"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."
- Steve Jobs
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Rubber Plant or as they’re scientifically known Ficus Elastica are one of my FAVORITE indoor plants. They can be small enough to sit on your desk or so large that they touch the ceiling. They come in a few varieties (that we’ll talk about in a bit!) but regardless of if it’s a small rubber plantlet or a huge rubber plant tree this easy to care for guy is going to give you all the warm plant lover vibes! (Just make sure you treat it like a friend) This post is chock full of everything you need to know to not only keep your Rubber Plant happy, but absolutely thriving! Fun Facts To Keep In Mind
Anatomy of a Rubber PlantThe Rubber is a cousin to the fickle Fiddle Leaf Fig, and commands the same presence without making you cry tears of frustration. It’s thick waxy leaves start out as a soft coral and deepen to a dark green as they age. Leaves are oval shaped with thick stems that connect them to the stalk. Rubber Plants only grow new leaves out of the top of the stalk (they don’t regrow on the sides). The new leaves are grown in a sheath. The sheath starts out as a tiny deep burgundy spike. As the leaf grows inside, the sheath lengthens and turns a shocking shade of pink. The leaf emerges from the sheath and the sheath falls off completely. If the plant is in growth mode, when the leaf opens there will be a new sheath with a leaf growing inside! Um, I did not know this the first time my Rubber got a new leaf. I was out of town and came home to find this pink thing on the floor. I thought my kids broke my new leaf off and heads were about to roll, until I looked up and saw this cute fresh shiny leaf. When the sheath falls off, just throw it away and don’t murder anyone. At the base of the sheath, right above the older leaf is the node. See the little red circle? Nodes are where new roots can grow if a plant is broken or cut for propagation (which we’ll talk about in just a bit!) As Rubber plants grow, the older parts of the stalk develop a bark, Most indoor Rubber plants wont grow thick enough to have their stocks turn into self-supporting trunks and will need support from bamboo stalks Variegated Rubber PlantsVariegated Rubber Plants have the coolest leaves. They are usually white and different shades of green, but can also be pink! If you have a variegated rubber, you definitely want to avoid direct sunlight. Variegated Rubber plants are more sensitive to direct sunlight and have a harder time producing chlorophyll (what is made when sunlight is converted to sugar) so they can grow at a slower rate than their fully green counterparts. Best Lighting for Rubber PlantsRubber Plants, like most Ficus plants love bright indirect light. The giant one that I have in my house is in a huge north facing window. If your Rubber Plant isnt getting enough light you’ll know because it can start dropping leaves (this is usually in connection with overwatering). If your Rubber Plant is in a window that gets direct sunlight it should still be ok, you just might need to keep a closer eye on the soil moisture! Wonder what kind of lighting is in your house? Take our quiz and find out!Watering a Rubber PlantRubber Plants love consistently moist soil without soggy roots. Checking the Moisture LevelYou’ll know when it’s time to water when you stick a skewer (or your finger) in the soil and find that the top 2 inches has dried out. I love the skewer method because you can poke around the roots and aerate the soil so that it’s getting fresh oxygen at the roots and breaking up the compacted dirt. How Often Should I Water?The frequency will vary on the size of your planter, the proximity to a window, and the time of year, so by paying attention and checking the soil you should be able to stay on top of it! Water when the top 2″ of soil is dried out. How Much Water Should I Use?Water deeply (meaning until water drains from the holes in the planter) or until you’ve used 1/4 of the container size in water if your planter doesnt have drainage holes. This means if your plant is in a 4 gallon container, you’ll use 1 gallon of water. Soil for Rubber PlantsRubber Plants hate soggy roots, so a well draining soil is very important. Whenever I heard that I was always like, yes but what does that mean?! Cactus potting mix is an extremely well draining soil and can be used as a great general soil when you are replanting. Ficus plants like Rubber and Fiddle Leaf Figs consume their soil, so watch for the roots to start getting close to popping out of the surface. When this happens, just add more soil to the top and you’ll be good for a few more months! When to Repot Your Rubber PlantThere is a lot of confusion about when and if you should repot a plant when you bring it home. Most growers put a lot of thought and effort into the potting mix that your plants are potted in, so I would say that unless you are dealing with root rot, or your plant’s growth is stunted from the size of the planter, its totally fine to keep it in the original pot and put it inside a larger decorative one