Caring For Trendy but Tricky Plants

Here at team TLB, we love all of our little green beauties, but we know some of them aren’t quite so easy to care for.

Learning to care for our trendy but more tricky houseplants is a great step in your plant journey. Helping to build your plant knowledge and reach your plant-growing goals.

We’ve pulled together this plant care guide for these higher maintenance botanicals, so you’ll be an expert in no time!

Succulents

Succulents are some of the most popular plants in the world. There are so many varieties available and  there’s something for everyone to love, including the Haworthia, Hoya Kerrii and the famous Aloe Vera. Each one has a wealth of benefits and is perfect for adding a touch of greenery to your living space.

When succulents are healthy, their leaves are firm and thick. Soft, limp leaves indicate they need a drink. Their leaves will also scorch if they’re placed in direct sunlight, so be careful where you put them to keep them happy and healthy.

Things to do:    

Because succulents are used to warm, sunny conditions, they thrive on around 4-6 hours of sunlight a day and only need watering once a month. You can hydrate your succulent by soaking the base in cold water for roughly 10 minutes each month.

Things not to do:

Overwatering is one of the most common reasons succulents die, so water your plant directly into the soil, being careful to avoid the leaves. Water that stays on the leaves for too long will rot them, killing your plant. If the soil’s too damp, don’t be afraid to let your plant go without water until it dries out.

Top care tips:

• Keep your succulent away from direct sunlight
• Check the soil regularly to monitor how damp or dry it is
• Trim any scorched leaves to encourage new ones to grow

Where to put your plant:

Succulents enjoy plenty of filtered sunlight, which means they thrive in bright and airy rooms. Avoid putting your succulent in a bathroom, as it’ll be too dark and humid.

Areca Palm

The Areca Palm is a fabulous green leafy plant that’s perfect for making a statement in your home. Ours comes in a ceramic pot or stunning belly basket, adding a touch of tropical style to any indoor jungle.

The Areca Palm requires a little more attention than most other plants and doesn’t tolerate being neglected, so it’s a good idea to do your research before you get one to make sure you’re well prepared.

Things to do:

To keep your Areca Palm healthy, water it once a week. You should also mist the leaves to keep them fresh and green. Check the soil every now and then to ensure it stays nice and moist, as this indicates a happy, hydrated plant.

Things not to do:

Don’t underwater your plant, or the leaves will go dry and develop brown tips. Keep the plant moist, but don’t let it sit in water, as it’s sensitive to overwatering and can’t tolerate being in too much water.

Top care tips:

• Make sure your plant’s able to absorb plenty of sun rays indirectly
• Don’t allow the soil to dry out
• Water the plant slightly more often in spring and summer

Where to put your plant:

The Areca Palm doesn’t like direct sunlight, so a bright and airy room is the best place for your plant. Find a spot in your home that gets a lot of filtered sunlight throughout the day.

Calathea

Also known as the prayer plant, the quirky Calathea’s one of our all-time favourite houseplants – and yours, by the sounds of things! The Calathea’s earned itself the nickname of ‘Drama Queen’ as it’s a little trickier to care for, but it’s well worth the effort.

Things to do:    

The Calathea loves plenty of humidity, so regularly mist the soil or place it in a bathroom to keep it hydrated. You should also trim off any sad-looking leaves so that the plant concentrates on new growth.

Things not to do:

Don’t allow the soil to dry out. To ensure it doesn’t, keep checking it to make sure it stays nice and damp. The Calathea’s also used to the warm, dense jungles of South America, so keep it away from cold draughts.

Top care tips:

• Keep it away from direct sunlight to protect the leaves
• Water your plant once a week to keep the soil moist
• Use a generic houseplant food once a month to feed your Calathea

Where to put your plant:

The Calathea enjoys living in a place of indirect light. It also loves plenty of humidity – so much so, the leaves will go brown and dry out if they don’t have access to enough moisture. The underside of the leaves is just as interesting to look at as the top. This is why you should put it somewhere you can get a glimpse of both – on a shelf, for example.

