Image of a flower cart on a beautiful garden

Plant Babies For The Time Poor and Cash Poor

Now I think pretty much every person on the planet has heard the term ‘fur baby’; a term defined by  the Oxford dictionary as ‘a person’s dog, cat, or other furry pet animal’. It has come to be understood that these ‘fur babies’ are on a level equal to that of any beloved member of the family, like one of your children even. Our pets have indeed become more pampered, primped and cared for over the years, with a booming business having emerged to keep up with this new level of love and maintenance. Having an animal is certainly hard work but it is also rewarding, after all, a fur baby will show you a level of affection, which makes the commitment worth it.

Image of Low maintenance plants including cacti and succulents
Florist with Flowers stock a wonderful range of low maintenance plants such as cacti and succulents. Photo Credit Mashtal Egypt

But let me ask you this…..have you ever considered having a ‘plant baby’?

According to an article in The Star Advertiser Honolulu, some are choosing to fill their lives with house plants instead of housemates. They suggest that many people lack the time and means to take on the commitment of pets, or having children, so are choosing to embrace house plants. Allegedly, these house plants are being given names and being talked to on a daily basis, or having music played to encouraged ‘growth’ 🤣 Now, while these methods are not scientifically proven, it can’t hurt right?

Houseplants do require a level of commitment if you want them to survive, however you can choose the best fit for you and your lifestyle. Not home often and tend to forget to water your plants regularly? Try low maintenance plants like succulents, cacti or the lush Zanzibar, a plant accustomed to dry, arid conditions, yet with a lush, supple, tropical appearance.

Image of gorgeous and lush Zanzibar plants
The Zanzibar appears lush, but unbelievably can be left with no worries whilst you go on holidays. It makes the perfect houseplant for those with limited time and experience caring for living things.

Or perhaps you like something elegant and colourful, and can make the time to water it weekly? Orchid plants are such wonderful value as they flower for weeks to months, and when cared for correctly will flower once or twice a year.

Do you like something to have dual purpose? Why not create a gorgeous garden of edible flowers and microherbs in a sunny spot near the kitchen? Not only will it look gorgeous, but you can harvest what you need at each meal.

Image of Edible flowers and herbs create an attractive houseplant
Combine edible flowers with herbs that you like to cook with and create an attractive house plant like this gorgeous planter created by Brolly via Garden Therapy.

I also love good old favourites like Boston ferns or Maiden Hair ferns. They do require a shady spot that gets just gentle sunlight. Ferns are also one of those wonderful plants that actually help clean the air; absorbing pollen, bacterias and moulds, whilst taking in carbon dioxide to process into oxygen. Ferns look great in hanging baskets or pots allowing them to become pendulous. They can also work in tabletop pots or terrariums.

Image of Maiden Hair Ferns plants
Maiden Hair Ferns are a delicate old favourite of mine. They do require regular watering and the perfect position, but when they are happy, they certainly let you know with their full head of glorious ‘hair’. Photo Credit: Botanique Workshop

I guess the most important thing when choosing something to become a part of your life is to consider whether you have the time and room in your life to care for it. So whether you choose your housemate to be human, furry or leafy, consider whether you are ready to commit to caring for it, and giving it all that it requires to thrive.

Fwf x

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Caring For Your Plants Over The Holidays

For anyone who is in the midst of busy school holidays or perhaps is considering a summer getaway, sometimes your indoor and outdoor plants can get overlooked.

Australian summers hit hard, so a few hot days can turn your beloved garden into a graveyard if you are ill-prepared. Many people do not know their neighbours well because we so often live busy lives so we often have to think of alternatives when we are planning a sojourn.

For anyone with a fairly established garden, it stands to reason that they will also have an existing irrigation system of some description. Irrigation systems are an effective watering method as they are often set up with a sensor, and/or timer so that the watering can be achieved without your input. This obviously takes some level of stress away when taking a lengthy break.

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Image: Irrigation Systems FL
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Image: Easy Garden Irrigation

But for those with collections of pot plants, whether indoor or outdoor, an irrigation system just wont work. First and foremost, be sure to fill any saucers, but if you are still left short, check out some of our other ideas below.

If you have the option to, call a friend. Someone dropping in every few days, or twice a week keeping an eye on your plants is probably the best way to get them through the holidays. Pot plants have a limited surface area and soil volume, so cannot retain a large quantity of water. Throw in a few hot days and the water will quickly evaporate leaving the plant dry and desperate. Some plant varieties do not respond well to being dried out, so even when you water them a few days later, they will not revive.

If you have a bath, I would suggest moving your pot plants into the bathroom which is considerably cooler, and filling the bath tub up approximately 2-4cm. The bathtub will act as a humongous saucer, and the plants will drink as they like/need. The same can be done in any large sinks throughout the house/kitchen/laundry.

