There's been a lot of talk about sustainability within the gardening and house plant community recently, and I really welcome it. Ensuring the activities and hobbies we participate in are as eco-friendly as possible is as important as ensuring the clothes we wear and the food we eat are both sustainable and ethical. Here is a little bit about the environmental impact of your house plant hobby and how you can make it more sustainable.
Buy From Eco-Conscious Plant Shops
Growing house plants sustainably begins with where we choose to shop. Whenever possible it's important to seek out local independent shops run by environmentally-conscious owners who source their plants locally since most plants in the UK are imported. Jungle House Plants have a range of plants locally grown in the West Midlands without the use of pesticides, which are potted up in either coir or reused plastic pots using peat-free soil. All their plants are delivered in eco-friendly, recyclable packaging with the option free local delivery.
Choose Earth-Friendly Pots and Soil
When potting on your plants, try to reuse any plastic pots you already have or ask plant shops if they have any spare. Jungle House Plants have plastic and coco-coir pots in a range of sizes that are free for customers to have for repotting plants. By reusing instead of buying pots, you're helping to reduce waste. If you really must buy new pots, choose eco-friendly alternatives made from Earth-friendly fibres. These pots are made from sustainable materials that will biodegrade over time, unlike plastic pots that cannot be recycled. A compost that is completely peat-free is the most sustainable option for our house plants. There's lots of options to choose from from general all-purpose compost to mixing different growing mediums. You can even make your own from composting your food scraps. Jungle sells their own eco-friendly Premium Potting Mix.
Collect Rainwater For Watering
Rainwater is purer than tap water as it contains fewer salts, minerals, or treatment chemicals or pharmaceuticals and a higher level of acidity. When you water your plants using tap water, salts, chemicals, and minerals may build up in the soil. So the best option for your plants, and the environment, is to collect rainwater. Collected rainwater is slightly acidic, which helps flush away the build up of accumulated substances from tap water and the nitrogen in the soil if often beneficial to certain plants. If you have a garden, consider installing a water butt to collect rainwater. If you live in an apartment, it's easy enough to collect rainwater without a butt. Place a bucket or vessel in whatever available outdoor space you have access to and store it in reused containers once full.
Use Eco-Friendly Pest Control
Almost all pest solutions you can buy aren't very kind to you, your plants, or the planet. They not only contain deleterious chemicals but can be hazardous to your health too. It's easy enough to make your own eco-friendly spray that will tackle most pest problems. In a spray bottle, mix 1 tbsp of natural eco-friendly liquid soap with 1 litre of water. Use as pest prevention and treatment by spraying down your plants, leaving for a few minutes, and then washing off. You may find a couple of treatments are needed to rid your plants completely of pests like thrips, mealy bugs, and spider mites, but it won't harm you, your plants, or the planet unlike store-bought insecticides and pesticides.
If you'd like to see more of Sophie and learn more about sustainable living, give her a follow @aconsideredlife
]]>
The honest answer is, they do wonders for my mental health! For me, plant care and self care go hand in hand. I love caring for them, watching them grow, I love the way they look in a room and I can’t imagine my home without them now! If I’m feeling anxious or stressed, sitting in my jungle living room, surrounded by plants, with a coffee and a good book always improves my mood. I first got into houseplants around 2-3 years ago. I was living in a tiny studio flat in the centre of a town - it had no garden, no greenery, very few windows and for a girl who loves the outdoors I was craving some nature! So I decided to bring the outside in and haven’t looked back since!
Ah thank you so much! Yes, my collection would definitely be considered small compared to most in the plant community, my current count is around 65ish (although I’ll admit that figure is going up rather quickly!) Within my home I try to find the balance between minimal decor and jungle vibes, I prefer to have fewer plants and style them so that I can see, love and appreciate every single one that I own. I would get quite overwhelmed if every surface in my home was covered so I try to limit myself to only buying plants I truly love/want and not just buying them because of the hype! I’ll admit I quite often rearrange my plants, I carefully consider how each plant looks next to each other and within the room as a whole. I like to play with depth and grouping plants together with different size, shapes and textured leaves can really add character to a shelf or area of your home. My top tip is to think about where you’re going to put a plant before you buy one - do your research on the specific plant to find out how much light etc it needs so you know where it’ll thrive best in your home!
