Yates Australia - Top 10 Indoor Plants Guide

and how NOT to kill them!

2018 EDITION

contents 01

02

03

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05

MONSTERA

CHAIN OF HEARTS

DEVIL'S IVY

FIDDLE LEAF FIG

PILEA

06

07

08

09

10

PEPEROMIA

NERVE PLANT

STRING OF BANANAS

ZZ PLANT

AIR PLANTS

Bring the outdoors in & give new life to your home with plants!

House plants are well and truly on trend - they instantly lift the space, make the room feel fresh and welcoming, and will help brighten your mood too!

On top of this, indoor plants are great for purifying the air and creating a healthier home.

From our 2017 Top 10 Indoor Plant guide, we had over 10,000 people speak to us about how to care for their indoor plants. We shared tips, advice AND now we are excited to announce we have launched a NEW specially formulated for indoor plants - Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food.

So, if you feel like one of your rooms is lacking some pizazz, try adding plant or two.

From large leafy shrubs to striking succulents, we are sure you’ll find something in this guide to fall in love with.

Looking to grow your collection of indoor plants?

Make it a monstera! Whether it’s the common fruit salad plant (Monstera deliciosa) or the on-trend Swiss cheese plant (Monstera adasonii), both are guaranteed to bring a jungle-like feel to your indoor space, especially as their vines can climb or be left to trail. Plus, their heart-shaped leaves covered with holes (also known as fenestrations) look pretty cool, too.

HOW TO GROW

Monstera

1

Choose a brightly lit spot indoors, away from direct sunlight.

2

Fill a 300mm pot with Yates Premium Potting Mix and create a hole in the centre.

3

Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or entangled roots.

4

Position in a hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well keeping the water away from the leaves.

5

Water when the potting mix is dry. To test, insert your index finger to the second knuckle. If it’s dry, water well and if it’s moist, leave watering for a few days.

6

Feed regularly during the warmer months with Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food.

7

Dust the leaves regularly and spray with Yates Leaf Shine to help maintain its glossy appearance.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

»» Yates Premium Potting Mix »» Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food »» Yates Leaf Shine

Growing Tips:

Make More Little Monsters Looking to multiply your collection? It’s easy to do!

Look for nodes (small bumps) along a stem and then carefully cut just below a node. Insert the cutting in a glass of water and position in a bright spot, out of direct sunlight.

TOP 10 INDOOR PLANTS 2018 Copyright Yates Australia & New Zealand

Top up the water weekly (or as needed) and hopefully, you’ll see roots forming over the next few weeks.

Chain hearts OF

Oh, be still my beating heart!

Chain of hearts (Ceropegia woodii) is a gorgeous trailing plant that’s perfect for hanging pots or baskets. The ‘chains’ can reach 3-4m long and the green-red heart shaped leaves are just so sweet!

For a beautiful display, consider hanging in a corner along with other trailing plants, like string of pearls or donkey’s tail.

HOW TO GROW 1

Choose a pot at least 100mm wide (or larger, depending on your plant size) and position in a well-lit spot indoors.

2

Partially fill pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.

3

Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

4

Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well, keeping the water away from the leaves.

5

After the initial watering, allow the potting mix to almost completely dry out before watering again.

6

Feed occasionally during the growing season (usually mid spring to early autumn) with Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

»» Yates Premium Potting Mix »» Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food »» Yates Seed Raising Mix

Growing Tips: • Occasionally inspect the plant and remove dead stems from the base of the plant • Wipe the leaves with damp cloth to remove dust.

TOP 10 INDOOR PLANTS 2018 Copyright Yates Australia & New Zealand

• Divide and re-pot every 2 years in spring. You can also use this time to propagate another plant using stem cuttings. This can be done by laying a length of stem on top of Yates Seed Raising Mix and watering regularly to initiate root development.

s l i ' v e D vy i

Hands down, devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum) is the. best. indoor. plant. ever! Why? Well, this tough trailing plant will grow virtually anywhere - from hanging baskets to troughs or even cuttings placed in a glass vase. It can handle dimly lit rooms and will forgive you for the times you forget to water – seriously, what’s not to love?

HOW TO GROW 1

Choose a pot at least 200mm wide. Position in a well-lit spot indoors. Fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.

2

Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Give the stems a light prune to encourage new shoots.

3

Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.

4

Water when the potting mix is dry – insert your index finger to the first knuckle, if it feels dry, water and if it feels moist, leave watering for a few more days.

5

Feed fortnightly during spring and summer with Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

»» Yates Premium Potting Mix »» Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food

Growing Tips: • Trim back vines to keep it in shape or if you prefer, use wall hooks to drape the vines along the wall.

• Prune and take cuttings in the spring and summer – place them in glass jars filled with water to encourage rooting.

TOP 10 INDOOR PLANTS 2018 Copyright Yates Australia & New Zealand

• Re-pot every couple of years to help keep the plant happy and healthy.

