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5 Ways to Style your Houseplants

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This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my houseplant habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me in the garden. It’s a win for everyone, really.

There are so many ways to style your houseplants. The amazing thing about plants is that no matter where you place them they elevate the space. They offer visual interest all season long and if placed in the right light your plants will grow, thrive and provide beauty for years to come.

The 5 ways to style your houseplants are by utilizing shelves, plant stands, hanging planters, wall mounts and the floor.

Shelves

Plants on shelf

When styling your houseplants you will want to consider your plants light needs and the size of your plant. Just because a plant is considered a “low light” plant that doesn’t mean no light. All plants thrive in the proper lighting so be sure to do your research past what the plant tag says.

Look out for cool shelves at all the big retailers and even the goodwills. There’s so many options out there for wall shelves so get creative.

Plant Stands

Plant in plant stand

Style your houseplants by putting them on plant stands. There are so many trendy or thrifty stands that you can find for your plants so get creative and do some shopping around.

Hanging

Hanging Plant

Macrame plant hangers are trendy especially if you are going for a boho, thrifty design. If you are planning to hang a plant from the ceiling be sure to anchor your hook into a stud or buy a hook that has other anchoring options. Nothing worse than your houseplant falling from the ceiling. Speaking from personal experience. Here are the Macrame hangers I’m currently using.

Wall mounts

Plants mounted on a wall how to style your houseplants

Wall mounts are a fun way to style your houseplants. Arrange them in any fashion you want and enjoy the view. If you like these wall mounts here is a link where you can get your own!

Floor

a frame on white wall with a book and decoration on table beside a potted plant
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Keeping large plants on the floor is a must but it doesn’t have to be boring. Pick out a great pot and put it in a space that both you and your plant will love.

The most important part of styling your houseplants is to first be aware of your plants light needs. Once you understand what your plant needs the rest is fun!

Happy Gardening!

Ciearra

Philodendron Micans Easy Care Tips

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The Philodendron Micans is a beautiful velvety climbing vine. Its velvety leaves are hard to resist and glitter when the sun hits them. The philodendron Micans is not a difficult plant to grow, just like other Philodendrons it can be very easy going.

Philodendron Micans
Philodendron Micans

The Micans can handle pretty dim conditions within the home. However they thrive in bright indirect light and prefer that type of lighting. A window with east facing light will suffice.

When this gorgeous plant is thirsty it will tell you by curling its leaves. Should you see curled leaves or dry tips you know it’s been too long and you need to give it a full drink.

Because this is a plant that climbs in the wild, giving it a moss pole to climb will result in a happier plant with larger leaves. It’s still beautiful if you allow it to trail, it’s all a matter of preference.

Philodendron Micans
Philodendron Micans

Philodendrons enjoy being fertilized. I water my philo’s with diluted fish emulsion once every few weeks and they grow like crazy!

Philodendrons thrive in a potting soil mix that holds moisture but also has bark chunks or perlite for added drainage. I typically use a potting soil mix and add orchid bark to add drainage.

Philodendron Micans is a very easy going houseplant that is easy to take care of. It shines in the sun, what more could you ask for in a plant?

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

African Violet Houseplant Care Tips

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African Violets are probably one of the most misunderstood houseplants as far as care. So many plant parents kill them simply because they don’t understand what they need. So let’s think about where they hail from. Native to Africa, hot and dry these plants can handle a little bit of drought. They have a fuzzy more succulent leaf which means they store a bit of water in case of a drought.

African Violet in bloom

Soil Mix:

You can use an African Violet pre mixed soil if you wish. I use my mix for just about every plant in my care. It’s a potting soil called Pro Mix, I mix in a little Orchid Bark or vermiculite to add extra drainage. It’s an all around mix in my opinion.

Light:

I find that African Violets do well with bright indirect light and will bloom more freely in bright light. I keep two in filtered west facing light and one in bright east facing light.

Water:

The African Violet is a plant that I water when dry. Like all the soil in the pot is completely dry. Not 3 months dry more like it’s been dry for a week and now I’m watering it. They prefer to be bottom watered 75% of the time and 25% from above. Any moisture resting on the foliage and on the crown of the plant has a potential for fungal issues and rot.

Pot:

African Violets do well in any type of pot. Be sure to adjust the drainage depending on the pot you choose. Plastic pots will require more drainage additives such as perlite, vermiculite or Orchid Bark. Whereas Terra cotta will need less additives because Terracotta wicks water from the soil drying it faster.

Once you get the hang of African Violet care they will grow and bloom so well for you. They are a must have plant for your collection.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

Rhaphidophora Decursiva How to Grow

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Rhaphidophora Decursiva also known as the Dragons Tail is an awesome plant to have in your houseplant collection. It’s dynamic leaf structure is unique and beautiful. This plant, like it’s cousin the Tetrasperma is a very easy care plant.

To grow a Rhaphidophora Decursiva you need great lighting, the right soil, pot and proper watering.

Rhaphidophora Decursiva Houseplant
Rhaphidophora Decursiva

How to grow a Rhaphidophora Decursiva

  1. Light
  2. Soil
  3. Water
  4. Pot

Light

The Rhaphidophora does best in bright indirect light. If your window pours in direct sun move your plant back a few feet. These climbing plants live in the understory of the forest and can handle for a short period of sun before burning.

Pro Tip: If you want your plant in more direct sun you will want to acclimate it first by giving it an hour the first day then two hours the second day until it’s in eight hours of sun or or less.