Ficus Ginseng

The Ficus Ginseng is an unusual and quirky bonsai houseplant that adds style and interest to your home. Not only does it look great, but it lasts and lasts. In fact, by the time your plant reaches you, it’ll already be around 15 years old! That’s because it starts its life in China and Malaysia before making its way into your home. 

Things to do:    

The fun of owning a Ficus Ginseng is to trim and shape the tree to how you want it. Take two to three leaves off for every six new leaves that grow, leaving at least two or three leaves on the branch.

Things not to do:

The Ficus Ginseng is prone to leaf drop if you don’t place it in a spot without enough sunlight. These beauties don’t like to be overwatered so do ensure there’s no water in the bottom of the ceramic so that it doesn’t sit in moisture.

Top care tips:

• Water your Ficus Ginseng every 2-3 weeks, once the soil is dry.
• Let the soil dry out in between every watering
• Fertilise your plant every two weeks in the summer and four in winter if the growth slows down

Where to put your plant:

The Ficus Ginseng grows well indoors with warmth and light. It prefers being in a bright spot, so popping your plant on a windowsill or somewhere similar is perfect.

Hoya Heart

Our distinctive Hoya Kerrii comes as a single or double heart. It’s an gorgeous shaped succulent and makes a cute novelty plant for putting a smile on your face. It’s also a sweet little gift for someone special. With the right care, this fab little plant should last for weeks to come.

Things to do:    

Our Hoya Kerrii only needs a little bit of water every now and then – no more than once a month. Put the water directly into the soil, avoiding the leaf to prevent it from rotting. The plant also likes humidity and benefits from regular misting.

Things not to do:

One of the worst things you can do to your Hoya Kerrii is overwater it. That’s why you should check that the soil’s been allowed to dry out before you give your plant another drink.

Top care tips:

• Water your plant once a month, ensuring the soil’s dry before you do
• Provide a little humidity to keep your plant happy
• Don’t let the plant sit in water to prevent it from rotting
• Black leaf spots can be caused by overwatering

Where to put your plant:

The Hoya Kerrii enjoys bright, indirect light. If you place it in direct sunlight, the leaf can burn. However, the plant won’t grow very well in shady spots with low light levels, so keep it in a sunny room.

Fiddle Leaf Fig

The Insta-famous Fiddle Leaf is the ‘it’ houseplant everyone loves. You only have to search #fiddleleaffig on Instagram to see how much the plant dominates the platform. It can be a bit of a challenge to care for, but it’s one of the most rewarding houseplants you could own once you get the hang of it.

Things to do:    

Give your Fiddle Leaf Fig a drink once every week or ten days. Wait until the top 3-4 inches of soil is dry before watering it again; otherwise, you’re at risk of giving your plant too much to drink.

Things not to do:

Don’t place your plant in a draughty spot, or it’ll become grumpy and sad. It’s also really easy to overwater the Fiddle Leaf Fig without even realising it. The aim is to dampen the soil and allow it to dry out a little and water again. Do not soak a Fiddle Leaf Fig.

Top care tips:

• Dust the paddle leaves every now and then to keep them looking shiny and new and allow them to maximise their photosynthesis.
• Prune your plant as often as you need to encourage new leaves to grow
• If you spot brown leaves on the back of the leaves, just let them grow out (this is normal)
• When they are in need of a drink, the leaves can flop, a good drink and they should perk back up again.
• Under or overwatering can cause lower leaf drop. Check your soil regularly and move it slightly out of the way of too much sunlight if drying out too quickly over the Summer months.

Where to put your plant:

The Fiddle Leaf Fig likes a bit of sunlight, so place it in a well-lit spot in your home. Keep it away from direct light, or the leaves will turn brown. Sun from a south-facing window will be too intense, so an east-facing window is ideal.

Peace Lily

Also known as the Spathe Flower or White Sails, the Peace Lily is one of the most delightful houseplants. It’s popular for both homes and offices as it has wonderful air-purifying properties, helping you breathe and focus more efficiently. When you know how to take care of one, it makes a striking addition to an indoor jungle.