How fast to Rubber Plants grow?Rubber Plants are quick growers when they are in the right conditions. If you have the patience and the time, a rubber plant that starts small and adapts to your space as it grows will do even better than a large tree transplanted into your home. In the right conditions a Rubber plant can sprout up to 24″ in a growing season. If you plant has more than one stalk, its common to have more than one shooting up at the same time. My big guy has 3 stalks and when it’s blooming, 2 of the stalks are usually growing at the same time. Sidenote: How to Propagate a Rubber PlantRubber plant propagation is really easy! Nodes can root in water or soil. Propagate from wood parts of the stalk? Step 1: Cut the StalkCut the stalk between the leaves, you can get multiple starts from one stalk! Remember, the node is right by the leaf! Each cutting should have a small portion of stalk and a leaf on it. Step 2: Wash the white sap off of the cuttingsYou can also dip the ends of the cutting in rooting hormone or honey to encourage root growth. Step 3: Place the cutting in water (or soil)Just make sure that the node stays covered! Step 4: Replace the water every few days.Fresh water has oxygen in it that the plant needs! Check for root growth! It can take a few months for the cuttings to root, dont get discouraged, as long as your leaf is still alive, things are happening!! Step 5: Plant the Rooted Cutting in SoilCongrats!! Once your Rubber Plant has rooted it’s time to put it in soil! Use a well draining mix that we talked about earlier in this post and watch it thrive!! How to Clean Dust Off of LeavesPlants with large leaves can get really dusty, this is a problem because like solar panels, leaves are the way that the plant absorbs light. If the weather is nice outside, take your Rubber Plant out and gently hose it off. Think of how rain would hit it and do it that way! This should clean off most of the dust! If the grime is a little thicker, or if you arent able to move your plant outside, use a baby wipe to wipe them down! You can buy sprays that make the leave extra shiny but I tend to steer away from them because they make the plant look fake. Are Rubber Plants poisonous?Rubber Plants are considered poisonous. They produce a milky sap that contains Latex that can be harmful to human and animals. But don’t freak out. They are classified as Toxicity Class 4- which is the most mild classification- meaning no one is going to die. The sap can cause minor skin irritation to larger rashes. My Rubber Plant is Leggy (Can it Regrow Leaves?)When Rubber Plants drop leaves they can become leggy, meaning there are no leaves on the lower part of the plant. Rubber plants do not regrow leaves from the lower parts of their stalks, only from the top. So there is no way to make a plant less leggy. To make your Rubber Plant appear fuller you’ll need to replant smaller stalks in the planter with the larger ones. This will fill out the lower naked space make the plant look bushier. HELP!! What is Wrong with My Rubber Plant!?One of the best things about social media is crowd sourcing, as I was writing this post I thought- wouldnt it be cool if we could see real life scenarios where Rubber Plants are struggling, and diagnose what is happening so everyone can learn from it?! So I posted on Instagram and got the best pictures! I’ve got my bestie plant expert Shane in the house to break down what is happening and how to fix it! Leaves are turning yellow and falling offIf the leaves are lower like they are on this plant, its because the plant is using up all of its energy for new larger growth. These guys arent getting as much light because they are hidden underneath the larger leaves, and 2. they were the first leaves sprouted and so they’ll be the first to die off as the plant grows. If the rest of the plant seems healthy and there is new growth happening (like there is on this one) don’t worry about a few leaves dying. If the leaves are higher on the plant, or they are larger new growth, your Rubber Plant is drowning! Cut back on the watering and give it a chance to breathe. You wont be able to save the yellowed leaves, but you can keep it happy moving forward! Lower Leaves Are DroppingIf your Rubber Plant is dropping lower leaves, especially when it’s new in your home, dont worry! This is your rubber plant getting used to it’s new environment. Make sure that it has adequate light and everything should stop. If they aren’t, look for other signs as to what could be wrong! Solution: If this is the only thing happening, it’s totally normal! Leaves are DroopyThe problem with this little guy is that he’s not getting enough sun! The window isnt casting much natural light and he’s in the corner away from where it would likely shine even if it was. Chances are that it is also being overwatered. When light cant reach the plant, they go into hibernation mode and absorb water less quickly. Solution: Move this plant to a different spot where it wont be missing the sunshine! Leaves are Turning Brown and Dropping