That wall of the room gets great indirect light all day but it has a door right in the spot where you’d logically want a plant shelf! So I decided to utilise the space and put the shelf above the door - little did I know it would look so friggin’ good!! I quite often get asked whether or not it’s a used doorway and I can confirm it is… none of the plants get damaged when opening/closing the door but I do have to keep an eye on how long the middle plants are trailing and occasionally trim or tie them up to make it practical! I honestly LOVE this area of my home, it’s definitely a big talking point and always gets a lot of love on the ‘gram too!
Without a doubt the Monstera! I currently own 5! Three very large mature ones, one more juvenile one and an Albo. They are so easy to care for and are SO stunning - the perfect combo! They give such tropical jungle vibes to your home and get more incredible with age in my opinion. The biggest one pictured below is around 30 years old - just look at those fenestrations!
I’m a big fan of the Anthurium Regale. I do love a big bold statement plant and these really are epic!
One of the first ever plants I bought was a Boston Fern and I killed it with kindness! Oops! I gave it lots of water and lots of light (Because that’s what plants want, right?!) and I was surprised when it wilted and died within days. Perhaps I should try one again now that I’m a bit more experienced with plant care but I feel like it put me off ferns for a while!
It’d be quite difficult to get my giant 6ft Monstera out the door in a rush but it’d definitely give it a good go!
If you'd like to see more of Jade and her jungle, give her a follow @jadesjunglegram
What is it about Sansevieria that appeals to you?
To start with it was just how easy they are to look after, surviving almost complete neglect in less than ideal conditions in glaring sunshine and sweltering heat on a south facing windowsill, getting hardly any water and still throwing out dozens of baby plants.
Once I joined the Instagram plant community, I saw there were a lot of different varieties out there and they all looked so good. Tall, colourful, patterned, shapely and still so robust and easy to grow.
What’s one thing that you wish people knew or would remember about Sansevieria?
They are far from boring.
Whilst they can be slow growers with not a great deal of care or plant parenting needed, treated right they are quite rewarding. Sansevieria flowers are totally unique and a good indicator you’re doing something right when they appear.
What are your top tips for Sansevieria?
-Keep it dry. They can take being completely dried out much better than they can take being overwatered.
-Grow them in your bedroom and office space. They are one of the best plants for improving air quality and greenery in the workspace is proven to boost productivity. Also, they emit their oxygen at night-time, perfect for a good night’s sleep.
-Keep them slightly pot bound. Growing them in a pot slightly too tight will encourage the plant to grow little babies which will often be a more pristine copy of the parent. Once removed the babies can be used to grow your own collection, for plant swapping and gifting to friends.
-They can be propagated in a variety of ways, splitting the rhizome or cutting the leaves for example, and the parent plant will hardly be fazed at all.
Sansevieria consistently appear on lists of beginner plants, what do you think it is about this plant that makes it so good for beginners?
Sansevieria are excellent beginner plants because they are almost indestructible. Being a succulent type plant, they can go surprisingly long periods of time with little or no water. I know this from experience!
They don’t seem, in my experience, to get any pests. Cacti and other succulents are prone to mealy bugs, Calathea and other leafy plants get spider mites but Sansevieria don’t attract or sustain any.
They can handle almost any light level, from bright direct light, to almost none. A very forgiving plant for somebody just beginning with house plants.
The taller varieties like “laurentii” and “zeylanica” create an instant statement in a room making them an excellent housewarming gift. They still appear in so many home styling magazines and if you keep an eye out, they’re the house plant of choice in films going back as far as the early 80s.
There are more varieties of Sansevieria appearing on the market lately. Which variety are you desperate to add to your collection? Is there one that you think will be the next big thing?
There are now so many varieties available, they are in a resurgence of popularity because of that they are no longer just the neglected office plant you pour the dregs of your coffee into.
I’m quite keen to add a “francisii” to my collection for its incredibly unique shape and the “golden flame” for its striking colours.
The “moonshine” and “masoniana” were the most popular last year, this year seems to be “metallica” so I hope that “bantels sensation” will be the next big thing because true to their name, they are sensational.
If you had to pick just one, which Sansevieria in your collection would you save in a fire?
For me this is an easy one.
The first Sansevieria I bought for myself was a Sansevieria trifasciata Laurentii from Wilko’s, reduced to £1.89. It had been severely over watered and was not looking too well. Two of the three stems in the pot had already developed a bit of root rot. It was in considerable need of a bit of emergency surgery to remove the damage and a re-pot into terracotta (porous and breathable for the roots) with free draining compost and it started to recover. In fact, it recovered so well that it split the pot.
