Houseplant tips

Unusual Houseplants

July 27, 2020 by Hayley Leave a Comment

The longer you collect and care for your green little friends the more you’ll seek to find unusual houseplants that you either haven’t seen in other people’s houses before or that just look too strange to pass up. Finding unusual houseplants can become more and more difficult but that’s where we come in. We have searched and found a collection of some of the most unusual houseplants to spice up your collection.

Air plant
Begonia Maculata
Spiral Cactus
Alocasia Cuprea
Monkey Face Orchid
Bat Plant
Hooker’s Lips

So this is our list, let’s jump in and take a closer look at some of these weird and wonderful houseplants and you can start writing your shopping list for your next plant order.

Air plant

One of the most unusual plants currently available is the air plant and that is because it behaves so unlike what we are used to for a plant. An air plant exists in the air without soil or a pot. Many air plants just need submerging in water once a week, access to light and that’s it. They’ll happily survive with only that. The best thing about air plants is that since they don’t need a pot you can put them pretty much anywhere as long as they’re receiving light. This makes them great for terrariums, hanging them from your ceiling, placing them in small spaces. They not only look great, will be different from what your friends have but are also excellent as a design feature.

Monkey Face Orchid

This one is perfect for all of the flower lovers out there. Now you will see Orchids in many homes and they really aren’t that unusual, in fact we would go as far to say that they are super common but not this type. The Monkey Face Orchid gets its name from the adorable little monkey face you’ll find in the centre of the flower. From a distance this plant may look relatively normal so if that’s not what you’re looking for then it may not be the one for you. But if you don’t mind having to look to seek out the strangeness then this plant is great.

Begonia Maculata

If you want a show stopping plant that really looks quite unsual then the Begonia Maculata could be the plant for you. This plant is the king of unsual houseplants. It may be becoming more popular among plant collectors but it will still catch the eye of anyone who hasn’t seen one before. Begonia Maculata have a truly distinct look to them with their white polka dot leaves and their beautiful red undersides. They almost have a prehistoric aesthetic and will definitely cause your guests to ask where do you get it or what type of plant is it. The Begonia Maculata is probably our favourite unusual houseplant.

Alocasia Cuprea

Alocasia in general were quite an unusual houseplant until the past couple of years and now they have soared in popularity as people love their strange looking foliage. However one of them still remains quite strange although more and more common and that is the Alocasia Cuprea. It stands out from other ones of its species due to the beautiful deep red of it’s foliage, making it a great feature piece in a room or a perfect way to help you decorate.

Bat Plant

The Bat Plant is one of our favourites of the unusual plants, partly because it is actually one of the most unusual houseplants any of us have ever seen! With its deep purple flowers and trailing filaments it truly is a flower unlike any other. Coming from the tropics it can be quite difficult to take care of but if your house is warm and humid then there’s no reason this little guy shouldn’t thrive in your indoor jungle.

Hooker’s Lips

You’re going to love our next choice and that is Hooker’s Lips, named for the uncanny resemblance to a mouth painted with red lipstick. Found in central and south america the Hooker’s Lips is a popular choice among flower lovers, especially those who are looking for something a bit saucy. You might find these plants quite difficult to come by in many plant shops as they are not only unusual but also aren’t very common but if you do manage to find them they like to be kept warm and humid. We haven’t met anyone yet who hasn’t smiled when they’ve laid eyes on this highly unusual houseplant.

Spiral Cactus

A houseplant collection wouldn’t be complete without a cactus but a cactus is also fairly common. That’s where the Spiral Cactus comes in, it gets its name from the strange way it twists itself up in a spiral giving it a very different look from other types of Cacti and allowing us to characterise it as one of our unusual houseplants. Since many of you have probably already owned a Cactus it should come as no surprise that this little guy likes bright light, dry air and infrequent waterings.

A selection of other rare and unusual houseplants that nearly made the cut include:

Snap Dragon Seed Pod
Corpse Lily
Tropical Pitcher Plant
Birds of Paradise

You might be able to find more unusual plants out there but for now these are the ones that we have found that we think make the cut. Let us know what you think of our picks of unusual houseplants, whether or not you agree with them, which ones we should’ve left out and which ones you think we’ve missed. And if you’d like us to go into detail about any of our reserve choices just let us know!

Popular Plants | The Must Have Houseplants

July 23, 2020 by Hayley Leave a Comment

Popular Plants

A Guide To The Most Popular Houseplants

Here we take a look at some of the most popular houseplants, why they’re so popular and how to take care of them. In the past five years houseplants have made a roaring comeback from their decline at the end of the seventies. As more and more millennial are unable to purchase their own homes and tend to gardens they move towards bringing the green into their homes in the form of houseplants. Your average 28 year old now knows their Peperomia from their Pilea Peperoioides and how much humidity a Monstera needs. But what are the most popular plants that people are choosing to keep in their homes? Let’s take a look.

