Tag: houseplants

The Easiest Houseplants For Beginners

Are you constantly struggling to keep houseplants alive? Perhaps you’re new to owning houseplants and looking for something simple to start off with.

If any of these sound like you, we’ve got everything you need to know right here.

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Houseplant and gardening expert Fiona Jenkins at MyJobQuote.co.uk has compiled this list of the easiest houseplants for beginners.

In this list, you’ll find a range of houseplants in all different shapes and sizes – perfect for bringing a bit of variety to any space. Take a look at Fiona’s list below and bring some nature and greenery into your home today!

Snake Plant

Snake plants are very easy to care for and the perfect option for people who are new to caring for houseplants. Snake plants can survive in most light conditions – just don’t keep them in complete darkness or extreme direct sunlight.

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Watering a snake plant is very easy. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering. If you’re someone who often forgets to water plants, don’t worry. Snake plants are quite forgiving and won’t suffer too much from a lack of water. Just make sure to check the soil whenever you remember and top it up with water if the soil is dry.

You can keep a snake plant looking beautifully fresh easily by simply wiping any dust off the leaves. You only need to do this every now and again when you notice a dust build-up.

Devil’s Envy

Devil’s Envy is often sometimes known as Golden Pothos, Hunter’s Robe, or Ceylon Creeper. This is one of the most popular houseplants among people wanting to bring a bit of greenery into their homes.

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This plant can quite happily live in darkness and shaded areas, so it’s perfect for an indoor plant. It makes a great climbing or hanging plant.

This plant is quick to grow and tolerant of all lighting conditions. However, it will thrive in bright, indirect sunlight. You can easily tell when this plant needs a drink as the leaves will begin to curl. 

Silver Vine

The silver vine is growing in popularity as a houseplant. Again, this is a brilliant climbing or hanging plant for beginners.

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Although it is mostly accustomed to warmer climates, this plant can also cope well in cooler homes. The speckled leaves on this plant are unique and bring a lot of beauty.

Similar to the Devil’s Envy plant, Silver Vines will also tell you when they are thirsty as the leaves will begin to curl. This makes it an easy choice for people who may not remember when to water their plants.

Corn Plant

Corn plants, also known as Dracaena Fragrans, can grow very tall in the wild. However, you won’t need to worry too much about it growing out of control when it’s in a pot in your home.

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This plant is very easy to grow and is also considered to be a symbol of reason and good fortune.

Similar to a Snake plant, simply allow the soil to dry out before watering this plant. If anything is wrong with the plant, it will let you know in plenty of time. However, these plants are pretty hardy, and it’s rare for any issues to occur. To keep the plant looking beautiful and fresh, give the leaves a wipe every now and again.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera plants and other succulents are perfect for people who are new to caring for houseplants. These plants are fine if you forget to water them and can usually withstand neglect.

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The Aloe Vera plant is also very useful. The gel that oozes from the leaves is great for soothing and healing minor burns and cuts.

Aloe Vera plants are quite hardy but are best placed in an area of indirect sunlight to prevent them from becoming scorched.

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Dobbies: Give a gift that will grow

Houseplants are the new bouquets according to a recent survey by Dobbies Garden Centres, in which 24% of Edinburgh residents said they preferred to receive houseplants rather than cut flowers because they last longer.

A further 31% of Brits said they would happily give a houseplant as a gift.

Houseplants are the ultimate sustainable gift, especially for Valentine’s Day, where a long-lasting houseplant acts as a reminder to your loved ones for years to come.

Dobbies’ Edinburgh and little dobbies’ Stockbridge stores have a wide range of cost-effective houseplants are the perfect way to show your appreciation for your partner with a gift that will last. With a multitude of positive effects, houseplants have air-purifying benefits, and can enhance your home, as well as your wellbeing. 

