Up until last summer, I steered away from owning a houseplant. It had nothing to do with not liking plants, I guess I just tend to kill them faster than most humans on the planet. and should really stick to faux plants. In general, I think I’m a bit intimidated. I owned a jade tree in junior high and it thrived, but everything else seemed to die when I neared it. After moving into the new house, I longed to have pretty greenery but really knew nothing about feeding or watering…only killing. I dragged my feet until last August when I attended The Renegade Craft Fair with my friend Laura. Henceforth, I’ve become slightly obsessed with how I decorate with plants.
At the craft fair, we saw these pretty, pretty air plants and decided to take the plunge. My love of owning plants flourished right then and there. After much research on easy to care for houseplants, I drove to Home Depot and purchased a snake plant. When The Boy wasn’t looking, I quietly whispered to it, “I’ll try really hard not to harm you.” I swear it gave a little shiver in its pot. Poor thing was scared to death! Can you imagine?
A couple of months later, I found some fabulous brass planters at Schoolhouse Electric. Wow! Succulents would look amazing in these puppies. Terrain shipped me a package of 6. Since writing this post, I have been told not to pot succulents in potting soil, so I’m off to find succulent soil with better drainage and repot soon. This is probably the main reason only 5 remain alive. Sorry little guy, I didn’t know.
At the moment, most of my plants are sitting in my front room in a jumble by the window. I was kindly reminded this morning that I really need to incorporate said plants in my home decor…kindly reminded when The Boy texted me that he had just cleaned up dirt from the carpet where my son accidentally kicked that pretty brass planter over. Sad face. Dirt everywhere. So off to the interwebs I went. Searching high and low for different ideas to decorate with plants.
After picking a few inspirational images from Pinterest to get the ball rolling, I decided I can totally get behind this whole jungle plant trend. Whether in a grouping, hanging from a macrame, or neatly arranged on a shelf, they add so much more life to a room. A fresh pop of luscious greenery and nature. Now if I can just get the fiddle fig tree to love me back, we’ll be in business! Such a fickle fickle tree. I think it’s trying to kill itself, but that is another story for another time.
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I love how you write Kyla…you have a wonderful way with words.
You are too sweet! Thank you Gilly!
I had no idea succulents couldn’t take potting soil! I’m always so sad when mine get moldy. And I’m obsessed with those brass planters!
I didn’t either! But, apparently they like an almost gravel like soil so the water doesn’t sit. Might be why yours got moldy. Poor little guy =)
Your writing always makes me smile. I can see the shiver… I’ve always had a green thumb for some reason. But I’ve killed my fair share of plants. You want 4-5 plants in a room to purify the air. I’ll share my bit of wisdom: Don’t over water. Put your finger down in the soil a good two to three inches. If it’s dry, water.
Brenda
I think over watering is the demise of the fiddle fig tree. I also don’t think it liked being moved when we had our Christmas tree up. Hopefully the little guy will recover.I’m going to use your finger test this week!
Great post Kyla! I am a huge fan of houseplants and even though I live in a super small space and I’m an avid traveler, I happen to have a dozen potted plants in my home that survive! Maybe you should join us one day in our monthly Urban Jungle Bloggers blog series – it’s a project dedicated to living, decorating and styling with plants!! Hugs from Germany!
Hi Igor! Thanks so much for stopping by! I will definitely check out the Urban Jungle Bloggers series. It sounds very interesting. And you’re from Germany! My husband moved to the States about 18 years ago now. His parents just moved back and all his grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins live there. A couple live in Koln. We will be visiting in a few months!
Oh my what a coincidence! I spent an entire week in Cologne just a few days ago attending the imm design show. I live in Munich and I’ve met so many American friends who have family and other relatives living in Germany! Oh and please do check out our Urban Jungle Bloggers project, we are delighted to have new bloggers aboard who like to share green decor ideas with all of us, it’s a big international community (and a passion project obviously:-)).
Ya I saw that! It’s one of my favorite cities in Germany. Although I don’t think we’ll be getting there this time around. We have to do a week in Munich for my husband’s work and then back to Oma’s house in the Pflaz…and probably a quick trip to Michelbach in Saarsland. I’m really excited about your Urban Jungle Bloggers project. Very cool! Would love to jump aboard.
Sounds like a great trip!! Let me know when you’re in Munich and I’ll show you a few of my favorite cool spots in town regarding design and café:-) Oh and please do join our Urban Jungle Bloggers project – we’d be very happy to see more greens around in the bloggersphere:-)