HOUSEPLANT HAPPINESS

Editorial Director Lauren Barisic Photographer David J. Orozco

Between the broad range of those who are capable of maintaining indoor jungles versus those who can barely keep track of pet rocks, one thing is certain: how to bring the outdoors in is a widespread and ancient subject of intrigue. Houseplants are beneficial for a myriad of reasons. Not only do they add aesthetic appeal to home décor, they improve indoor air quality and do wonders for mental health. Just like house pets, some plants just do better with indoor life. But what exactly defines a houseplant?

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “any plant adapted for growing indoors. The most common are exotic plants native to warm, frost-free parts of the world that can be grown indoors in colder climates in portable containers or miniature gardens. Most houseplants are, therefore, derived from plants native to the tropics and near tropics. Those that make the best indoor subjects are the species that adjust comfortably to the rather warm, dry conditions that generally prevail in indoor living spaces.”

Houseplants fall under one of two categories: 1) foliage plants, some of which only occasionally bloom, prized for their lush leaves, and 2) flowering plants, which, as the name suggests, are kept primarily for their blooms. As such, thousands of tropical and subtropical plants have adapted to growing indoors. Though some exotic species only thrive in well-controlled environments (such as humid conservatories or glass-enclosed terrariums), innumerable varieties have been introduced that are extremely tolerant of the adverse conditions often found in modern homes, such as dry heat and low light intensity.

In addition, ancient paintings and sculptures depict indoor gardening by the early Greeks and Romans, “who grew plants in pots and perhaps brought them into their homes,” Britannica goes on. “The older civilizations of Egypt, India, and China also made use of pot[ted] plants but usually in outdoor situations, often in courtyards that were extensions of the house; and for centuries the Japanese have carried on the dwarfing of trees and other plants for room ornaments,” further contextualizing the fluidity of indoor-outdoor lifestyles since early human history.

But it wasn’t until the publication of The Garden of Eden in 1652 by Sir Hugh Platt (an English agricultural authority) that discussion on the possibility of cultivating plants inside was formally explored, leading to the popular art of growing houseplants. According to Britannica, “shortly thereafter, glasshouses and conservatories, which had been used during Roman times to force plants to flower, were built in England and elsewhere to house exotic plants. In mid19th-century England and France, books began to appear on the growing of plants in private residences, and the use of enclosed glass cases of plants (the wardian cases, or terraria) became popular.”

Some might say getting a plant for your first place is like a rite of passage into adulthood. Many consider plant babies to be the ultimate introductory practice run when it comes to taking care of a dependent life—however, unlike fur babies (or human babies, for that matter), they cannot make indicating noises and intelligent motions to convey their needs, likes, and dislikes. So, how can you know what your plant babies require?

Yasmeen Gonzalez is a professional plant parent on a mission to help educate individuals on plant knowledge, grow the plant community through encouragement, and promote creativity through plant designs. As the owner of Foliage, the Houseplant Shop & Plant Design Studio located in Clovis, California, her collection of “specialty houseplants make it easy to create your Foliage jungle so you can be a thriving plant parent,” too.

“The houseplant addiction is real,” professes Yasmeen. “Since everyone has been home these past months, it has been more prevalent to want to bring joy and beauty into our homes. It really starts with just one plant—the joy and reward of keeping one alive sparks the houseplant parent frenzy.” Yet even the most enthusiastic plant parents have mishaps. As humans, “we can bond over how we love plants, how we love being around them, and how we kill them!”

Afirm grasp of what you can provide, in terms of attention and environment, is key to growing success and helps to narrow down houseplant options. The first consideration is expertise level—the difference between having houseplants already or being a new houseplant parent. Moreover, knowing what kind of lighting is available is also essential. Lastly, be sure to account for toxicity concerns for pets, as well as general size preferences.

Whether you are a novice or established houseplant parent helps to determine what care level to take on: easy, intermediate, or humidity loving. Easy plants are drought and typically low light tolerant, making them extremely low maintenance and ideal for newbies. Intermediate plants prefer weekly watering and are partial to bright, indirect light, which are “perfect for someone who is a little more experienced and wanting to add to their collection,” Yasmeen explains. Lastly, humidity loving plants are the most delicate, as they prefer high humidity and consistently moist soil. “Their high maintenance characteristics are what makes them hard,” she clarifies, “but really anyone can manage these plants as long as you can water and tend to them at least two times a week. At any point, anyone can graduate to the next level—it just takes a good watering schedule and depends on how much time you have to attend to your plants.”

