thegirlwithashovel

Colorful Indoor Plants

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Green plants are always pretty, but sometimes we need to add a pop of color to complement our design scheme, or just to have fun! Either way, these colorful indoor plants will definitely add what you need. So grab what you need today!

**Note: This post contains affiliate links, which if purchased, I will receive a portion of the profits at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with this awesome information!**

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Colorful Indoor Plants #1: Gold Dust Plant –Codiaeum variegatum

Gold dust plant adds a splash of yellow through its seemingly paint-splattered leaves. To keep the yellow from fading, place it in moderate to bright, indirect light.

Buy a Gold Dust Plant!

Colorful Indoor Plants #2: Fancy-leaf Begonia – Begonia spp.

Fancy-leaf begonia is definitely a show-stopper! This plant has varieties available in any color of the rainbow. It also comes in many different leaf shapes as well, from stars to swirls! Whether you want silver-pink star-shaped leaves, or purple-red swirls, this plant is the way to go!

Buy a Fancy-leaf Begonia!

Colorful Indoor Plants #3: Angel wings – Caladium spp.

Caladiums can also be found in a wide range of patterns and colors. Though they mostly stay in the pink, red, and purple shades, their vibrant colors are just what you need to make your color scheme pop!

Buy a Caladium!

Colorful Indoor Plants #4: Succulents!

Succulents (cacti included) are perfect for adding a small touch of color on bookshelves, side tables, or as centerpieces. Combine a collection of colorful succulents to really make a statement! For care information, check out my post Succulent Plant Care!

Buy Succulents!

Colorful Indoor Plants #5: Croton – Codiaeum variegatum

If you’re looking for lots of color, then get a Croton! This plant can have red, orange, purple, green, and yellow all on the same plant! It definitely gives you plenty to choose from when looking at a color palette!

Buy a Croton!

Colorful Indoor Plants #6: Nerve Plant – Fittonia spp.

Nerve plant is a personal favorite! Its leaves can be green with either red, pink, yellow, purple, or white veins! For the brightest contrast, choose a variety with red veins. Or you can simply choose whichever of these awesome patterns makes you say “wow!”

Buy a Nerve Plant!

Colorful Indoor Plants #7: Ti Plant – Cordyline fruticosa

The Ti plant will not only add color to your space, but it will also add a modern, tropical look! With its tall, thick stems and bright, long leaves, the Ti plant is perfect for any modern, colorful space!

Buy a Ti Plant!

Colorful Indoor Plants #8: Prayer Plant – Maranta leuconeura

Prayer plant’s leaves are touched with color that can be used as either a contrasting, secondary tone, or to add another touch of the primary color scheme. One advantage that Prayer plant has is its ability to grow well in a hanging basket. These beautiful, striped leaves will grow to cascade down the sides of the pot. This plant adds a unique, sophisticated style.

Buy a Prayer Plant!

Colorful Indoor Plants #9 – Wandering Jew – Tradescantia pallida or Tradescantia zebrina

Wandering Jew is another personal favorite! There are two main varieties of this plant: the zebrina Wandering Jew, with purple and silver stripes, or the pallida Wandering Jew, with its pure purple foliage and delicate, pink flowers. Pick your favorite and add some purple to your space!

Buy a Wandering Jew Plant!

Colorful Indoor Plants #10: Purple Shamrock – Oxalis triangularis

This is another purple plant that can be grown either indoor or out! With soft, triangular leaves, Purple Shamrock does well as either a background foliage plant, or as a colorful centerpiece! Whatever its use, Purple Shamrock is sure to bring a whole lot of color to your design!

Buy a Purple Shamrock Plant!

That’s it for my list of colorful houseplants! I hope you enjoy matching a few of these to your interior green space! With any questions or comments, or to talk about your own personal favorite, please leave a comment below. And for more awesome plant tips, join my email group! Not only will you receive weekly tips and tricks to keep your plants alive, but you will also receive a free welcome guide when you sign up!

Happy Digging!

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Flowering Houseplants

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Hey hey! I know that everyone loves to have bright flowers indoors, so I put together this awesome list of flowering houseplants for y’all! Just remember, most houseplants need plenty of bright, indirect light and good care in order to flower indoors.

**Note: This post contains affiliate links, which if purchased, I will receive a portion of the profits at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with this awesome information!**

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Flowering Houseplants #1: Bulbs

Every spring you’ll see flower shops and garden centers filled with beautiful bulbs for sale. Tulips, amaryllis, hyacinth, and lilies are just a few popular options. Be aware, though, that if these bulbs are forced to flower indoors, then they will most likely not be able to flower indoors for a second year. Instead, after flowering, they should be planted outdoors. This way you will be able to enjoy them every year!