Looking to create a bold statement indoors, but with minimal fuss? Grow a fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata). With its large glossy leaves and intriguing growth habit, it’s the perfect plant for indoors or in a protected spot on your deck.

HOW TO GROW

e l d Fid leaf fig TOP 10 INDOOR PLANTS 2018 Copyright Yates Australia & New Zealand

1

Choose a pot at least 300mm wide (or larger, depending on the size of your plant). Position in well-lit spot, away from direct sunlight.

2

Partially fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix and create a hole for planting.

3

Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

4

Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well afterwards.

5

Water when the potting mix is dry – insert your index finger to the first knuckle, if it feels dry, water and if it feels moist, leave watering for a few more days.

6

Feed the plant fortnightly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food. This fertiliser promotes strong root development and healthy foliage growth. No feeding is required during the winter months.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

»» Yates Premium Potting Mix »» Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food

Growing Tips: • Fiddle leaf figs prefer humid environments and are typically fine with the ‘climate’ inside a home. However, if artificial heating is used within the room during the winter months, one way to increase humidity levels is to mist the leaves with an atomiser on a daily basis.

• When you see roots creeping out of the base of the pot, it’s time to give it a new home. Re-pot plants in early spring into a larger container.

Alternatively, you can keep it in the same pot, just prune back the roots – no more than 20 per cent of the rootball – and return to the same pot.

• Dust fig leaves regularly with a soft cloth. Dust can clog up the pores of the leaves and make it difficult for the leaves to function.

Pileas (Pilea spp.) are easy to grow and there’s a pilea to suit every taste! Available as annuals or perennials, in creeping or erect forms, with variable colours, foliage, shapes and textures. Compact plants look great when grown as individual plants but are particularly attractive when grouped with other small plants in settings like terrariums. Great for any indoor space.

HOW TO GROW

a e l i P TOP 10 INDOOR PLANTS 2018 Copyright Yates Australia & New Zealand

1

Choose a warm spot indoors that is well lit but away from direct sunlight or draught.

2

Fill the pot with Yates Premium Potting Mix, specially formulated to suit indoor and outdoor plants.

3

Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

4

Position in a hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well keeping the water away from the leaves.

5

After the intial water, water regularly allowing the potting mix to dry slightly between watering. Water sparingly during winter.

6

Feed every 2 weeks during the warmer months withYates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food at half the recommended rate to help promote strong root development and healthy foliage growth.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

»» Yates Premium Potting Mix »» Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food

Growing Tips: • If artificial heating or air conditioning is used, mist the foliage daily to increase humidity levels around the plant.

• Dead leaves should be removed regularly and leaf tips pinched every so often to encourage a bushy plant.

• If plants get leggy, cut the mother plant and root it in water.

Then, repot the main plant, burying it deeper to encourage rooting.

Peperomia

Peperomias are great little ornamental indoor plants that are easy to grow and available in various colours including dark green, red, purple, silver and variegated.

There’s one to suit everyone’s wish list! The variety pictured is the watermelon peperomia (peperomia argyreia) - a definite favourite!

HOW TO GROW 1

Choose a pot at least 200mm wide (or larger, depending on the size of your plant). Position in well-lit spot, away from direct sunlight.

2

Fill pot with good quality potting mix such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.

3

Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

4

Position in hole in centre of pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well afterwards.

5

Water when the potting mix is dry – insert your index finger to the first knuckle, if it’s dry, water and if it’s moist, don’t water.

6

Feed the plant fortnightly from Spring to Autumn with Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food This fertiliser promotes strong root development and healthy foliage growth. No feeding is required during the winter months.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

»» Yates Premium Potting Mix »» Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food

Growing Tips: • Plant different varieties together for contrast • Great for terrariums • Easy to propagate - simply place a stem cutting in a glass of water or allow fallen leaves to sit on the soil surface. Within a few weeks, the leaves or stems will form roots.

TOP 10 INDOOR PLANTS 2018 Copyright Yates Australia & New Zealand

• Tough plants that rarely suffer from disease or bug infestation

e v r e N t n a Pl

You'll really hit a nerve with the striking colour combinations and leaf shapes of the nerve plant (Fittonia sp.). You can find them with green leaves and white veins, deep pink markings and varieties with frilly foliage, too. They are perfect plants for small spaces, only reaching around 15 cm tall. They love humidity so perfect for growing in terrariums.

HOW TO GROW 1

Choose a well-lit spot indoors, out of direct sunlight.

2

Fill a 200mm pot with Yates Premium Potting Mix.

3

Remove the plant from the container and gently tease the roots.

4

Position in a hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well, keeping the water away from the leaves.

5

Regularly check the moisture levels in the potting mix by inserting your finger into the top few centimetres. If it feels dry, water the plant. If it’s still moist, leave watering for a few days.

