Succulents are a popular choice for indoor plants because they are easy to care for and require minimal maintenance. These hardy plants are native to arid climates, so they are well-suited to life indoors. With proper care, succulents can thrive and provide a beautiful addition to your home. Here are some tips for caring for succulent plants:
Succulent plants prefer to be grown in pots that have drainage holes, as this allows excess water to drain out of the soil and prevents the roots from becoming waterlogged.
Avoid using pots that do not have drainage holes, as this can lead to root rot and other problems.
In general, a pot that is slightly larger than the plant’s root system is a good choice
2. Use the right soil.
The type of soil that you use can have a big impact on your succulent’s health.
Succulents prefer well-draining soil that contains a mix of organic matter and inorganic materials.
Avoid using potting soil that is too dense or heavy, as this can retain too much moisture and harm the plant.
Instead, look for a soil mix that is specifically designed for succulents or cacti.
3. Provide adequate light
Succulent plants need light to photosynthesize and grow, so it is important to provide them with enough light to thrive.
The amount of light that a succulent needs depends on the species, but most succulents do best in bright, indirect light.
Avoid placing your succulent in a location that is too dark or too sunny, as this can harm the plant.
If you are unsure about the light requirements for your succulent, you can consult a gardening guide or ask a plant expert for advice.
4. Water your succulent properly
Overwatering and underwatering are two of the most common mistakes that people make when caring for succulent plants.
To avoid these issues, make sure to water your succulent according to its specific needs.
Most succulents prefer to be watered deeply and then allowed to dry out completely before watering again.
A good rule of thumb is to water your succulent when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Avoid watering the plant too frequently, as this can lead to root rot and other problems.
5. Prune and groom your succulent
Regular pruning and grooming can help your succulent stay healthy and look its best.
Pruning can remove dead or damaged growth and encourage new, healthy growth.
To prune your succulent, use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to cut off any dead or damaged leaves or stems.
Groom your succulent by removing any yellow or wilted leaves, and dusting off the leaves to keep them clean.
This will help your succulent to absorb more light and look more attractive.
You know how frustrating it is when you cant seem to get your orchid to bloom? Or when you think that you are not really sure what you are doing wrong? I have been there, felt that way many of times. It’s not fun, so I wanted to tell you you what works for me.
There aren’t many things that feel as good as when you see your orchid opening up and you get the beautiful bloom that happens about once a year for about six to ten weeks. So I hope that what I have to say can help you at least a little bit in some way.
Have you ever had issues getting your moth orchid to bloom? Or perhaps you are asking yourself if there is a way to get my orchid to potentially bloom a little more often. Now my opinion is that there is a bit of knowledge and for the plants sake, luck to be involved to have longer and potentially more frequent blooms.
If you want to entice your moth orchid to bloom, or bloom more often you are going to have to create an environment that allows for it. This means having your orchid in an optimal setting in order to maximize the potential for blooming.
Picking the right pot for your orchid
Picking the right pot is a very important part of having an orchid. Some people choose to not have a pot, and root them on pieces of wood. However for most people, you would be picking a nice pot.
The best pot for an orchid is mainly going to consist of it being able to get rid of excess water. Standing water for the orchid root system is really bad. It can lead to root rot, which can be hard to notice until later stages if the majority of roots are under sight lines. If you are looking for orchid specific containers they will normally have many holes, sometimes even on the sides. The holes allow for that drainage as well as air flow.
You can also use the holes in the sides to do root checkups to make sure they aren’t experiencing any root rot.
I personally really like a glazed pot that have designs for the holes. A shiny earthy look is something that really pops with the bloom of an orchid for me. Another type I like is a terracotta type holder, but you do have to make sure that it drains enough because a lot of regular terracotta doesn’t have holes in the sides from what I have seen.
How to choose good lighting for your orchid
A good consistent spot is going to be crucial for a moth orchid to be happy, and healthy. Moth orchids prefer indirect light as opposed to direct light. Direct light can be too much for the moth orchid and create burns on the leaves.
Not enough light can also prevent the orchid from blooming, or slow blooming down. So you will want to find a good balance and adjust slightly here and there to get it perfect. Light green leaves will be a decent key to knowing if your plant is happy or not. Yellowing leaves in spots is a sign that it may be getting burned.
What Humidity and temperature does my orchid need?
When you wake up it’s cold outside, your house is a little bit colder than normal. Do ever just want to stay wrapped up in your blanket? Well that can be similar to how your orchid may feel when exposed to the wrong humidity and temperature.