It has become quite the hefty plant now after being split and shared with friends, an office move and neglect over summer holidays to overcome. It is still bright and colourful with lovely healthy foliage. Definitely my plant to save.
]]>
Hello, my name is Michelle, also known as Instagram’s @calathealove.
I use the skills I learnt as a visual merchandiser to display my much-loved plants using reclaimed items.
Have you ever purchased a dream plant, brought it home, put it on the windowsill or sideboard and then felt a little deflated?
When you buy a plant online or from a shop, they’re styled in situations to maximise their selling appeal. A number of well-planned elements within these 'situations' come together to create that 'Urban Jungle' look we’re all striving to create. Think shop layout, photography lighting, the choice of pot and the way that the plants are grouped together. It can almost be a disappointment that we can’t live up to that aesthetic in our own homes.
The good news is that with a little practise and some creative thinking, you can create your own 'Urban Jungle' too, and for very little cost!
I've been combining my window dressing and merchandising knowledge along with my interest in reclaimed items to style my home for many years. Reclaimed pieces and plants make a perfect partnership, the lush plants together with the old items given a new lease of life.
One of the easiest ways to start styling your own plants costs literally nothing...
Fruit crates are a great place to start styling your own plants. I pick them up for free from my local greengrocer. Fruit crates have a vintage look about them and they look quirky and interesting.
Here you can see where I have gathered some baby plants which are individually planted in vintage terracotta plant pots. They sit so well together in this fruit crate and with minimal effort. I'd also recommend experimenting with them upturned as plant stands.
There are so many reclaimed things you can use for plants. Glass jars, old fish tanks and glass bottles make brilliant terrariums. Piles of old books, baskets, drawers and pieces of wood can be used as plant stands and to give varying heights with a display of plants. Wicker wastepaper bins make cheap pots. Old ladders make a great alternative to curtain poles and hooks. Here's an old ladder that I have suspended from my kitchen ceiling.
If you’ve got the space, there’s nothing better than a large arrangement of plants. My favourite plants are Calathea and I like to display them in groups. You could just go and buy a shelving unit from a department store or place them on the floor, but through reclamation you can start to create your own signature look. It can also be cheaper, better for the environment and gives a great sense of accomplishment!
Two of my favourite reclaimed pieces I use to style my plants are vintage wooden carts that I picked up from a second-hand market. They’re really versatile- you can move them around easily and they give my room a quirkiness that I really love.
I make regular visits to charity shops, especially the ones that sell used furniture as cheap chairs, cupboards and tables can be up-cycled easily with a bit of paint. A good tip if doing this is to paint the furniture the same colour as walls so the plants stand out more.
At the end of the day, have fun and experiment. My style is constantly evolving. I change displays every week, add new pieces, remove some. Your home is where you can express yourself.
I hope you are inspired to go looking for some treasures to get started. Thanks for reading and please do follow me on Instagram for more tips and inspiring photos @calathealove.
]]>I’ve always had a plant or two and I remember my grandma giving me cuttings to propagate when I was younger, but my love of plants really took off in December 2019 when I made my first terrarium. At this point I started having a pretty rough time, this came coincidentally, at a point when my interest in plants was developing and I made my IG page for my plant journey. I was into cacti and succulents then but now it’s all about the foliage. I’m learning so much, every step of the way with plants and I’m less likely to kill the foliage plants so I’m very much into building my aroid collection now. I currently have 62 plants, not including propagations. I need to make room for new ones though!
My job does not involve plants at all so it’s really good coming home to them and having something else to think about. I tend to spend more time with them over the weekends; checking, pruning, watering and re-potting them, and running my IG page @terrarihomes. It is also nice, after a few days away with work, to wind down with them midweek and forget working life for a while. However, during this pandemic I was furloughed from work so I have been spending loads more of my time with them; developing my knowledge and deepening my fascination (hence the ever expanding wish-list).
Being furloughed from work was in addition to the bad time that started in December 2019. I went through a personal, traumatic experience in December, which led to a diagnosis of anxiety induced depression in February (my birthday month). My depression and anxiety was pretty crippling at that time, probably my worst episode of depression that I’ve had (4 now). I was crying in-between appointments at work, crying & screaming in the car and crying alone most of the time feeling pretty incapable, whilst also feeling anxious, isolated and fearful of the future. It was quite sabotaging.