Buy some Bulbs!

Flowering Houseplants #2: Gardenia – Gardenia jasminoides

Here’s another indoor plant that can also be common outdoors as well. When you purchase a gardenia, make sure that the buds are small and try to choose one that is not yet blooming. Once in bloom, gardenias are sensitive and the move to your home might cause all of the flowers to drop off.

Buy a Gardenia!

Flowering Houseplants #3: Gerbera Daisy – Gerbera jamesonii

There is a reason why Gerbera daisies are so popular as houseplants! Their flowers come in bright red, pink, purple and more! They will also flower for up to a full year! After this time has passed, however, it will have spent its energy indoors and is best planted outdoors.

Buy a Gerbera Daisy!

Flowering Houseplants #4: Wax Plant – Hoya carnosa

The wax plant, also called porcelain flower, has beautiful, star-shaped flowers that have a very pleasant, sweet scent. To get this plant to flower, give it plenty of bright, indirect light and stick to a consistent fertilizer schedule. Also, make sure not to move or even turn this plant while it is flowering. Simply leave it where it is, and enjoy the large flower clusters!

Buy a Hoya!

Flowering Houseplants #5: Kalanchoe – Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

In the early spring, Kalanchoe will be found covered in flowers ranging from red, to pink, to white, to yellow! And if given enough light during the summer (and a short-day period in the winter), this plant can flower consistently for years!

Buy a Kalanchoe!

Flowering Houseplants #6: Orchids

Orchids have been sold for many years for their flowers, and after these magnificent flowers fade, most plants are discarded. Given proper care, however, this plant can produce flowers year after year, and some can even produce a second flower stem in the same year! Amazing!

Buy an Orchid!

Flowering Houseplants #7: Azalea – Rhododendron spp.

Azaleas are widely sold in the spring to be enjoyed while in bloom. They can be brought into bloom a second year, but only if fertilized during the summer and brought outdoors in the fall. Just make sure to keep these plants away from freezing temperatures!

Buy an Azalea!

Flowering Houseplants #8: Miniature Hybrid Tea Roses – Rosaceae spp.

Roses can do well indoors as long as it is a miniature variety and as long as it is given plenty of bright light. It also needs high humidity levels while the flowers are developing or else the flowers will die before they mature.

Buy a Miniature Rose!

Flowering Houseplants #9: Calla Lily – Zantedeschia aethiopica

Calla lilies are a gorgeous addition to any home! These plants can also come back from year to year through propagation of the rhizomes. So enjoy these sophisticated blooms for years to come!

Buy a Calla lily!

Flowering Houseplants #10: African Violet – Saintpaulia ionantha

African violets are a great low-light flowering plant! It can grow in conditions that most of these other houseplants would hate. However, to get this plant to bloom the following year, it might need to be placed in a brighter winter location and have a strict day and night routine. But if you spoil these plants with good light and fertilizer, you can have flowers almost year-round!

Buy an African Violet!

I hope that this list of flowering houseplants has inspired you to add a few of these beauties to your home! And once again, if you don’t see enough flowers on your houseplants then be sure to give it more direct sunlight, as well as fertilizer to help it have enough energy for flowering! If you have any questions or comments about specific plants, leave them below!

Happy Digging!

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Modern Indoor Plants

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Hey everyone! If you’re a fan of modern interior design, then you’re going to love this list of modern indoor plants! Full of bold, sleek lines, these plants are sure to help update any room into a stylish, modern space!

**Note: This post contains affiliate links, which if purchased, I will receive a portion of the profits at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with this awesome information!**

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Modern Indoor Plants #1: Air plants – Tillandsia spp. 

These small plants are perfect to place on shelves, accent tables, or even as wall decor. The most modern pieces are the ones that use metal, glass frames to perch these amazing, rootless plants! Regardless of where you place them, air plants will show that you are stylish and chic!

Buy an air plant!

Modern Indoor Plants #2: Fiddle-leaf Fig – Ficus lyrata

These ficus trees used to be only grown in groups of at least three to form a bushy, soft indoor tree. However, now they are praised for their bold, minimalist look and are sold individually to show off their true form. So upgrade your space today with a single, bold fiddle-leaf fig!

Buy a Fiddle-leaf Fig!

Modern Indoor Plants #3: Ponytail Palm – Beaucarnea recurvata

This plant has also been sold as a group of palms. But when planted alone, the ponytail palm really shines. With thin, curly strands of leaves, this palm looks like an impressionist work of art! Style with a raised, square pot to emphasize this plant’s twisted, cascading foliage.

