Plant Guide-VLA Design

Plants are in!  As the silent superheroes of interiors, they battle pollution, anxiety and stress. They also give our eyes a rest from screens, and look great indoors!  Choosing the right plant will make a big difference in the overall look of a design, and since many of my clients ask how to care for the plants I select for them, I decided to create a “how-to” guide. Enjoy our hand drawn watercolor vignettes(they were fun to create)!  I encourage you to read the book “Wild at Home,” by Hilton Carter.  I loved it, not only is it beautiful, it’s a comprehensive guide to styling and caring for plants.  In this memorial day weekend, aside from partying use that extra day off to bring some plants indoors! You won’t regret it 🙂 

Air plants grow without soil and only take in water and nutrients through the leaves. Water air plants once a week by submerging the plant in water for 5-15 minutes or mist 2-3 times per week. An overwatered plant will not survive. An air plant should be able to completely dry in 2 hours. In our office we give a bath every week (on Fridays), its a fun routine!

Succulents have thick leaves and thrive in warm dry environments.Water succulents by saturating the soil ensuring the planter enough drainage to dry out the soil over time. Take care not to over-water, a succulent needs more water, but less frequently. Succulents are happy in sunny locations, give them 6 hours of sun a day! Wish I could do the same! 

Snake plants, also known as “mother-in-law tongue” are resilient in multitude of conditions (much like the real thing haha). Water snake plant every 2-6 weeks, and make sure the soil is completely dry before watering again. If you want a plant to ignore, this is the one for you! This plant will thrive in low or high light, but not in direct sunlight.

Bird of paradise is a leafy tropical plant that does well indoors and out. Water bird of paradise likes a moist but not soggy soil, and appreciates an occasional misting. Be sure to use distilled or filtered tap water if you notice the leaves are browning. Bird of paradise will thrive in a sunny spot, but can handle a range of light levels from direct sunlight to low indirect light. Despite this plants many rules, I’ve found it easy to maintain. 

Green Congo has a green leaf with characteristic red tone in the stem or under the leaf. This plant loves moderation in sunlight with a preference for diffused natural light. When watering do not saturate the soil, instead water in moderately.

A monstera plant is characterized by its teardrop shaped split leaves. Happy in any light condition, but this plant must avoid direct sunlight or the leaves will burn. Water your monstera moderately to avoid letting the roots stand in water.  Looks so good in a woven basket! 

Pothos plant has lovely vine-like leaves that drape. This plant will thrive in low light and high-indirect light, but will burn in direct sunlight. For the one who doesn’t have a green thumb, this plant is a great way to start! 

 

This plant prefers bright light and moderate watering. Allowing the soil to be moist but not drenched is preferable. 

Happy indoor gardening!