Plants & Yard Ideas

As spring ushers in all the flowery feelings that accompany rebirth, renewal, and fresh signs of life, we’re going to turn our attention this weekend to the living decor that graces our homes: our plants. With the advent of the season that most houseplants will begin their growing seasons in earnest, the extra TLC we give them now will be repaid with lush, thriving greenery.

If you’ve yet to get on board with grocery stores carrying adorable home accessories, now is the time. Lidl’s newest collection is for those plant parents (and wannabe plant parents) who want to nurture their green thumbs, for not a lot of green. The German supermarket chain—which sadly doesn’t have online shopping, but does have a growing number of locations on the East Coast from Delaware to South Carolina here in the U.S.

It’s hard to settle on the biggest draw of house plants. Is it the inherent sense of pride in being able to keep another living thing alive? Is it the aesthetic brownie-points of a perfectly arranged succulent sill? The perceived higher air quality?

We all know on some level, even if we forget from time to time, that the filtered and staged images we see on Instagram aren’t exactly real life. Take, for instance, a picture-perfect plant placed in just the right woven basket in a ubiquitous pale-palette living room. It could be a happy, healthy plant cared for by a doting owner. Or it could be fresh from the nursery and not yet showing signs of the imperfect care ahead of it. (Or maybe it’s a full-blown fake.

Green thumbs might seem to have an innate knack for caring for plants, while black thumbs appear to be doomed with a Midas touch of death. But the only difference between green thumbs and black thumbs, really, is just familiarizing yourself with both your particular plants’ specific needs and also some general plant-keeping guidelines.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, so don’t forget to shower your mom and the moms in your life with love (and also flowers, if that’s their thing). Good news is that grocery stores are dropping some sweet smelling deals for those looking to bestow bouquets. Here are a few of the bargains to be had. German grocery chain Lidl is bringing the blooms with its Mother’s Day deals. A dozen roses are just $7.99, ten-stem tulip bunches start at $4.

Choosing the right houseplant for your space isn’t exactly a science. Also not a science? Astrology. But much like covering your apartment in greenery, exploring what your zodiac sign might reveal about your personality is a ton of harmless fun (for not a ton of money). We’ve taken the joy of mapping sun signs to their houseplant counterparts based on the traits of both the plants and the personality that will be caring for them.

There’s no shortage of plant-obsessed accounts to follow on Instagram. The hashtag #plantsofinstagram alone produces more than 1 million posts, most of which come straight from the hands of plant parents across the globe. And if you’re anything like us, you depend on Instagram posts to help inspire and inform all of your gardening endeavors. So to ensure that your feed is always filled with helpful plant info, we rounded up 10 of the coolest plant accounts to follow on IG.

This past Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend gave me a potted orchid instead of the usual bouquet of carnations and roses. Having never owned an orchid before, I checked the tag for care instructions and learned I was supposed to water it with three ice cubes, or about ¼ cup of water, once a week. I’ve been feeding my orchid its ice every Friday, and it’s been blooming spectacularly for the past three months. But are the ice cubes really the secret to orchid success?

It’s impressive enough that Samantha and Brendan Binger were able to fit their stuff, three dogs, and two cats in their home RV… and make the space look warm, lovely and homey. But did you notice all those plants?! Sam says there are an amazing 95 plants present (and that’s NOT including “all the succulents packed into terrariums”).

There are so many reasons to love getting your hands dirty, whether it’s from repotting your plants, beautifying your indoor or outdoor space with a good DIY, or nurturing living things in the garden. It feels good to get in there and get stuff done. What’s not so fun is having dirt under your nails after your work session is over.

Most of us have that one friend or family member who reliably texts you with life updates, posts Instagram Stories about her commute to work, and generally goes out of her way to keep you informed. And then there’s the friend who’s a bit more private about her feelings. You can usually recognize the signs when something’s bothering her, but she makes you guess to figure out what the problem is. Your houseplants are like this second type of friend.

Fun fact: Pineapples are actually a member of the bromeliad family, a tropical species long popular with houseplant enthusiasts for their dramatic spiky leaves and neon-colored blooms. And, it turns out, you can even grow a pineapple as a houseplant, too. You don’t need to make a special trip to the nursery either—just add a pineapple to your grocery list and you’ll have exactly what you need to start growing a brand new pineapple plant.

