GREEN SHOOTS
It seems we’ve all been filling our homes with plants over the past year, so Caitlin Owens of Belfast’s Coffee and Cactus gives us some tips for caring for them.
Caitlin Owens of Coffee and Cactus shares her top tips to up your indoor plant game
A good plant for a beginner is the Monstera.
There are lots of versions, too, for people who want something a bit more rare, like the variegated Albo, or the little Monstera monkey mask. People also love a hanging plant, and the Pothos is the easiest.
One of the most common mistakes people make is to move their houseplants around too much;
they use it as an accessory. Plants take a while to get used to their environment, so pick a spot and leave it there for at least a year. Overwatering can be an issue too. Plants will usually tell you when they need water, so wait for that moment, when it droops or wrinkles a little. Getting advice from where you’re buying your plants is also key. Speak to them about where this plant will thrive, and consider whether you actually have a suitable spot in your home.
The colder months can be a tough time for houseplants,
as the central heating is cranked up. Most will get through it, but even if you do lose a plant, most of the time you haven’t done anything wrong. Grouping plants that like humidity can help, because together they will create a micro climate.
Instagram is a great place to expand your plant knowledge.
Accounts from other countries are great to look at for inspiration, but remember that they’ve got a different climate, so you shouldn’t take their advice on things like watering. On our @coffeexcactus account, we have IGTV videos on things like repotting and taking cuttings. I also like @houseplantclub and @houseplantjournal.
My favourite plant is called a parasol palm
– it has these wonderful, delicate ridges. I’m hoping it becomes more popular so it’ll become affordable; it’s expensive at the moment because it’s really rare.
Taking cuttings is way easier than you think,
and a free way to expand your plant collection. You can also give them as gifts – most people would appreciate a plant more than a bottle of wine or flowers; it’s something they can keep. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A curated plant corner by Coffee and Cactus. Propagating plants. A selection of terracotta pots. This plant from Coffee and Cactus brightens up a shelf. A Fiddle-leaf fig. Plants in Bacsac bags. There’s a plant suitable for almost any spot in your home.