Our environments shape us in ways we never imagined. The same is true for plants. Creating a safe space for your plants takes a little trial and error but it’s doable. Read ahead for our guide on getting started.
Room To Grow
Your apartment is an environment — no matter how small it is — and within it are micro environments. When you put a plant in your space, you’ll need to consider the micro environments and decide where your plant will live its best life. Near a sunny window, it may be warm, bright and dry. In a shaded corner, it may be dark and cool. As much as we want a plant to ‘look’ great in our space, putting their needs first is a must. Besides, most plants look great any where you place them.
Look at your space and your plant as a whole. Your apartment has a climate and it’s always in flux. This is good to keep in mind especially with changes in seasons. What we want to do is try to recreate a plants’ natural environment as best as we can. If you want a cactus, you’ll need to make sure your space is mostly sunny and dry. If you have a darker space, your best bet is shade-loving fern, or a low light tolerant snake plant.
Hot and Cold
Most houseplants respond well to humidity, especially tropical plants, air plants and ferns who reap the health benefits from a humid space. We suggest investing in a room humidifier — good for you and for your plants. Dry air is especially a problem in the wintertime, when forced-air vents, as well as cool outdoor conditions, vastly decrease air humidity levels.
Have an A/C unit? Keep plants far away from it. Same goes for radiators and forced-air vents. A plant near a cooling A/C unit or a hot radiator is an uncomfortable situation. If your A/C unit is in your window or if your only window is near a radiator, consider hanging planters that can float safely, at least three feet above. You can also try a radiator cover. Get DIY with a wood slat crate and make yourself mock shelf to elevate potted plants above the A/C or radiator.
Have outdoor space? Lucky you. A rooftop, fire escape or balcony can be a great place to catch some rays on a summer day. If you can’t stand the heat for a few hours, chances are your plant can’t either. Concrete and bricks from surrounding buildings intensify the heat. Same goes for freezing temps. Try not to subject your plant to anything too extreme.
We want to recreate a plant's natural environment as close as possible.
In summer, the sun is in the sky for longer and your plants will dry out faster. You may want to be watering indoor plants a few times a week, especially in sunny spots. In winter, you may be watering less than that. Consider the angle of the sun in the sky — it is lower and can affect how much light is comes in through the window. Is the sun blocked by a nearby building or tree? Window sills that are sunny in the summer may be shady in the wintertime. See where the sun hits with the changing seasons and move your plants around so they’re getting the most light out of your space.
Plants Are Like People
Remember your plant is not a piece of furniture. It’s a living, breathing organism that grows and responds to you and the space you live in. Keep plants healthy by giving it some basic needs — love, light and water, and change the scene from time to time. Happy plants make a happy home.
