Lisa Eldred Steinkopf (Author) - Houseplant Party: Fun projects & growing tips for epic indoor plants

Lisa Eldred Steinkopf

2020 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

Text 2020 Lisa Eldred Steinkopf

First Published in 2020 by Cool Springs Press, an imprint of The Quarto Group,

100 Cummings Center, Suite 265-D, Beverly, MA 01915, USA.

T (978) 282-9590 F (978) 283-2742 QuartoKnows.com

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Digital edition: 978-1-63159-884-5
Hardcover edition: 978-1-63159-883-8

Digital edition published in 2020

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Steinkopf, Lisa Eldred, 1966- author.

Houseplant party : fun DIY projects & growing tips for epic indoor plants / Lisa Eldred Steinkopf.

ISBN 9781631598838 (board) | ISBN 9781631598845 (ebook)

1. House plants--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Indoor gardening--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

LCC SB419 .S72748 2020 | DDC 635.9/65dc23

LCCN 2020011599

Design and page layout: Laura McFadden Design, Inc.

Photography: Heather Saunders Photography, except for shown by Chelsea Steinkopf

Illustration: Mattie Wells

This book is dedicated to my daughters Hayley and Chelsea and my rock, my husband John. Love you all!

Houseplants were all the rage in the 1970s, and then, for unknown reasons, they fell out of favor. As you presumably know (you picked up this book, after all!), their popularity has returned.

Why the resurgence? People are more aware of the healthy benefits plants have to offer. Plants provide us with oxygen, clean the air, and lower our blood pressure. Without them we wouldnt have air to breathe; they are therapeutic and can reduce stress. After a long day at work, our plants greet us when we walk in the door, and the cares of the day melt away. We may have even stopped on the way home to pick up a new friend to add to our burgeoning collection. Plants give us something to love and take care of without the intensity of a pet. The new term applied to plant owners is plant parents. So fitting!

As a human parent myself, I understand what tremendous meaning that term has. Being a parent is serious business, so taking on the role of plant parent means making sure your plants are loved, tended to, and treated like part of the family. Youre the one who will provide what they need not only to survive, but to thrive. And even better: plants dont talk back or cause any problems (for the most part, anyway). As long as you choose the best plants for your conditions (start with the cool plants I profile in the first section), meet their need for sufficient light, water them at the right time, and provide fresh air, theyre going to thrive. Listen to your plants and theyll tell you how theyre feeling. Do they seem pale and spindly? They may be telling you they need more light. Do they have leaves that are yellow or wilted? They may be receiving too much or too little water. Dont lose heart. The second section of this book tells you all about how to properly care for your indoor plants to help ensure your chances of success.

Maybe youve had a plant fatality or two and want to give up. Or you dont feel you have the fabled green thumb others seem to have two of. Some people may have a natural affinity for plant care, but you too can have success with plants. A green thumb can be yours simply by paying attention and meeting the plants needs in a timely manner.

Once you have met your plants basic needs, its time to bring home some new toys for your green babies. Its time to spoil them! Thats where the third section of this book comes in. Ive put together 15 houseplant- focused projects that add to your dcor and at the same time give your plants new places to hang out and grow. Some include upcyclingusing things that might otherwise end up in a landfill. Some are super easy, and some take a bit more time and materials. But I promise you, they are all fun to make, alone or with a handful of houseplant-loving friends! Lets make it a houseplant party!

SECTION ONE

The Best Plants for Your Living Space

Tillandsia species

Though theyre called air plants and they do seem to literally live on air, these unique plants need more than air to survive. They dont grow in soil like most plants. Instead, they usually call some other object home, such as a tree branch or even a telephone wire. But they have essentially the same needs as terrestrial plantslight, air, and a place to anchor themselves. And perhaps most importantly, air plants need water. If you drive through warm, tropical climates, youll observe air plants growing just about everywhere. Did you know the Spanish moss often draped over tree branches in these places is actually a type of tillandsia?

When air plants live inside our homes, they need very specific care. First, tillandsias need bright light. A good rule of thumb is if the air plant is silver in color, it needs more light and can be watered less often. If the air plant has green, thin leaves, it needs water more often and can be in a lower-light situation, yet a medium to bright location is still needed. These plants cannot live only on air. They need to be soaked thoroughly on a regular basis.