Buy a Ponytail Palm!

Modern Indoor Plants #4: Ti Plant – Cordyline fruticosa

The Ti plant adds a modern touch through its eye-catching, colorful leaves paired with thick, straight stalks that are an architect’s gold mine! So if you’re looking for a modern indoor plant, but you don’t want to sacrifice the color scheme, then the Ti plant would be your top pick!

Buy a Ti plant!

Modern Indoor Plants #5: Lucky Bamboo – Dracaena braunii

This plant is all about bold lines. Trained into different forms as it grows, this plant can be sold in either straight or curved lines and can be shaped to form centerpieces that appear almost sculpted. Also, its ability to grow in straight water makes container choices for this plant endless! So get one of these living sculptures for your home!

Buy a Lucky Bamboo!

Modern Indoor Plants #6: ZZ Plant – Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Coming back into popularity is the awesome ZZ plant! Its arching fronds are enough to soften up a sharp corner, while its dark green leaves connect at hard angles that maintains this semi-succulent’s modern look. It is also very low maintenance and does well in low light levels!

Buy a ZZ plant!

Modern Indoor Plants #7: Haworthias

This little plant packs quite the punch for its small size! There are tons of different varieties available with plants ranging from striped leaves to translucent, and in colors from red to green to blue! There are also just as many different pot designs for you to choose from. So get a Haworthia if you’re looking for something unique, but also modern.

Buy a Haworthia!

Modern Indoor Plants #8: Calla Lily – Zantedeschia aethiopica

Though normally an outdoor plant, Calla lilies have been brought indoors lately. Their tall, straight form mixed with their ever-popular calla lily flowers makes this plant fit in with any modern home decor.

Buy a Calla Lily!

Modern Indoor Plants #9: Sago Palm – Cycas revoluta

This palm is very different from its feathery relatives. Short and compact, this palm needs to be placed in a low-traffic area to avoid its sharp fronds. But despite its rough edges, it is sure to bring in a light, tropical feel to the design!

Buy a Sago Palm!

Modern Indoor Plants #10: Snake Plant – Sansevieria trifasciata

Last, but definitely not least, is the modern snake plant! This plant’s bold, upright form, along with its different color options available, makes the snake plant one of the modern home designer’s go-to plant!

Buy a Snake Plant!

I hope this list has given you some ideas for adding the right greenery into your modern space! Feel free to leave any questions or comments below, and for more indoor plant inspiration, check out my post Low Light Plants for the Bathroom!

Happy Digging!

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Hanging Succulents

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I know there are TONS of succulent lovers out there that are looking for fresh ways to display these awesome plants. So why don’t you check out this awesome list of 11 different hanging succulents! Because nothing looks prettier than a succulent that is cascading down the sides of a pot! So take a look at this list and consider getting a few of these hanging succulents!

**Note: This post contains affiliate links, which if purchased, I will receive a portion of the profits at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with this awesome information!**

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Hanging Succulents #1: String of Bananas – Senecio radicans

This is one of my favorite hanging succulents! It looks so cute with its glossy banana-shaped leaves! If provided with adequate care, this plant will also produce small, white flowers in the spring that have a slight cinnamon smell.

Buy String of Bananas!

Hanging Succulents #2 – Burro’s Tail – Sedum burrito

This sedum is a bit shorter and thicker than its brother, Donkey’s tail, or Sedum morganianum. This sedum is easy to care for and is extremely low-maintenance. It also is easily propagated, so you can start with one, and end up with many of this cute little plant to either keep, or to give away as gifts!

Buy a Burro’s Tail Succulent!

Hanging Succulent - Donkey's Tail
Hanging Succulents #3: String of Hearts – Ceropegia woodii

Hearts-on-a-string is a beautiful vine with heart-shaped leaves. It can be purchased with either green leaves, or variegated leaves. The variegated leaves are rising in popularity as they add plenty of interesting texture to your home!

Buy a String of Hearts vine!

Hanging Succulents #4: Donkey’s Tail – Sedum morganianum

Donkey’s tail is very similar to Burro’s tail, except that its leaves are a bit more elongated. This gives you more of a thick vine trailing down the sides of your pot. It is a very popular succulent, and for a good reason! This plant looks stunning in a hanging basket! Just make sure to place it in a low traffic area, as its leaves are sensitive and will fall off if brushed against.

Buy a Donkey’s Tail Vine!

Hanging Succulents #5: Ruby Necklace – Othonna capensis

This plant looks a lot like the fishhooks vine, except it is purple! Many people purchase this plant to add a bit of a different color to their succulent collection. And given enough sunlight, Ruby necklace will give you a constant pop of purple!

