I love my houseplants so much. Most of my decor is in the form of a plant. I like that they add life to a room. NASA researchers have done studies on the best, and most efficient ways to clean the air in space stations. The conclusion, they recommend 15-18 plants for an 1800 square foot home or apartment. Basically 1 plant for every 100 square feet. Plants can absorb toxins through their leaves and serve as a natural way to filter the air in your home. Sharing my top plant tips from watering, how to clean leaves, what plant food is best, avoiding bugs and more!
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We are always looking for ways to make our home more toxin-free. So if I am told to get more plants, sign me up! We also never burn candles either, with the goal keeping our indoor air has pure as possible. Instead we make our home smell good with pure plant magic, essential oils and diffusers.
(Plant Pulley // Macrame Plant Hanger // Hoya Plant)
Sunlight and Grow Lights-
Plants need sun to grow and thrive, which seems obvious, but that doesn’t mean all plants will die immediately without sun. I do have a few plants in really low light areas, like a Snake Plant and Fishbone Plant, they look good, but aren’t thriving. Majority of our plants are near a window, or they are getting sun indirectly from a window.
We have several Pothos Jade Plants in both of my girls bookcase, perfect example of indirect sunlight, and they actually do better with medium to low light. I have turned some of the leaves yellow on a Pothos Jade, by accidentally sitting it right in the window, basically burned the leaves. Whereas I can sit most any other plant right in the window and they thrive.
PS- you can get all the details and shop our home HERE
Grow Lights-
I found a Grow Light Bulb a couple years ago around Christmas time, I wanted to put a plant in our basement to make room for a Christmas tree. Simply replaced a ceiling basement light with a grow light bulb and it kept my fiddle leaf fig alive for two months! In this windowless spot in our basement, I was able to put that umbrella plant on my cabinet all because of the Grow Flood Lightbulb in the ceiling.
You do need to have a grow light on about as long as a plant would see the sun, about 6-10 hours for some. I put a Grow Lightbulb in a floor lamp, over these snake plants. The lightbulb gives a nice warm glow, makes for a cozy spot too.
Watering Plants and Plant Food-
Every time I water my plants I add Plant Food (code nesting10 for 10% off) to the water. I get asked if I fertilize my plants, no, I just use Plant Food, which accomplishes the same goal. Fertilizer is often an artificial substance that contains chemical elements to improve growth and productiveness of plants. Plant Food has essential macro and micro nutrients that are all your houseplant could ever want.
I have very happy plants when I feed and water them weekly. Simply mix 1ml of Plant Food for every 1 gallon of water. Use it every time you water your plants for consistent nourishment and optimal growth. This 8oz bottle of Plant Food will fill 940 quart-sized watering cans and lasts 12-18 months for the average plant parent!
Cleaning Plant Leaves-
Once I tried coconut oil to shine my plants leaves, because I saw someone doing it, they looked really good, but eventually it was a bad idea. Coconut oil on the leaves, made the leaves burn that were by a window, and it also clogged the leaves!
Now, about once a month or twice a month, I use Thieves Concentrate (new customers use code SHAREYL for 10% off, and I send a free diffuser HERE) mixed with water to clean my plant leaves. Our plants breathe and expel moisture through the leaves, and they can’t do that if the leaves are clogged with dust.
- 16 oz spray bottle
- One cap of Thieves Concentrate (new customers use code SHAREYL for 10% off & I send a free diffuser HERE)
- Fill the rest with water
- Spray directly on leaves to dust, you can wipe with a cloth or leave the leaves a little misted
Bye Bye Bugs-
I honesty rarely ever notice gnats or bugs around my plants. The one time that I did notice gnats was because a plant did not have proper drainage. Pests are attracted to the damp soil of potted houseplants. They need moist soil to lay their eggs. You can easily solve the pesky problem of bugs by making sure your plant has a drainage hole.
I also found these sticky bug catchers, that not only help to keep the bugs under control, but look really cute too! You can easily tuck them down so they blend in with the soil.
- 16 oz spray bottle
- 10 drops each Rosemary, Clove, Peppermint & Orange oil
- Cap of Thieves Concentrate
- Fill the rest with distilled water
- Spray directly on dirt and plant until pests are gone
Plant Gift Bundle-
Plant Gift Idea! For the plant parent or take to a favorites thing party. Our cute gift basket has this gold planter, Hoya plant, Thieves Cleaner Shiny leaves spray (recipe below) with a cute sticker on the 16 oz spray bottle , Plant Flags, and a fun Houseplant puzzle!
Plant Magic Gift Guide-
Peperomia Hope Plant // Gold Watering Can // Ceramic Watering Can // Terracotta Planter //
Thieves Household Cleaner– clean everything in your home & support your plants // Sticky Gnat Traps //
Plant Food– code NESTING10 for 10% off // Plant Flags // Green Spray Bottle // Tri-colored Hoya Plant //
Grecian Fruit Bust // Bust Planter // Potting Soil // Plastic Drainage Tray
Pamela says
This is so helpful! Where is the portrait with the teal background (i think this is your basement) from? The woman looks like Louise-Antoinette Feuardent. TY!
[email protected] says
Thanks! It is from my talented friend- https://www.loraleenicolay.com
Raeh says
Aloha! Thanks for sharing! I’m really curious about your specific care for your stag horn! It looks amazing! Good work!!!
[email protected] says
Thanks! I have had it close to 2 years, I just fully saturate it once a week, let the moss get completely soaked.