Houseplants

Streptocarpus

I am a houseplant enthusiast from way back. In the mid-1970’s, just starting out as newlyweds, we had more plants than we did furniture. Houseplants were relatively inexpensive and filled in lots of empty places in our apartment. Four decades later, I am still a ‘happy houseplants’ lady but I am not alone!

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Houseplants

Papyrus plant from a cutting I rooted four months ago.

Living with houseplants carries many benefits. Tending plants can relieve stress as well as produce joy and accomplishment as they flourish and grow under your care. 

Spider plant grown from one “baby” given to me six months ago.

Living with houseplants

Filling your home with plants creates a warm and inviting environment. Many houseplants require little care, low-light conditions and are easy even for the beginner.

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Millennials have caught on and embraced the love of plants with a passion. Nurturing plants is fulfilling and much easier that caring for a pet. One of our daughters was totally uninterested in plants until recently. She purchased a fiddle leaf fig that showed signs of stress and neglect. She trimmed it up and has nurtured it back to health. The experience was fun, rewarding and hooked her on houseplants!

Container of succulents

I didn’t fully appreciate cactus and succulents at first, preferring flowering houseplants. Gifted with this beautiful container, I realized how varied and interesting they are. I am also amazed how easy it is to create new plants from just a leaf.

Decorating with houseplants

Pothos

Houseplants can be grouped together for a bigger impact or displayed individually as a focal point. A nightstand or cabinet top can be just right for a beautiful plant. This pothos is probably the easiest to grow when light is at a minimal. The stems will grow quite long and can be snipped and rooted in water to create additional plants.

End tables and pedestals work well for your favorite plants and blend naturally in a living room. Be sure to protect wood from water damage by placing them into a container. Ferns send up lovely fronds in cascading arcs and prefer moist soil.  The old-fashioned African Violet, an all-time favorite, blooms in many colors with single or double flowers.

Don’t forget about displaying houseplants in the bathroom. If you have a window to provide light, many plants will love this space, especially those like orchids that appreciate additional humidity. This streptocarpus (a relative of the African Violet) has been living in our western-facing master bathroom for more than twelve years. It gifts us with lovely, soft lavender blossoms several times a year. The first photo in this post is another streptocarpus growing in our eating nook.

This bowl of various succulents took too much abuse while on the kitchen windowsill behind the sink. I kept bumping it and breaking off pieces of the Donkey’s tail. I relocated it to the dresser top in our guest room. As you can see, the broken off sections readily rooted and are beginning to grow new plants.

Sometimes a large piece of furniture can look a little bare on the top. I am frequently changing the items atop this vintage cabinet that holds sentimental family memorabilia. But there is always a pothos because I like that it sends out stems that casually trail over the sides.

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Easy to grow houseplants

Here is a short list of houseplants I have grown through the years, that I think are easy to grow at home.

• Pothos: tolerated low light; keep moist
• Spider plant: bright light and lightly moist
• Orchid: likes humidity, bright, filtered light watering once a week.
• English Ivy: trailer that will tolerate low-light; prefers moist soil
• Peperomia: Can flourish under fluorescent lighting
• Kalanchoe: bright light and infrequent watering
• Boston Fern: bright, indirect light and protect from drying out
• Succulent: bright light and infrequent watering
• African Violet: bright indirect light and keep soil moist
• Streptocarpus: bright indirect light and take care not to over water.
• Fiddle Leaf Fig: Bright light

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