Buy a Ruby Necklace vine!

Hanging Succulents #6: String of Nickels – Dischidia nummularia

This is a fun succulent! String of Nickels produces thick, round leaves that will soften up any rough corner of your home. It is also very low maintenance and is easily propagated! So check out one of these cute little guys today!

Buy a String of Nickels vine!

Hanging Succulents #7: Fishhooks – Senecio radicans

Fishhooks is very similar to String of Bananas, though the actual leaves are thinner, thus resembling a fishhook instead of a banana! This plant is coming back in popularity as the succulent craze is growing. So while you may have a hard time finding it in your local garden center, it is easily found online. And enjoy your cute little fishhooks vine!

Buy a Fishhooks vine!

Hanging Succulents #8: Hindu Rope – Hoya carnosa ‘krinkle kurl’

Hindu Rope is a fun plant to have around! Its swirls of vine makes it stand out in any room. And if you give it plenty of bright light and high-phosphorous fertilizer in the summer, then mature plants will produce pink clusters of scented flowers!

Buy a Hindu Rope plant!

Hanging Succulents #9: Monkey’s Tail – Hildewintera colademononis

This plant is actually a cactus, but its needles are actually soft (like a Monkey’s tail!) The plant can grow to around 2-3 feet in length and, when well cared for, will produce beautiful red flowers! And regardless of where it is placed, this plant will definitely make an impression!

Buy Monkey’s Tail Seed!

Hanging Succulents #10: Sweetheart Vine – Hoya kerrii

This plant is most commonly sold as a single, rooted leaf. Its growth is slow, but when given time, it will grow into a beautiful vine with heart-shaped flowers. It is also extremely low maintenance and if given proper care, will produce pink balls of flowers! This is a rare succulent vine that will take a while to grow, but it is definitely worth waiting for!

Buy a Sweetheart Vine!

Hanging Succulents #11: String of Pearls – Senecio rowleyanus

Last but definitely not least is the beautiful String of Pearls plant! It has definitely come back in popularity, as its little beads dangle from even the smallest of planters. It is also very easily propagated, so if you buy one plant, you can easily end up with many of them (or send them as a cute gift!) Just make sure to never overwater these succulents!

Buy a String of Pearls Plant!

So there you have it! All the hanging succulents you could ever want! And plenty to fill your home with! If you have any questions about these plants, feel free to comment below! Have fun with these awesome succulents!

Happy Digging!

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Low Light Plants for the Bedroom

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Hey y’all! So we all know that some of our home’s bedrooms (or our dorm room, or tiny apartment room…) can sometimes not have the best lighting for plants. Because of this, I came up with a list of 11 awesome low light plants for the bedroom! If your room doesn’t have much natural light, try out one of these!

**Note: This post contains affiliate links, which if purchased, I will receive a portion of the profits at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with this awesome information!**

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Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #1: Cast Iron Plant – Aspidistra elatior

This plant is amazing for several different reasons! Not only does it do well in low light levels, but it can also tolerate a lot of neglect and is on my list of hard-to-kill houseplants! Seriously, this guy can take it all! You won’t regret having a Cast Iron Plant in your bedroom!

Buy a Cast Iron Plant!

Low Light Plants for the Bedroom Aspidistra
Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #2: English Ivy – Hedera helix

There’s a reason why this plant is sold in so many garden centers! It does well in low light situations, as well as in cold basements and drafty hallways. It’s also one of those classic indoor plants that will never go out of style!

Buy an English Ivy!

Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #3: Prayer Plant – Maranta leuconeura

This plant brings a splash of color into a dark bedroom! It is low-growing and can even be used in a hanging planter and its leaves will begin to cascade down the sides of the pot. This plant is a wonderful addition to any low light bedroom!

Buy a Prayer Plant!

Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #4: Boston Fern – Nephrolepis exaltata

Boston ferns are one of the easiest ferns to care for. Not only do they enjoy low-light conditions, but they also prefer cooler temperatures. So this is a must-have for any dark and cold basement bedrooms (or any cool, low light location in the house!) Just make sure to mist it daily to keep the fronds from turning brown.

Buy a Boston Fern!

Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #5: Guzmania Bromeliad – Guzmania lingulata

This bromeliad does great in low light bedrooms and is a relatively easy plant to care for. Make sure that it is lightly misted once per day in order to keep it healthy and to encourage the plant to bloom! Once Guzmania is done blooming, it will grow new plants to the side, while the central bromeliad dies. In this way, with the purchase of one plant, you can get many more bromeliads that will last you forever!

Buy a Guzmania Bromeliad!

Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #6: Pothos – Epipremnum aureum

Pothos is one plant that I believe every beginner should own! It can tolerate a variety of light levels (including low light levels), and it is very tolerant of neglect. Pothos also looks great in a variety of planters and can be trained as either an upright, vine, a full and bushy plant, or a hanging vine. Make sure to check out my post on Pothos Vine Care!

Buy a Pothos!

Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #7: Snake Plant – Sensevieria trifasciata

Snake plant is also one of my absolute favorite plants! It does well in low-light conditions, as well as can tolerate quite a bit of neglect. It is also a very popular plant for modern home design! Make sure to check out all of the different variations!

Buy a Snake Plant!

Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #8: Peace Lily – Spathiphyllum wallisii

Peace lily is definitely a gorgeous plant for a bedroom! Even without the white flower bracts, just the leaves alone make for a beautiful foliage plant! And the best part?! It’s a low-light plant!

Buy a Peace Lily!

Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #9: ZZ Plant – Zamioculcas zamiifolia

This semi-succulent has been making a comeback in houseplant popularity! With its zany, arching branches, this little plant is sure to make a statement wherever it is placed! But don’t worry, this little guy is also extremely low maintenance!

Buy a ZZ plant!

Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #10: Heartleaf Philodendron – Philodendron cordatum

Heartleaf philodendron needs less light than its larger-leafed brothers. This, along with its cute, heart-shaped leaves makes it perfect for a bedside table or hanging basket! It is also available in several different varieties to match your personal style!

Buy a Heartleaf Philodendron!

Low Light Plants for the Bedroom #11: Bird’s Nest Fern – Asplenium nidus

This awesome fern does great in low-light situations, but it prefers to be a little warmer than the Boston fern. It also sheds less than other ferns due to its sword-shaped leaves. But make sure to mist this fern daily to avoid brown leaf tips!

Buy a Bird’s Nest Fern!

Well there you have it! I hope you have a fun time adding some greenery into your low light bedroom! Because every place could use a little more green!

Happy Digging!

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Awesome Self Watering Pots!

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Self-Watering Pots Image

So, as I’ve been getting busier in my life (with two young kids and my husband still in school…) I’ve been trying to find some short-cuts for my days. And one thing that would always take a ton of time every morning was watering all of my houseplants (of course, I have quite a few of them lol!). So looking at one of my favorite purchasing websites (Amazon!) I decided to try out these proclaimed ‘self-watering’ pots. Why not try them out, and let ya’ll know how it went?! Well, I am sure glad that I did! Now I want 10 more!!!

**Note: This post contains affiliate links, which if purchased, I will receive a portion of the profits at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with this awesome information!**

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I ended up purchasing the Medium-sized Mkono 3-pack Self Watering Planter Pots. I really liked the modern look of them and thought they’d fit well with my home decor.

When they arrived and I was so excited! I waited until the kids were in bed, then I recorded an awesome video opening the package, putting the pots together, and potting up all three of my plants!

Once I finished, I hit save… and my computer froze!!! 

So that’s why I don’t have an amazing video to show y’all… 🙁

So now I’ll just have to tell you all how it went… and show you the pictures. But I promise I’ll get this video thing figured out soon though!

So here’s what I’ve thought about the self-watering pots (now that I’ve had them for about 6 months…)

I was definitely a bit skeptical at first about the whole “self-watering” concept. I thought for sure that it would be too wet for my plants. So to test out my theory, I used plants of different watering preferences to see which plants would die because of over-watering…

I used…

Heartleaf Philodendron ‘Brazil’

HIGH WATERING

This plant loves water and can even be grown in a soilless media!

Parlor Palm

MEDIUM WATERING

This palm does well being lightly moist, but being allowed to dry out in between watering during the winter.

Peperomia

LOW WATERING

Peperomia is a semi-succulent, so it stores some water in its thick leaves. Because of this, it doesn’t need as much water and likes to be dry in between waterings.

I totally expected my Peperomia to rot… (I was willing to sacrifice it for y’all!)… However, what I found was surprising…

All of my plants loved it!

I was so shocked! The suction power of the strings directly corresponded with how fast the plant as taking up water. And guys, not only did my plants not rot, but they grew like crazy!!! (Even in the winter!)

self-watering pots

I was amazed! I guess I didn’t have super high expectations going in, but these pots totally blew my mind!

Here are the Pro’s and Con’s that I found with these pots:

Pro’s:
  • Decreased my watering from once a day to once or twice a week!
  • Great pots that look great in my modern home design!
  • My plants LOVED the consistently light moisture!
Con’s:
  • Because half the pot is filled with water, the actual pot size is rather small
  • If the water was filled too high and touched the soil, then the plant/soil would get too wet…
  • My Peperomia grew so much that it started tipping over the light-weight, plastic pot!

