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Hooray for houseplants

December 16, 2015 By Jill Anderson 2 Comments

Have you noticed that houseplants are back?

Hooray for houseplants-succulents

I know they’ve always been around, but they seem to have become much more popular recently, fancy looking photos of them are popping up all over magazines and on places like pinterest.

I like having greenery inside, especially at this time of year when the days are short and not so much time is spent in the garden.

Not only do they look nice, apparently they’re good for you too, they purify the air and help create a restful mood, in the same way that being outside in nature does. Studies have shown that hospital patients in rooms with plants in them have less stress than patients without plants.

Now that all sounds great, but most of us struggle with keeping houseplants alive, or at least in tip-top condition. What seems to help is recognising that they like different conditions depending on where they originate from.

houseplants-succulents

succulent houseplant

Succulents are one of my favourites, I love all the different leaf shapes. They originate from the desert and are happiest in warm, sunshine, those fat leaves store water and the waxy covering helps to seal it in.

This damp, grey corner of England is a bit of a challenge for them, so I keep mine on the sunniest windowsill and let the soil dry out completely between watering again. It’s also helpful to empty excess water from the pot they’re in a couple of hours after they’ve been watered.

Although the blue-grey ones look nice, the ones with green leaves cope better inside, it’s all to do with being better at photosynthesis.

Hooray for houseplants

I bought these tiny ones from Homebase,  and was hoping to buy a whole army of them, and at 99p that’s not too extravagant, but these two were the healthiest pair left, so it’s just the two for now.

I’ll pot them on into slightly bigger pots soon and use a multi-purpose compost mixed with grit and a good layer of shingle in the base to help the soil drain.

Happy gardening, Jill

all photos: Jill Anderson

Related posts:

Houseplants are good for you, spider plant, www.growingnicely.co.ukHouse-plants are good for you. Celebrate a diamond anniversary with roses When you’re garden needs an injection of colour 10 good reasons to plant a tree

Related posts:

Houseplants are good for you, spider plant, www.growingnicely.co.ukHouse-plants are good for you. Celebrate a diamond anniversary with roses When you’re garden needs an injection of colour 10 good reasons to plant a tree
Filed Under: Blog, Plants Tagged With: houseplants, succulents houseplants

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Comments

  1. Doug says

    February 25, 2019 at 10:21 pm

    Hi Jill,
    I just adopted one (second and third pics) from the office kitchenette. It was labeled “Free to a good home”, so it’s in my office. Which succulent name is this? I’d like to know how to best care for it (as I have no green thumb knowledge_)

    Reply
    • Jill Anderson says

      February 28, 2019 at 12:15 pm

      Hi Doug, I’m sorry the pictures didn’t appear?! Most succulents don’t like too much watering & prefer to have plenty of light & some sunshine. I’m sure you’ll give it a good home. Jill

      Reply

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Hello, I’m Jill Anderson.
This is where you’ll find good, solid information about gardening, growing fruit & vegetables and how to keep it all looking good.
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The healing, calming power of nature in one photo. The healing, calming power of nature in one photo.
These wonderful autumn colours won’t be around for much longer. But that’s ok, because now is what matters, & their fleeting beauty makes them even more precious.
It’s easy to see how being among trees & nature is so beneficial for our health & wellbeing. 
Have a great Sunday.
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Today has been hard work, after a lovely time last week in Norfolk. The north coast there is spectacular. Realising these last few months, that there are so many beautiful places here. 
Have a nice evening.
Charming glasshouse at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. Vis Charming glasshouse at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. Visiting to see the Anish Kapoor sculptures, which are amazing, but unprepared for the beauty of the grounds & garden. 
Such a treat, worth coming to Norfolk for this alone!
Hope you’re keeping well, & managing to smile some of the time. x
P.S. more of Houghton Hall & Anish Kapoor on my stories
We stopped off on the way home to pick blackberrie We stopped off on the way home to pick blackberries, after coffee & cake, sitting in the churchyard - the cafe was full, & the churchyard is a quiet, peaceful spot..... as you’d expect.
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Enjoy the rest of your Sunday x
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I’ve thought long & hard about how to view the tumult in the world we’re living in now. 
The only thing that works for me, is to choose hope.

It’s a tall order, but avoiding mainstream news & speculation helps avoid the anxiety, that’s often waiting in the wings.

One day soon there’ll be grandchildren clambering over this again.
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