Perhaps you decided to treat yourself to a foliage friend, or you’ve received a plant as a gift from a loved one, and now you want to know how not to kill it. Here’s our top tips for the most common plant gifts.
Cactus or succulent
Everyone’s favourite plants at the moment, cacti and succulents are really simple to look after - they’re just as suitable for a beginner as they are for an experienced green finger. The general goal here is to water sporadically when the soil is dry, you can also mist your succulents with a spray bottle, but make sure no water pools in the base of the leaves. Avoid direct sunlight as plants can scorch, and rotate your cactus often to try and avoid any wonky growth. These plants can be repotted as they outgrow their pots, just handle the cactus with care!
Kalanchoe
An easy way to cheer up any room, a kalanchoe can be identified by its clusters of small brightly coloured flowers and leaves with rounded edges. Originally from Madagascar, they’re used to little watering and will flower for around eight weeks. They can be encouraged to flower year on year, this tends to happen in February or can be manipulated by keeping them in the cupboard for most of the day. Fun fact, they are also sometimes known as Flaming Katy!
Orchids
Many people find the prospect of caring for an orchid quite daunting, but the process is quite simple. The main rules to follow are to water once a week, position in a bright windowsill (ideally facing east or west), fertilise regularly with orchid food, and repot when it has stopped blooming. For more in depth tips, click here for our guide to orchid care.
African violets
The world’s most popular houseplant - and for very good reason - they’re fairly straightforward to look after and flower several times a year. These plants like bright light and warm spaces. When you’re watering, make sure the water doesn’t get on the leaves or you’ll get brown spots, and be sure to remove any dead blooms or leaves to keep everything healthy.
Looking for a different plant? Check out our plant section to identify your plant and find more tips.