Why Do We Love House Plants?
There are a lot of clichés about millennials that are offensive – mainly because the majority apply to myself and I don’t like to be reminded of my own lack of originality.
With that being said, if you tell me I’m a ‘classic millennial’ for my love of house plants it is music to my ears. That is the sort of generalisation that can be carved on my gravestone, if the world can still support burials in the future.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announced that the sale of houseplants was up 60% in 2019.
I think, fundamentally, caring for a living thing provides a sense of purpose and satisfaction that can be largely lacking from other areas of our lives. We can’t see a way out of rented accommodation, our landlords won’t let us realise our ambition of adopting 600 dogs and the prospect of children is quite honestly laughable at this point.
Yellow leaves, brown spots and an Aloe Vera that simply will not stay in the soil – I spend more time fretting about my plant’s health than I do my own.
With that in mind, here are some tips to ensure you aren’t a plant murderer, watching your money wilt in front of your eyes:
Choose Low Maintenance Plants
When looking to buy plants, consider where you want them to live and how attentive a plant parent you are going to be. For example, Fiddle-Leaf Figs might dominate your Instagram feed, but they are notoriously difficult to look after. A Swiss Cheese Plant it is guaranteed to give you the same sense of height and dimension without all the upkeep.
Google is Your Friend
Past experience would lead you to believe that googling symptoms can only end in sheer terror and a swift trip to A&E, but the same can’t be said for plants. There is a wealth of knowledge online – for free I might add – that can help you in your quest to creating an urban jungle.
If you’re feeling particularly old school, the independent plant shops popping up on the high street are staffed by people who are qualified to revive the saddest looking Bonsai.
Go Potty Repotting
We all dream of having a massive Kardashian-esque home and our plants are no different. I have recently discovered you can buy four litres of soil online, which means there is absolutely no excuse not to give all your plants a little extra space. Take them out of those nasty plastic pots and watch them thrive, just make sure there is decent drainage – root rot isn’t cute.
Stability is Key
Just like our good selves, plants like stable conditions; keep them in a dry, warm spot away from drafts. If you like to skimp on your heating bare that in mind when adding to your plant collection; a Cast Iron Plant can survive just about anything and a Jade Plant actually likes being cold?!
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