Soil

Rhaps do well in a moisture retentive chunky soil mixture. You can make one by using coir, pearlite and orchid bark. This will allow the soil to hold moisture but not for too long and bark to give the roots something cling to while adding drainage along with the pearlite. If you prefer not to buy all of these separate items for a mix. You can use a prepared bagged soil and add orchid bark.

Pro Tip : You will need to add a slow fertilizer to this mix. Worm castings or a pelleted plant fertilizer will work.

Rhaphidophora Decursiva
Rhaphidophora Decursiva New Foliage

Water

The Decursiva is very drought tolerant, if you happen to forget to water. It can take a while before it shows signs of dehydration. If you are seeing signs of dehydration such as wilting, dying foliage or leaf spots you have waited too long to water. Give this plant a full drink of water when the top few inches of soil are dry. Depending on your pot size and type you may need to water sooner or later if its a pot that holds moisture. My Rhaphs that are in plastic or ceramic get watered every two- three weeks. My Rhaphs that are in terra cotta are watered every week to week and a half.

Pot

You can grow the Rhaphidophora in just about any type of pot. Remember your pot must have a drainage hole in order to properly grow any plant. If you are growing your plant in ceramic or plastic adjust your soil mix to have more drainage by adding more orchid bark or pearlite because those types of materials help to hold in moisture. If you are growing in terracotta your soil mix will dry a lot faster so make your soil mix more moisture retentive.

The Rhaphidophora Decursiva is a fun houseplant to have in your collection. It’s one of the more easy plants to grow indoors and if you take good care of it, it’ll reward you with gorgeous new foliage.

Happy Gardening,

Ciearra

How to Grow A Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma

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The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is a very easy and forgiving houseplant to have in your collection. Although it is also called a “mini monstera” it is not a Monstera. The Tetrasperma is part of the Araceae family just like the Monstera but the Monstera is not in the Raphidophora genus. I like to treat it like its a Monstera when it comes to care. So lets make this super easy.

In order to grow a Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma you need proper lighting, soil, pot and watering schedule.

Rhapidophora Tetrasperma
Rhapidophora Tetrasperma

How to grow a Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma

  1. Light
  2. Soil
  3. Water
  4. Pot

Light

The Rhaphidophora does best in bright indirect light. If your window pours in direct sun move your plant back a few feet. These plants live in the understory of the forest and can handle only a short period of sun before burning.

Soil

Rhaps do well in a moisture retentive chunky soil mixture. You can make one by using coir, pearlite and orchid bark. This will allow the soil to hold moisture but not for too long and bark to give the roots something cling to will adding drainage along with the pearlite. If you prefer not to buy all of these separate items for a mix. You can use a prepared bagged soil and add orchid bark.

Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Climbing a trellis
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Climbing a trellis

Water

This plant is so forgiving if you happen to forget to water. It can take a while before it shows signs of dehydration. If you are seeing signs of dehydration such as wilting, dying foliage or leaf spots you have waited too long to water. Give this plant a full drink of water when the top few inches of soil are dry. Depending on your pot size and type you may need to water sooner or later if its a pot that holds moisture. My Rhaps that are in plastic or ceramic get watered every two- three weeks. My Rhaps that are in terra cotta are watered every week to week and a half.

Pot

You can grow the Rhaphidophora in just about any type of pot. Remember your pot must have a drainage hole in order to properly grow any plant. If you are growing your plant in ceramic or plastic adjust your soil mix to have more drainage by adding more orchid bark or pearlite because those types of materials help to hold in moisture. If you are growing in terracotta your soil mix will dry a lot faster so make your soil mix more moisture retentive.

The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is a fun houseplant to have in your collection. It’s one of the more easy plants to grow indoors and if you take good care of it, it’ll reward you with gorgeous new foliage.

Happy Gardening,

Ciearra

5 tips to create a Biophilic Home

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So what does it mean to create a Biophilic home? In my own words Biophilic home design means designing your space so that you and your family feel more connected with nature within your home. How you use natural elements within your home and how those elements make you feel more connected to nature. There are 5 elements to creating a Biophilic home and you can modify them to suit your lifestyle and needs.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my houseplant habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me in the garden. It’s a win for everyone, really.

green plants on the living room Biophilic home design
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Elements of a Biophilic Design

  1. Fresh Air
  2. Natural light
  3. Natural Materials
  4. Plants
  5. Natural Colors

Fresh Air

Whenever possible open the windows in your home. Allow the fresh air to flow through and watch how it lifts your mood. It can get stuffy inside especially if you’ve kept the house closed up over winter so let the air in to uplift your spaces and boost your mood.

Natural Light

This is probably the most important tip when creating a Biophilic designed home. Light is the food for plant growth. Sunlight is well know as being a mood booster providing us with vitamin D. Open your curtains or blinds every day. Even in inclimate weather some light is better than no light in your home.

Natural Materials

Adding natural elements to your home is a great way to curate a Biophilic home. Materials such as stone, wood, plants or anything else that’s not man made will work well and provide a connection to the outside. If your able to add a water element to your home such as a fountain that would be wonderful. The sound of water can be very calming.

Plant Life

Houseplants are essential to the Biophilic home design. Houseplants are one the living aspects of this design style. Choose plants based on your ability to care for them. There are a wide range of plants that are easy care and an even bigger range of more difficult plants. Here is a list of easy care houseplants if you are new to houseplants.

Natural Colors

Use the colors that you’d see in nature. Colors like shades of brown, greens, blues and yellows are great when creating a Biophilic design in your home but don’t feel limited by these colors. Use any colors that bring you joy.

brown wooden vase near the window
Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels.com

You can gradually add in Biophilic aspects to your home overtime creating a space that you love and connects you more to nature.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

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