There you have it! Make sure that your plant isn’t too big and you’re set! So stop having to water your plants every day, and instead, watch them grow like crazy!

I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely going to be getting more of these awesome self-watering pots!

Happy Digging!

**Note: Do not use this pot for succulents or cacti.**

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How Often Should You Water Succulents?

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How Often Should I Water Succulents Cover

Hey y’all! So here’s a question that gets asked a ton!

“How often should I water my succulents???”

**Note: This post contains affiliate links, which if purchased, will give me a small commission. I only add products that I sincerely LOVE! If you have any issues with any of these products, please let me know!**

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And do you know what? I can’t give you a solid number of days or anything because it varies so much!

Some things that affect how often your succulent needs water:

  • air humidity
  • temperature
  • hours and strength of sunlight
  • how large your succulent is
  • the type of pot you are using
  • the type of soil you are using

This is a TON to factor in, huh?!

So how do you know how often you should water your succulents?!

Here’s what I can tell you… (And I promise, it will help!!)

Watering from spring through fall…

This is the time that your succulents will be growing the most. At this time, water your succulent only when the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the soil is dry. If you let the soil dry all the way (to where the soil is so dry that it’s pulling away from the sides of the pot), then you’ve let it get too dry. But on the flip side, if you don’t let it dry enough, then you could cause root or stem rot on your plant!

So once again… water ONLY when the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of the soil is dry. (Or when you stick your finger in the dirt, it doesn’t feel moist at the tip of your finger… then water!)

Winter watering…

This is when your succulent is usually growing less and is using less water. Cool temperatures are also keeping your succulent’s soil from drying out as fast. The key to winter watering is to only add small amounts of water as needed. All we are trying to do is to keep the soil from completely drying out.

Tip: If your succulent’s soil is still fully wet several days after watering, quickly remove it from the soil and re-pot into dry potting soil. After 24 hours, only lightly water.

So there you have it! During the summer, you might be watering your succulent every 1-5 days, but in the winter, you might find yourself only watering a little bit once a week (or even less!) Again, it all depends on your environment and your succulent, but make sure to check the soil moisture levels before you do any watering. Because nothing kills a succulent faster than too much water!

And if you’re still having issues with your watering, just go ahead and buy a soil moisture meter! Simply stick it into the soil, and this cool little meter will tell you how wet or dry your soil is! Just wait for it to get dry, then water! Simple, right?!

Good luck and enjoy your succulents!

And for some easy, low-maintenance succulents, check out my post on the Easiest Succulents to Grow Indoors!

Happy Digging!

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Propagating Succulents

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One great things about succulents is that they can be easily multiplied into many succulents! This task may seem daunting for people who have never done it before. But with this step-by-step guide you are sure to have success! So get started today and try your hand at growing your very own succulents!

*Note: All of the succulents pictured below were bought from The Succulent Source, where you can buy leaves, cuttings, and full-sized succulents for cheap! My personal go-to for succulents!*

**Note: This post contains affiliate links, which if purchased, I will receive a portion of the profits at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with this awesome information!**

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Propagation: the act or action of propagating: such as

  • increase (as a kind of organism) in numbers
  • the spreading of something (such as a belief) abroad or into new regions
  • enlargement or extension (as of a crack) in a solid body

– Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Propagating Succulents from Leaves

Propagating Succulents Step 1: Get Quality Leaves

One of the most critical parts of growing new succulents is to get a good leaf cutting. To do this, gently hold the leaf and wiggle it back and forth until it gently detaches from the stem. Usually lower leaves are a lot easier to remove. It might take a couple of tries before you start getting good cuttings. This is because you need to remove the leaf right at the joint without letting the tip get torn. If some of the stem is attached, this will still work. But if the leaf tip is torn, then your leaf will just shrivel up and die. No leaf stem, no new succulent.

Propagating Succulents Step 2: Dry

Leave your leaves to dry (haha!). Do not skip this step! The tear that you have made on the succulent needs time to dry before it is placed in soil or gets wet. This allows it to form a seal around the tear (kind of like a scab). This helps protect the leaf from too much water or from bacteria getting in. Simply leave the cutting out in a location where it will be protected from any direct sunlight. Leave it for about 24 hours before moving on to the next step.