Alternatively, if you do not have a bathtub or large sink available to you, you should create a water reservoir. There are numerous products on the market for you to buy, but you can easily create one for yourself from a recycled bottle.

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Image: The Gadget Flow via Pinterest

 

The basic premise of any of the ‘ready-to-use’ products on the market is that when the soil dries out around the spike it will slowly allow water to trickle down to hydrate the plant. They are generally made from a porous material such a terracotta. Some people may remember their parents burying unglazed terracotta pots in their garden and filling them with water as a rather archaic irrigation system based on the same concept.

These days concepts such as ‘The Plant Nanny’ exist; terracotta spikes that can be used with any of your recycled bottles. Simply attach either a wine or plastic bottle to the top of the spike and inset into your pot. Sure, this kind of concept won’t keep your pot plant going for weeks on end, but if you are only enjoying a week away, or can manage to wrangle friends or family to check in and refill on the weekend, you should be right.

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Image: Plant Nanny
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Image: Tree Hugger
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Image; Plant Nanny

Hope everyone had a gorgeous Christmas and is enjoying the start to 2017. For anyone venturing far from home, drive carefully; make sure you get to enjoy that holiday you so deserve.

Fwf x

Featured Image by Thomas J. Story via Sunset

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Voilà-Succulent-Terrariums

A Whole New World- Life Inside a Terrarium

ter·rar·i·um [tuh-rair-ee-uhm] noun:

a glass container, chiefly or wholly enclosed, for growing and displaying plants.

Terrariums have in the last few years become one of the most popular gift choices. The miniature worlds contained inside the glass vessels provide a unique growing environment and specific climate that allows plants to flourish. Besides just being aesthetically appealing, they can also be created to provide the ideal habitat for some animals should you be interested in introducing reptile pets (among other things) into your life.

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Image: Happy Place Terrariums

Many websites will instruct those keen to D.I.Y on the dos and don’ts and provide basic instruction in construction, we aren’t going to do that here, and the truth is, to do it properly, you require specific ingredients and a level of care and expertise that many of us just do not possess. Add to that the fact that terrariums require a special soil mix (usually a combination of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite) as well as charcoal to ensure both good growing conditions and to reduce the risks of microbial damage. Plus the soil mix MUST be sterile, to avoid introducing harmful microbes, so sometimes the quickest, easiest and most cost effective way to get your hands on one of these little wonders, is to trust the professionals.

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Image: Trouva

Terrariums are generally made in sealable glass container that can be opened for general maintenance and to access the inside when required. A sealed container creates a unique environment for the plant, with the transparent walls allowing heat and light inside, and in turn creating a small scale water cycle. This is due to the moisture from the soil evaporating in the elevated temperatures within the terrarium. This water vapour then collects on the walls of the container, where it then slides down back onto the plants and soil below. Beside allowing light and heat into the terrarium, the transparent walls are equally important for the process of photosynthesis, which is integral to plant growth.

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Image: My Pet Warehouse

Ideal plants for a closed terrarium include orchids, mosses, ferns and air plants, because they will flourish in the humidity and sheltered atmosphere which is created within the vessel, that is similar to their natural tropical environment.

Closed terrariums should be opened once a week to remove excessive moisture and in turn reduce the risk of mould growth which would result in damaged plants, or a discoloured container.

Whilst keeping the vessel closed encourages the water cycle, at times, the terrarium may also require additional water- if you notice the absence of condensation on the walls of the vessel or any of your plants wilting, this is a sign you may need to water your terrarium.

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Image: Terrarium Town via facebook

Terrariums can indeed be made in containers that are open and have access to the outside atmosphere. Open terrariums are more suited to plants that have adapted to dry climates such as succulents, which will not flourish in the inherently moist environment of the closed terrariums. Open terrariums also work well for plants that require more direct sunlight, as closed terrariums can trap too much heat potentially killing any plants inside.

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Image: Terrarium Town

The quirkiness of your terrarium is limited only by the creativity of your supplier and your expectations. Ornaments, special features and colour can change the overall appearance, and take a fairly conservative piece into the realm of kitsch. Animals from your African safari, smurfs and shells are common additions, as are fairies and mushrooms. Tell your supplier what elements you would or would not like to see in your bespoke piece.

Have you got a terrarium at your place, or have you given one as a gift? What a wonderful choice for a house warming or a long lasting gift after the birth of a child. Terrariums are a great gift that will give many months (or more) of pleasure to the recipient. If you think they may be a little beyond your plant caring expertise for the moment, check out our plant range here– we have a range of easy to care for planted succulents, orchids and other house plants to get your skills up!

Fwf x

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