Things to do:    

Don’t be afraid of underwatering your Peace Lily. It doesn’t need much water to survive, so check the soil’s dry before giving it a drink. Press your thumb an inch below the surface. If it’s damp, it’s not ready for more water just yet.

Things not to do:

Don’t overwater! Doing so will make the leaves droop or go yellow at the tips. The Peace Lily only likes medium to low levels of light and needs to be kept out of the sun as much as possible. Place it in a room that gets a bit of natural light.

Top care tips:

• Check the soil once a week to see if your plant needs a drink
• If the leaves start to droop, give your plant a big gulp of water
• Keep your Peace Lily away from radiators and draughts

Where to put your plant:

The Peace Lily comes from tropical rainforests, making it well suited to bathrooms, kitchens and rooms that get a high amount of humidity. Putting it in a room that gets plenty of moisture will make your plant feel right at home.

Boston Fern

Out of all ferns, the Boston is one of the most popular. The big, bushy fronds are fun to look at and make a statement wherever you place your plant. It’s pet friendly and has outstanding air-purifying qualities – what’s not to love? Boston Ferns aren’t known to be the easiest plants to care for, but they’re so worth it.

Things to do:    

Boston Ferns are a little fussy about their environment and do best somewhere relatively cool, humid and away from sunlight. Bright sunlight will scorch the fronds, so make sure they’re not too exposed to direct sun.

Things not to do:

Don’t place your Boston Fern near a radiator or draught, or it’ll dry out. Also, try not to overwater the soil – it should be moist, not saturated.

Top care tips:

• Water your plant once a week at least
• Ensure your Boston Fern has enough humidity by regularly misting it or using a humidifier
• Trim any burnt fronds to keep your place looking as good as new
• Its normal to lose lower fronds, give your fern a shake every week or so to remove the browning lower growth. A good haircut can make him look new again.
• Yellowing leaves can be a result of overwatering, check he’s not sitting in water.

Where to put your plant:

The Boston Fern’s perfect for a bathroom or kitchen because it loves high humidity and indirect light. It’s all about dappled light for the Boston Fern. That’s why you shouldn’t place it on a south-facing windowsill in direct sunlight, as it’ll be too intense for the delicate fronds. You could even put it next to a taller plant so that it gets some shelter. They perform best in mid-light and will enjoy the dappled light of a larger leafier plant – just like they live in their natural habitat on the forest floor.

Peperomia Rotundifolia

Also known as the Trailing Jade, the Peperomia Rotundifolia is the ultimate trailing plant. It looks beautiful on a shelf where the soft stems can take pride of place. It grows quickly, and with a little TLC, it’ll flourish to a healthy length.

Things to do:    

Water whenever the soil’s dry every 1-2 weeks. A small amount of sun in the morning or evening will do your plant some good, but make sure it’s away from direct sunlight around midday when the sun’s strongest.

Things not to do:

Don’t let your plant stand in water, or it’s at risk of rotting. It only has small roots, so you mustn’t overwater it. In the winter, you can reduce watering to a minimum.

Top care tips:

• Mist the leaves during the summer to ensure your plant has plenty of moisture
• Trim any leaves that look brown, yellow or generally sad
• Pinch out the stem tips if the plant overgrows to keep it in shape
• A north facing window sill is the perfect spot for this little trailing beauty

Where to put your plant:

Because of its native tropical home, the Trailing Jade thrives in areas with humidity and moisture, such as a bathroom or kitchen. Avoid direct sunlight, as this will scorch the leaves and turn them brown.

String of Hearts

The String of Hearts is a gorgeous and understated trailing plant that looks beautiful placed on a shelf or windowsill. It’s also great for small spaces and looks fab alongside a bundle of other houseplants. This is a plant that needs a little TLC to keep it looking its best, so try not to neglect it.

Things to do:    

Water your String of Hearts plant every 10 days or so. (Slightly more regularly in the Summer and water sparingly) Before watering, ensure the soil is dry to touch and if necessary, gently pull off any yellow leaves and untangle the strings to keep it looking pruned and healthy.

