Considering Plant Adoption?

Pros: Endless happiness, better air quality, easy way to add to home decor.

Cons: none.

My name is Sarah, and I am a recovering plant murderer. I couldn't keep a succulent alive. It was either too much water or none for weeks. I finally gave up and swore never to torture another innocent life again. Then I met a Kokedama.

If you have never heard of a Kokedama, you are not alone. It's a plant whose roots have been bundled up (along with soil) inside a moss ball. You soak them in water once a week for 10-15 minutes then just leave them alone. They are easy and have the added bonus of being super cute. I was pretty nervous to try again given all the lives I had already taken, but the kind gentlemen at the counter assured me that I couldn't kill this plant. Low and behold, she is still alive and just as lovely.

We have a terrific store here where I live called Fern. They guide you on exactly where to place the plant and how to care for it. I'm sure you will have a similar store wherever you hail from since indoor plants are all the rage now. You can also find a good selection at Home Depot or Lowes. I still try to buy plants within my knowledge level which is admittedly very low since I'm a newbie to plant life. I have had excellent luck with Crotons, Snakes Tongue and Dracaena, they are great "starter" plants.

Snakes Tongue aka Dracaena trifasciata (pictured to the right) doesn't need any fuss and will grow in any light level. It's also called Mother-in-laws tongue which just cracks me up. They look great in entry ways or to fill in any blank wall space. The Crotons are really beautiful due to their red orange and yellow leaf patterns (see picture below). They require minimal water and the more sunlight they get, the brighter those colors become. I keep mine in the kitchen window and water it once a week. Both of these plants are not good for animals to ingest so keep that in mind if you have pets. I kept a spray bottle around for the first few months and just gave our pets a squirt when they showed too much interest.

I guess I should clarify that the one tiny Con to plant ownership is that they seem to multiply without you or your husband's knowledge or consent. It's a slippery slope but I wouldn't change it for the world. I have so many plants now that I need a much much bigger house to store them. They are on every surface of my home, and I love each and every one of them more than the last. They make everything brighter and look better. I couldn't imagine our house without them and will continue to "rescue" them forever. I have even started propagating new starts from the plants I already have. You can take a little cutting, leave it in water and it will start to grow roots. I use these cute little hanging vases and put them in the kitchen window. Click on the picture for the link.

All and all, my plant journey/recovery has been a lot of fun. I have a few more temperamental plants that I'm still learning how to keep happy (Maidens hair is such a pain in the neck). I'm even enjoying that part as well though, it's become fun and somehow therapeutic to keep them alive and healthy. My husband does complain about the sheer volume of plants, but I think he secretly likes them too. If not, he will get used to it. #plantlife #theplantlimitdoesnotexist