Posts in Beginner's Plant Guide

The Monkey Tail Cactus (cleistocactus colademononis and formerly known as hildewintera colademononis) is an easy to grow, prickly plant known for its long, cascading shape with white, fuzzy hair-like spines. Ideal as hanging plants or trailing from a shelf, the stems will drape over the edges of their pot growing as much as a foot a year. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this cactus is its vibrant, red flowers that sprout throughout the entire growing season. Unlike other cacti that just give you one flower or require perfect growing conditions to bloom, this cactus will reward you with endless blooms with very little work on your part.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersSeptember 20, 2023CactusComment

Care Guide for the Lipstick Plant

The Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans), also known as a basket vine, is a beautiful and unique perennial that is often grown as a houseplant. It has waxy, dark green, pointy leaves and vibrant, red, tubular flowers. It gets its fun name from its dark maroon buds that, as they open, have bright red blooms extend out like lipstick coming out of a tube. Recreating their tropical conditions of warmth, humidity and filtered sunlight, will not only help the Lipstick Plant thrive but bloom frequently. If you can meet these requirements than you have an easy to care for houseplant.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersAugust 19, 2023 Comments

Care Guide for the Staghorn Fern

Staghorn Ferns are eye-catching and unusual plants, not just because their leaves look like deer or elk antlers, but they similarly can be mounted on wood to make for a way to add greenery to your room or gallery wall. While these ferns can be difficult to grow, their uniqueness and wider availability make them very popular for growers looking to add some variety to their houseplant collection and decor.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersJuly 31, 2023Fern Comments

Care Guide for the ZZ Plant

The ZZ (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), or Zanzibar Gem, is a low-maintenance, hard-to-kill houseplant characterized by its shiny, oval-shaped leaves extending from long, thick stalks. A semi-succulent native to to Eastern Africa, it is accustomed to long periods of drought with occasional downpours of rain. As a result, the ZZ thrives on neglect. This, combined with its ability to live in very low light situations, make it very popular for businesses (look around the mall next time you are out) and offices (it will be fine while you are on vacation). While it can reach heights of 5’, it generally tops out around 2’-3’. To survive droughts, ZZ’s have developed a rhizomous root system (they look similar to a tulip bulb with tiny roots coming out) which stores large amounts of water. As an added bonus, ZZ’s have been declared to be one of the best air purifying house plants around! This makes it a great addition for your bedroom or office, two smaller spaces that you spend a lot of time in. All around, the ZZ plant is highly dependable, versatile and nearly fool proof plant that can grow in low light situations and has low water requirements.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersMarch 9, 2022ZZ Plant Comments

Care Guide for the Raindrop Peperomia

The Raindrop Peperomia, scientifically known as peperomia polybotrya, is an easy-to-care-for, charming houseplant known for its fat, thick, shiny leaves that look like a raindrop rolling down your window. This plant is also know as coin plant or coin-leaf peperomia and is commonly mistaken for the popular Chinese Money Plant (pilea peperomia).

Native to South America’s tropical regions, this plant grows on the jungle floor and therefore likes similar house conditions: bright filtered light, and moderate temperatures with high humidity. Since they already store water in their leaves, it is easy to overwater these so err on the side of under watering when in doubt. These plants only get about 12-15 inches tall but they can reward you with dainty, fragrant blooms.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersSeptember 19, 2021Peperomia Comments

Care Guide for the Mini Monstera

Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma, or the Mini Monstera or Philodendron Ginny, is a tropical vine with aerial roots that is easy to care for and will reward you with fast growth. Named for looking just like a Monstera Deliciosa at a miniature scale, we will cover how to care for this houseplant, light and water requirements, humidity, pests, and common issues.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersApril 9, 2021Monstera, Mini Monstera Comments

Care Guide for the Asparagus Fern

Asparagus ferns are an easy to care for evergreen houseplant with feathery, fern-like, clumping leaves. Some of the most common types of Asparagus ferns are: foxtail, plumosa, ming and sprengeri. Asparagus ferns have few requirements to make them healthy, happy and growing. A loose, airy potting mixture is essential with bright to medium indirect light. Keep humidity high and water when the soil dries out, which happens faster than with your average plant and you will have a fast growing fern.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersMarch 5, 2021Fern, Asparagus Fern Comments

Care Guide for the ‘Heart’ Hoya Kerrii

‘Sweetheart”, “Heart” or “Valentine” Hoya (hoya kerrii) is a thick, succulent-like tropical vine that is easily identified by its heart shaped leaves. The Heart Hoya is often seen around Valentine’s Day being sold as a single leaf planted upright in a small pot. Don’t let the single leaf fool you though, these Hoyas will reach lengths of 13 feet and become a mass of green hearts. These vining qualities are best displayed via a hanging basket, a trellis or moss pole, or trailing from a shelf.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersJanuary 22, 2021Hoya, Heart, Valentines Comment

Care Guide for the Calathea

Calathea (Marantaceae), also referred to as ‘Prayer plant’, are known for their very diverse, colorful, and beautifully patterned leaves. Combined with their ability to grow in lower light conditions, these make very popular house and office plants (bonus as they are pet and child friendly). Coming from the jungle floors of South America and Africa, Calatheas are flexible with their light source but are in need of high humidity.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersJanuary 1, 2021Calathea, Prayer PlantComment

Beginner's Guide to Choosing and Using Grow Lights

Having a room, or an entire home, with little to no light is a common struggle when trying to own houseplants; however, grow lights allow one to establish a thriving plant collection year round. Most plants require at least a smidgeon of light to survive as light is food for plants. Grow lights are specifically designed to serve as a substitute for natural sunlight, allowing for photosynthesis and therefore growth, blooms or even produce. Most lights and light bulbs are made for humans, meaning they are low on the spectrum as we are just trying to see, not absorb food. Lights for plants can be full spectrum, or target one specific area, to help your plants flourish. To help you with this process I have outlined the key types of grow lights, the colors, and how to properly use them.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersAugust 3, 2020Grow Light Comments

Care Guide for the 'Lickety Split' Philodendron

Lickety Split Philodendrons are loved for their foliage and for being easy to care for. Developed as a hybrid more than five years ago, it has stunning, huge leaves with deep splits on the side and curly edges. It can grow in a variety of light conditions and won’t punish you if you neglect it. Every leaf is unique and you never know what shape it is going to grow into.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersMay 11, 2020Philodendron Comments

Care Guide for the Chinese Evergreen

The Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) is known for being easy to grow and for its beautifully patterned leaves. This truly is the perfect beginners plant or for those with low light conditions. The leaves are large and lush and bring a low-maintenance, tropical feeling to your interior. This guide covers light, water, and all care aspects of this gorgeous houseplant.

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersApril 20, 2020Chinese Evergreen Comments

Care Guide for the Tree Fern

Tree Ferns are ferns of insanely large proportions growing up out of a wood “trunk”. Indoors these friends get 5-10 feet tall making them the perfect statement plant for your home. These are easy to grow as long as you can provide enough humidity and water. Learn about the Tree Fern and how to care for it!

Plant Care, Beginner's Plant GuideGentry SandersMarch 9, 2020Large Plants, FernComment