From the green-fingered plant parent to the novice gardener, Dobbies has a houseplant to make everyone feel good. Follow Dobbies’ Senior Houseplant Buyer Claire Bishop’s top tips on ensuring your gift will grow to its fullest potential:

“Houseplants make a beautiful addition to any space with their greenery and colour.

“If you are in search of a romantic but low-maintenance plant, Phalaenopsis will make an impression. These are one of the most popular houseplants, and flowering houseplants are a key trend for 2023. They make a wonderful present for anyone, coming in a range of colours as well as being easy to care for. Place them in bright, centrally heated room (but out of direct summer sun) and watch them bloom!

“Our limited edition Anthurium Clarinervium is ideal if you prefer a tropical look, with its stunning deep green leaves overlain with decorative white. Native to southern Mexico, this rare houseplant loves humidity and would find itself at home in a shower room or steamy kitchen. Ensure its soil is damp but not over-saturated by misting regularly.

“Aglaonema’s stunning variegated leaves and variations of colours lend a pop of colour to any home, guaranteeing your loved one will be thrilled to receive this patterned beauty. This houseplant loves a warm, consistent temperature so keep away from any cold air drafts. In lower light areas, aim to periodically rotate your plant for even growth.”

Visit in store or online at www.dobbies.com to explore Dobbies range of houseplants and Valentine’s gifting ideas, with plenty of styles and sizes to suit every budget and space.

For top tips on caring for houseplants, listen to Claire’s advice on the Positively Plants podcast www.dobbies.com/podcasts

Residents in Edinburgh invited to start New Year positively with a free Dobbies’ event

Positively Plants and garden resolutions at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store this January

Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, is hosting two free workshops this January in its Edinburgh store to encourage customers of all ages to make a positive start to 2023.

Dobbies’ first Grow How session of the year takes place on Saturday 7 January at 10:30am and will give customers in Edinburgh a guide on how to incorporate houseplants into their home.

Dobbies’ experts will showcase the different air purifying houseplants available to buy, how to use them in your indoor spaces, all the benefits associated with having houseplants, and care tips on how to look after them. Incorporating houseplants into your home will help brighten your indoor space, in addition to having a positive effect on your overall wellbeing as we enter the new year. 

The Little Seedlings Club is great for kids aged 4-10 and takes place on the morning of Sunday 8 January in Edinburgh with free bookable sessions. This January, attendees will learn how to have a wonderful new year in the garden, discovering the history of new year, traditions and resolutions, the luck and prosperity associated with eating black-eyed peas-beans, alongside plants to grow in January, seeds to sow and how to prepare your garden for the year ahead.

Dobbies’ Partnership and Events Manager, Sarah Murray, said: “January is a great time to make plans and learn a new skill or hobby. We’re always looking to help sow some passion and encourage our customers in Edinburgh to try something new.

“Houseplants are a great way to enhance your space and improve your mood – not only will your home feel refreshed, but so will you. We’re looking forward to our houseplant Grow How event being a popular one. For our Little Seedlings, our workshop on making a positive start in the garden aims to be both motivational and inspiring for young gardening fans.

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our sessions throughout 2022 and are excited to kick off the year with these two, free workshops to help customers start as they mean to go on.”

Sustainability is at the core of Dobbies’ workshops and its horticultural experts will be showcasing the fantastic range of environmentally-friendly products available to purchase in-store.

For more information about both events in Edinburgh and how you can participate, visit dobbies.com/events.

Six of the hardest houseplants to keep alive

It’s National Houseplant Day (really!) and novice plant parents have been warned about six of the hardest houseplants to keep alive.

Plant pros from GardeningExpress.co.uk have revealed some of the houseplants that prove difficult to keep flourishing without doing the right research or having the correct equipment.

In order to keep miniature roses alive indoors, growers would have to mimic outdoor growing conditions for this high-maintenance “houseplant” which would require humidifiers, grow lights and even a miniature fan.

Orchids also have a reputation for being quite difficult to grow, as the tropical plants have specific needs including a particularly sparse watering schedule.