Things not to do:

Don’t let your plant sit in water, or the roots can rot and the leaves will die off. It grows slowly in the winter months, but don’t be alarmed because this is normal. In the summer, give it a haircut every now and then to stimulate new growth – just don’t do this when it gets cold.

Top care tips:

• Trim any brown, yellow or shrivelled-looking leaves
• Pop it in a bright spot, it doesn’t love too much shade
• Let the soil dry out before watering it again

Where to put your plant:

Our String of Hearts likes a bright sunny spot, it will love lots of morning light. It doesn’t like to be in a dark corner.  Somewhere where it gets good levels of daylight is ideal but not in full sun.  Keep it away from draughts or radiators, as it’ll affect the plant’s growth.

Begonia Maculata 

The Begonia Maculata is an interesting plant with stunning polka dot leaves. That’s why it’s also known as the Polka Dot Begonia. It’s unlike any other plant, so be sure to put it somewhere you can admire it. Super popular due to its stunning leaves and well worth the extra TLC this beauty needs.

Things to do:    

This cool plant needs regular hydration. Water it every week – 10 days to moisten the soil. always let it drain out before giving it another drink. As a rule of thumb, water it every 7 days in the height of summer and less often in the winter months.

Things not to do:

Don’t let the plant stand in water, as it’s susceptible to root rot. The roots are thin, so overwatering can cause lots of problems. If the soil’s too moist when you go to water it again, wait at least another day or two. It’s all about timing with this plant.

Top care tips:

• Give your plant plenty to drink, but be very careful of overwatering
• Keep the soil moist, but not oversaturated. Let the top half-inch dry out before re-watering
• Don’t place your plant somewhere too shady

Where to put your plant:

The Begonia Maculata loves bright, indirect light, but it doesn’t do well in direct sunlight. That’s because the leaves will burn and dry out. It can tolerate low-light levels, but a nice bright and airy room is the best place for it.

Feeding Your Plants Throughout Spring and Summer

Many of our trendy but tricky plants need additional nutrients throughout the spring and summer months to keep them strong and healthy. They come from tropical conditions where they flourish in humidity, so these products help replicate natural conditions.

Plantsmith Perfecting Houseplant Care Mist

Our Plantsmith Perfecting Houseplant Care Mist contains a blend of 17 essential ingredients that helps plants grow, deters pests and boosts plant health. It’s best for warm, dry homes – most can benefit from this mist when it starts to get warm.

Mist your plant 2-3 times each week all year round. After spraying, wait until it forms a fine dew and then spray the top of the soil to add that all-important moisture. Avoid spraying any flowers, as they don’t tend to like excess moisture.

Plantsmith Beautifying Leaf Shine Spray

Our Plantsmith Beautifying Leaf Shine Spray is another essential product. It’s 100% plant based and contains natural oils that enhance the shine and beauty of your plant’s leaves. Dust, dirt and debris build up in homes, which blocks sunlight from reaching the leaves and prevents the plant from being able to photosynthesise.

To prevent this, spritz the leaf shine spray all over the leaves and gently wipe it off using a clean cloth. Apply it every 2-4 weeks throughout the year, not just the summer.

Plantsmith Fortifying Houseplant Tonic

Finally, the Plantsmith Fortifying Houseplant Tonic is a complete blend of 13 essential nutrients that stimulate cell growth, ensuring strong, glossy leaves and longer lasting flowers.

Throughout the growing season, which usually runs from March to September, feed your plants once a month, mixing 5ml into a litre of tepid water and apply it to the base of the plant. For younger plants, dilute the tonic in two litres of water.

Let us know which drama queen has worked well in your home. We’d love to see some snaps of them in your stylish homes. Why not share them on Instagram, and don’t forget to tag us.

As ever, if you have any burning questions or need some extra advice about how to care for any of the plants in this blog or on our website, get in touch with us at [email protected]. 

Lots of love,
Team TLB xx