Ready to breathe a little life into your home? Today’s blog post is full of low maintenance indoor plants, including care and tips. Complete with a list of my favorite low maintenance indoor plants for those of us with a black thumb. Having live plants around your house doesn’t have to be a daunting task; once you read this post, you will feel comfortable with them all!
My First Live Plant
About 7 years ago, my grandmother gave me my first live plant, a snake plant, also known as “Mother In Law’s Tongues.” She was aware of my black thumb and my irresponsibility when it came to plants. Her words of advice were “water them once every other week.” Can I even remember to water a plant every other week? Capable, yes. Would I remember, no? I set a reminder on my phone (here’s a tip)! While she didn’t tell me this, I have learned that you can basically neglect these plants, and they will live on. I assume she didn’t tell me this so that I would be responsible, but also she knew what I was capable of…black thumb here.
Water Once a Week
For the next year, I mastered the snake plants. They were still alive (still are today!), and I loved having a piece of my grandmother in my home. After seeing my success, she then decided to give me another plant, the corn plant. She grew her corn plants inside, and one of them had gotten too tall. Shockingly, she simply cut the top off the tree (another tip!), potted it, and gave it to me. “Water it once a week,” she instructed. I do, and it is still happy and alive today. I walk around my living room watering plants, then the kitchen, office, so on and so on!
How I Gained my Love for Plants
Mrs. Landry, my bonus grandmaw! Every time she and I chatted, we talked about her plants, flowers, and all things green. She let me know that the plants I have inside can also be grown in pots outside, but they must be in the shade, and they don’t like cold weather. I love moving my plants around, so you probably have seen them on my patio from time to time. Oh, how I miss her today. I now have 2 taller corn plants that were from her funeral that I cherish and water once a week. And I may or may not have shed a few tears while typing this blog.
Quick Tips
I should quickly mention that if you see a plant in my house (or on the patio) know that it is low maintenance and is watered once a week. That applies to all plants listed below. Some require sunlight while others don’t; I’ll get into that, no worries. Most times. I leave plants in their original planter and then set them in a stylish planter or basket. If your plant isn’t getting bigger, you most likely need to re-pot it into a larger pot. Below is a list of plants that I already have in my home and how to care for them:
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All plants can also be purchased at your local nursery.
Fiddle Fig Care
Fiddles are a bit more complex than any other plant I own. Some plants require more sun than others, obviously. But which ones? Fiddle fig trees are low maintenance but, they really like the sun, and they are picky about how much they get. Unfortunately, you can’t pick a corner in the room for the tree and expect it to be happy like you can a corn plant. Fiddles will let you know when they don’t like their location by dropping their leaves. A self-watering container will make your tree very happy. I have this on my to-do list. If your fiddle is growing brown spots, assess the soil (detailed below). Be sure to let the soil dry out between watering and never overwater them. I do one glass of water, once a week. If the leaves look floppy or droopy, it wants water. Wipe with warm water towel monthly to remove dust from the leaves. For safe measures, the tree will be happy by a window but doesn’t thrive in northern sunlight.
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Caring for Your Low Maintenance Indoor Plants
In general, before watering plants, check the soil before adding the water. Once you have a routine down, you won’t need to do this as frequently. Using my index finger, I test how dry the soil is 1”-2” deep. If the soil is crumbly, the plant desperately needs water. If the soil is still moist, you’re probably okay skipping watering. Keep this rule in mind always, but especially in the early growing stages. Plants should stand happy if they’re droopy; something is wrong. Assess the water and placement of the plant to determine the problem. You will quickly learn your plants, which makes maintaining them a breeze.
Coming Soon
I am working on another blog post all about artificial plants. Some homes simply don’t have the sunlight for some of the statement trees we love so much, like the olive and fiddle fig trees. I am going to add tips on where to place artificial plants, where to find the best ones, and how to style them professionally. Stay tuned (link to subscribe)! Below I rounded up planters I have in my home or on my wish list. All sizes, all prices!
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You Too Can Care for Indoor Plants
All the plants above are simple and easy to care for. Simply set a reminder on your phone and water them once a week. Create a routine! Maddox (or I) water the plants every Saturday morning without fail. If we aren’t home on Saturday, I care for them early. The key is adding a little water every week and making sure they are in a “happy” spot in your home. Pay attention to your plants’ leaves, and they will guide you. P.S. I talk to my plants, yep, I am the crazy plant lady. You are sure to love all of these low maintenance indoor plants.
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