Most houseplant problems are watering problems, and most watering problems come from a jug that is the wrong shape. A long spout reaches the soil rather than the leaves and gets behind a pot without moving it, which is the difference between watering properly and watering when it is convenient.
Dust is the quieter issue. Leaves collect a film that cuts the light reaching them, so a wipe with plant gloves every few weeks does more for a struggling plant than another feed. Misters suit the ferns and calatheas that want humidity rather than a wet root ball.
Propagation is the cheapest way to more plants. Take a cutting below a node, put it in water where you can see the roots form, and pot it once they are a few centimetres long. Looking for the low maintenance kind instead? Our faux plants never need any of this.
Browse by type
Planters & Pots · Faux Plants · Esschert Design · For the Green Finger · Vases
Why a long spouted watering can?
It puts water on the soil instead of the foliage and reaches pots at the back of a shelf without lifting them. Wet leaves are how a lot of indoor plants pick up problems.
Do houseplants really need misting?
Some do. Ferns, calatheas and other humidity lovers appreciate it; succulents and cacti do not. Misting is not a substitute for watering in either case.
How do I start a cutting?
Cut just below a node, strip the lower leaves, and stand it in water somewhere bright but out of direct sun. Change the water weekly and pot it once the roots are a few centimetres long.
Why clean plant leaves?
Dust sits on the leaf and cuts the light the plant can use. A wipe every few weeks with a damp cloth or plant gloves keeps them looking better and working better.
Recently viewed
Journal

Gift Ideas by Price: Considered Gifts Under $15, $50, $100 and Beyond
A budget is not a limitation, it is a brief. Whether you have $15 for a Secret Santa or a bigger number for someone who matters, the aim is the same: a gift that looks chosen rather than grabbed. H...
Read more
Why Your Choice to Shop Small Matters More Than You Think
A few days ago I turned down an interview with a national news programme about the impact big-box retailers have on small independent stores. Not because I had nothing to say, but because I was too...
Read more
Ecoya Sea Salt & Coconut: The New Summer Home Fragrance
Ecoya's new Sea Salt & Coconut is not a passing summer novelty. It has joined the core collection, which means salt air, creamy coconut and a run of tropical florals are now part of the permane...
Read more