6

Feed every 2 weeks during the growing season with Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food to promote strong root development and healthy foliage growth.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

»» Yates Premium Potting Mix »» Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food »» Yates Clonex Purple Rooting Hormone Gel »» Yates Seed Raising Mix

Growing Tips:

TOP 10 INDOOR PLANTS 2018 Copyright Yates Australia & New Zealand

•

You can use longer pieces of stems (around 10 cm long) that contain nodes (a bump on the stem), as cuttings to grow more plants.

•

Remove all but the top set of leaves, dip stem ends into Yates® Clonex® Purple Rooting Hormone Gel and gently insert the cut end into a pot filled with moist Yates Seed Raising Mix. Place the pot in a warm protected spot (a Yates Mini Greenhouse is ideal), keep the mix moist and roots should form within a few weeks. Then the new nerve plants can be planted into their own small pots to grow.

Cascading from a hanging basket or trailing over your coffee table, string of bananas (Senecio radicans) is a wonderful plant for you to grow indoors. Plus, it’s so on trend! It’s also incredibly easy to care for – just give it a bright spot out of direct light and water when the potting mix is near dry.

HOW TO GROW

g n i r t S

s a n a n a B

1

Choose a pot at least 200mm wide (or larger, depending on your plant size) and position in a well-lit spot. Ensure it’s out of direct sunlight, like sitting behind a sheer curtain.

2

Partially fill pot with potting mix, specially formulated for succulents. Remove plant from container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

3

Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.

4

After the initial watering, allow the potting mix to almost completely dry out before watering again.

5

Feed occasionally during the growing season (usually mid spring to early autumn) with Yates Thrive® All Purpose Liquid Plant Food. Apply at half strength to promote strong root development and healthy growth.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

»» Yates Thrive® All Purpose Liquid Plant Food. »» Yates Seed Raising Mix

OF

TOP 10 INDOOR PLANTS 2017 Copyright Yates Australia & New Zealand

Growing Tips: • Tip prune regularly to encourage an attractive multi-stemmed look.

You can use these ‘cuttings’ to grow new plants!

• Re-pot annually in spring to give it more space to grow.

• After several years, when the plant shows signs of dying down, propagate another plant via stem cuttings. This can be done by laying a length of stem on top of Yates Seed Raising Mix and watering regularly to initiate root development.

• Due to its mildly toxic nature, position this plant away from curious children and pets.

ZZ

plant

ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is virtually un-killable. Yep, you heard right – un-killable!

It’s often described as the ultimate indoor plant because of its tolerance to low light and lack of water, so it’s the perfect way to brighten any room.

Plus, if you’re a forgetful (or a lazy) gardener or are often away for long periods for work or travel, ZZ plant will forgive you – it basically thrives on neglect!

HOW TO GROW 1

Choose a pot at least 200mm wide and position in a well-lit spot, out of direct sunlight.

2

Fill pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.

3

Plant into pot and water in well. Feed occasionally during the growing season (spring to autumn) with Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food.

4

Water when the potting mix is dry – insert your index finger to the first knuckle, if it’s dry, water and if it’s moist, leave watering for a few more days.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

»» Yates Premium Potting Mix »» Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food

Growing Tips: • Keep the leaves clean by wiping with a damp cloth.

• When a plant becomes crowded in the pot it can be split and divided. Gently remove from pot and loosen soil to reveal roots.

You'll see they're divided into clumps, which can then be easily separated into sections using a sharp knife. Re-pot following directions above.

TOP 10 INDOOR PLANTS 2018 Copyright Yates Australia & New Zealand

• The sap of ZZ plant is toxic and, if ingested, could make you unwell so, after dividing the plant, make sure you wash hands well with soap and water.

Think you have a black thumb? Well guess what, we’ve got the perfect plants for you! Air plants or Tillandsia spp. literally live off the air and can grow indoors, balancing precariously on intriguing objects.

You can also keep them on your desk at work or on a dish on your coffee table – tres chic!

r i A lants p

HOW TO GROW Air plants can be hung from trees or any support-like structure, such as terracotta pipes or an old tree stump.

For indoor use, you can string or place them on ornaments.

If you wish to use a terracotta pipe or wooden pole to create an indoor plant art, read on.

1

Choose a glazed or unglazed terracotta pipe, wooden pole or tree branch.

2

Using a hot glue gun, add a small amount of glue to the base of a plant and glue onto the structure. Repeat for all plants. If you don’t have a glue gun, you can also use an old stocking or rubber band to secure the plants to structures.

3

Position in a well-lit spot, out of direct sunlight and thoroughly mist the foliage to water. Mist spray at least once a week or more, depending on the weather.

Growing Tips: • Air plants generally prefer outdoor or breezy environments, but will grow well indoors provided they’re in a well-lit spot.

• During hot and drier periods, mist a couple of times a week to help keep them happy.

• During winter, they will survive well without much watering.

Misting them once a month is usually enough.

TOP 10 INDOOR PLANTS 2018 Copyright Yates Australia & New Zealand

• They’re generally not affected by pests or diseases and don’t require feeding – no fuss!

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