Houseplants

The most important thing you can do to get your Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) to bloom each year is to ensure it goes through a proper dormant phase with shorter days …

I’m always nervous when I have to repot a cactus. I despair. Then I prepare. Then I collect everything that could ever be of use to transplant my cacti safely.  …

Would you like to see a really cool plant? Because I would very much like to show you the coolest-looking plant I found. It’s definitely the weirdest plant I’ve bought …

The most common complaint from Christmas and other holiday cactus owners is they can never get their plants to bloom. But a close second is having a Christmas cactus drop …

I often see peace lilies make it to the top of lists of houseplants that thrive on neglect. I believe – and you can disagree – that no plant thrives …

Is it just me, or are poinsettias showing up in stores earlier each year? I went to the grocery store last week and was met with a wall of red …

In your houseplant-keeping journey, you’ve probably noticed that your foliage plants are all some variant of green. Emerald green, yellow-green, pale jade green, sage green; you get the idea. Pink, …

Hoyas are an attractive tropical houseplant with shiny, thick leaves, which are the obvious inspiration for its common name – wax plant. It’s this beautiful, lush foliage that makes it …

It’s one thing to find a mushroom on your walk in the woods; it’s another to find one peeking out of the potting soil of one of your houseplants. How …

Easter cactus, or Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, are often confused with their cousins – Christmas and Thanksgiving cactus. Maybe that’s why you’re here. You read this article about Christmas cactus and realized …

So, you finally discovered the secret to getting your Christmas (or other holiday cactus) to bloom. Do you want to know another secret? You can get it to bloom again …

I’ll bet I know why you’re here. Some well-meaning friend or family member told you your plant wasn’t a Christmas cactus. Or maybe you’ve had a Christmas cactus for ages, …

I have been growing (and killing) houseplants for decades, and after years of experience, pothos has become my go-to houseplant. They’re beautiful, lush, easy to get your hands on, even …

Snake plants are popular houseplants for many reasons. Lovely to look at, easy to keep alive, and slow growing enough to maintain their shape long-term, there’s much to like about …

When you think of blooming houseplants, I’ll bet you don’t think of snake plants. Yet, the recently reclassified Sansevieria trifasciata does, in fact, flower. They can bloom, usually once a …

Many years ago, when I first discovered that a surefire way to get free houseplants was to bring some in from the garden, you would have thought I’d hit the …

All-purpose potting soil has been around for quite some time. Its invention changed how we garden. It has made growing plants easy and accessible, whether you have a large plot …

Why isn’t my peace lily blooming? It’s the most commonly asked question about this popular beginner’s houseplant. And while Google will throw numerous articles at you with numbered lists suggesting …

While orchids are becoming increasingly common in garden centers (and even grocery stores!), an aura of mystery remains around them. Their svelte form and tropical plumage can feel intimidating for …

Inch plant, spiderwort, Wandering Dude, whatever you call them, tradescantia is the perfect houseplant for when you get tired of all the philodendrons that look the same. Tradescantia, which are …

Repotting a monstera is one thing when they’re still small; repotting them once they’ve been staked and growing up a support is another. But it’s not difficult; it just takes …

Create a weighted monstera pot with an embedded support pole in an afternoon, and grow the monstera of your dreams. There is great pride in growing a massive Monstera deliciosa …

Breakthroughs in breeding practices have turned the once-elusive orchid into one of the most popular gifted plants. The abundant blooms are surprisingly durable and will last for months. But once …

African violets have specific soil needs that can’t be met with all-purpose potting mix. Despite all the specialized African violet potting mixes there are, most still fall short. Over the …