The art of botany
Nothing cozies up a home quite like plants. They bring vibrancy, life and gorgeous colour into any space.
We asked Erin Thomas, founder of Dublin based Hopeless Botanics to give us the run-down on what easy going plants are best suited to Irish homes, and how to keep them thriving. You’ll find Hopeless Botanics on Dean Street in Dublin 8. They do weekly deliveries across Ireland, offering everything from large palms to gift sets and smaller table toppers.
For those of us who have plant deaths in our past, is there any hope for us!?
It’s normal to kill the odd plant here and there! People expect that house plants should live forever. Sometimes they do, but sometimes they do their thing and it comes to an end. In their natural environments, plants would seed or root, spread and ramble. Your beautiful house plants don’t have the same opportunities. Enjoy them and help them thrive by feeding, watering and repotting, but after a few years or so if they retire, don’t beat yourself up.
Think of all the beauty it’s brought to your space and enjoyment you’ve had out of it.
Some people we chat to can be anxious about keeping house plants. It’ll be grand. If you have a few deaths on your hands, try to learn from it and have a think about what might have gone wrong. Having house plants can be a great hobby, you’re always learning, falling in love with new foliage and you certainly wouldn’t be alone – we’ve all murdered a few.
We always try to tell people to temper their expectations slightly, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Plants are real living things and it’s totally normal for every bit of foliage to not look picture perfect at all times. Zoom in on those Insta pics and you’ll see the odd brown tipped foliage, yellowing leaf or droopy stem. It’s all normal and part of the natural cycle of things. They are wonderful, natural, joyful things that can enhance our spaces and our lives if we let them.
There can be so much choice, how do we get started choosing a plant?
Before you choose a plant, have a good think about the space, and look for a plant that will suit the light level there. We have put plants into collections on our website to help with this – shade tolerant plants, and ones that love light. Keep plants that like it dry – like cacti and succulents, out of humid places. Instead opt for leafy plants, they’ll adore the humidity. It’s also good to think about your lifestyle. If you have young pets, you might want to keep plants pet friendly in case they have a chew. Or if you travel a lot, lean towards plants that love a bit of drought like pothos and aspidistras
so they can hang in there while you’re gone.
What’s the best way to keep houseplants thriving?
Plants often come with tags, they might say ‘water once per week’. Put it in the bin. Try not water your plants according to a schedule, it’s a sure path to your brown bin. Find out how much your plant likes to dry out in between a drink, and check if the soil is dry with your finger before you lash any water in.
At this time of year house plants are in their growth phase. Once you spot new growth, give your plant the energy boost it needs with a liquid houseplant feed once a month. When winter comes, hold back on the watering and push plants close to the window.
Soil takes longer to dry out, and you might be surprised by how little watering they will need.
It’s so satisfying seeing them grow and most plants are hardier than you think. If you see some leaves going yellow or brown, don’t freak out, just chop it off. It will make way for more growth.
If you want zero hassle in your life, try…
1. Satin pothos
A beautiful trailing plant, the Satin pothos is a great choice for shelves and table tops. They are easy to care for and suitable for beginners. The leaves curl slightly when it’s thirsty, so you can largely forget about it, hang tight and water when it asks for it.
2. Chinese evergreens
They can tolerate lower light better than many plants, and they prefer if the soil dries out two thirds down the pot in between waterings. They are slow growing, so will not take over your gaff. Perfect if you don’t want to be worrying about your plants if you’re traveling a lot. Chinese evergreens come in many shapes and patterns, our favourites are the ‘Diamond Bay’, ‘Silver Bay’ and ‘Stripes’ varieties.
3. Philodendron scandens
An underrated house plant with heart shaped, glossy leaves as hardy as they come. They trail beautifully down shelves, or snip to keep them bushy.
It relishes a bit of drought, and if any leaf does start to look funky just snip it off, they’ll regrow in no time.
If you want to make a statement, choose one of these large easy going plants..
4. Bird of paradise
You’ll see ten foot birds of paradise in botanical greenhouses, they are the definition of tropical greenery. If you have a bright space, and want to nurture a medium plant to become a stunning focal point in a room, this is a great choice. Don’t let the soil dry out, dust the giant paddle shaped leaves,
and make sure you feed it to keep it thriving.
5. Kentia palms
These dark green leaves are the definition of lush. They originate from Australia, but they are more tolerant of low light than most other palms. Once they are established, kentia palms can thrive for decades.
6. Monstera deliciosa
Also known as the swiss cheese plant, this giant leafy beaut gained popularity in the seventies and is back in
business. It is a great one for a Zoom backdrop or brightening a corner with it’s giant leaves.
The art of botany
Nothing cozies up a home quite like plants. They bring vibrancy, life and gorgeous colour into any space.