This is a watering issue. This reader is going too long between waterings. Usually if leaves turn brown and crispy the Rubber Plant isn’t getting enough water. So what is happening is that the leaves start to dry out and they drop when the plant decides that it needs to put all of it’s energy into saving the living leaves. It is also likely not getting enough light. Solution: Make sure this plant is receiving regular waterings and that the soil is constantly moist. Leaves are Droopy, Yellow and Brown and Dropping
This is a soil issue. The soil seems to be compacted which means that the soil has dried out completely at some point and formed sort of a crust. New water struggles to get absorbed and the roots are suffocating. Solution: You can tell that your soil has dried out if it has pulled away from the container. If this is the case, aerate it with a skewer before you water so that it’s getting all the way to the center of the root ball. If you just pour water on it without breaking up the compacted soil it will just run down the sides of the root ball and out the bottom of the planter. Stalks are Very Thin and LongRubber plants that live indoors will almost always need support, even my tall healthy one has a bamboo support for each stalk! But the issue with this guy is 2 fold. Lack of light is causing it to shoot higher to find any light source, which is why the stalks are so thin. The second issue is that it’s not getting enough water. See how the leaves are curling back? That is an indicator that it’s thirsty! It might have something to do with the wooden planter that it’s in. The wood might be absorbing a huge portion of the water before your Rubber plant has a chance to! Consider swapping it out for something less absorbent like ceramic, plastic, or glass. Where to Buy Rubber PlantsYou can often find Rubber plants at your local Home Depot or Lowes. They’ll most likely be smaller one though. If you are looking for something larger check out your local indoor nursery. If you’re in Southern Utah you’ve got to go to Moss and Timber! They are my favorite!! Now you are FULLY prepared to have a thriving and happy Rubber Plant in your home! Welcome to the club my friend!! Also, PHEW that was a lot of info! Did I miss anything? Leave your questions or comments below!!
The post A Complete Guide To Caring For Rubber Plants and Answers to Why Yours Might Be Dying appeared first on Vintage Revivals. Via https://vintagerevivals.com/rubber-plant/
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Do you ever have moments where you feel like technology is SO COOL you were transported to the future!? It’s one thing to hear about the latest tech, and another thing entirely to witness it in person. Buckle up kids, we’re going to the future! Last week I spent a few days at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas with Samsung checking out their newest products and having the best time. KBIS is huuuuuge and is sort of like Coachella for designers and builders. Everything you could ever hope to see or learn about in products related to home building is out in full force. Tuscan Stainless AppliancesIn the world of kitchens, there are 2 things that reign supreme. White and Stainless right? But what is the first word that you think of when you think of white and stainless? Sterile! No one wants their house to feel sterile, it’s cold and unwelcoming! The last few years we’ve seen more colors come into kitchen appliances with Black Stainless (so great for grounding the space!) and last week Samsung launched a new color called Tuscan Stainless. It is this gorgeous smoky bronze color with a semi-matte finish. Tuscan Stainless is perfect for those that are embracing the earthy inspiration of clay, terra cotta, blush, copper, brass, and burgundy and want their kitchen to feel welcoming! At KBIS they had Tuscan Stainless set up in different vignettes with different wood tones and styles and it looked incredible with all of them. My favorite pairing was with carrera marble. How good is this!? One feature that I can really get behind is the intigration with Stainless and Chrome into the design. It makes it so that even if you have to add appliances over a period of time, they’ll still work with your current stainless ones. Tuscan Stainless officially launches in May, you can get more info on it here! A New Level of Smart HomeDo you ever feel like someone could run your life better than you? Maybe the cute neighbor lady that is always in full makeup at school drop off? Or the friend who brags about going to the grocery store once every 2 weeks when you’re there every day roaming the isles wondering what to make for dinner? What if the thing that could make your life so much easier is your house? We’ve reached Jetson’s level here friends. Samsung is the unchallenged leader in smart home tech. Where most companies are creating individual devices to fix individual challenges, Samsung is creating ways for everything to work together always. Their SmartThings app is at the heart of it all. It works with over 600 smart home devices (even ones that aren’t Samsung) and makes it so that the tech isn’t just controlled by your phone. It integrates with