Whether you have a small apartment with no yard, or just want to add some more greenery to your life, we have the houseplant for you. And, don’t forget about the other people in your life! Indoor plants and flowers are a favorite item to share with another and some are even associated with things like luck, love, and health. Don’t know what your mom wants for Mother’s Day? We can help you pick out a lively, colorful house plant. Did a friend just move to a new place? What is better then some lush greenery to make a new home cozy and inviting?
Swing by our ever changing gift shop to check out the great variety we have to offer!
General Care Tips
Light & Temperature
A big key to successful houseplant growing is placing them in the correct light and temperature locations. Houseplants do not like to be moved too often, so it is a good idea to place the right plant in the right place from the beginning of it’s life as part of your family.
Soil
Houseplants prefer a soilless medium to grow in, typically a basic potting soil will do, but cacti, succulents and orchids will do better with a medium that is suited specifically for them.
Water
The easiest way to kill a houseplant is over watering. Most houseplants can recover from too little water, but rarely can they recover from too being over-saturated with water. Rather than using a calendar method to water a plant, use the finger test method. Before watering, dig your finger 2″ down into the soil and check the moisture. If it is still damp, do not water, if it is dry, you can water.
Fertilizer
Houseplants best fertilized when they are most actively growing, which is typically between March and September. We recommend fertilizing once every 1 to 3 months during the growing season. During the winter they tend to go through a rest period and do not need additional fertilizing. Fertilizers specially labeled for houseplants work best. To avoid salt build up from fertilizers, it is good to leach the pot every 4-6 months by pouring a large volume of plain water into the pot and letting it drain completely in a sink.
Pet-Safe Plants
If you are a pet owner, chances are one of the primary considerations when looking to add a new plant to the mix, is “Will this be safe for my pet?”
So we’ve put together a quick reference list of all our favorite pet-friendly houseplants that are completely non-toxic and safe for you canine and feline friends. Plus, a handful of toxic ones that you might want to avoid.
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Our Favorite Common Pet-Safe Houseplants
- African Violets (Saintpaulia)
- Aluminum Plant (Pilea cadierei)
- Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
- Bromeliads-ALL!
- Birds Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
- Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
- Calatheas-ALL!
- Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera or Zygocactus)
- Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans)
- Haworthia fasciata
- Hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)
- Maiden Hair Fern (Adiantum)
- Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
- Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
- Peperomia-ALL!
- Pilea–ALL!
- Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
- Prayer Plant (Maranta Leuconeura)
- Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
- Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
- Rex Begonia (Cissus dicolor)
- Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum)
- String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
- Venus Flytraps (Dionaea muscipula)
Toxic Houseplants to Avoid
- Arrowhead (Sygonium podophyllum)
- Aloe (Aloe vera)
- Asparagus Fern (Asparagus setaceus)
- Caladium (Caladium sp.)
- Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema sp.)
- Cyclamen (Cyclamen sp.)
- Dieffenbachia (Diffenbachia sp.)
- Dracaena (Dracaena sp.)
- Jade (Crassula argentea)
- Kalanchloe (Kalanchloe spp.)
- Monstera (Monstera spp.)
- Narcissus (Narcissus spp.)
- Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)
- Pothos (Pothos spp.
- Sansevieria (Sansevieria spp.)
- ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Identify
To get more detailed instructions on houseplant care it is best to know the exact species you have. While there are general rules to houseplants, certain species require specific environments to thrive.
Some species may have different varieties among that give them more unique characteristics too. A common variation is variegated houseplants, which have lighter colored striations on the leaves than usual.