Cactus Plants

Care Requirements

Light: Bright direct light
Humidity: Low
Watering: Infrequent
Care: Low

It will come as no surprise to you that Cactus Plants are still one of the most popular plants. Even when plants feel out of fashion people continued to look after Cacti in their homes. Maybe it’s because they require such little effort to look after? Maybe it’s because they look so quirky? Or maybe it’s because they’re so exotic for those of us from cooler countries. Whatever the reason the Cactus remains one of people’s favourite houseplants and will continue to be a popular plant for many years to come.

Succulents

Care Requirements

Light: Bright direct light
Humidity: Low
Watering: Infrequent
Care: Low

The Succulent is almost like the modern day Cactus. They’re small, trendy, easy to look after and look great on a desk. About ten years ago it was very hard to come by succulents and they were something exciting and different you saw in someone’s home and wondered how they’re gotten there. Now we’re lucky enough to have them everywhere and most plants shops will stock a selection of succulents.

Peace Lily

Light: Medium indirect light
Humidity: Medium to high
Watering: Frequent
Care: Medium

The Peace Lily is a beautiful plant with deep green leaves that has a calming effect on people and makes a great bathroom plant. It requires much more care than a Cactus or a Succulent however it is not a difficult plant to care for. If you keep it well watered and don’t let it dry out then the Peace Lily is a plant that shouldn’t give you that much trouble. When its leaves start to droop give it a drink and you should be fine.

Prayer Plant

Care Requirements

Light: Bright indirect
Humidity: Medium to high
Watering: Frequent
Care: Medium

Prayer Plants are one of the most common plants for beginners to get into besides the Cactus. They get the name from the amazing movements that the leaves make over 24 hour periods. If you film your plant over the course of a day you will see it bending down and rising up as if it were praying. If treated correctly they can grow very quickly and are easy to propagate which means more Prayer Plants, what could be better than that?!

Rubber Tree

Care Requirements

Light: Bright light
Humidity: Medium to high
Watering: Moderate
Care: Low to medium

The Rubber Tree is an amazing plant that gives you the chance to have a whole tree in your house. It will grow up and up and up and up and eventually you will have to cut the top off when it reaches your ceiling. A plant like this is so exciting as it grows as you do. You can buy a plant from a small cutting and watch it grow into a full and beautiful tree. There are many beautiful varieties of this plant including variegated version and even pink ones. It’s a must have for anyone getting into houseplants and is relatively easy to care for.

Monstera

Care Requirements

Light: Bright
Humidity: Medium
Watering: Moderate
Care: Medium

Monstera is the statement plant, it’s the one you will have seen everywhere. Interior designers use them, they’re the must have plant of instagram, they are a true statement plant. Their leaves are so distinctive that they’re often used on the logos of plant shops, jewelley, cups and much much more. They grow relatively quickly and can reach enormous sizes so can be something you need to watch and trim back. But if you want a large show stopper plant then a Monstera is the one for you.

Snake Plant

Care Requirements

Light: Low to medium
Watering: Infrequent
Humidity: Low
Care: Low

Coming towards the end of our list of popular plants we reach the Snake Plant, otherwise known as the Mother In Law’s tongue. The Snake Plant has a very distinctive look with it’s spikey up right foliage. Not only are they popular for their aesthetics but the Snake Plant is notoriously easy to look after and relatively difficult to kill.

ZZ plant

Care Requirements

Light: Medium to bright light
Humidity: Moderate
Watering: Infrequent to moderate
Care: Low

Our final popular plant to bring into your home is the easy to care for ZZ plant. The ZZ Plant is a perfect plant for beginners, it doesn’t need much from you, it’s easy to care for and it looks great. It’s attractive green foliage and it’s ability to be neglected for periods of time without dying are just some of the reasons that this is such a popular plant.

Popular Plants Ordered Guide

And in case you don’t want to read the full article and just want to skip to the list, here is our ordered guide to popular plants that you can keep in your home.

Cacti
Succulents
Peace Lily
Prayer Plants
Rubber tree
Monstera
Snake Plant
ZZ Plant

If you think there’s a plant that should’ve made the list of popular plants or if you disagree with what we’ve chosen then be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Also just because these are popular plants doesn’t mean they’re the plants you should get. Plants that are popular are often so for a reason, they’re easy to care for, they seem rare, they’re aesthetically pleasing, but there are also a whole range of plants that are rare, weird and interesting that you can get into.

Are Calathea Warscewiczii Appropriate For Beginners?

July 20, 2020 by Hayley Leave a Comment

Calathea Wascewiczii isn’t the easiest plant for a beginner but that doesn’t mean a beginner won’t be able to look after one, just that they might need a bit more help and that’s where we come in.

(If you want to learn more about this fussy little plant then check out our next article: how do you propagate Calathea Warscewiczii?)

If you are a complete beginner to houseplants and you want something that is low maintenance and doesn’t require much effort to keep alive then we’re going to say straight away that this houseplant probably isn’t the one for your and you might want to start off with a succulent.

However, if you’re a beginner who wants to give a Calathea a go then don’t worry, by following these steps you should be alright.