their Family Hub refrigerator, Frame TV, and Bixby. SmartThings makes it so that your fridge is just as smart and in control as your phone. Speaking of fridges. The tech that is in the Hub Refrigerator is just BEYOND. You can do everything from find your new favorite recipes, watch TV, check on the sleeping baby, answer your front door, leave love notes and pictures, meal plan, get notifications about when it’s time to change your laundry, check the contents of your fridge in real time so you don’t buy another container of greek yogurt (and that’s just scratching the surface!!) The only downside that I can see is if you use needing to grab another carton of cottage cheese as an excuse for a Target run, seeing as how your husband can pull up the real time contents of your fridge on his phone and verify if you do in fact need more cottage cheese. #busted While I was at KBIS, I was also able to see Samsung’s Chef Collection. It’s their top of the line primo product. It of course is beautiful, but the thing that I loved the most is that so many of the smart home features were also incorporated there! So even though it’s luxury and very different from the standard smart home style, it still can help you rule the world!
The post The Latest in Color and Tech Innovation for Your Home appeared first on Vintage Revivals. Via https://vintagerevivals.com/the-latest-in-color-and-tech-innovation-for-your-home/ I am obsessed with this easy DIY hanging planter! It’s such an easy project, you just need a few floral (or brass) hoops. I love it because it’s such a statement maker. It will look amazing in front of a window or hanging on a wall by a bed, or even in your bathroom! As long as your indoor plant is in the right lighting condition it will thrive! There are some really great low light plants that will look amazing in this planter! If you are a plant mama, you need this in your life!! I mean, what plant wouldn’t want to feel like they are on The Greatest Showman?! Every plant wants to feel that special. Heck, every human wants to feel that special! Zac Efron I love you! I’ve always got plant placement on my mind. It’s easy to put plants that don’t spill onto a piece of furniture or the floor. But indoor hanging plants need somewhere to grow down. Most hanging planters that you find tutorials for are a macrame style made from rope, but when I saw some brass hoops at the craft store a few days ago the idea for this planter happened in 3 seconds flat. I love it when the creative bug bites! To Make This Project You’ll Need:
Tip #1:Floral rings are CRAZY different sizes. I bought 3 different ones (1 from Amazon, 1 from Michaels and 1 from JoAnn) they were all supposed to be 5″ but no 2 were the same. So if you are doing this project, make sure that you buy enough or stick with the exact same brand, otherwise it can get annoying. Step 1: Make Sure Your Planter Fits Inside the Smaller Single HoopYou want to verify that the planter that you are using fits snug inside the smaller hoop. The planter will need to have a taper or a lip on it, otherwise it will just slide through the ring. Once the planter is assembled and the leather is wrapped around it, it will hold the planter differently, but having it fit tight is super important. Step 2: Join the Hoops TogetherUsing your wire, join the hoops together with the smaller one in between the larger ones. It’s really helpful to keep the wire on the paddle (as opposed to unraveling, cutting, and then wrapping) because you can pull it tight between wraps. Try to keep it straight and not bulky. When I wrapped it I put the smaller hoop on top of the larger ones. This will give it a little more strength when the planter is in it. Wrap the hoops with the small one in between the 2 larger ones. Step 3: PaintI didnt join the 2 larger hoops together at the top because I didnt want to see the wire. But I did need to paint it, so I wrapped a small amount around them and onto a tree so that it could hang freely while I spray painted. Make sure that you are getting paint that works with metal (Rustoleum 2X is my fave). Apply it in light coats so that you dont get any drips. Make sure that you get all of the sides of the hoops. Let it cure for a couple of hours before you start messing with it, this will give the paint time to adhere to the metal. If you dont wait, it scrapes off easier. Step 4: Cover the Wire with LeatherOnce your paint has cured, you can wrap the leather over the wire. There are a few different techniques that you can use for this part. The first side I did a tight uniform wrap. It was fine, but the wire was kind of bulky in some spots so I didnt love love it. On the other side I did a simple knot (you know the first part of tying your shoes? That.) and I love it so much more! Once the knots were done, I clipped the edges and glued them down on the inside of the planter with hot glue. Step 5: Attach the ChainLike I mentioned earlier, one of the best parts of DIYing a planter is being able to make the chain as long as you want. The chain I used is from Home Depot and is only $.50 a foot! Step 6: Hang your Planter and Enjoy!
