Oxalis Clover Plant–

I couldn’t share a houseplant post without sharing this Oxalis Clover Plant! I got it in March, around St. Patricks Day. It was amazing to watch, because the leaves close up at night. You can keep it indoors all year long. Outdoors it grows and spreads far. Sadly mine died when we were away in Utah for a month, someone overwatered it. Best to water sparingly and allow the soil to dry out between waterings.

Calathea Medallion “Prayer Plant”–

Another favorite “active” plant. The leaves close or come together at night, like hands clasped in prayer. Perfect for low/medium light. I did have mine upstairs, where it wasn’t getting a lot of sun. So I moved it to our coffee table and it has thrived the bright indirect light. This plant is pet-friendly! Keep the soil moist but never soggy. Never let a Calathea Plant sit in water. (Find one HERE). Easy plant once you find where it does best in your home!

The Calathea Rattlesnake–

This is in the family of my above “prayer plant”. The leaves aren’t as active as the Calathea on my coffee table, but I do notice the leaves move upwards at night too. *Pet-friendly house plant! Find it HERE.

Umbrella Plant–

I love this large plant in our bookcase. Umbrella plants or called Schefflera Plants are flexible about watering, but more tolerant of dry soil than overwatering. They don’t like wet feet, so empty the drainage saucer after watering or water in small amounts at a time. They are medium light plants, which means that they need bright but indirect light. (Find online HERE). I found my umbrella plant at Home Depot, but I don’t see them there all the time. Easy Plant!

Fiddle Leaf Figs–

I know these are a popular plant. I love them. BUT they do love light. I had the large fiddle leaf fig tree below  and it died pretty quickly because it wasn’t getting enough sun. I didn’t really have a better spot to move it to. They don’t like to sit in water. Check the soil to see if it is dry, if it as then water until you see water come out the bottom. They have deep roots. Then once you see the water come out, let it sit in the water for about 30 minutes (I do this in my tub) then take it out of the tub and put it back where it was. OR if you have a saucer your pot sits in just dump the extra water, so the roots are sitting in the water. I end up watering my fig like this about once a week. (You can find online HERE). 

I found the above Fiddle Leaf Fig at Ikea! It has done well here for about 4 months now. I water once a week in small amounts. 

Repotting Houseplants-

Early Spring is the best time to repot plant. Yes, I have done it at other times and it has worked. But early spring is best because that is typically when plants have a growth spirt. I have only repotted a hand-full of my houseplants. I typically leave them in their container inside another pot or basket. If I put in a basket I put a tray liner under the plant or inside a large garbage sack to the water doesn’t ruin the basket. But I water in low amounts so the roots don’t sit in water.  The size is important here, because typically when we move our plants to a larger pot with more soil, we will be inclined to water more often. A small plant + an oversized planter + lots of soil + overwatering = killing with kindness. Learn more about If you see one or a combination of these signs, you’ll know it’s time to repot:

• Roots are growing through the drainage hole at the bottom of the planter 
• Roots are pushing the plant up, out of the planter 
• Plant is top heavy, and falls over easily 

Fertilizer 

Plants make their own food using light. Fertilizer is more like a vitamin you would take every so often to boost your health. Minerals from soil are released every time you water so your plant can absorb all that goodness. Excess minerals from fertilizer will not be used by your plant and can even damage it. Recently potted plants and low-light plants will not require fertilizer. Spring and summer is the best time to fertilize plants because that’s when they do the most growing. Plants that grow faster, like begonias, should be fertilized more often than plants that grow slowly, like a cactus, or are dormant, i.e., all plants in winter. I do have THIS no chemical fertilizer that I have used on a couple plants.  Read all about Fertilizing plants HERE. 

  You can hide the dirt with some white rocks. I found white marble rocks at our local home improvement store. Inside that Fiddle Leaf Fig is a water meter. I really don’t use it often or think they are necessary. Just stick to the water guides for each plant and a water schedule! 

You could also cover the dirt with some Spanish Moss. I added THESE twinkle lights to the top.

The plants I order from The Sill have come with a type of raffia for shipping. This is a great way to keep little kids out of the dirt! I have left some of the raffia on and taken some off. 

Houseplants not doing well?

• Brown Leaves– When houseplants get brown on their leaves, it’s generally an indication of poor watering habits. The best way to water a houseplant is to thoroughly flush it until water runs freely out the drainage holes. Shallow watering can cause brown tips on the leaves.
• Yellow Leaves– The most common reason that plants’ leaves turn yellow is because of moisture stress, which can be from either over watering or under watering. If you have a plant that has yellow leaves, check the soil in the pot to see if the soil is dry.
• Gnats– Add a thin layer of pebbles (pretty!) or gravel or GrowStone Gnat Nix to the top of the potting soil in your indoor plant containers. Clean your catch trays. Insert sticky traps into your houseplants. Reducing excess moisture is a key to getting rid of gnats in houseplants.
• Common Reasons Houseplants Die– 
  • Not Enough Light.
  • Watering the wrong way.
  • Too much fertilizer.
  • The air is too dry.
  • You think it’s dead but it’s not.

Hopefully that helped and gave you some courage to try a houseplant! It will purify your air and add so much to a space. If you are worried about babies or toddlers getting into the dirt, it might happen! I had a plant on our coffee table and I think Finn dumped it out on the floor everyday for a week. We would clean it up together and I would talk to him about how it isn’t for him to touch. I was tempted to put the plant up high so he wouldn’t be tempted. But then he wouldn’t learn and I really love a plant on my table! Eventually he lost interest or learned to not play with the plants. After that he hasn’t once touched my plants or really any of my decor.  

TODAY ONLY-

I like to buy some of my plants online at The Sill. A Snake Plant or a ZZ Plant or a Philodendron are a good place to start. They all make really great gifts too instead of sending flowers! Send a plant. (Try code PLANTSMAKEPEOPLEHAPPY for 10% off). And Home Depot or Lowes is another great place to look for houseplants! 

I have another blog post on Houseplants HERE for more information!

Click on an image below to shop some of my favorite containers for Houseplants- 

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