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House Plant Problems

One of the most frustrating parts of houseplant ownership is when a normally healthy plant starts dropping leaves or turning yellow and you’re not sure why. Don’t fret; many of these problems can be easily resolved with small care changes. Learn how to decode the messages your plant is sending—and how to fix them. You’ll be back to thriving, happy plants in no time!

Underwatering:

Signs: Soft, wilted, or curled leaves, drooping stems or whole plant slumped over; soil visibly dry, hard, and shrinking away from your container.

Treatment:

A severly underwatered plant will need to be bottom watered, usually for several hours, until the soil feels damp and supple again. Humidity-loving plants will perk back up faster if they are also kept in a high humidity area while soil is rehydrating. It make take a few hours or few days for a plant to look back to normal after underwatering incident.

Prevention:

Utilize a consistent watering routine, checking on your plant a regular intervals to ensure your are watering as soon as they need it. Also when purchasing your plant make sure you follow the plant care tips that come along with the plant, & if you don’t see the plant care tips, you can also google the plant a read a short care tip to follow.

Excess water

Signs: Yellowing leaves, water pooled at bottom of the container, visibly soggy soil with water squishing out when you press on the soil. Plant leaves falling off or quickly turning brown or black (this will happen to succulents & air plants)

Treatment: Depending on the extent of the damage, sometimes just emptying any excess water from the container and letting the lant dry out completlty before watering it again. If the soil is very waterlogged, it is best to remove the plant completlely and wrap it with a dry towel (the roots) & allowing the root to dry out a couple of days before placing it back into a well dry potting soil mix.

Prevention:

Often this problem is referred to as “overwatering” which can be a misnormer, since it is not just about how oftern or houw much you are watering but rather about the balance of how much water the plant can use compared to how much water is being stored in the soil.

Lack of light

plants leaning towards windows, doors or areas with brighter light. Sometimes this means their leaves will all start to face the light. Other times, the whole plant can start to lean, branches and all! Yellow, pale and very small leaves.

Treatment: Move the plant to brighter light do it graduallyy and rotate the plant towards the indirect or bright light.

Prevention

Keep plants in the apporopriate amount of light for their needs; remember that no plant will truly thrive in very low light or in the dark.

When choosing a houseplant and placing it in your home, remember that it was grown under ideal conditions in a greenhouse. The plant will need time to adjust to the light, humidity, and temperature conditions in your home. Don’t be alarmed if, in the meantime, leaves drop, leaf tips turn brown, or leaf color changes slightly. After the houseplant has been given enough time to become established and its condition does not improve it could be from one of these plant care problems.

Follow our plant/garden tips blog to learn more each week!

Monstera Plant Tips

Monsteras are very recognizable plants with big and beautiful leaves. As they’re tropical plants, they can be tough to take care of if you live in a colder climate, but even then, you can be successful with these plants. With these tips, even beginning plant parents will be able to take care of a Monstera. They’re low-maintenance plants that are great for any beginning plant owner. Monsteras are also very flexible when it comes to light requirements

The Monstera prefers in bright, indirect sunlight. This is a tropical plant and thrives if you can give it the light it gets in its native environment. In nature, it’s on the ground under large trees in very sunny areas, so this plant loves bright, indirect sunlight. Make sure to avoid too much direct sunlight in the summer because this could cause burn marks on those big and beautiful leaves. As the Monstera is near the ground in nature, it can tolerate low light but this will make it grow much slower. The plant needs light to be able to grow. If you keep the Monstera in an area that’s too dark, its leaves will turn yellow. If you see this happen, it’s a sign that you should move the plant to a better-lit environment.

Monsteras are tropical plants, which means they like to sit in moist soil. When it comes to watering, it needs to be watered as soon as the soil at the top of the pot is dry. You can check this by using a moisture meter or your finger. If the top 5 cm (2 inches) is dry, it’s time to water your plant. It’s best to not let the soil dry out too much because its leaves will start to droop. When this happens, you need to water the plant as soon as possible, because your Monstera is at risk of drying out. Another sign that your plant is starting to dry out is when you notice brown and crispy edges on the leaves. If you water the Monstera too much or too often, the plant will also tell you. When you overwater the monster, its leaves will turn yellow.