Want some more fun planter projects? I’ve got a ton!!
Let’s dive into more specifics about hanging planters shall we? What Kind of Plants Should Be In A Hanging Planter?Any type of plant that is a spiller needs to be in a hanging planter. There are lots of plants that vine as they grow, a few of my favorites are Pothos, Philodendron, String of Pearls, and Hoya. Other plants that love hanging planters are ferns. Ferns are like that squatty uncle that is as wide as he is tall. They also need intense drainage, when you hang a fern it moves it out of the way and if you have the right pot, it will drain really well. Ceiling Hanging Planter vs. Wall Hanging PlanterThis project will work regardless of if you are hanging it from a ceiling, or from a wall. I’ll show you both options! One thing that I love about DIYing a project like this is that you can make the chain as long as you need. We have 10′ ceilings in our house and it can look mighty lame to use a store bought hanging planter that is only 36″ long. How High Should I Hang My Ceiling Planter?You want the bottom of your planter to hang no higher than 7 feet off the ground and no lower than 6. That 1 foot space is your sweet spot. It makes watering easy to handle, and keeps the plant high enough that it isnt in the way. You want it to be far enough off of the wall that it has space for your plant to spread. I like to go at least 10″ from each wall, which when you’re up on the ladder and want the plant in the corner seems kind of far, but it’s perfect. If you are hanging a big bushy plant like a Boston Fern, or a Kangaroo Paw Fern, you can go even further off the wall. How High Should I Hang My Wall Planter?If you are following this tutorial and hanging it from the wall, you’ve got a little more wiggle room than if you are hanging it from the ceiling. I would keep it so that the bottom of the planter is in the 7-5.5 ft off the floor range. Wall planters should push the hanging plant at least 6″ off the wall and should be mounted on a stud or with drywall anchors. If you make this project I would love to see it! Tag me on Insta @vintagerevivals
The post DIY Hanging Hoop Planter appeared first on Vintage Revivals. Via https://vintagerevivals.com/diy-hanging-hoop-planter/ There are a lot of plants that thrive indoors, finding houseplants that live in low light is something that every plant lover needs to know! This post covers my ultimate low light houseplants!