A spokesperson for Gardening Express said: “Thanks to Instagram, houseplants are more popular than ever, but it’s not always as easy as popping a plant where it looks nicest and watering it when you remember.

“Some are more high maintenance that others, and we’ve revealed six of the hardest to keep alive without properly considering their specific requirements.”

1. Boston Fern

This lush, leafy plant can give your home serious jungle vibes – as long as you can successfully mimic the growing conditions of its first home, the tropical and sub-tropical rainforests. Without warmer temperatures, high humidity, and lots of filtered light, a sad fern will shed its leaves.

2. Miniature Roses

If you buy one of these plants in a pot, it typically needs to be moved outdoors within two weeks in order to thrive. Otherwise, you’ll have to mimic outdoor growing conditions for this high-maintenance “houseplant” which would require all sorts of equipment – a humidifier, grow light and even a miniature fan.

3. Orchid

Characterised by their colourful blooms and slender stems, orchids have a reputation for being quite difficult to grow. The tropical plants have quite specific needs – namely bright, indirect sunlight and a sparse watering schedule.

4. African Violets

African Violets love humidity, which is why many people place them on top of steam radiators. You could also place bowls of water among your plants, place their pots in a tray on top of a bed of wet gravel, or let them sit in the water that drains out of the pots after you water the plants.

5. Zebra plant

Many homeowners admire these plants for their glossy white-veined leaves and yellow blooms, but the showy houseplants require tediously specific growing conditions including a consistent temperature, humidity and moist soil.

6. Cheese plant

Although some sources claim this tropical plant is easy to grow, the truth is that you must do quite a lot to keep it flourishing. The iconic holes in this plant’s leaves will not form on new leaves if the plant receives too much sun, so you have to experiment to find the perfect spot in the house.

February houseplant of the month: winter bloomers

Winter bloomers offer scent and colour 
Winter bloomers are ideal plants for bringing the spring indoors when everything outside is still grim and bare. Colourful primula (Primula obconia), cheerful ragwort (Senecio) and white jasmine(Jasminium) provide scent and colour in the home in many shapes and sizes. They’re easy to look after, and have been specially grown to be able to go outdoors as well when the temperature rises above 10°C.
Origin 
Wild primulas often occur in the mountains on the northern hemisphere. There are some 15 varieties in the European Alps. Ragwort has travelled across from Australia and New Zealand, and occurs widely on the Canary Islands. Jasmine is a (sub-)tropical climber from the temperate regions of Asia which can also do well indoors if it’s given enough moisture and warmth.
What to look for when buying Winter bloomers 
  • All winter bloomers are keen drinkers, so check the soil is sufficiently damp when buying. Drooping leaves are a sign that the plant has been kept too dry.
  • Check the number of buds and the ripeness of the buds on all winter bloomers. Ideally they should already be showing some colour.
  • Primula and ragwort should have attractive, smooth leaves, whilst jasmine should have dense tendrils with lots of buds.
  • Look out for leaf-miner flies and aphids, and in the case of primula and ragwort also check for Botrytis, a fungus which can affect foliage and flowers when they’re too damp.
Range 
Primula offers cheerful flowers in pink, white, purple, lilac and blue which brighten your home when it’s still bleak outside. There are increasing numbers of bicoloured varieties.
Ragwort has green leaves which are a downy grey on the underside. The combination of green with ash grey sets off the fabulous flowers in white, blue, lilac, purple, pink, red and bicoloured beautifully.
Jasmine is a bush with dark green leaves and radiant star-shaped white flowers with a lovely fragrance. The long tendrils like to wrap, climb and meander.
Care tips for consumers 
  • Winter bloomers like a light and cool spot; avoid direct sunlight.
  • The soil should be slightly damp – avoid overwatering if possible.
  • Plant food once a fortnight helps winter bloomers to maintain enough strength for growing and flowering.
  • Wilted flowers can simply be picked off.