Streptocarpus
I am a houseplant enthusiast from way back. In the mid-1970’s, just starting out as newlyweds, we had more plants than we did furniture. Houseplants were relatively inexpensive and filled in lots of empty places in our apartment. Four decades later, I am still a ‘happy houseplants’ lady but I am not alone!
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Houseplants
Papyrus plant from a cutting I rooted four months ago.
Living with houseplants carries many benefits. Tending plants can relieve stress as well as produce joy and accomplishment as they flourish and grow under your care.
Spider plant grown from one “baby” given to me six months ago.
Living with houseplants
Filling your home with plants creates a warm and inviting environment. Many houseplants require little care, low-light conditions and are easy even for the beginner.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Millennials have caught on and embraced the love of plants with a passion. Nurturing plants is fulfilling and much easier that caring for a pet. One of our daughters was totally uninterested in plants until recently. She purchased a fiddle leaf fig that showed signs of stress and neglect. She trimmed it up and has nurtured it back to health. The experience was fun, rewarding and hooked her on houseplants!
Container of succulents
I didn’t fully appreciate cactus and succulents at first, preferring flowering houseplants. Gifted with this beautiful container, I realized how varied and interesting they are. I am also amazed how easy it is to create new plants from just a leaf.
Decorating with houseplants
Pothos
Houseplants can be grouped together for a bigger impact or displayed individually as a focal point. A nightstand or cabinet top can be just right for a beautiful plant. This pothos is probably the easiest to grow when light is at a minimal. The stems will grow quite long and can be snipped and rooted in water to create additional plants.
End tables and pedestals work well for your favorite plants and blend naturally in a living room. Be sure to protect wood from water damage by placing them into a container. Ferns send up lovely fronds in cascading arcs and prefer moist soil. The old-fashioned African Violet, an all-time favorite, blooms in many colors with single or double flowers.
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Don’t forget about displaying houseplants in the bathroom. If you have a window to provide light, many plants will love this space, especially those like orchids that appreciate additional humidity. This streptocarpus (a relative of the African Violet) has been living in our western-facing master bathroom for more than twelve years. It gifts us with lovely, soft lavender blossoms several times a year. The first photo in this post is another streptocarpus growing in our eating nook.
This bowl of various succulents took too much abuse while on the kitchen windowsill behind the sink. I kept bumping it and breaking off pieces of the Donkey’s tail. I relocated it to the dresser top in our guest room. As you can see, the broken off sections readily rooted and are beginning to grow new plants.
Sometimes a large piece of furniture can look a little bare on the top. I am frequently changing the items atop this vintage cabinet that holds sentimental family memorabilia. But there is always a pothos because I like that it sends out stems that casually trail over the sides.
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Easy to grow houseplants
Here is a short list of houseplants I have grown through the years, that I think are easy to grow at home.
- Pothos: tolerated low light; keep moist
- Spider plant: bright light and lightly moist
- Orchid: likes humidity, bright, filtered light watering once a week.
- English Ivy: trailer that will tolerate low-light; prefers moist soil
- Peperomia: Can flourish under fluorescent lighting
- Kalanchoe: bright light and infrequent watering
- Boston Fern: bright, indirect light and protect from drying out
- Succulent: bright light and infrequent watering
- African Violet: bright indirect light and keep soil moist
- Streptocarpus: bright indirect light and take care not to over water.
- Fiddle Leaf Fig: Bright light
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I’ve never seen streptocarpus before. I love it! Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Marilyn,
I wish that streptocarpus was more widely available because it is a really lovely plant. The care is similar to that of an African violet so they are easy to grow.
Thank you for your comment!
Kindly, Lorraine
I have always had a lot of beautiful houseplants but when my dear, little mother passed away two years ago we knew we would be doing a lot of traveling. Being away from home for weeks or months at a time means someone else must care for my plants so I passed them on to good home. I miss them but know there will be a day when we will settle a bit and plants will, once again, be part of my home. Your plants are gorgeous!
~Adrienne~
Your houseplants all look so healthy and happy. And I notice that you have a lot of natural light, which always helps.
Amalia
xo
We do have lots of trees that filter out light but there is a plant that grows at each northern, eastern, southern and western exposure. Sadly, the room with the brightest light and most ideal for plants is our college-age grandson’s room and he isn’t keen on me tending plants there 🙂
Way back when I first got married, I had lots of houseplants. Over the years I got really bad at taking care of them and I killed quite a few. I still have a couple in my house but I’m no better at taking care of them.