Your Journey to Plant Parenthood
Empowering all people to be plant people — a collection of articles from Geoponics’s team of Plant Experts across a variety of plant care topics to inspire confidence in the next generation of plant parents. Welcome to Plant Parenthood™.
Plant Propagation for Beginners
Propagating plants might sound like a drag, but depending on what type of plant you’re working with, it can be simple. Follow our steps below and you’ll be putting the ‘pro’ in propagation in no time. Propagation is not always successful on the first few tries, but we encourage you start somewhere because it’s rewarding when it works! You. Got. This. Propagation for many plants is best done in potting soil, but some plants can be propagated in water. This is because they have evolved in an environment that allows it. Most Aroid plants can be propagated in water, including pothos plants, philodendrons, monsteras, and ZZ plants. These plants originate from an ancestor that lived in swamps, so being able to adapt to flooding conditions and still being able to grow was key to survival. As a result, the descendants of that ancestor have the ability to grow in water, too. However, they are still land plants and will do best if planted in soil over the long term. Follow our easy steps below and you’ll be putting the ‘pro’ in propagation in no time. What you’ll need: Plant to propagate Scissors Glass vessel filled with room temperature water Step 1 On a mature vine, look right below the leaf or stem/vine juncture for a tiny brown root node. These tiny bumps are the key to propagating pothos. You’ll want to snip off a couple inches of healthy stem right before a node and include a node or two with the cutting, as this is where the new roots will come from. Step 2 Remove any leaves too close to the node, especially ones that might end up submerged under water when you put your cutting into your glass vessel. Step 3 Place your plant cutting(s) in your glass vessel and put it in a spot that receives bright to moderate indirect light. Do not place in strong, direct light or super-low light. Step 4 Arguably, the most difficult step: be patient! Check root growth from the node on a weekly basis. Add fresh, tepid water when needed. You can replace the water every few days, or simply top off the vessel with fresh water when it’s looking low—as long as there is no murkiness or fungi growing. If the water is murky, we recommend replacing it for the health of the growing root system. Getting Dirty If you’d like to transplant your plant cutting(s) from the glass vessel into a planter with potting mix, we recommend waiting until the root is at least 1 inch long or longer. This should take 4-6 weeks. Once the roots of the cutting are potted in fresh potting mix, saturate that mix with room temperature water and place in bright indirect light. Let potting mix dry out between waterings. Water, Water Everywhere If you want to keep your plant cutting(s) growing in water indefinitely, that is totally a viable option. A word of warning: the longer your plant cutting sits in water, the worse the plant could fare over time. Why? Water has no nutrients, and can increase the risk for potential fungal infections. You can help to combat this by changing out the water regularly and adding a tiny bit of fertilizer every month or so during the spring and summer growing season. |
Ways to Bring Cottagecore to Life in Your Home
Picture it: you’re adding some freshly-picked flowers into a vase, getting ready to bake your favorite pie, all while Strawberry Blond by Mitski plays in the background. Welcome to cottagecore. Never heard of cottagecore? It’s the TikTok trend and aesthetic that brings nostalgic vibes about life at home, including baking, sewing and other feel-good vibes. As we prepare to spend more time at home this fall and winter, cottagecore is something we can embrace with open arms. Read on for our 7 suggested plants and products to help make your home feel cozier than ever. 1. Fiddle Leaf Fig If your home needs an extra taste of the outdoors, we recommend the Fiddle Leaf Fig. The Fiddle’s large leaves make any room feel more lush, and if it’s well cared for, it can grow very tall - in its natural environment, a Fiddle can grow over 40 feet tall. 2. Golden Pothos There’s something about leafy, trailing plants that makes it feel like spring, no matter what time of year it is. Our fast-growing Golden Pothos, with variegated green and white leaves, is perfect for placing in a hanging planter and creating your very own plant curtain. 3. Prospect Planter If you need a new home for your plant, the Prospect Planter is it. With a subtle, simple silhouette and availability in muted tones like blush and mint, it is the perfect compliment for floral patterns around your kitchen and living room. 4. Potted Succulent Assortment The most important space in any cottagecore home is the kitchen window. It’s where you look out into the countryside and dream. But, if you’re in the city and not quite near any sprawling fields, add the Potted Succulent Assortment to make your favorite sill a little more whimsical. Plus, the blush and mint shades will match your Prospect Planter. |
Why you need plants in your life
Ways to Reframe + Refresh Your Home
Fall is upon us, and our wardrobe isn’t the only thing that’s changing - we think every home could use a little refresh to welcome back the coziest season of all. Whether you’re sticking with your current plant collection or buying some new plant babies, we think there’s something else to consider - how adding photo frames, hanging art and creating gallery walls can bring extra life to your space and a whole new vibe for your indoor jungle. Whether you’re new to wall decor or a certified frame expert, these design tips will help combine your favorite plants with something new to give your home a fresh feel. 1. Create a Color Palette To make any room feel cohesive, pick 2-3 colors to hone in on, whether it’s for your furniture or the finishing touches of decor. We recommend neutral tones for your furniture (like black, gray or a nude shade) and a pop of color for your plants and photos. Add a deep green Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree alongside a bold Framed Canvas Print in the same color, and you’ll give your room an edge. 2. Pick a Plant + Photo Theme Before bringing a plant into your home, it’s important to keep in mind its lighting and watering needs so that you can place it in a room where it will thrive. So, why not have a plant theme in each room? To keep the theme going, consider adding Metal Tabletop Picture Frames with a series of photos - whether it's a specific planty destination, or a type of plant that resonates with you. 3. Create a Focal Point While we love plants as the main attraction of any room, they don’t always have to be front and center, and instead can support existing pieces. Add a potted plant on the sides of your favorite house corner to give it a little extra love. 4. Get Shameless With Your Shelfie If you have open shelving in your bathroom, kitchen, or even your closet, you can use it to your advantage by adding your favorite potted plant like a Maranta alongside a Wooden Tabletop Frame. Have a bookcase? Add your plant or frame as a bookend or break between the rows of books.by Plant Club | 16 November, 2020 |
The Best Plants for Holiday Decorating
As you start to decorate and make your space feel more merry and bright, consider adding these 6 holiday plant favorites for some extra cheer. There’s nothing like being home for the holidays. If you’re getting your space ready for some holiday festivities, you might be breaking out your holiday tree, hanging some sparkling lights or starting to buy your favorite candy canes. If you need a little extra something to make your home sparkle, consider adding some our 6 holiday houseplant picks. Not only will these plants make your space feel complete, you’ll be giving yourself something to enjoy long after unwrapping presents. 1. Holiday Wreath If you want to give your guests a warm welcome, there’s no better choice than a Holiday Wreath for your front door - it will be the first thing they see! This lush, live evergreen wreath will last up to three weeks if hung up inside, and two months outside. 2. Pointsettia While we love adding some fresh plant finds to our homes, you can’t go wrong with the tried and true Poinsettia. This classic plant will live beyond the holidays, so you can feel a little bit of that holiday cheer into the new year. 3. Monstera Our best-selling Monstera is the perfect plant to give your home instant jungle vibes. To make it extra festive, place yours in a new planter or add a Holiday Message Pop. 4. Fishbone Cactus If you love a good succulent but want something a little more holiday-friendly, the Fishbone Cactus is for you. This winter succulent is known for its beautiful late fall and early winter blooms, just in time for the holidays.by Plant Club | 12 November, 2020 |