Houseplant Guru

Even though you may think that your plants can not communicate with you, they actually can! Brown or yellow spots, drooping leaves, and falling blooms are all ways of communicating with your plant.  If your plant has brown and/or yellow spots on its leaves, this is most likely a fungal or bacterial infection, which may have arisen due to high humidity and still air— often occurring in combination with overwatering and/or poor drainage. Fungal spots can vary in size, shape, and color just like bacterial spots. If this is the case, isolate your plant from others, strip the affected areas, and treat it with a copper-based fungicide. Healthy regrowth should emerge, and you may need to reapply the fungicide every couple of weeks.  There are several reasons why your plant's leaves might start to droop. The most common cause is a watering imbalance - either overwatering or underwatering, but it could also be due to exposure to cold drafts, too much light, or intense heat. Your plant'...

It is critical to water your houseplants with soft, non-hard water and a specific pH level. Soil pH can be acidic, neutral, and alkaline, and most indoor plants prefer a slightly acidic or neutral pH. Plants that prefer an acidic pH are azalea, hortensia, maranta, and some aroids. Plants that prefer an alkaline pH are myrtle, desert rose, and lavender. When it comes to choosing water for houseplants, try not to use it directly from the tap. It contains substances like chlorine and fluoride that can build up and be harmful to your green friends. Before using tap water, leave it in a container in the sun for a day or two. This allows any chemicals to evaporate. It is also best to not use your tap water if it is filtered through a water softener. It removes essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. Distilled water is very good for plants. Distillation removes minerals and chemicals, improving water quality. Distilled water is soft water without the trace amounts of sodium left by a m...

There are two things we love deeply in life: plants and pets. The bad news is that many common plants are not safe for cats and dogs. Certain plants can be toxic to pets when ingested, sometimes causing seizures, tremors, or worse. Even the most well-behaved animals are bound to take a bite of a houseplant at some point. Since it is strongly endorsed to add greenery to your home to clean your air and improve your mood while also making sure your furry friends are safe and sound, check out this list of 21 nontoxic plants that are safe for cats and dogs. Rattlesnake Plant  Spider Plant Parlor Palm Calathea Orbifolia Ponytail Palm (Certain) Succulents African Violet Bird's Nest Fern Gloxinia Venus Flytrap Boston Fern Polka Dot Plant Watermelon Peperomia Orchid Staghorn Fern Bromeliad Baby Tears Friendship Plant Date Palm Herbs Prayer Plant P.S. If you’re ever curious as to whether a certain plant is a safe investment for your home, the ASPCA also has an extensive list of plants to avo...

There are four different categories of sunlight types you can categorize for houseplants. The first type is Type 1, Direct Sun. Then there is Type 2a, Filtered/Diffused Sun, Type 2b, Reflected Sun, and Type 3, Sky Light. Type 1 is when the plant has a direct line of sight to the sun. This is the most intense light a plant can receive, and most tropical foliage plants cannot tolerate it for more than three to four hours. When choosing a full-sun indoor plant, think about plants that grow in dry, desert climates, or tall foliage plants that might make up the canopy layer of a rainforest. As well as succulents and palms you can also try growing herbs indoors as they will thrive on a sunny windowsill. Type 2a is when the plant has a partially obstructed view of the sun. For example, the sun might be shining through trees or a translucent curtain. The best low-light plants can thrive on little to no direct sunlight and can even survive in the dark long term (like throughout the entire winte...

There are about a million different types of houseplants, to the point where you could search the web for hours and still find a new kind of plant. Today, we will be discussing the different categories of houseplants and a few examples of each. First on our list are flowering plants. One of the most common flowering houseplants is Orchids. They are fairly low maintenance and come in all sorts of colors and smells. Petite Rose bushes are also quite common. They are just the same as the big rose bushes you see outside in your garden, only on a miniature scale. But don’t let their small size fool you, they still require a great deal of water throughout the week. Next on our list are foliage plants. When you think of houseplants, these are probably what come to mind. They are strictly leaf plants with very few exceptions to having any type of blooms. They also do not require much care and are much more forgiving if you forget to give them a drink. One of the most common types of foliage ho...

Are you someone who loves houseplants and has always wanted to fill your house with them, but have no idea how to care for them? Well, today is your lucky day! I am just the account you need in your life! As a former florist, I have a lot of experience with flowers and plants and have seen just about every odd thing a plant can throw at you. I am also an avid plant buyer as I have too many house plants to count. I have learned how to take care of a wide variety of houseplants and can tell you just about anything about them.  My blog will cover topics related to the different types of houseplants and what type of sunlight they require, how to water your plants and what type of watering they need, what your plants are trying to tell you, where in your home your plants can live, what type of soil and pot your plant should call home, what plants are compatible in the same pot, and what kind of plants are safe for your cats and dogs if they happen to find them tasty. I hope you all are ...