The winter generally has less humidity because it is cold
For the temperature you will want to keep the area around 70 during the day and around 60 at night (55 is about as low as they will want to go). Too cold of temperatures, and constant temperatures over 90 can definitely stress the orchid out. Drastic changes in the temperature beyond like 20 degrees can also stress the plant out as well. It would not really know what is going on or how to react.
As far as humidity goes, orchids like it to be from 40%-70% humidity. This gives you some options, I honestly prefer orchids to be where there is no question of humidity, and that would be the bathroom for me. Particularly because I have a skylight that gives them plenty of indirect sunlight. If you don’t have room in your bathroom, or just don’t want them inside your bathroom, you have some options.
Tip: Air circulation is good for your plants and you. It gives you both fresh air, and gets rid of the old air. Just make sure it isn’t hurricane force wind, because that won’t be great.
One option may be a good option for you is to get a clay pot that has a humidity tray built. Or if you don’t want to transplant your orchid, you can get this humidity tray. It’s subtle, looks sleek and would go with most pots, and it’s pretty affordable.
Another option is a humidifier, this is for more of setting in rooms where the humidity would generally be lower but you want your plants there. This can be good if you have some plants that like higher humidity, not just orchids. These are also nice if your nose tends to get dry during the winter when you sleep, but that’s really just a bonus.
I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Watering your orchid
Another crucial part of having a healthy orchid is making sure it is watered correctly. I like misting the roots. Using a mister for watering the roots allows for you to spray the roots with less risk on having water spray into the crown. At least this is something that works for us.
You also really want to avoid getting standing water on the leaves, as well as avoiding water getting into the crown (where the leaves kind of create a cup looking area). Water standing on leaves can lead to damage, or infection on the plant.
If you are interested in a mister you can check this one out on Amazon which comes in different colors. These are low cost but tend to last if you use care. They look a lot better than a plastic spray bottle in my opinion. The nozzle is elongated allowing for you to get the mist where you want it.
I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Tip:Overwatering is more dangerous to your orchid than underwatering. I think of it like adding salt to a dish. You can always add more salt, but if you add too much salt at the beginning the dish is ruined.
Choosing proper soil and fertilizer for your orchid
Choices, choices, choices. There are almost too many choices when it comes to choosing a medium for an orchid. You will want to avoid just random potting soil. Various brands produce specific orchid potting mix.
Usually these mixes contain some variance of bark size, which will allow for easy draining of the water. It might also contain some moss or pearlite as well.
At my house, we have I think 7 orchids off the top of my head. Currently we are using the “Miracle-Gro; Orchid Potting Mix Course Blend”. We haven’t noticed any issues as far as stagnant water or root rot with it. They also give a pretty helpful reminder on the back of the bag. It is also really affordable.
As far as fertilizer or “plant food” my girlfriend and I have been using “Miracle-Gro Orchid Plant Food Spikes” and I haven’t noticed any negative effects. I really like it because like the potting mix, it reminds you when you should be using it. Both of these are pretty affordable.
If you want an Orchid potting mix, and fertilizer without having to make it yourself. Check the “Plant Care Bundle” out on Amazon. Look at some reviews and see if it’s for you. Like I said, this is what we are currently using, and I can’t complain yet.
I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
I really hope that this article can help you become more confident on your green thumb abilities. Most of this is trial and error. Figuring out how your plants react to things and reading the situation. You will be able to figure out what your plant needs in no time.
If you have any questions or if I got something wrong please let me know.
As always, thank you for reading
-Plant Dummy
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Have you ever felt groggy and irritated in the morning? I am taking a wild guess and saying the answer is most likely yes. What if there were things that you could implement in your life that not only looks good, but has a function as well.
I wanted to put together a list of plants that aren’t terrible to take care of that also help with something in the bathroom that has to do with either convenience, or functionality to you. I actually ask myself quite often if my plants are happy and in the best place. So I hope that this can help you in your decision making. This is my list of plants that should be in your bathroom.
Whatever you decide to stick your air plant to, most likely it will be happy. If it looks a little dry, maybe give it a little drink of water by dipping, or misting it. These cheap almost impossible to kill in a bathroom plants are perfect if you want to add a little bit of flavor to the room. They are really nice because they don’t need soil to survive which gives you a ton of options.
I really like the natural look on some natural wood, or maybe a cool decorative item that needs a top piece. Whether you need a tiny piece or a couple of bigger pieces, you can’t go wrong.
I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
If you are looking for a wide variety of air plants Succulents Box has it to where you can have them shipped to your door where you get a different kind each time. Or you could just order what one you want, they are a pretty good price as well. You also get a 15% off your first order right now, which is a really nice deal.
I personally really want to get the Spanish moss for my bathroom and have it mounted on a small piece of wood. I have to keep my eye out for what I need.
