Plant styling can be whatever you want it to be. There is no right or wrong. From terracotta clay planters to plants being in mugs, you can do no wrong. The best part is, it can be so much fun! Styling a plant on its own takes time, an eye for style, the right elements and patience. In this blog, I’ll detail my own style of plants and pots.
The majority of my plants are in terracotta clay pots. My love for this derives from them being handmade, rustic, aged and having history to them. Plus, they are so imperfectly perfect! Terracotta has been around for ages. My most favorite is the European style aged terracotta pot with no lip. (See picture below) It has so many imperfections, and looks like it’s been around for thousands of years. I can only imagine the stories these type of pots hold within them.
The most common type of plant styling I see these days is on open shelves on a wall. I have adapted this neat way of styling. I usually start of with a shelf or table top. I place a plant, near the edges or the closest I can get to a natural light area. Then I place the plant. My most common indoor plants are:
- Pothos
- Snake Plant
- Peace Lily
- Monstera
- Succulents
I typically use an indoor soil mix or a cactus/succulent soil mix for good aeration, moisture control, and drainage. I usually place a plant in a pot that is slightly bigger than the plants roots. I always use a saucer for indoor plants as you’ll need something to catch the water.
Pro tip: It’s best to avoid those fancy pots with no drainage hole. Using a pot with no hole for drainage can lead to root rot and retaining too much water. It will eventually kill your plant. Try to stick to pots with drainage holes.
The next thing I do is place most of the existing soil attached to the plant you just bought into the new pot. I do add a fresh layer of soil in the bottom of the new pot first, then place plant with existing soil, then add soil around the plant and a little on top. This allows for fresh fertilization for your plant. My key tips for a successful indoor plant are proper aeration, good drainage, fresh soil, and the right amount of light and water.
Also featured are clay pots from Magnolia.com
Light
A key thing to remember is, placement of your plant depends on where the best lighting is. Some plants like all the bright light while others thrive in a darker corner with minimal light. A snake plant will survive in darker lit areas, where as a monstera needs bright indirect light. It just depends on the species of plant. There are apps to help you determine all of this, and if all else fails, google. Another thing to note is turning your plant weekly helps to provide adequate light to all areas of your plant.
Water
It’s vital to never over water or under water a plant. There have even been times where I want to rush and give a plant water because the soil seems dry or I didn’t want it to die of thirst. That is where I went wrong in the beginning. But there’s a few different ways to tell if your plants need water or not. Most soil will appear dry from the top once the water has drained through the soil, but this doesn’t always mean it’s dry. Dig your finger in about one-two inches down from the top of the soil. If you feel moisture, then you’re fine with water. If you feel dry soil , then it needs water. But this also depends on the plant. Most indoor plants need weekly watering while other don’t need water for a couple weeks. It’s good to do research to see what your plants watering needs are.
Some of the basics of keeping a house plant alive is to give it love and know it’s individual needs. I feel as though I know my plants needs from the soil moisture or dryness, to the feel of the leaf and the look of the plant. Start out with the plants that need minimal light and minimal needs. Once you have successfully kept those alive then move onto to one with slightly more needs. Plants just want to be in a bright and loving home where they are nurtured, loved and grow gracefully.
xo Jovi
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