Every era has had its favorite houseplant. In the 50’s and 60’s it was the African violet. The 70’s was a houseplant mecca, with macramé hangers and Peace Lily plants dominating the scene. The 80’s and 90’s had the Weeping fig, or Ficus benjamina trees in its favor. This decade definitely goes to the big, bold leaves of the Fiddleleaf Fig. Design-wise, this plant really makes a statement! It is hard not to notice the large, fiddle-shaped leaves and dark green color as you walk in a room. But how [...]

Most houseplants are from tropical locales where cold temperatures are rare and temperatures average 72°F. Although they do well in our yards during the summer, they will need to be moved inside before temperatures reach the 40’s to 50’s at night. Ideally, if your plants are in sun or part sun outside, such as Bougainvillea or Tropical Hibiscus, they would benefit from being moved to light shade for a week or so before transitioning them to the indoors. This will cut down on the stress that causes their leaves to [...]

ZZ Plant Zamioculcas zamiifolia  The ZZ plant is an Aroid from eastern Africa which survived extinction caused by drastic changes in the climate. It is found in dry forest regions, often growing on rocks. It survives the droughts because of its fleshy stems, thick waxy leaves and huge tubers at the plant base. ZZ plants have the ability to store tremendous amounts of water in their tubers, therefore, caution should be taken not to over water them.  All of these characteristics can allow the ZZ Plant to go months without [...]

Once you have chosen a houseplant which is appropriate for the light conditions in your location, the single most important aspect of their care is knowing how to water correctly.  When at all possible, double potting (setting a nursery pot inside a decorative pot) is the most effective method of potting. As long as the nursery pot is manageable, it can be moved outside or to a sink or bathtub to water the plant. It is very important to be able to water the plant in a location where the [...]

Air Plant (Tillandsia) Care Air plants, or Tillandsias, are Bromeliads in the pineapple family. They are classified as epiphytes, meaning they attach themselves to trees for support, taking nothing from and giving nothing to the tree. Their leaves, rather than their roots, absorb water and nutrients through tiny scales called trichomes. They really are quite easy to care for, but it helps to know what their requirements are if you want them to thrive. Light: Lighting should be quite bright but not direct sun. Keeping them within 3’of an east, [...]

Staghorn Fern Care         *Staghorn ferns (Platycerium bifurcatum) are epiphytes which grow in tree tops in Australia, Madagascar, Phillipines, Africa, Southeast Asia and America. There are many species of Staghorn ferns, each requiring different growing conditions. The Platycerium bufurcatum is the most common species in cultivation due to their ease of care.           *Staghorn ferns have both sterile fronds and fertile fronds. The sterile fronds are the disc shaped fronds that serve to attach the plant to a tree, capturing rainwater and debris [...]