The Essential Guide to Houseplants
I totally adore all things houseplant related - from stunning Calathea to giant Monstera, my plant addiction is growing by the day! Many of my lovely customers will know this from visiting my little shop in Hitchin which is like a green jungle paradise.
Everyone has been going wild for Houseplants the past few years, with the plant interior trend growing even more in 2021. So if you are looking to Go Green, read on for my essential guide to Houseplants!
Where can I buy houseplants?
Houseplants have become much easier to get your hands on now, with many local florists and independent garden centres stocking a wide variety of popular indoor plants. If you are based in Hertfordshire, then Town Garden is your go-to florist for plants of all shape and sizes! I have a fabulous range of houseplants that I have carefully sourced that are available to order online for local delivery, or you can visit my lovely shop on Sun Street in the heart of Hitchin for a browse.
Are plants good for you?
In a word – yes! Not only do plants add style and colour to our homes, but also have a range of other health benefits. Research has shown that plants are mood boosting, help reduce stress and many have air cleaning properties too. What great reasons to start your houseplant adventure!
Which indoor plants are air purifying?
One of the brilliant benefits of indoor plants is their air purifying talent! NASA completed research into the best indoor plants to clean the air and help reduce toxins in the home, and there were tons of options.
My favourite 10 houseplants with air purifying qualities:
- Devil’s Ivy
- Peace Lily
- Spider Plant
- Philodendron (pictured below)
- Boston Fern
- Snake Plant
- Aloe Vera
- Rubber Plants
- Dracaena
- Areca Palm
What are the best pet friendly houseplants?
We all want to keep our four-legged friends safe at home – and it is highly likely they may try to sample tasting some green leaves even when they aren't meant to! So it is always worth taking in to consideration when purchasing indoor plants if you have a cat or dog whether the plant is pet friendly.
The houseplants that are safest for pets:
- Spider plant
- Calathea
- Echeveria Succulent
- Boston Fern
- Orchids
- Peperomia
If you are looking to buy a houseplant from Town Garden and have pets, please do ask my team for some personalised advice – we are always happy to help!
How often should I water my houseplant?
This will depend on the type of plant, along with the growing conditions – such as amount of light, heat or humidity the plant lives in. For most indoor plants living in pots I recommend doing the ‘soil tap’ once a week, and if the soil feels dry to touch then lightly water the plant, taking care not to over water. Other clear signs to look out for that your houseplant needs some refreshment is wilted leaves, brown edges or droopy stems.
I love the ice cube trick for watering my indoor plants; simply pop an ice cube on top of the soil and it will slowly dissolve and be absorbed by the plant. This helps avoid drowning the roots in H2O!
Do I need to prune my houseplant?
The great thing with houseplants is they don’t really require much pruning, so are super easy to look after! However on occasion you may wish to give the plant a light prune if its leaves have gotten a tad too wild for the space or you spot some dried stems.
I have some fab home accessories and tools that can help with plant care, including these handy houseplant pruning scissors. Perfect for snipping your plant to reshape or encourage new shoots.
Which plant is best for small indoor space?
If you are looking for a house plant for a small living space, I have some great options for you. Compact sized succulents are a fab choice – such as Echeveria and Aloe Vera, which look gorgeous in fun little pots or Snake Plants are brilliant for slim spaces like hallways as their spikey leaves grow vertically.
One of Town Garden’s best selling indoor plant for small spaces is this trendy Cactus Planter. A range of low maintenance petite sized cacti planted in a rustic pot – perfect for nestling on a shelf or office desk.
After some plant advice?
Feel free to get in touch with Town Garden or pop in and meet the team. We are passionate about all things houseplant (and flowers of course!), and love a good natter with our lovely customers about new plants we have in stock or handy tips on looking after your new green friends.
