Snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata, formerly Sansevieria trifasciata) are famous for putting up with a lot. Low light? Fine. Forgot to water for a while? They’ll probably forgive you. Ignore one in a corner? Somehow, it’s still alive and judging you. But surviving and actively growing are two different things. If you want yours to start producing pups,…
I still remember the first time my snake plant flowered. It’s weird, because it was almost fifteen years ago, but it’s one of those memories that sticks vividly in my mind because of how fragrant the blooms were. My sansevieria flowering was an unexpected surprise, since I didn’t know snake plants flowered at all. I’ve…
Most gardeners buy plants. Smart gardeners rip leaves off and build forests. It feels wrong, but growth requires a little trauma. Not yours, thankfully! These are some of the easiest plants to propagate from a leaf, perfect for beginners or a surprisingly fun project with kids. Socially Acceptable Cloning Plant parenthood gets a whole lot…
Orchids enjoy testing your patience. And if you have a tantrum-prone toddler AND a cat, too, you have my respect. However, it is possible to deal with them, rather easily. With orchids, that is. Problem 1: Yellow foliage Yellowing happens because your orchid’s roots are struggling to breathe. You likely poured too much water into…
The fate of your orchid depends entirely on its specific lineage. Most grocery orchids in the U.S. belong to the Phalaenopsis family, which offers more options than a streaming service. The rest, however, are more of a one-hit wonders when it comes to that flower spike. Moth Orchids If you have a Phalaenopsis (moth orchid),…
If your New Year’s resolutions, like mine, include: ‘make my home cozier’ and ‘stick to a budget’, I’ve got the perfect late winter pastime for us: houseplant propagation. It may seem counterintuitive to propagate plants in the winter, but the nice thing about growing plants indoors is that they can pretty much be propagated all…