Terrarium Love

Wondering how to care for a succulent terrarium? Place the terrarium in a bright location, ideally near a window with lots of indirect sunlight. Succulents and cactus require very little water, just a dribble every couple of weeks or so, and even less in winter. Let dry completely between waterings. Remove any dry leaves as needed. If your terrarium includes a tillandsia (air plant), remove to soak in water for a half hour or so about once a week.

Care: Bright, Indirect Light • Very Low Water • Ave indoor temperature

Our Favorite Plants: No. 7

Easy to grow, kalanchoes are fun, flowering succulents. Like most succulents, water kalanchoe plants more in summer, and less in winter or when resting between flowering. Allow the plant to dry out between waterings. Kalanchoe flowers are long lasting and easily coaxed to re-bloom with simple deadheading. When chosing your kalanchoe, consider a pop of color: yellow, orange, red, coral, and hot pink. Or if you prefer, chose a softer shade such as soft pink, peach, pale yellow, or classic white. 

Care: Bright Light • Low/moderate water • Warm indoor temperature

Our Favorite Plants: No. 6

The Staghorn Fern is a majestic, fascinating plant. Like orchids, the Staghorn does not require soil to grow. This variety resembles antlers, and is mounted with its own foliage draped around its base. With the right conditions, they are relatively easy to care for. Water either through soaking the base in a bucket or sink of water, or in center of fern once a week. Allow the fern to dry out between waterings. The Staghorn prefers some humidity and should be misted around the plant frequently. 

Care: Indirect, Bright Light • Moderate Water • Warm indoor temperature

Winter whites

Clean winter whites will add a pop to your holiday decor, as well as brighten a gray, rainy Portland day. Here’s three great winter white flowers that also make excellent holiday gifts. Examples shown below are: phalaenopsis orchid, fragrant paperwhites, and the stately white amaryllis. We say let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

About flowers: Pansy Orchids

There are quite literally thousands of orchid varieties. Just one of our favorite orchids is the Miltoniopsis, aka Pansy orchid. Multi stemmed and multi bloomed, the Pansy orchid provides a great pop of color. The Pansy orchid prefers to be moist, so water when its soil is starting to dry. If the orchid leaves develop wrinkles or striations, this means it's dehydrated and requires more water. Like most orchids, this one prefers indirect, bright light and warm daytime temperatures. 

Care: Bright, indirect light • Ave Water • Ave indoor temperature

Summer Succulent Terrariums

 

Succulent terrariums are ideal for your busy summer. Requiring very little water, they are easy to care for. We make them custom so any size is a possibility, whether for a desk, table, or large showy centerpiece. For more info on terrarium care, see our previous succulent posts.

Hanging succulent terrariums

Continuing our fascination with all things succulent, these hanging glass orbs make cute mini terrariums. Fun (and a little challenging to create), their care is so so easy! A little sun, a little water every once in awhile and you are good to go. See our other blog posts about terrariums by clicking on the succulents label.

Succulent Terrariums pt.2

Our fascination with succulent terrariums continues in 2012. Each little succulent plant has so much character and we’re blown away by their colors. Here's a fun picture of a full flat of the little guys and a couple of pics of them placed in their new homes. Somehow they do seem more like little pets than plants, don’t they?

Tillandsia Care

Surviving without the need for soil and receiving most nutrients from the air, tillandsias (or air plants) do love a weekly bath. Submerge them in clean water for about an hour, longer in dry environments.  And if their leaves start to close up, this indicates dehydration and the need for a longer soak.

Care: Bright indirect light preferred • low water • Ave indoor temperature

Amaryllis Care

Planning on giving (or receiving) a winter Amaryllis plant this season? Well, you are in luck. They are easy to care for. Just water only when top inch of soil is dry to the touch and place in a warm, ideally sunny location. 

After flowering, the bulb can be reused by following these steps. Remove the faded flowers and then the stem once it sags. Treat bulb and its leaves like a normal house plant for the summer. Once the leaves turn yellow in fall, cut them to about 2 inches and remove bulb from soil. Clean and store in a cool place (40-50 degrees) for a minimum of 6 weeks. Plant bulbs about 8 weeks before you would like to bloom.

Care: Bright light prefered • Low Water • Ave indoor temperature

Fern Terrariums

We’re having tons of fun making fern terrariums this fall.  Angel vine, moss, lichen, and rock add interest to these little woodland gardens. They come in all different sizes and make a sweet gift for the office or home.

About Flowers: Orchid types

Striking and bold, or demure and graceful, there are endless orchid varieties to choose from. Here's just a few of our favorites. Top Row left to right: Cymbidium orchid, Oncidium orchid. Center: Zygopetalum orchid. Bottom: Paphiopedilum commonly known as the Lady Slipper Orchid.

Succulent Terrarium Care

So you have a new succulent terrarium, now what? Place the terrarium in a bright location, ideally a window with lots of indirect sunlight. Succulents and cactus require very little water, just a dribble every couple of weeks or so, and even less in winter. Let dry completely between waterings. Remove any dry leaves as needed. If your terrarium includes a tillandsia (air plant), remove to soak in water for a half hour or so about once a week.

Care: Bright, Indirect Light • Very Low Water • Ave indoor temperature

Our Favorite Plants: No. 5

Phalaenopsis Orchids make a special gift and with a few tips are relatively easy to care for. Orchids are all about location. They love a room filled with bright light that is warm during the day and cooler at night. They only need to be watered every 10-14 days, a good soak will do the trick. 

Care: Indirect, Bright Light • Low Water • Ave indoor temperature

Our Favorite Plants: No. 4

The Jade Plant like most succulents likes a little sunshine, preferably 3-5 hours a day. And, thankfully, not too much water. Look for happy plump leaves indicating you've achieved just the right amount.

Care: Moderate Light • Low Water • Ave indoor temperature

Our Favorite Plants: No. 3

The Fiddle Leaf Fig has a fabulous cousin we would like you to meet. The Rubber plant is a terrific houseplant, in fact, it's considered easy to care for. It's happy in moderate to low lighting and can be watered once a week. This variety has handsome, dark foliage.

Care: Low to Moderate Light • Moderate Water • Ave indoor temperature

Our Favorite Plants: No. 2

Got low light? Consider an indoor begonia. With fascinating leaf patterns, the begonia is perfect for adding interest to a bookshelf or coffee table. Water when dry, generally once a week, as it likes moist but not wet soil.

Care: Low Light • Moderate Water • Ave indoor temperature

Our Favorite Plants

We thought we would share one of our favorite plants. The Fiddle Leaf Fig has dramatic, large leaves that really make a statement. Part of the ficus family, it's a slow grower, and prefers indirect light. Keep it happy by avoiding overwatering and household drafts.

Care: Moderate to Bright Light • Moderate to Low Water • Ave indoor temperature