I have a very extensive post about plant lighting needs, it’s a good one and has a quiz to determine the type of lighting you have in your home! If you havent read that, it’s a great place to start! Having plants in all parts of your home is amazing, but some places just dont have ideal lighting conditions. So what’s a plant lady to do!? Obviously buying a fake is not going to cut it. Intentionally buying plants that work in the space that you want them to live ensures that you are at least starting on the right path. Buying a plant that loves bright direct sunlight and putting it in your dark bathroom is a recipe for murder. What Does Low Light Mean?The term low light means that the space that you are putting the plant in receives very little natural light. Either there are no windows (or small ones) or there is something blocking them either on the inside of your house (like curtains) or on the outside (like an awning, a building, or vegetation.) The Best Place To Buy Indoor PlantsThis list runs the gamut between super common, like the ZZ Plant and Snake Plant. To the unique Marimo Moss Balls and Liriope. You can find a handful of these types of plants at your local Home Depot, or online at places like Etsy or The Sill, but my favorite place to score is a local indoor nursery called Moss and Timber (Southern Utah friends you’ve got to check it out!). Places like this is where you’ll find plants you’ve never heard of, and get more specific and specialized info and you can see the health of the plant. When you buy online its a mystery! The Ultimate List of Low Light Indoor PlantsThis list is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE low light houseplants. They each have a home in the Merc and I love them all so much! Read a little about each of them below as well as how to care for them! DracaenaMost low light houseplants only reach a meduim size. If you want a tree sized plant, I would recommend a Dracaena- if you start with a larger one, you’ll be able to put it in a room with dim light and it will do fine! Dracaenea are characterized by their long spikey leaves. They look similar to a palm with a woody stalk, but are more forgiving. Snake PlantSansevieria This plant will be on every low light houseplant list on the internet because it is just that good. Snake Plant or Mother In Law’s Tongue is sort of the perfect indoor plant. It can survive weeks of neglect and still look great, it handles low light like a champ, it’s easy to divide and propagate and cleans toxins like formaldehide and benzene out of the air. Keep watering to a minimal and let the soil dry out between waterings to keep it happy! ZZ PlantZamioculcas zamiifolia ZZ Plants have deep green glossy oval leaves that look fresh after months of neglect. Keep waterings few and far between and allow soil to dry out inbetween. In fact, one of the only ways to kill a ZZ Plant is to water it too much (you’ll know this is happening if the leaves turn yellow and start to drop off.) This guy is happy in a mostly dim room with little natural light (you probably walked passed a few last time you were at the mall in 2006) Kangaroo Paw FernMicrosorum diversifolum This cute guy gets his name from the kangaroo foot shaped leaves, but personally I love it’s fuzzy little roots more. If you (like me) run far away from any type of fern, listen before you high tail it out of here. Kangaroo Paw Ferns are VERY forgiving and nothing like their Boston or Maidenhair cousins. It does great in low light and prefers continuously moist soil but never overwatered or soggy. It is so fun to seen new leaves roll out and stretch their fingers. Neanthe Bella PalmChamadorea elegans Neanthe Bella are the worlds smallest palm tree! Often called a Parlor Palm, they are great for tabletops or desks. The tolerate low light very well and their bushy tops are so fun to run your fingers through! These guys love even moisture, so water when the surface of the soil becomes dry. Chinese EvergreenAglaonema You can grow Chinese evergreen just about anywhere in your home, it tolerates low light well, but also grows well in bright spots. It doesn’t even need natural light to thrive! Chinese evergreen does just fine in offices with fluorescent lighting. This plant is fairly slow growing so it’s great for a desk or dresser and wont need repotting for a while. LiriopeLiriope muscari Liriope, also known as Lilyturf is a hearty grass that blooms with bright purple flowers! It is extremely tolerant of any light condition and would look great on a coffee table! Liriope loves even soil moisture, so water when the soil is dry to the touch! Marimo Moss BallsAegagropila linnaei These little guys are the equivalent of a plant puppy. They are absolutely adorable and it’s impossible to not want to pet them. Marimo Moss Balls are actually not moss at all but a very slow growing form of Algae that is found in cold freshwater lakes of Scotland, Iceland, Japan, and Australia. If they receive too much light (that can be intensified by their glass enclosure) they will start to turn brown and die. They are great on a bookshelf or in your kitchen and add so much personality. Marimo Moss Balls must be completely submerged in water at all times. Agitate them every few