So you want to be a Plant Momma
Have you always liked the idea of having plants in your home, but you don’t really know how to go about decorating with them? Then this post is for you! Let’s dive into how you can choose which plants are right for your home. If you’re wanting to turn your house into a home, one of the best ways to do so is by investing in plants. Bringing the outside world into the inside of your world can change the space and overall mood of your environment. It’s been proven more than once that being outside is not only good for the body but good for your mental and emotional health as well. So if you’re a homebody like me, bringing plants into your house is essential.
1.) Research Your Plants
I am personally so bad at this and I know many other people are too, but today we are going to change that. Picking the right plant is very important. It’s not like picking up a neutral pair of curtains that you can move to any room in your house. Plants have needs just like we do. They are living and growing just like we are. So the first step is to evaluate your house. Which parts of your home obtain the most light? Which areas of your house don’t? Write this information in an app on your phone to help you when you go plant shopping. Planta is a great app that I have recently discovered and is available on both Android and Apple. Once you’ve taken a few days to determine which areas in your house could be the best environments for your plant to grow, start looking up houseplants, personally I just look on Pinterest. Read about some of the ones that catch your eye and what maintenance is required of them. This will determine where in your house this plant is going to flourish. Make a list of the plants that will work well in your home and then you can do the fun part—shopping! Here are my personal go-to plants that are easy to take care of, and/or bounce back quickly when neglected:
-Snake plant (also known as mothers-in-law tongue)
-Succulents (because this one is such a broad category you will need to determine which one(s) you can keep alive with trial and error.)
-Pothos
-Cacti (personal favorite)
-Aloe vera
-Rubber tree
-Peace Lily
2.) Where to Shop & Budget
I will be completely honest with you: I will pick up a plant just about anywhere. Trader Joe’s, Home Depot, even IKEA. These places have the most affordable and popular plants for the general public. I will still shop at these places to pick up a cheap plant, but these places don’t focus on plant life. They are there for consumers, but more often than not they are either overwatered, underwatered, or infested with disease or bugs. I recommend going to a greenhouse instead, as they specialize in giving plants the proper care they need to thrive. I would also recommend bringing a friend with you if you are an indecisive person or are going in blind, so that you can bounce ideas off of them.
Budgeting is really important and is the adulting thing to do, right? The truth is you end up needing a lot more materials than you would think. Here is a list of some materials you will need when you are investing in plants for the first time:
-Gardening gloves
-In-house plant soil (unless you are only buying 1–2 plants, you’ll need a large bag)
-Aesthetically pleasing planting pot(s)
-Plant food (you can purchase generic or specific food for your plant)
-Plant stand (these come in handy to have a nice place to put your plant if you don’t have shelf/dresser space for one)
-Neem oil (You will get bugs; it just a fact of life. Those dang gnats always come out of nowhere!)
-2-3 spray bottles (one for watering, one for bug killing, and one for hydroproxide)
-Watering can * Doesn’t matter what kind you get but I like to display my cans so I always look into an aesthetically pleasing one. You will not only look cute holding it, but it also does the job in keeping your plants watered, healthy, and happy.
-Gardening hand shovel (for transporting dirt)
3.) Decorating
Decorating with plants isn’t as hard as you may think. Once you’ve determined what plants you want, and where they will go in your house, you literally just put it next to a lamp, or cover your fireplace mantle, bookshelves, side tables, dining room tables, etc. The possibilities are endless when it comes to designing with plants. The best part about decorating with plants is that you can play around with it. You just move them around, see where they thrive and what looks good and what doesn’t. The most important thing is to keep the plants in a place where they grow though. Don’t be like me and move your plants that were doing well in indirect light and put them in your dark kitchen where there’s no light.
Plants can make all the difference when you bring them into your home. They bring life, fun, and literally clear the air from toxins. I hope this post has helped you move one step closer to becoming a plant person. I would love to see some pictures of what you have done with your space so tag me on Instagram @sentimentalcreaturesofficial so I can see your lovely homes.
Until next time! Happy decorating!