Getting your hands dirty isn’t just fun, it’s good for your plant. Repotting your plant also gives it fresh potting mix to grow in. Your plant will be able to sustain its current size, but it will also be able to get larger. Repotting doesn’t always mean bigger pots. It could mean changing out old potting mix that’s depleted of nutrients. Eventually, your plant will need a larger pot when it outgrows its current one.
Love houseplants but worried your indoor space is too dark? Never fear, there are plenty of low light plants that will green up even the gloomiest room.
Houseplants bring colour and life into a home – and this is especially valuable in darker rooms, such as those that face north or have small windows. But how do you find plants that will thrive in lower light levels? Luckily many popular houseplants originate in shady forest floors and can take shade in their stride. Here’s a selection of unique plants for darker spots in your home.
1
schefflera arboricola
Sometimes called dwarf umbrella trees, Schefflera arboricolas thrive in low to medium light environments. They’ll also grow under artificial lights if they’re kept within about one foot of the light. If your Schefflera becomes leggy or grows slowly, it probably needs a brighter location.
2
peace lily
Peace Lily is a popular flowering plant that blooms several times a year, even when it’s grown in low light conditions.It can also grow in medium light conditions, but if you have low light you don’t need to worry about growth being inhibited.
3
cast iron plant (aspidistra eliator)
This plant can survive lots of neglect and growing conditions that will kill many other plants, such as low light conditions. For a gardener with a brown thumb, this sturdy, long-lasting plant can be used in areas where all else fails. It is always green and can handle deep shade.
4
rhipsalis cactus
Rhipsalis is a type of cactus that hails from shady rainforests and makes a tough houseplant that can tolerate a fair degree of shade. Most varieties are spineless too, making them one of the least cactus-like cacti out there. Grow it in a hanging pot to best appreciate its delicate, pendent form.
5
lucky bamboo
Lucky bamboo is a unique looking plant that doesn’t require much maintenance in order to grow and thrive. It grows very well in medium and low light and, in case you don’t feel like setting up a pot or planter, it doesn’t require anything more than water to grow.
#letsgro
Frustrated by finding pests in the garden? Don’t waste time and money treating pests. Instead, follow our guide for preventing pests from becoming a problem in the first place. Test
Knowing when and how to water your potted plants is an easy way to ensure your house plants are happy and thrive in your home. Here are a few simple dos and don’ts to keep in mind when it comes to watering your botanical buddy.
DO
pick a pot that is the right size for your plant and has good drainage holes.
DO
understand the unique needs of your plants. Succulents are desert plants and like to be kept on the drier side. They are susceptible to rot if over watered. Tropicals like to be kept moist. Some other types like to dry out between watering sessions. It’s all very personal.
DO
consider seasonality. Plants tend to take it easy in the winter, as a result they require less water. Spring and summer is a whole new ball game, that’s when your plant uses all its energy to grow.
DON’T
let water sit. Dump out any excess water. To prevent rot, water thoroughly and let the water run fully out of the pot, then discard the excess water to avoid soggy soil.
DON’T
water the leaves. We’ve said this a million times. When you’re watering your plant, avoid watering from overhead. Aim that watering can below the leaves and at the soil. This helps prevent bacterial and fungal infections.
DON’T
favour one side of the plant. Your plant may have it’s good side but to keep your plant friend full and lush, evenly water around the whole pot.
QUICK TIP
House plants love music! A bopping playlist also encourages growth.
Whether it’s a new botanical you’ve brought home or an old friend, your house plant might be home to unwanted guests. Factors like too much or too little water, light, heat, or fertilizer can cause many plant problems, including pest infestations. There is generally two ways to help your plants when you spot pests.
non-chemical treatments
Early infestations can be caught and little bugs can be removed by hand, or with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. This works well for aphids and mealybugs. Scaley insects may need to be scraped off with your nail. Simply spraying a sturdy plant with water can remove many pests. Be sure to spray all plant surfaces. Spraying water repeatedly helps control spider mites. Spraying the plant with insecticidal soap can often eliminate an infestation in its earliest stage. You may not be aware of an infestation at first. Pests may be hidden or in the egg stage, getting rid of them often takes more than one treatment. If the plant is severely damaged and not valuable, often the best and simplest solution may be to discard the plant as well as its soil and start with a new plant.
chemical treatments
Before choosing a pesticide, it is important to know exactly what pest you’re trying to get rid of. A single pesticide will not kill all kinds of pests. Some pesticides are only effective against certain kinds of pests or even certain life stages. It’s important to understand that you may need more than one application of a pesticide to get control of the situation. A good idea is to alternate the pesticide used from one application to the next as some pests develop resistance quickly. Usually a pesticide label will include a list of plants for which the pesticide is recommended, as well as a list of plants that are known to be sensitive to the pesticide. As always, before purchasing and using any pesticide, be sure to read all label directions and precautions and then follow them carefully. Using a gentle insecticidal solution like Ortho® Bug B Gon® ECO Insecticide Ready-to-Use, is an easy way to help prevent recurring infestations.
Knowing what to look for in a planter takes all the guesswork out. And guess what, we’re here to help.
go big or go small
When we talk about plants, we often refer to them in size or inches. This doesn’t refer to the plant at all, but to the diameter of the pot that it is planted in. Let us explain, a 4” plant refers to a plant growing in a 4” diameter pot, regardless of the size of the plant — it comes in a 4” tall x 4” wide pot. We use these terms of measurement to accommodate diversity in height and types of plants. A cactus that fits into a 4” pot may be 1” or 1 ft. tall. When choosing a pot, choose a pot that is 1-2” larger than the current size if the plant is currently in a 10” pot or smaller. If your current pot size is >10”, choose a pot that is 2-3” larger in diameter. Who thought there was so much math involved in houseplants.
to drain or not to drain
It is recommended selecting planters and pots with drainage, especially if you are new to watering plants. It’s totally possible to make planters without drainage work with a little finesse! A good tip to remember is to pour no more than 1/3 of the container’s size in water. Lining the bottom of a planter with lava rocks or similar to create crevices for excess water to drain into is a great way to avoid root rot.
materials that matter
Some things to remember when choosing a planter. Most stores carry terracotta, wood or plastic planters. Our advice is to go porous. Porous ceramics like terracotta dry more evenly than plastic pots, and any wood planter will dry even faster than terracotta. Ceramic planters also are great choices. And if you’re worried about weight, fiberglass planters are ideal for plants 8″ or larger in diameter. Experiment with a few different materials. Horticulture is one part art and one part science.
#easypeasy
There you are bringing home a new plant, you’re full of hope and promise. You feed and nurture it but after a while you notice the leaves are turning brown and crispy. Let’s look at a few reasons this could be happening to your plant baby.
QUICK TIP
Your plant’s leaves can curl or turn brown if you move your plants abruptly from inside to outside during the summer without acclimating them to the direct sunlight. Let them dip their toes in partial sun first for a few days.