days with a quick stir or rub and change their water very 2 weeks (you can use tap water!) Arrowhead PlantSyngonium podophyllum With their unusual shaped leaves, and low light tolerance, Arrowhead Plants are a must-have for your darker rooms. The more mature they get the longer their trailing vines become. They are great in a hanging planter, or even trained to climb a trellis. The darker varieties with less variegation do even better in low light. Arrowhead Plants love even soil moisture, so water them when the soil surface begins to dry out. Angel Wing BegoniaChamadorea elegans This guy, with it’s silver spotted leaves can adapt to almost any light condition. The Angel Wing Begonia is a flowering plant, and the color of the blooms + leaves depends on the amount of light received! The brighter the light the deeper the colors. When it’s a new plant (like mine) support the knobbly stalk with a chopstick until more shoots grow, then the large leaves will support each other. Allow the top 1″ of soil to dry out between waterings! Prayer PlantMaranta This is one of the coolest plants around. When lighting conditions are low, the leaves fold up (almost vertical) and touch each other, like praying hands! Prayer Plants come in a lot of different varieties, but this one (commonly called Red Maranta) is my favorite. I love the shades of green, the red veins, and the purple underside. Couple that with the velvety texture and it is sure to be a favorite!! Water when the top of the soil is just about dry, the Prayer Plant loves even moisture! Do you have a favorite low light plant that I missed?! Leave it in the comment section below and I’ll add it!The post Master List of Low Light Indoor Plants appeared first on Vintage Revivals. Via https://vintagerevivals.com/master-list-of-low-light-indoor-plants/ The single most important factor for plant health (regardless of the type of plant) is lighting conditions. So many houseplants are victim to poor lighting conditions and honestly I think most of it is because people don’t understand the terminology and what that means in relation to their house.
What kind of lighting does my plant need?In this post I will illuminate (get it!?) all of your plant lighting needs and the types of plants that need different kinds of light. We’re going to map it all out for you, and hopefully by the end of it, you’ll understand exactly what you need to do to keep your plant friends happy happy. Do You Want an Accessory for a Month, or a Plant that Lives For Years?The first and most important thing to understand about plant care (and you’ll hear me say this over and over) is that plants are real living things. If you treat them like an accessory and put them on a bookcase away from your windows, chances are that little guy is going to suffer. If you put it in your dark bathroom, it’s not going to be ok. If you put it right by your front door and the gusts of wind from the polar vortex blow on it, you’re going to have a plantcicle on your hands. Plants should be placed where they need to be, not where you want them to be.(Don’t worry, we’re going to talk about finding the right kind of plant for the spot you want to fill!) I know this because I did this! It wasnt until about a year ago that I had my eyes opened to the reason why none of my plants were surviving. ME! DAMMIT! I was literally the problem. I was placing them where they would look cute in my house or in a photo, but not where they would actually have what they needed to survive! RIP little fellas. Pay Attention to it!The best best part of being a plant lady is having little guys to love and watch grow. The first thing to understand is that because the sun moves throughout the day and the earth rotates through the year, that lighting conditions are on a constant slow change. If you are engaged (even just a little bit) you’ll notice subtle changes that take place and the warnings that something is off. Plant Lighting Types + Best Interior Plants For Each TypeWe’ve all passed 3rd grade. We know that plants need sun, water, and soil to produce photosynthesis. But how much lighting is the right amount? This my friends is the million dollar question. The answer? As a general rule, lighting is similar to chocolate. Bigger, more, eternally. When you start with a large light source, you can adapt and adjust to make things juuuust perfect. When you’re looking at the care info for plants there are recommended lighting conditions, but what do they mean? Full Sun/ Bright Light/ Direct SunThis refers to raw unfiltered sunlight and can usually be found in an East, South (depending on the time of year), or West window. This is the type of light that if you are looking out the window from the plant’s point of view, you will see the actual sun in the sky. Best Full Sun PlantsPlants that thrive in full sun are ones that love it in nature, think succulents, palms, and other sun worshipers that live in bright sunny climates. Plants that love full sun are usually quick growers and are constantly converting that light energy into food to feed their growth. Plants that flower love full sun because of the amount of energy it takes to bloom. A lot of plants that love full sun have thick skins that can retain a lot of water.