During furlough, throw in: another colposcopy, continuing chronic endometriosis issues, PSOAS syndrome diagnosis and referral, hip dysplasia diagnosis and chronic pain, for which I was dosed up on some pretty strong drugs. This means I’ve been pretty overwhelmed for a long time now with constant anxiety about the future and the pandemic hasn’t helped this. Chronic pain worsens your mental state too so that worsened for a while after I had just started having some good days.
Here’s where the plants come in – this growing collection of mine has been my absolute saviour. It has given me something else to focus on and care for that isn’t myself. Focussing on, caring for and nurturing something that makes you happy and where you can make more of them by propagation (free plants, woo!) is so fulfilling.
I’m learning every day, improving my skills, and connecting with so many wonderful, helpful people in this plant community via my IG page. I am honestly quite sad I hadn’t started all this sooner. This whole experience has made me smile again. Plants have helped me get excited for the future again. Watching and waiting for something to grow and develop is exciting. They get me out of bed (which on furlough can be tough some days) so that I can open the curtains for them. I get out of bed to re-pot them, observe them and take photos of them. Re-potting plants really silences my mind, I love it. You also feel like a top plant parent when they are thriving!
If you’re looking to add houseplants to your life and want a jungle vibe go for foliage – large, lush, green leaves. A good, hardy, trusty Yucca will achieve this, but personally I love a Monstera: I have two Deliciosas, 2 Deliciosa Albovariegatas, 1 Peru, 1 Acuminata and 1 Standleyana and the Deliciosa’s can be fairly forgiving. Make sure you have the space and the correct conditions for your plants before you bring them home, and when you do bring them home accept some of the transitioning changes they go through to adjust to your space. Give them time. Plants teach patience. Oh, and don’t over-water them!
Plants make me feel: excited, calm and grateful.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of my fellow plant people that I have interacted with over the last few months, especially those who have helped me, answered my questions, taken time to chat with me and those who have made me laugh. I am so, so grateful for this and for all my followers. I am excited every day by this community. Get involved!! 😊
]]>
We begin with the Queen of Flowering Cacti herself, Eleanor. Since we first began our journey into the world of houseplants she’s been the most amazing support and source of knowledge for all things cacti. Here she explains her passion and love for cacti, shares some of her know-how and attempts to select her top cacti for beginners.
What is it about cacti that appeals to you?
I like the variety – there’s a type of cactus for everyone, whether it’s small or large; columnar or rounded; long-spined, short-spined, spineless, or even hairy; colourful and dramatic or plain and classic… and of course then there’s the amazing flowers on top of all that! They are also just fascinating plants from a biological perspective, with the way they have adapted to survive in such extreme conditions. There are some cacti that survive in places where it never actually rains, their water comes from small amounts of mist/fog which condenses on their spines and drips down to the roots – how cool is that?
What’s one thing that you wish people knew or would remember about cacti?
Just because the garden centre stuck a label on the pot saying ‘cactus’ doesn’t mean it is one – this is commonly noticed with Euphorbia, Haworthia and Gasteria – all of these are other types of succulent, but they are not cacti.
What are your top tips for cacti care?
If you had to recommend a top five cacti for beginners, which cacti would you recommend?
This is tough because there are so many interesting ones! I’ve tried to include a variety and mostly go for more commonly available ones that won’t take up crazy amounts of space – a cactus collection will quickly expand to fill all available space if you’re not careful!
Anyone who follows you on Instagram will have seen all of your amazing cacti in flower throughout the growing season. How can people achieve this with their own cacti?
It depends on the cactus – some need to be older than others before they will flower (some need to be very, very old).
If you do have a plant which should be mature enough to flower though, my number one tip is to give it a good winter rest period from late October until March. For me this varies slightly depending on when the weather starts to cool down and then warm back up again, and whether the plants are indoor or outdoor – the indoor plants get a slightly shorter rest than the outdoor ones.
It’s a good idea to gradually reduce watering over the time leading up to the winter rest, and also don’t suddenly drown the plant when you’re waking it back up again – just a splash at first, then build it up.
If you can give a cold rest then do, but I have Mammillaria and Rebutia indoors that flower quite happily without getting overly cold.
I do give some fertiliser (approximately every other watering during the growing season) – anything that is low nitrogen but higher in phosphorus and potassium is a good idea.
If you had to pick just one, which cactus in your collection would you save in a fire?
Ooh, saving the hardest question until last! I can’t even manage to narrow it down to a top ten, because I have plants that I love because of the history I have with them and then other plants that I love because of their spination or their flowers. I’d probably burn to a crisp while trying to decide!
