My favorite childhood memory is running around the forest with my dog. I have always loved the tranquility of nature, and green is one of my favorite colors! There is also no better smell than of forests and mountains.
So, when we got George it was a no-brainer that I will go crazy and purchase too many plants. And I did. My plant addiction is pretty much at the point where my husband is horrified to let me run wild in any gardening or plant section of stores like IKEA, Home Depot etc. Well, what can I say… chances are I always end up leaving the store with a new addition to my plant family. Also, fun fact: other than Cactuses, Fiddle Leaf Fig and Snake plants, for the longest time I could not identify what types of plants are in my house. But for the sake of my plants, I did my research. Some of my plants have been identified but some are still a mystery. Thanks to the internet and the library, I have developed a green thumb and call me crazy but I talk to my plants A LOT!
Most of my plants come from either IKEA or any home improvement store. There is this myth out there that Ikea’s plants die fast. None of the plants I brought home from Ikea ever died on me and with good care, they thrive. There are many amazing plant nurseries in Chicagoland and I will have to finally visit one because I’m on the hunt for a Monstera Split Leaf plant.
Earlier this year, my husband and I visited friends in Arizona and it was the first time in my life seeing cactuses free in the wild. They mesmerized me. I love desert plants, the landscape and have been fascinated by it because it seems so foreign to someone who grew up in cold Poland. We didn’t get to visit the Desert Botanical Garden, but it’s on our bucket list.
Before we even moved in, I bought my first Fiddle Leaf Fig and I named her Ms. Fig. We had our difficulties, but she is still going strong. When I first brought her home, I noticed that there were weird white bugs on her. After hours of googling I diagnosed her with having Mealybugs infestation. I gave her a nice gentle Bronner’s soap bath, and it solved the situation.
Then a year later I was re-potting it to a bigger pot and cut some roots off. She was pissed. Many leaves lost their life but after a couple months of struggle, she pulled through. I water her once a week and spray (with water mist) the leaves at least twice a week and she loves it. I squeak like a child when I see a new baby leaf being born. She is growing!
The other day I spotted Fiddle Leaf Fig plants at Home Depot. Two plants were squeezed into one pot. What a deal for $19.99! I took them home and re-potted them into two separate pots, leaving the roots alone. I have learned my lesson. But after some time has passed, I have noticed that the new leaves had little red spots on them. I have learned that the Fiddle Leaf Fig plants develop red dots on their leaves when there is too much airflow. Both figs moved to places in the house with less airflow and new leaves came without red spots. They are constantly growing.
I also have Snake plants in our bedroom. The big Snake plant first lived in the dining room, but then I read somewhere that they are great air purifiers, so the move was necessary. The plant seems to be much more comfortable in the bedroom because it continues to grow!
I have a strict plant care routine. Most of the plants get watered each Saturday. Ivy plants require more attention, so in the middle of the week I need to check on my ivies and if necessary, water. Cactuses get a little water every two weeks. Each plant gets plant food spikes every 30 days in the summer and every 60 days in the winter. When I notice that a plant is growing extremely quickly, I skip the spikes. I pay close attention to how my plants are behaving. Are they growing? Are the leaves yellow? And try to address any issues ASAP to prevent any casualties.
Keep it green. Till next time!
Live with Enough 