Plants make their way into your home in a few different vessels—they may be either fully potted, cache potted, or still in their plastic grower pot. Fully potted is a planter with a drainage hole and saucer: “this plant is ready to go, and you can start watering because it has proper drainage and a saucer to catch the excess water,” says Yasmeen. A cache pot is a decorative pot without a drainage hole: “so, cache potting is when we keep the plant in its plastic grower pot and place it inside a decorative one.” When it comes time to water a cache potted plant, “you take the grower pot to a sink, water it, let it drain, then set it back in its cache pot.”

The soil used for planting at nurseries is extremely nutrient-rich. For this reason, “I recommend waiting to start fertilizing or giving your plant food once you’ve had it in the same pot/soil for more than six months.” After approximately half a year’s time, those nutrients will have been both absorbed by the plant and drained out with watering. “So, at this point, you can either repot the plant with new soil if it is root-bound or you can begin to fertilize.”

Repotting is easy. Yasmeen suggests, “just gently loosen the roots at the bottom and place a couple scoops of soil in the new planter. This new planter should only be two inches larger in diameter than the current pot. Next, set the plant inside the new planter, then top it with soil and compress around the edges to secure the plant inside.” But knowing when it’s time to graduate to a bigger pot isn’t an exact science. “You just need to wait until the plant shows you it’s ready to be repotted,” she offers. “You’ll know when you see roots growing out the bottom drainage holes, and when you pull the plant out, you’ll notice it’s root-bound, meaning the roots have grown to be tightly coiled around the bottom of the soil.”

Furthermore, improper fertilization, watering, and placement can all lead to various plant problems, most commonly resulting in root rot. “It all starts with improper drainage—this will cause the soil to be sopping wet, and wet soil will produce gnats. So, the best thing you can do is set your plant up for success with a proper pot size and one that has drainage holes. Ideally, you want your plant in a pot that is roughly the same size as the root ball. Anything too large will cause damage to your plant from overwatering because of the excess soil.”

Proper lighting is also essential. Low light plants require the same amount you’d need to read by. But when it comes to direct versus bright light, many are confused by the difference. “Direct light is just that: direct rays of sunlight coming through a window— this can be harsh, damaging light if it gets too hot over summer. Bright, indirect light is just bright ambient light—like sunlight that brightens a room but doesn’t shine directly through the window.”

Happy houseplants will eventually require graduation to larger pots or pruning, which opens the door for a fun new challenge: propagation. “Each plant has its own way that it can be propagated. There are methods like a simple stem cutting to plant separation or root division.” Do some research on the most successful way to propagate your specific plant variety, “but, also, don’t be afraid to experiment!” encourages Yasmeen. “I’ve had broken pieces of plants that I throw into water just ‘to see’ and become pleasantly surprised to see them root fairly quickly.”

Water propagation is an excellent rooting technique. “I recommend growing cuttings in water versus soil because you can visually see the roots growing and know when it is time to transplant to soil,” advises Yasmeen. For a stem cutting, “start at the tip of the stem/ branch, find a root node (a brown bump on the back side of the stem), then cut one inch below. Take that cutting and place it in water so that the root node is submerged. The key is to replace the water two to three times a week to keep the water fresh and to prevent the cutting from molding.”

Finding the perfect plant is personal, but no matter where you are in your houseplant journey, there are a handful of varieties that are just universally appealing. “Our most popular plants are the classic, hardy plants, like snake plant and pothos. I love recommending these because they instantly create a warm, welcoming space without the hassle of constant attention.”

Relationships with and access to nature are essential components of wellness for many—aside from the visual intrigue and cultivation gratification, houseplants are scientifically rooted in well-being. “The most important way that plants enhance our wellness is in our symbiotic relationship with oxygen,” imparts Yasmeen. “Plants are our natural air purifiers because they absorb toxins as they take in our carbon dioxide and in turn give us fresh, clean oxygen to breathe. This, along with their elements of beauty and design, just naturally bring joy to a household—and who wouldn’t want to have a little piece of paradise in their home?” Make your residence a mini oasis, then, physically and emotionally, let the growing begin!

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