Monsteras like moist soil, but don’t deal with wet soil very well. To help give the Monstera the right amount of moisture to thrive in, you should use well-draining soil. You can avoid letting water sit at the bottom of the pot by choosing a pot with a draining hole at the bottom. The soil will retain all the water your Monstera needs to thrive, but any excess will be drained out of the bottom.

Monsteras love humidity. They thrive in high humid places because it resembles their native environments. Because of this, it’s a great idea to mist your Monstera every day. If you have a humidifier in your house, this is also a great solution.

Monsteras grow relatively fast. This means that it’s always a good idea to get a pot that’s a little bigger than its roots currently are. This gives the plant plenty of space to grow. If your monstera does well and grows consistently, you have to repot it about every two years. That’s when it starts to outgrow the pot it’s currently in and it’ll need more space. If you think that it has grown enough and you don’t want it to grow any larger, you can also choose to stop repotting it and prune it back to a size that you prefer. This helps to keep the growth in check.

After you’ve finished reading this guide, you’ll have all the information you need to take care of these beautiful tropical plants. If you need more you can leave a question in the comment box below.

Medusa Air Plants

The Tillandsia plants or air plants have become widely popular in the modern home gardening scene. They have become home gardener’s favorite choice of plants. This is in thanks to their ease of care, ability to grow soil-less, and their creative displays.They are perfect for those who love the look of greenery in heir homed decor but don’t have too much time on their hands.

Not just that, this family of plants is huge. With over 650 different species such as the Medusae air plant that we are focusing on in this post.

The scientific name of the plant is Tillandsia Caput Medusae. That said, it’s also known as Medusa’s head, medusa plant or the octopus plant. This plant is native to Central America and Mexico, where they grow on tree branches located in areas of strong sun. This fuzzy looking Tillandsia is silvery green in color with hues of purple throughout the base extending up towards the leaves. The Tillandsia caput medusae are xeric air plants which means that they can handle more direct sunlight and less water than other air plant varieties. Fun fact: these fascinating plants are ageotropic, which means that they will grow straight even when mounted horizontally or upside down. They do not turn or grow in response to gravity as many plants do.

The plant is a flowering plant that blooms in early summer when growing in its natural habitat. When cultivated, its flowering period is usually in spring to early summer. The vibrant violet-pink flowers are about 3.2 centimeters long. They arise from red inflorescences that are digitate and unbranched. They also produce pups or offsets after blooming.

Medusae Care

Tillandsia Caput Medusae plants are very easy to care for like other species of this family. They will not need you to take follow any complicated or lengthy care routines. Here are some of the requirements for this striking plant.

Water

The Medusa plant doesn’t need too much water. Unlike other air plants, it doesn’t even prefer to be soaked in water. You should use misting or spraying to water this plant. Mist it 2-3 times during summers and focus on the head of the plant rather than the bulbous base. There is good chance water will get trapped in the base of the plant, so you should allow the plant to dry completely.

If you do soak them, keep the soak short (say 10-15 minutes) and make sure to turn the plant upside down and shake it. During winters, you can reduce the misting to once a week or adjust the frequency if you feel like the plant is starting to wilt. If the leaves of the Medusa plant begin to curl, this indicates that the plant requires water.

Light

This plant prefers bright light with some shade. If you provide it with some morning and evening sun but not direct or against a shade, it works well. Putting it near a north-facing window that’s curtained is the ideal location for the Medusa plant.

Tillandsia Caput Medusae is an eye-catching sight with its leaves twirling in an extraordinary fashion. With a little care and attention that this plant demands, it can add uniqueness to your indoor locations, whether on a bookshelf or an end table. Do you want to add a Tillandsia caput medusae to your plant collection? Check out our shop link to grab one today:

http://www.printhousedesign.com

Cactus care guide

There are more than 2000 species in the cactus family, and while most have similar care, be sure to find info specific to the plants you choose. These tips will give you a general idea of how to take care of your favorite cacti.

Light: Direct sun; some species will do fine with very bright indirect light.

Water: water the cacti when soil is dry all the way to the bottom.

Soil: use fast-draining potting mix, like cactus/ succulent soil.

