Top 10 Houseplants, you should not miss

When we go to buy a new plant, we should remember to take a good look at it first .

What to check? 🌿

• The plant looks healthy
• It has no yellow, blotchy or dry leaves
• It is nicely branched and robust, not just thin and tall
• It has no pests (check stems and both sides of leaves)
• Nothing moves in the clay and the substrate isn't moldy

Tilandsia - air plant

The flower comes from the desert area, its roots twine around tree branches or rocks. They get all of their nutrients from the humidity of the air, which they absorb thanks to small scales on their surface, not through the roots. Therefore, it makes no sense to plant it in clay, where the roots can get molded.

☀️ Indirect sun (areas around windows facing the north, east or west)

💧 We do not water them, only dew them 2-4 times a week (less when out of season)

❄️Room temperature, not below 15 ° C, and a well ventilated place

➕ It is propagated by "babies" which grow on the lower part of the plants. Divide those babies when they have 3 or more cm in size

⭐️ Use special fertilizers in spray form for tilandsia and bromeliads

Marimo Moss Ball - green pet

Marimo is a plant that can serve as a pet - you can, and even should pet it (roll it around in your hands). It is green algae curled into balls due to the fact that water currents roll them over at the bottom of freshwater lakes in Iceland, Japan or Scotland. It has no core - it is hollow. Growing algae is extremely simple, all you have to do is change the water once per week or two. Algae balls are bought either in aquatic shops or in specialized plant stores.

☀️ Indirect sun (areas around windows facing the north, east, west)

💧 The water (preboiled and cooled down) must be changed once a week or two

❄️ They like colder water and therefore colder habitats

➕ Algae cannot reproduce well, but parts (new plants) separate from it naturally

⭐️ To keep the algae ball beautifully round, roll it around in your hands every time you change the water

Monstera

The queen of indoor plants, Monstera, is easy to grow and is also very photogenic! This beauty can grow up to a height of three meters and its massive leaves can have up to 50 cm in diameter. But be careful if you have small kids or pets - if they manage to eat monstera´s leaves they will probably have unpleasant stomach problems.

☀️ Indirect sun (areas around windows facing the north, east or west). If there are no holes in leaves, then the plant probably does not have enough light.

💧 Water it after the soil has dried out, about once a week. Monstera loves dewy leaves

❄️ Room temperature. The higher the room temperature is, the faster it grows

➕ It is possible to propagate by cutting off the leaf. Put it in water and let it form roots, then put it into soil

⭐️ Fertilize 1x every 14 days, in winter 1x every 2 months

Succulents

Succulents are plants that keep water in their stems and leaves, which helps them survive long periods of drought. Cacti and aloe vera both belong in this category (see below). It is possible to make something that resembles a bonsai tree out of some types of succulents - the system is easy, when the plant does not have enough water it takes it from lower leaves which dry out and fall down afterwards

☀️ Direct sun (window sills and areas next to the window, typically southern facing)

💧 Water them after the soil dries out. Evening is the best time to do it, but beware of overwatering!

❄️Stable temperature around 25 ° C, in winter 10-15 ° C (without watering). In summer it is possible to move them outside to a flowerpot (not in direct sunlight)

➕ Propagation is possible by creating cuttings (one leaf or bigger part), put them in water, then into the soil and wait, it takes around month for the first roots to appear

⭐️ Fertilize them once every month or two (only during the growing season)

Chinese money plant / Pancake plant

Pilea peperomioides is a plant from the mountain areas of China, then it came to Europe thanks to Norwegian missionaries in 1946. An interesting fact about this plant is that until the 1980s nobody in Europe knew where this flower had come from.

☀️ Semi shadow (a dark place where you can still read a book comfortably)

💧 Mild watering once a week, less often in winter. It tolerates drought better than overflow.

❄️ Room temperature

➕ It can not be propagated by cuttings, it is necessary to wait until a separate plant appears in the soil, then you can move it

⭐️ More permeable substrate is suitable - for example, soil mixed with sand

Aloe Vera

Aloe is succulent - it collects water supply in its leaves. Aloe is known for its healing effects - it contains soothing, antifungal and anti-inflammatory ingredients used to treat burns and small cuts. Long-term use, which may cause rashes, is not recommended

☀️ Partially direct sun (a place where the sun shines directly at max. 5 hours a day)

💧 Water the soil after it dries out, then moisten it completely, but do not let the plant stand in water

❄️ Aloe doesn't like temperatures below 5 ° C or tiring heat. You can put the plant outside in summer (not in direct sunlight)

➕ To propagate it we need to wait till new small plants appear in the soil. Than you can divide it

⭐️ The most suitable growing medium is permeable soil mixed with sand or soil intended for cacti. Fertilize once  a year

Cactus plants

Everyone knows cacti - basically they are succulents with a specific structure and thorns (in which the leaves have changed). Do you want to have a flowering cactus? Choose the species Echinocactus, Mamillaria, Lobivia, Notocactus, Rebutia, Rhipsalidopsis or Zygopetalon mackaii, they bloom most willingly.

☀️ Direct sun (window sills and areas next to the window, typically southern facing)

💧 Water after the soil has dried out. Typically once every week or two in the evening, less in winter

❄️ Room temperature, in winter 10-15 ° C (without watering)

➕ Propagation by cuttings, let it air dry for a few days and plant it in slightly moist soil

⭐️ There is no need to fertilize the cactus during the annual transplanting (spring)

Chlorophytum - spider plant

An undemanding hanging houseplant that cleans the air in the room. It can also be planted in a flower bed or in a flowerpot on the outer side of window. It is one of the most suitable plants for beginner growers, so long as it adapts well to the amount of light and watering.

☀️ Direct sun or partial shade

💧 Once a week, avoid overwatering

❄️ Room temperature

➕ You can propagate it from small plants that appear at the end of leaves. It can also be propagated by dividing the mother plant

⭐️ We fertilize every 14 days in season

Ficus

The ficus is an undemanding room plant that cleans the air! Grown inside they grow anywhere from 30 to 200 cm. There are over 1000 species of ficus. There are also overhanging types (pumila ficus) and bonsai ones (ginseng ficus). The only thing to watch out for is the white liquid flowing out of the injured parts of the plants - it is slightly poisonous (we can stop its production by dewing the wound).

☀️ Indirect sun (areas around windows facing the north, east or west).

💧 They like moist substrate, but don't leave too much water down in the bowl! It loves to be dewy  

❄️ It doesn't like temperature changes, so do not move it from place to place. It prefers warmth

➕ It multiplies by cuttings - put the cutting into water for 2 hours, then plant it with rolled-up leaves, fixed with a rubber band (prevention of water loss)

⭐️ Fertilize once every 14 days with liquid fertilizer (in season)

The following tools will be suitable for cultivation:

• Trowel
• Fertilizer (liquid or solid)
• Gardening gloves
• Bamboo sticks and wire to support larger plants
• Scissors
• Watering can
• Leaf sprayer
• Sponge or soft cloth for wiping leaves