Propagating Succulents Step 3: Place on Top of Soil

Some people like to place their cuttings into the soil, but this is not necessary and may actually increase the number of cuttings that rot. By simply placing your leaves on top of the soil, the root will still be able to grow out of the leaf and down into the soil. Make sure that the container is shallow and has good drainage. I use cactus and succulent mix potting soil to ensure that there is good drainage. This also lowers the rate of leaves rotting.

Propagating Succulents Step 4: Water

Water lightly for several weeks until roots and rosettes form. I personally use a spray bottle to gently water the plants several times a day. Make sure that the soil dries between watering. Excess moisture will kill your leaves faster than anything else! Once the roots have become established, they can handle a bit more water at a time and you can lower the times of watering to just once a day. Also keep out of direct sunlight and place in a warm location. All of these will help to keep the succulents happy and thriving.

Propagating Succulents Step 5: Re-pot and Enjoy!

Once the rosettes have formed and the root systems have developed, the new succulents can be removed from the shallow container and planted in individual pots. Make sure that these pots are still small (proportional to their size). As the succulent grows, it can be repotted into larger containers or in group plantings. Enjoy your new succulents!

Propagating Succulents from Stem Cuttings

When you order succulents as cuttings or take cuttings of your own succulents, the process is pretty simple… First you need to let the cutting dry out (just like the leaves). If you had a cutting ordered, it should already have dried enough. Next, you plant in cactus and succulent potting mix and water like normal. It should develop roots quickly. And that’s it! This is one reason why a lot of people like to order cuttings. They are much faster and easier to grow! This is where I bought mine!

Well, I hope you all enjoyed this tutorial on propagating succulents! And be sure to check out The Succulent Source for some awesome, cheap succulents! I got mine in the middle of winter and they’re still doing great! Also, for additional care info, check out my post on Succulent Care Tips! And feel free to leave any additional questions, tips, or comments below!

Happy Digging!

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Taking Care of Succulents

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Ever struggle with keeping your succulents alive? I know I have. It’s taken some time to understand these plants that have become so popular. This is because indoor conditions don’t naturally support these cute little creations. We need to take special care of succulents to keep them thriving and happy all year round!

**Note: This post contains affiliate links, which if purchased, I will receive a portion of the profits at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with this awesome information!**

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Taking Care of Succulents: Water

The biggest factor for succulent success is proper watering. For these plants, always remember… less is more! Because their leaves are filled with water, they don’t need as much water in their roots. Only water your succulent when the soil is dry to the touch. Also, a huge factor in keeping your succulent from getting too much water is in making sure it has good drainage in the pot. Make sure that your succulent pots have holes in the bottom to let out extra water. Also make sure to use special soil, such as succulent and cactus mix, or regular potting soil mixed with vermiculite. These soils improve drainage and keep your succulent from sitting in water. Because nothing kills a succulent faster than too much water!

Janie over at Succulent Alley has an awesome post comparing the different types of succulent soil. So if you don’t have your own soil yet, definitely check this one out… Best Soil for Succulents!

*A way to tell if your succulent is getting too much or too little water is to look at the leaves. If they are getting wrinkled and turning brown, then you need to water more often. If they are staying fat and getting mushy, then your plant is getting way too much water.*

For more information, check out my post How Often Should You Water Succulents?

Taking Care of Succulents: Location

Another huge factor in succulent survival is where it is placed indoors. Succulents naturally occur in hot and warm environments. When choosing where to place your succulent think of sunny and warm. These plants need plenty of natural sunlight (from a south-, or east-facing window), or else they will start to stretch. This is the plant’s natural response as it tries to reach for additional sunlight. To keep your succulent healthy, it needs to be placed in a location where it will receive the proper lighting and temperature.

Taking Care of Succulents: Temperature

One last thing to watch out for is either too much direct sunlight in the summer, or cold drafts in the winter. If your succulent isn’t used to direct sunlight, then placing it in direct, afternoon sun can cause the leaves to burn. Leaf burn looks like brown, purplish patches across the surface of the leaf. If this is happening to your succulent, then immediately move it to a spot out of hot, direct sunlight. What they like best is direct morning or evening sun from an east- or west-facing window. But remember, if it starts to stretch, then it is a sign that it needs more sunlight. There is definitely a fine balance that succulents need.

Extra Bonus: Watering in Winter…

During the winter, succulents may need to be moved to a more sunny window… but beware of cold temperatures. The first sign that temperatures are too cold is that the water in the pot will take a lot longer to drain. Once this starts to happen, immediately start watering less! Most succulents only need a fraction of their usual water in the winter. The tip to remember here is that in the winter, only water enough to keep the soil from completely drying out. And only add small amounts of water each time.

