Growing the stromanthe triostar plant

stromanthe

Do you ever look at a plant and feel simultaneously awestruck by its beauty and terrified by its care requirements? For years, I held off buying a stromanthe sanguinea triostar simply because it looked so fragile. Prayer plants are definitely not my forte (with the exception of my lovely maranta), and stromanthe are more or … Read more

Should you clean your leaves?

Hey there. Here’s a friendly, short, simple reminder to clean your leaves to help them properly photosynthesize! Over time, plants can collect dust on their leaves. You might notice plants with thicker cuticles, such as rubber plants and ZZ plants, accumulate grime quicker than your other plant babies. Your plants won’t die if you forget … Read more

What is the difference between scindapsus and pothos?

Scindapsus leaf

After years of wishlisting it, I finally treated myself to a scindapsus pictus plant from Hirt’s Gardens. I’m pleased to report that she’s even more beautiful in person! I love an easy-care vining plant, which is why pothos plants are some of my favorite plants to have around the house. Colloquially, scindapsus plants are often … Read more

Planting on a budget: Gardening supplies from Dollar Tree

As I was growing up, my mom would take us to a massive Dollar Tree in our East Side San Jose neighborhood every Friday afternoon. When we were feeling a little ritzy, we’d hit up the Ross Dress For Less or Target across the street. But Dollar Tree was really our main spot. I’d get … Read more

Which is the better pot material: Plastic or terracotta?

Croton

Should you use terra cotta or plastic pots for your plants? This was definitely one of my main questions when I started buying proper pots for my plant. The answer is, of course, it depends! In general, a plant that prefers to stay on the dry side will appreciate a clay pot that absorbs excess … Read more

Valentine’s day plants that will impress your houseplant lover

Flowers are ephemeral. This Valentine’s Day, why not treat your significant other to a potted plant? Cut flowers, as we all know, eventually die. With a little tender loving care, potted plants (and perhaps even cuttings) have a great chance of surviving for years to come — or at least past that one or two-week … Read more

3 easy plants for beginners

Dracaena on macrame

My very first plant was a bird’s nest fern, which is supposedly one of the easier houseplants out there. I beg to differ, however, after killing two in my day! Beautiful yet so incorrigibly finicky, ferns and calatheas are my sworn frenemies. As I’ve started collecting more plants, I realized that I didn’t have to … Read more

All about the ivy plant — AKA hedera helix

hedera ivy

Ivy is the definitive cottagecore trailing plant, even if it’s generally underrated in a world where tropical plants get most of the fanfare. After giving “ivy” a few listens (yes, I’m that Swiftie friend), I ended up picking two ivy plants as my first plant purchases of the year, a run-of-the-mill green hedera helix from … Read more