First of all Calathea prefer to be kept in humid conditions. So if your home is dry or these is a heating system drying out the air then your Calathea could suffer. If this is the case it’s important you incease the humidity in your home for your plant.

Secondly Calathea like to be kept moist, so don’t let the soil dry out completely between waterings or your plant will suffer.

They also can’t tolerate direct sunlight as this can burn their leaves. You can put them next to a bright light source, just make sure they are protected from direct light by a sheer curtain or they’re pulled far enough back from the window.

They will also need well draining soil and if you are going to fertilise them it’s important that you dilute the plant feed as if it is too strong it can burn the foliage.

This may seem like a lot but if you can follow these steps then you should well on your way to looking after a healthy Calathea and remember if you are a beginner and you find yourself struggling with this plant, it is a fussy plant and it is a challenge even for people who have owned a few houseplants.

Super Quick Care Guide For Calathea Warscewiczii

July 16, 2020 by Hayley Leave a Comment

If you want a quick to the point care guide for Calathea Warscewiczii then you’re in luck. Here are the basic care requirements for this fussy little plant.

(And if you want to learn more about how to care for this houseplants make sure you take a look at Are Calathea Warscewiczii Appropriate For Beginners?)

Light. Calathea Warscewiczii needs dappled or shaded light as it is used to growing under the canopy of other plants. If you expose it to direct sunlight you will find that its leaves become scorched although it can tolerate bright light.

Water. You will need to water this plant relatively often, it does not do well if left to dry out completely. Try to keep the soil moist but don’t allow the plant to sit in water which means drainage holes are essential.

Humidity. Calathea Warscewiczii like to be humid as they are actually a tropical plant. They won’t do well if they’re left to dry out and can develop crispy tips on their leaves. They also like misting regularly.

Soil. You will need well draining soil as this is a plant that need watering often. The soil needs to be moist but not soggy so well draining soil should take away the excess water that the plant doesn’t need.

Fertiliser. You can fertilise this plant during the growing seasons but leave it during the winter months. Also be sure to dilute the fertilise as a plant feed that is too strong can cause burning on the leaves of your Calathea.

Propagation. Propagation can be done by root division, you won’t have much luck if you try to propagate with cuttings. When you propagate try to take more than one section as propagation doesn’t always work.

Repotting. You shouldn’t need to repot your Calathea more than once a year as these plants aren’t known for being particularly fast growing.

How Do You Propagate Calathea Warscewiczii?

July 16, 2020 by Hayley Leave a Comment

It’s possible to propagate Calathea Warscewiczii but they’re not as easy to propagate as other plants as you can’t simply take a cutting. Instead the way to propagate this plant is through root division.

(If you find this useful then take a look at our Super Quick Care Guide For Calathea Warscewiczii.)

Wait until new shoots of your Calathea have started to come out of the soil where you can clearly see their separation from the original plant. Then take the plant out of it’s pot careful to work the roots out rather than just pulling the plant by the stem. You can use your fingers to gently knead away the soil. Once the roots are exposed and the plant is out of the pot gently work at separating the root systems while being careful not to break any of the larger roots. You may snap a few small roots and this is fine, just try and keep the damage to a minimum.

Repot the original pot back into it’s old pot with enough extra soil to fill in for the missing part of the plant. Then take your new section of Calathea Warscewiczii and plant it in a smaller pot. Make sure you water the soil thoroughly and place the plant in dappled light. Remember that your new plant will need humidity just like your old plant so be sure to mist it or provide it with enough humidity.

Important note! Not all cuttings or roots divisions will work and you may lose your plant. With this in mind it’s always better until you have enough growth to take several sections and that way you have a greater chance of success. If you rely on one new section of plant then you have a greater chance of losing your new cutting.

Super Quick Tips For Hoya Curtisii Care

July 14, 2020 by Hayley Leave a Comment

If you want to learn how to care for a Hoya Curtisii but you’re short on time then you’re in luck because this is our super quick guide on tips for caring for this plant. So let’s dive right in.

First up let’s take a look at watering. Hoya Curtisii don’t need to be watered regularly. This plant prefers to be left to dry out between waterings and then given a thorough watering. If you want more information then take a look at how to water Hoya Curtisii.

Next pots. Make sure your pot has drainage holes so that the roots of your plant aren’t sitting in wet soil.

Humidity. Hoya Curtisii like to be kept humid. They prefer moist air to dry air so make sure you buy a humidifier or spray your plants often so they are getting plenty of moisture.

Light. Hoya Curtisii will do well in bright light, if you want to give them the greatest chance of flowering then they will definitely need lots of light. They can handle direct sunlight but if you live somewhere with unrelenting sun you may want to consider pulling your plant back from the window as it could be too strong.

Soil. They will need well draining soil as they are a plant that does not like to sit in water. Try using perlite to aerate the soil.

Fertiliser. You can fertilise this plant during the growing season but leave it during the autumn and winter months. You don’t need to fertilise it everytime you water it, instead opt for once a fortnight.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed this article on super quick tips to look after a Hoya Curtisii. If you want more in depth advice we do have a Hoya Curtisii complete care guide that you might find useful.