Considering that the Monstera is native to Central America, warmer humid places should be alright for the Monstera to thrive in.
These plants like indirect sunlight, and a pot that allows for drainage. They generally tend to love the extra humidity compared to the rest of the house. Quite a bit of indirect sunlight is preferred for them, so if you have a skylight or window, they can get indirect light from, that would be ideal.
They can grow pretty big, as you can tell in the picture. So for me they are an eye catcher for sure. Give a smaller one some time and it will be on it’s way to looking like a proper Monstera.
Okay, okay I know that this technically isn’t a houseplant that you typically would grow indoors. Most people think of big trees, but hear me out okay? I didn’t know this until recently. People tend to put eucalyptus branches, or leaves hanging from the behind of the showerhead. The mist and the scent from the eucalyptus helps with congestion and overall feeling. I think it is beneficial to most and would look nice to all.
There are some smaller eucalyptus bushes that people sell online at different vendors. I am not sure on how often you would be able to trim it to hang fresh pieces in the shower.
I love the smell of eucalyptus. It has a minty, fresh scent with a bit of honey. Usually people associate the smell with a relaxing feeling, and being able to breathe better.
How do you know when to get new eucalyptus? It is suggested to get new ones once the scent weakens and you no longer feel the benefits.
If you aren’t sure where to get your hands on some really good quality and nice priced eucalyptus branches. I would suggest to check out BotanticaFleur on Etsy They have over 2000 almost all 5-star reviews, and are just about to hit 20,000 sales overall. This is not a sponsored link. I want to make that clear, I just think that they have a good quality product that people are really loving. They are a good price, and they will look perfect hanging in your bathroom. I am endorsing it because I think the product is good to have!
English Ivy
English Ivy – Plant Dummy
I love a lot of different kinds of Ivy. English Ivy which I may be biased for right now is a great choice for the bathroom.
It looks great hanging, and loves the humidity. You could even string it along something if you wanted to give more of a climbing look to it. Like maybe if it were on the shower wall wanting to climb up, or over.
One thing that I recommend with English Ivy is making sure it stays controlled, and personally for me, inside. Once English Ivy starts growing outside, it can be very hard to stop.
That is my only fair warning when it comes to this plant. It is a gift because it is so hard to kill. Especially in preferred environments but from my own personal experience it can be very hard to get rid of unmaintained Ivy outside.
English Ivy likes a pot that can drain. To be watered thoroughly, and for it’s soil to dry to about a little bit past your first knuckle. They like temperatures around 60 degrees, a little bit cooler or warmer is okay for them as well. Another nice thing about English ivy is that propagating is pretty easy, and you have a decent amount of options to choose from with tip, or the stem trimmings.
Keep an eye out for spider mites, a lot of times when you bring an ivy home from the store. It could have some spider mites, just be prepared. It isn’t a huge deal check this out if you want some pointers on how to deal with pests.
The moth orchid is beautiful with other plants, or stand alone. Originating from humid climates makes having it in the bathroom a no brainer. They bloom normally once a year, but even when they aren’t bloomed they look elegant. There are a bunch of ways you can root them, whether it is in a pot that drains well, or rooted on a piece of wood. It really depends on what kind of look you want to go for.
Moth orchids don’t require too much light which is typically nice for a bathroom. They enjoy shaded light. You can mist the root system to water it, which is what we do at my house. I like the misting method because it lessens the risk of getting water into the crown (where the leaves join in the middle). Don’t let the roots sit in water because that will lead to root rot.
It is important to pick out the right type of pot for your orchid. Just make sure that it is able to drain properly. Or you could even avoid the whole pot thing and mount it on a piece of wood. However, that can be a bit more tedious and in my opinion harder to make look nice.
You can check out other common orchid issues here if you are curious to learn more.
Let me ask you. Where do you normally see ferns? If you don’t know, the answer would be typically in the woods and in humid areas. Ferns in general typically thrive in humid conditions. This makes them a wonderful plant to have added to your bathroom collection.
Boston ferns in particular like really humid places, and shaded indirect light. Think of a forest floor with a bit of light peaking through the canopy. This indirect light supplemented with some mist on the leaves because of the humidity in the bathroom makes the ferns happy.
Make sure your Boston ferns soil is consistently damp. I remember my fern started yellowing and it was most likely because a lack of humidity, or not enough water. Ferns don’t look good when they are starting to yellow, they look sad. Make sure they get enough water.
Similar to ivy, because there is a lot of surface area to these plants. You have to keep an eye out for pests. These pests can be tricky to see sometimes such as spider mites because they are so small. Make sure you know how to spot and treat these pests properly. I really tried to take my time with that article so I hope it can help you.