If the succulent is getting too much water during the winter, then it will start to rot. This is seen when the leaves and stem begin to get mushy. This is the most common cause of death during the winter. Also be aware of your succulents that are placed directly on a windowsill or next to an exterior door. These might get too cold from drafts entering the space. If succulents get too cold, they will freeze. However, like I said before, your succulent is much more likely to rot due to overwatering in cold weather than it is to freeze.

Well, those are the main things to help care for your succulent! For information on growing more succulents, check out my post on Propagating Succulents! And for more quick tips on succulents and houseplants in general, check out Porch.com’s Everything About Plants Q&A!

Let me know if there are any tips or tricks that you’ve had success with, or if you have any specific questions for your own succulents… just join my Facebook group and share! I love to hear from you!

Happy Digging!

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Propagating Pothos Vine

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Today I wanted to demonstrate how to grow one of my favorite indoor plants! Yep, that’s propagating Pothos vine! Also called Devil’s Ivy, this plant is one of the easiest plants to grow, earning it a spot on my hard to kill houseplants post, as well as my plants for dark apartments post. But for this post I wanted to tell you all how to grow your own Pothos vine. Trust me, it’s incredibly easy and you’ll have a beautiful, thriving plant in no time!

**For info on how to take care of your Pothos vine, check out my post Pothos Vine Care!**

Basically, there are two ways to propagate Pothos (aka, grow a new Pothos)…. with water, or with soil. But because most of you here are plant beginners, lets talk about water first (which is much easier), and then we’ll move on to the more advanced soil.

**Note: This post contains affiliate links, which if purchased, I will receive a portion of the profits at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with this awesome information!**

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Propagating Pothos in Water: Step 1 – Get your cutting

A good plant needs a good start. Select a healthy plant to trim from with leaves that aren’t diseased or yellowing. Cut about 3″ of stem length, making sure that there is at least one leaf node (where the leaf attaches to the stem). Personally, I like to take longer cuttings (they usually root faster) that have about 3-4 leaf nodes. This also makes it easier to keep upright.

Propagating Pothos in Water: Step 2 – Place in water

Now this step is pretty self-explanatory. Just make sure that if there are lower leaves that would be submerged in the container, make sure to remove them. If the leaves are left submerged, they may rot. Which doesn’t look that great. Believe me.

Propagating Pothos in Water: Step 3 – Plant

After a couple of weeks your Pothos vine will have rooted. So easy! I know! Now at this point, you can either plant your Pothos in soil, or you can keep it in water for life. Pothos does well in both water and soil, but make sure that once it is established that you don’t switch the growing media. Switching from water to soil (or vice versa) later in this plant’s life will cause it to decline in health. It might recover, but it might not. Those are the risks. But if you want to switch media later, you can always grab another cutting!

*This image is of some pothos cuttings I rooted last year. These can be planted at this point of development, or they can wait another week or two and planted then (if planting in soil).*

Propagating Pothos in Soil: Step 1 – Get your Cutting

For a soil cutting, follow the exact same directions as for the water cutting. This one is also important to remove any leaves that will be covered in soil, as they will rot. And remember, family members/roommates/friends don’t like to see rotting plants!

Propagating Pothos in Soil: Step 2 – Rooting Hormone

One thing that always helps you have success with cuttings is rooting hormone. Here’s a link to the one that I use! Simply dip the cutting into the hormone and shake off any excess powder. Make sure that you have at least one leaf node (the section of the stem where the leaf attaches) covered with the rooting hormone. I usually have two or three nodes on my cutting (stripped of the leaf) just to make sure that one of them roots successfully.

Propagating Pothos in Soil: Step 3 – Plant

The last step is to plant your cutting in soil. Do not skip this step!!! (Lol.) Make sure that at least one leaf node is submerged into the soil. As for pots, try to use a shallow container that drains well. I also prefer to use a well-draining potting mix in order to limit the chances of the cutting rotting. (I suggest the cactus & succulent potting mix, or regular potting soil mixed with coconut coir). The trick to watering your cutting is keeping it consistently lightly moist. Don’t overwater. If your pot/container doesn’t dry out within 2 days, then you’ve added too much water. You want to have to water it every day or two. This will prevent rotting of the cutting while it still doesn’t have any roots to take up the water. If you aren’t successful with your cuttings, try one of the soil options I listed above, as well as switch to a smaller container with plenty of drainage.

That’s it! It’s an easy, 3-step process, whether you choose soil or water. And like I said, if you are new to this, try the water option. It has a much higher success rate! So have fun growing this awesome, easy vine, and for tips on how to take care of your Pothos, check out my post on Pothos vine care!

Happy Digging!

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*Here’s a Pothos that I grew from a cutting less than a year ago!*