Search for hundreds of cacti and learn key information about each including photos, sun needs, water needs, hardiness zones, soil pH and so much more. Your ultimate cacti guide by following the link below:

132 Types of Cacti (A to Z Photo Database)

The round type cactus: the most common is the Echinocactus grusonii. In addition to the columnar shape of the Cereus, the other typical cactus shape is round. Among the globular cacti the Echinocactus are very popular and representative, and in particular the Echinocactus grusonii.

The 10 Most Popular On Earth

Easter cactus.

Old lady cactus.

Bunny ear cactus.

Blue columnar cactus.

Star cactus.

Barrel cactus.

Fairy castle cactus.

Saguaro cactus.

How long can a cactus live for?

In the wild cacti can live for hundreds of years. Indoors they may survive for 10 years or more. The trouble with old ones is that every single knock, scratch or blemish they get stays with them, so they tend to look less appealing as they get older.

What is the easiest cactus to grow?

Orchid Cacti (Epiphyllum Oxypetalum)

This gorgeous blooming variety is one of the easiest types of cactus to grow. Its leaves are beautifully colored, and it can grow up to 10 feet tall with enough space and the right conditions.

Does Cactus purify air?

Cacti is the best in reducing radiation and bacteria.

In addition, cacti absorbs carbon dioxide at night to release oxygen. Putting cacti in the room is helpful in sleeping and supplementing oxygen.

If you are looking for a plant that will add a bit of a desert charm to your space and an easy one to take care of, then get yourself a cactus. They do not require much care, which makes it an ideal choice for someone with a busy lifestyle. Plus, they only require some basic maintenance, whether they are grown in an indoor setting or outdoors, as long as you know that you’re doing. But in case you don’t, then we got you covered with all the tips above.

If you want to try to grow your own cactus, then you can stop by Printhousedesign.com and pick up your own packet of cacti seeds!

Best low-light indoor plants

Looking for the best low-light indoor plants that will thrive in a dim area of your home?

There are plenty of indoor plants out there that are easy to care for, forgiving, and low-light tolerant. Some even do better in shadier spaces, if you can believe it. If you’re not a full-blown plant parent yet because you haven’t found the right low-maintenance greenery, then you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled a list of the best plant varieties that won’t want anything to do with your already-crowded windowsill—or at the very least, houseplants that can handle being in a shady corner of your space even if they prefer brighter conditions.

Rattlesnake plant is native to the jungles of Brazil and will add a touch of the tropics to any home with its bright-green topside leaves that contrast beautifully with the rich purple undersides. The rattlesnake plant needs a rich and humid environment, so try to replicate this as closely as possible. The lighting condition: “Keep your rattlesnake plant in a shady spot with indirect sunlight, as too much sunshine can discolor the leaves, turning them brown and crispy.”

Perhaps one of the most diverse of the Ficus family, the weeping fig gets its name from the narrow, arrow-like leaves that line the delicate woody stems. “These are a great plant for beginners, but remember that with Ficus benjamina, much like a larger tree, the leaves will drop in winter, which is normal.”The lighting condition: “The weeping fig will enjoy basking in a few hours of morning sun, but move it before the sun gets too strong, and keep away from the afternoon sun.”

With its remarkable painterly leaves, the Fittonia is well-favored among the smaller trailing houseplants, “They are, however, not the easiest to keep alive in normal home conditions, as they like constant humidity, so they will be at their best housed in a terrarium or bottle garden.”

The lighting condition: “Native to the jungles of Peru, the Fittonia is found under the canopy of other plants and is used to having dappled light, so keep your Fittonia out of direct sunshine and place in a shady spot. Too much sunlight can bleach the leaves and fade their bright pink veins.”

Pretty slow-growing, this bushy plant will eventually reach around 4 to 6 inches in height. The Peperomia will produce curious ‘rat-tail’ stalks from the base, which do not necessarily flower but do add a funny feature to the plant!”The lighting condition: “In its natural habitat, this plant would be found under trees in a bright but shady spot, so it is best to try to replicate this in your home. As it is small, you could easily place it under a taller plant to shield it from direct sun, which can scald the leaves and leave permanent damage.”

Take into consideration these low light plants listed above when you want to add an easy care plant in your home with little sun light.