Indirect Light/ Filtered Light/ Medium LightThis type of light refers to light that indirectly reaches the plant. It can be through a sheer curtain, a bright north facing window, or a plant that is set back from the window a little bit. Remember our bigger, more, eternally rule for light? When you have a great source, you can filter it and work with it. This kind of light is often called dappled lighting and refers to the type of sunlight that plants on the forest floor receive as the sun shines through the higher trees. Indirect light has a longer lifespan, meaning direct light moves and changes throughout the day and may not have a direct path to the plant for longer than a handful of hours. Bright indirect light can last an entire day, because the plant isnt looking for the actual sun rays on the leaves. The big storefront windows at the Merc are the most ideal indirect conditions. They let in a lot of bright light but they are north facing and so the plants aren’t receiving any direct sunlight. The Best Medium/Indirect Light PlantsThe plants that love bright indirect light span most plant species. This type of light is the most forgiving and a lot of plants thrive in it.
Low LightBefore we start talking more about low light plants, I feel the need to clarify one thing really quick. There is no such thing as a low light plant, all plants love and need light to survive. So when we talk about low light plants, what we really mean is a plant that dies slower in low light. Just like the bright and medium light plants, let’s take this visual out to nature. Plants that do well in low light conditions are either very sensitive to too much light (think of how many ferns were being crushed as Edward ran through the forest around Forks) or have very thick and waxy leaves and can hold onto a lot of water. If you keep a plant in low light conditions just know that it’s not going to thrive. It might stay alive, but it’s probably not going to grow a lot. The Best Low Light PlantsJust because a plant is low light does not necessarily mean that it is low maintenance. Ferns are a great example of medium-low light plants. Their fine leaves cant handle a lot of sun (especially direct sun!) but they always need to have moist soil and they are constantly shedding.
What type of lighting is in my room?A Cosmo Girl style quiz to figure out what your room’s lighting personality is!Does the room have more than one window or light source?a) Yes, there are multiple windows or skylights Would you consider the window to be big?a) Yes, the window is very large Is there something outside of the window that is blocking the light? (Another building, an awning, a large tree etc.)a) No there is nothing that is blocking the light coming in the window What direction is the window facing?a) East, West On the chart below, where is your plant placed in relation to the window?a) Orange Section *Please keep in mind that all windows are different and lighting conditions change with the season. Mostly A’s- Kimmy SchmidtThis room is full of potential! It’s sun-shiney light just cannot be contained!! You can grow pretty much anything in that space, in fact it’s potential is so bright that you might even need to intentionally tone it down with sheer curtains. Just dont make it too dark, we dont want another Mole lady in our midst. Just keep in mind that some plants don’t love direct sun and to plan accordingly. Mostly B’s- Coach Eric TaylorThis room might not be perfect, but dang it we’re going to harness all of our Wildcat spirit and make the best of it. This room is considered medium light. You can grow almost anything in here, even plants from different sides of the track will find common ground and rise to the occasion. This space is great for difficult to handle plants (like your Fiddle Leaf Fig aptly named Tim) Keep your drapes open and the plants in close proximity to the window and you will be just fine!! Clear Eyes Full Hearts Can’t Lose! Mostly C’s- Karen from Mean GirlsThe lighting in this room is the equivalent of making out with your cousin and thinking its fine because he’s your first cousin. This room is considered low light and left to it’s own devices will slowly kill your plants. Make sure to keep the drapes open and the plants as close to the window as you can. Channel your inner ESPN and if your plant is looking a little sad, keep in mind that it’s mobile and can be moved around. If you feel like your plant is looking a little sun starved, move it to a new room and give it a chance to get healthy again. Mostly D’s- DemogorgonHi. Please sit down. Friend, let’s decide together that you are not going to bring a life plant into the Upside Down ok? There are lots of great fakes that you won’t murder, but if you bring a plant in here it has a zero percent chance of survival. It will get all rotted and slimy (especially if you keep watering it!) and die a slow death where it can hear you trying to bring it back but there just isnt hope once it’s crossed over. Still having lighting related questions? Leave them below and I’ll answer! The post A Complete Guide to Lighting For Your Indoor Plants + Quiz appeared first on Vintage Revivals. Via https://vintagerevivals.com/a-complete-guide-to-lighting-for-your-indoor-plants-quiz/ |
AuthorAccount Executive at Macy's Furniture Gallery Archives
February 2019
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