Tammy Huynh shows us how to maximise your indoor plant collection, even if you only have one pot. Subscribe 🔔 ab.co/GA-subscribe
Plants are just like good friends. We happily invite them into our homes, and we love them for their variety of interesting qualities. If we treat them right, they can stick around for many years.
We’re familiar with combinations found in outdoor gardens, like a mix of colourful perennials, a herb haven or a rockery of succulents. When we bring plants indoors into a limited space like a pot, there's a few things to consider. As well as the aesthetics of colour, height and form, the key is to choose plants that will live harmoniously together in the same soil with similar watering and light needs.
Tammy suggests an indoor pot combo using Anthurium andraeanum cv. as a glossy backdrop, Ctenanthe cv. to fill out the middle, and a Philodendron cordatum cv. which will cascade over the side of the pot. These plants require the same growing conditions which will be key to their success.
Potting Up:
Choose a wide pot big enough to house all your plants. They need to fit comfortably in the pot together, so they have room to grow and won’t have to compete for space and nutrients. Next, half-fill the pot with a good quality potting mix to ensure your plants have a great start to their lives together.
Squeeze the edges of the container to release the root ball of the plant. You may want to put the taller plants in first. Position taller plants towards the back of the pot on a raised mound of soil to give depth to your installation. Cover the roots with soil as you go to avoid them drying out. The middle layer can go in next, followed by the trailing plant at the front.
Give your combo some water to settle the soil around the roots and enjoy the display. When it comes to your regular watering routine, always check first. Simply insert your finger into the mix to determine the soil’s moisture. If it’s dry, give it a good drink but if it’s wet then hold off watering for a few days - yes, it is possible to give your plants too much love.
Your one-pot friends are going to grow at different rates, so if one grows too fast or too tall for your liking, simply trim them back. They will appreciate liquid fertiliser every few weeks during the warmer months. There are so many combinations to experiment with, and like all friendships, taking care to cultivate everyone's needs will result in true harmony for years to come.
Featured Plants:
FLAMINGO FLOWER - Anthurium andraeanum cv.
PEACOCK PLANT - Ctenanthe cv.
HEART LEAF PHILODENDRON - Philodendron cordatum cv.
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