Plant-astic

Fake Plants... Don't Overlook Them I love the idea of being surrounded by plants. It feels refreshing and elevates my mood. The only issue is that the older I get, the less free time I have. Being in my last year of college, I’m absolutely swamped with schoolwork. Along with that, I have responsibilities to look after while I do my internship. My point being there’s not enough time in the day. I used to have a few houseplants that I took great pride in. I had never really been able to keep anything alive for a very long time but yet I somehow kept my Birkin and Bonsai around for about a year and a half. Over the summer, I was rushing from one thing to the next and in the blink of an eye, my plants are dead. I wanted to move into my new apartment with a few plants but realistically they wouldn’t last. I don’t have the time or the sun exposure to keep them in a healthy state. My solution: fake plants . I feel as though fake plants are very underrated and overlooked. Yes, it’s no...

First Time Gardening, How Did It Go? Of course, I’ve never started my own garden, but I know many others who have. My mom has taken up this hobby and has surprised me with her dedication to it. I know she’s a busy woman but yet she makes the time to keep her veggies alive and thriving. If her garden doesn’t show for it, then her excitement certainly does. I receive pictures of her progress and harvests weekly. Impressed is an understatement. I asked her a few questions about her journey finding her green thumb in hopes to shed some light on the pros and cons of beginning your own garden at home. She’s started her garden in May, so it’s fair to say she’s still a beginner. Although, she has come across plenty of defeats and victories to share her tips and tricks. What does she grow? In the time that she has taken this hobby, she’s grown a number of herbs and vegetables. Such as: cherry tomatoes, carrots, basil, cilantro, banana peppers, shishito peppers, purple potatoes, yellow...

  Have you ever been to a store with a plant nursey? If you didn’t know, it’s a little hut resembling a green house. They’re used to grow plants in a specific condition until they’re big and healthy enough to be out in the open. What is it? Back in my hometown mall, there’s a place like this called Plant Parenthood. Along with their creative name, they also created an environment for people like me who love plants. Inside, they offer a wide variety of plants. Each one different from the other. What do they do? I was impressed to learn that they even offer potting services. When you purchase your plant at the checkout, they give you all the information you need to care for your new friend when you get home. Plant Parenthood will discuss what kind of sun exposure your plant will need, when to water it, and when to re-pot your plant. They do it free of charge too! You can either bring in a pot of your choosing or pick one off of the shelf. Along with those services, they off...

 Garden Rants about Tomato Plants I don’t know about you, but I feel like tomato plants are one of the most common foods to find in gardens. Every green thumb I know has given it a try at some point, whether it was buying the seeds and tossing them in the garden bed or buying a pre-grown pot from the store. My mom, my aunt, my stepmom for example. Some were successful, others not so much. I came across a blog that has some really interesting insight about the growth of tomatoes. It discusses something I never really knew existed. But after reading through, I realized that this is probably something worth looking into if you’re looking to reach that end goal of harvesting your tomatoes. The author’s name is Susan Harris and in this post, she talks about her visit to the garden of Baltimore City Master Gardener Robert Cook. She went once and was so intrigued by the sights that she decided to go back and write about the gardener. Some background Robert Cook is retired from his...

 Succulents If you’re anything like me, you sometimes find that you lack the time or skill to care properly for regular houseplants. Between work, being a full-time student, and poor memory, I struggle to keep my plants in tip-top shape. Not ready to throw in the towel and try fake plants? Good news, there is in fact a solution for you: succulents . Here’s a list of 9 fun facts about succulents that make these plants an easy challenge for beginner plant parents: 1.      Succulents are drought-resistant plants    Their leaves can store water for longer periods of time mainly due to them being thicker than other plants. 2.      The size of the leaf matters   Succulents that have smaller leaves do better in places of high elevation. Often times, these plants can be confused for cacti, but they are quite different. 3.      There are 10,000 kinds to choose from These 10,000 categorize into 60 di...

 Clover Lawn                                                                       I have never heard of or even thought that clover lawns existed until a few months ago. When I first discovered them, I thought it was a little unconventional. As it turns out, clover lawns are actually the up-and-coming thing for homeowners.   I’m sure you remember seeing a few clovers mixed in with grass. I recall a never-ending search for that oh so special four-leaf clover when I was a kid. Of course, I never found it but perhaps with this new trend, you just might.  Why should I? This kind of lawn has really taken shape in the areas experiencing drought. Mainly because these clovers don’t need as much watering as a traditional grass lawn does. People are really draw...

Cherry Blossom Tree Growing up in my childhood home, we had a beautiful cherry blossom tree in the front yard. I’ll never forget what it looked like. No taller than 6 feet, light pink flowers, a hint of yellow in the center. They're an interesting plant to add to your collection. Few fun facts to shed a little light on the tree:         They’re a member of the rose family         They need full light and good drainage to prosper          It’s the national flower of Japan         “Sakura” is the Japanese name for cherry blossom trees         In China, these trees are symbolic for female love, passion, strength, and dominance Where did they come from? The history of this tree is an interesting one. In 1912, Japan gifted 3,000 cherry blossom trees to the U.S. as a gift of friendship. They were first planted in Washington.  Pros and Cons If you have never been near a  c...