I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Thanks for reading:
If I there are any plants that you think should have had an honorable mention, let me know down below. I would love to hear your ideas of what plants go best in the bathroom!
I only want to suggest things that I like myself, or think would be nice to have.
Thank you again for reading,
Plant Dummy
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Keeping your pets safe from toxic plants is an important thing to do. However, how would you know what plants also look really beautiful and are non toxic? Luckily for you, I took the time out of my day to come up with a quick list. These 8 plants, are Non-toxic to dogs/cats, they look amazing, and a bonus… They are relatively easy to care for.
AKA the moth orchid. This is a wonderful beautiful option to have in your home, not only because it is safe for your pets, it is also very beautiful.. You won’t have to worry about your small fur friend getting sick because of it. However that might not stop your pet from being mean to the plant. I must suggest putting the plant in an area where your pet can’t knock it over, or chew on it damaging the plant.
I really like this plant, it is a beautiful plant that belongs to the pineapple family, loves bright light and humidity. When it is finished blooming you can repot the pups (little starters that grow from the bottom of the mother plant) if you wish to propagate more of these beautiful plants. Blushing bromeliads usually produces more than 1 pup, so if you enjoy the plant you can easily have multiples. These plants can range in size greatly, but can be 2 inches – 1 foot tall and up to two feet wide.
Air plants or Tillandsia plants can be fun, as they don’t need to be rooted to anything. You can glue them to basically whatever you want that you think looks appealing. They are simple, cheap and easy to take care of. I think this would be a good first plant for a child, because of the above reasons, and they are really hard to kill. You do want to make sure that your pet won’t try to eat them though because they could be a choking hazard. You can see air plants in the store, like Lowes, or even Target. You don’t water your air plant like a normal plant, you dip it in some water to satisfy its thirst.
Burro’s tail is another unique plant that I love the look of. But be careful, if you move it too much the little leaves will fall off with almost no warning. The plant looks beautiful once it starts draping over the pot it sits in. From my experience are relatively easy to take care of, not requiring much, so they are a pretty decent option for newer plant owners as well. Just keep in mind to make sure your pet can’t knock it around though because it will lose some of the little leaves. I don’t think it losing some of the leaves will hurt it much. Mine has always recovered.
This plant won’t grow legs and crawl away we promise. They look beautiful hanging, or on the ground, or perhaps an end table. Spider plants are also incredibly easy and forgiving plant. Being able to take an array of neglect. However if you want them to really like living with you, they like well draining soil first and foremost, as well as bright non directed light. If you have a skylight, or perhaps a frosted window this may be a nice option to hang one somewhere as they look wonderful hanging in a macramé holder. The spider plant won’t hurt your wonderful pet, however it may steal some attention away from them, and could get an upset stomach.
You cant really go wrong with bamboo… It is so easy to grow, it lasts forever as well as looks fantastic on a shelf, table or wherever your heart desires. Bamboo is non-toxic to dogs, cats, and even horses as far as the ASPCA is concerned. Something interesting about bamboo is how strong and resilient it is. In fact bamboo is 2-3 times stronger than timber. It’s tensile strength is also stronger than steel. Allow this plant to drain, as well as having plenty of light. Clean the container here and there to prevent unwanted algae.
I love ferns, they just look good. Whether its in a corner, or hanging, I love them. Ferns are relatively easy to care for, just make sure the soil is damp. They love humidity, they also like a cool place with indirect light. Think of a forest floor, not too much sun, where it’s nice, cool, and damp. If the fern turns a bit yellowish, it is a good sign to increase the humidity near your plant. Another reason that I like ferns so much is because they generally have pretty decent air cleansing qualities.
The Boston fern is no danger to your cat or dog. However from my experience, my cat loves to nibble on it.
I decided to add basil to the list because they are generally nice to have around the house. Especially to have some in the kitchen when you forgot to buy some from the store. They aren’t hard to grow, but sometimes they can be picky, luckily they aren’t an arm and a leg to acquire if something goes wrong. The basil plant will also be of no harm to your dog or cat.
If you suspect your pet has ingested a plant that is toxic, please call a local vet. Or if you aren’t sure, you can call the ASPCA hotline 24/7 by calling (888) 426-4435. As per their website there is a $75 fee. You can also see lists of toxic and non toxic plants on their website.
The citations and places I sourced some of my information is linked below:
Mizuno, H., Nell, Keshav, Adrienne, Denise, Johnny, . . . Common Houseplants: Details on Indoor Plants that are Low-Maintenance says:. (2020, December 02). Bromeliad care: How to grow this beauty indoors. Retrieved February 05, 2021, from https://www.joyusgarden.com/bromeliad-care/
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