Check out more of Eleanor’s amazing cacti collection through her Instagram @eleanorhurlock
]]>
First up is our wonderful friend and fellow plant lover Lauren, a hard-working and long suffering History teacher originally from Smethwick, West Midlands who shares her home with husband Dan, Winston the cat and (at the time of writing) 70 houseplants.
My now husband and I bought our first house in 2018 and two years later we have (almost unknowingly) created our own little modest jungle of 70 houseplants. But when I look back at the start of our houseplant journey I realise we both fell in love with plants for very different reasons. For me, it was originally for aesthetic purposes, a way of giving our rather empty home character and life. For my husband, although resistant at first, it was to reconnect with nature and to bring the outside world indoors. But, he also quickly realised it was a way to make himself feel better.
My husband was diagnosed with depression a few years ago and with anxiety more recently. For those who live with a loved one who suffers with their mental health you will know the struggles they face on a daily basis, the look they get when they are battling with their own thoughts or fighting off a panic attack. You will also know well the complete feeling of utter helplessness when you are unable to help them. Looking after someone with a mental illness is not the same as looking after someone with a physical injury or condition. There are no magic painkillers to make the pain go away, words of encouragement are completely wasted (and often very counterproductive) and we can’t see and therefore cannot comprehend how deep the wound actually is and as much as we want to, we just simply cannot understand the battle they are facing.
I have been to the GP a few times with my husband to give him some moral support and I am happy to report that for the most part his GPs have been very supportive and understanding. However, some of their advice for suppressing symptoms of mental illness is more easily said than done for a man who is in work at 6am and doesn’t finish until after 6pm. Long walks, regular exercise outdoors, more sleep and working less hours become unrealistic aims after the commute home. The closest he gets is cooking dinner (which is one of his chosen chores to give him time to ‘turn off’- plus I can’t cook for toffee and will ruin all of the good pans *rolls eyes*) and then relaxing before falling asleep at 9.30pm ready for the 4am alarm.
But this is where the beauty and wonders of houseplants help. The time that he does spend at home, cooking and relaxing, he is surrounded by nature. If we run out of time to go for a walk or if he’s simply too tired, he is not missing out on the benefits of nature because plants are all around the house. Since we started our mini jungle he's always said that they ‘help with his head’ and this is when I began wondering about the science and impact of houseplants on mental health. So I did some research....
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) argue that houseplants have been shown to have many positive psychological benefits which include: improving one's mood, reducing stress levels, improved attention span and increasing worker productivity. In addition, some houseplants have the ability to provide clean air and reduce the impact of indoor air pollution.
I was also interested to learn that Psychology Today has published research showing that people who surround themselves with natural beauty, both outdoors and indoors, “experience emotional and mental health benefits that have a positive impact on their social, psychological, physical, cognitive, environmental, and spiritual well-being”. These benefits include, stress reduction, reduced symptoms of depression, stronger memory retention, higher productivity levels and better self esteem.
My husband has let me get carried away with buying more and more houseplants over the last year and most of our friends and family just figure that he’s giving in to my plant buying impulses just to make me happy. What they don’t see is the interest he shows in every single one of our plants; how he helps place them around the house so he has his favourite ones around him more; how he’s constantly looking at them and pointing out ‘new growth’ or telling me about what plants need more water or better care when I don’t pick up on it. The more focus he puts on our houseplants and as long as he tells me they make him feel better, I will continue to grow and nurture our jungle because this is the one small thing I can do to help him fight his illness.
At the beginning of our plant buying journey, like most we were worried about instantly killing the plants off and just genuinely being bad plant parents. However, with the help of our favourite plant advisor Natalie and multiple online websites we have been successful in keeping the majority of our plants alive. Although, that’s not to say we haven’t killed the odd one or two! I have quickly discovered the biggest killer of plants is over caring and over watering! Root rot is a big killer of plants, so if you’re bored and think I ‘might as well water my plants’, step away and put the watering can down. Follow your normal watering schedule and only add additional watering if the plant is being overly dramatic (for example a Peace Lily!)
Our all time favourite variation of plant is the Monstera Family and we currently have five different variations in our jungle. They are so easy to look after and throw out new growth all of the time, so if you are starting your own little jungle then a Monstera should definitely be on your wish list!
If you’d like to share how your little jungle has helped your own mental health, drop us an email at info@jungle-houseplants.co.uk
]]>