We asked Erin Thomas, founder of Dublin based Hopeless Botanics to give us the run-down on what easy going plants are best suited to Irish homes, and how to keep them thriving. You’ll find Hopeless Botanics on Dean Street in Dublin 8. They do weekly deliveries across Ireland, offering everything from large palms to gift sets and smaller table toppers.
For those of us who have plant deaths in our past, is there any hope for us!?
It’s normal to kill the odd plant here and there! People expect that house plants should live forever. Sometimes they do, but sometimes they do their thing and it comes to an end. In their natural environments, plants would seed or root, spread and ramble. Your beautiful house plants don’t have the same opportunities. Enjoy them and help them thrive by feeding, watering and repotting, but after a few years or so if they retire, don’t beat yourself up.
Think of all the beauty it’s brought to your space and enjoyment you’ve had out of it.
Some people we chat to can be anxious about keeping house plants. It’ll be grand. If you have a few deaths on your hands, try to learn from it and have a think about what might have gone wrong. Having house plants can be a great hobby, you’re always learning, falling in love with new foliage and you certainly wouldn’t be alone – we’ve all murdered a few.
We always try to tell people to temper their expectations slightly, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Plants are real living things and it’s totally normal for every bit of foliage to not look picture perfect at all times. Zoom in on those Insta pics and you’ll see the odd brown tipped foliage, yellowing leaf or droopy stem. It’s all normal and part of the natural cycle of things. They are wonderful, natural, joyful things that can enhance our spaces and our lives if we let them.
There can be so much choice, how do we get started choosing a plant?
Before you choose a plant, have a good think about the space, and look for a plant that will suit the light level there. We have put plants into collections on our website to help with this – shade tolerant plants, and ones that love light. Keep plants that like it dry – like cacti and succulents, out of humid places. Instead opt for leafy plants, they’ll adore the humidity. It’s also good to think about your lifestyle. If you have young pets, you might want to keep plants pet friendly in case they have a chew. Or if you travel a lot, lean towards plants that love a bit of drought like pothos and aspidistras
so they can hang in there while you’re gone.
What’s the best way to keep houseplants thriving?
Plants often come with tags, they might say ‘water once per week’. Put it in the bin. Try not water your plants according to a schedule, it’s a sure path to your brown bin. Find out how much your plant likes to dry out in between a drink, and check if the soil is dry with your finger before you lash any water in.
At this time of year house plants are in their growth phase. Once you spot new growth, give your plant the energy boost it needs with a liquid houseplant feed once a month. When winter comes, hold back on the watering and push plants close to the window.
Soil takes longer to dry out, and you might be surprised by how little watering they will need.
It’s so satisfying seeing them grow and most plants are hardier than you think. If you see some leaves going yellow or brown, don’t freak out, just chop it off. It will make way for more growth.
If you want zero hassle in your life, try…
1. Satin pothos
A beautiful trailing plant, the Satin pothos is a great choice for shelves and table tops. They are easy to care for and suitable for beginners. The leaves curl slightly when it’s thirsty, so you can largely forget about it, hang tight and water when it asks for it.
2. Chinese evergreens
They can tolerate lower light better than many plants, and they prefer if the soil dries out two thirds down the pot in between waterings. They are slow growing, so will not take over your gaff. Perfect if you don’t want to be worrying about your plants if you’re traveling a lot. Chinese evergreens come in many shapes and patterns, our favourites are the ‘Diamond Bay’, ‘Silver Bay’ and ‘Stripes’ varieties.
3. Philodendron scandens
An underrated house plant with heart shaped, glossy leaves as hardy as they come. They trail beautifully down shelves, or snip to keep them bushy.
It relishes a bit of drought, and if any leaf does start to look funky just snip it off, they’ll regrow in no time.
If you want to make a statement, choose one of these large easy going plants..
4. Bird of paradise
You’ll see ten foot birds of paradise in botanical greenhouses, they are the definition of tropical greenery. If you have a bright space, and want to nurture a medium plant to become a stunning focal point in a room, this is a great choice. Don’t let the soil dry out, dust the giant paddle shaped leaves,
and make sure you feed it to keep it thriving.
5. Kentia palms
These dark green leaves are the definition of lush. They originate from Australia, but they are more tolerant of low light than most other palms. Once they are established, kentia palms can thrive for decades.
6. Monstera deliciosa
Also known as the swiss cheese plant, this giant leafy beaut gained popularity in the seventies and is back in
business. It is a great one for a Zoom backdrop or brightening a corner with it’s giant leaves.
Follow @hopelessbotanics for care tips, botanical eye candy and inspiration.
Learn more at hopelessbotanics.ie