I know I am not the only one depressed by the state of the world right now, growing more and more incredulous and outraged with each passing day. If you work hard, and do what you can to make things better out there, it’s okay to take a break too. One of the best ways to recharge is to gather a group of friends, go outside, and indulge in some brainless fun this summer. Balance your rage/shock/concern with some wholesome/ridiculous/playful outdoor games.

I live in a one bedroom “garden” apartment, which means that I get to have my own front door, porch, and small strip of flower bed. The only downside? The flower bed is under the porch roof, which means it’s constantly damp and shady, and also an ideal mosquito habitat. So this year, after frantically trying to squash a few rogue mosquitoes that snuck indoors while I was carrying in groceries, I’ve decided to get myself some mosquito-repelling plants.

If there’s one thing I could change about my one-bedroom apartment, it wouldn’t be the square footage or the carpet or the weird handle-less kitchen cabinets. It would be the lack of natural light, which sadly stymies my dream of covering every available surface with greenery and growing fresh herbs right in my kitchen. But it turns out there is actually one thing I can grow successfully in my cave of a kitchen: mushrooms.

Joanna Gaines might be busy taking care of her newborn, Crew, but that won’t stop her from sharing advice for all the current and would-be plant parents out there. The summer issue of Magnolia Journal is out, and Jo has tips galore for her latest plant obsession. What leafy houseplant is on Joanna’s must have list? It’s the sculptural, showstopping staghorn fern.

Though it certainly feels like it when you watch people with the gift of making every plant under their care flourish, no one is born with a green thumb: There are only black thumbs who become green thumbs, and black thumbs who haven’t yet. If you’re in the second category, knowing these dirty little secrets hidden in the closets of your green thumb friends will speed you on your own path to that enviable star plant-parent status.

Do you dream of fragrant green herbs sprouting on your kitchen windowsill? Cherry tomatoes ripening on the vine just outside your door? If you’ve got a least a little patch of sun on a porch or balcony, you can grow a container garden. But before you head out to buy seeds, you might want to check with your local library to see if you can “check out” a pack or two. Yep, libraries aren’t just for books and movies anymore.

Have you ever peeled back the leaves on a bunch of homegrown kale to discover hundreds of scaly little bugs? Those are aphids and the sight of them will make you throw away your kale and order pizza instead. And anyone who’s had a houseplant infested with spider mites will have been tempted to chuck said plant, pot and all, straight out the window. The damage they cause can eventually kill the plant, and the mites spread quickly.

One of our readers found herself in a familiar situation: she had an outdoor space (yay!), but it was basically unusable (boo). After just two weekends of work, this wannabe balcony has been transformed into a tiny, precious piece of alfresco heaven. Reader Abby Robinson was kind enough to submit this project.

Adding a few houseplants is a foolproof way to brighten up your decor while adding a aura of serenity to your space. Unfortunately, houseplants can get pricey, especially for big showstoppers or unusual varieties. Let’s be honest: it’s tough to pull out your credit card when you’re not sure a plant will actually survive your apartment’s environment, or the blunderings of your black thumb. But that doesn’t mean you have to live without indoor greenery.

“Proplifting”—picking up fallen succulent leaves off the floors at big box stores and taking them home to propagate—is the hot new thing in the plant world, to the point that there’s a subreddit devoted to it. If you’d like to give it a try, here are a bunch of inspiring posts to get you started.

Low-maintenance and impossibly cute, this is the perfect way to get your plant parenthood off the ground.

Houseplants have gone from an accessory to a lifestyle, and having a wall full of plants is becoming more “millennial” than millennial pink. The only thing that could make it more trendy? If there was a subscription box associated with it. Well, wonder no further when such a thing will exist—The Sill has launched a Plant Parent Club.

When you live with four other people, you might need to escape the close quarters from time to time.

I’m pretty minimalist when it comes to gardening tools and plant supplies. Plants have simple lives: Sun, water, soil, and room to grow are all they need, and I appreciate that I don’t need to spend much money to keep them growing contentedly. However, there are a few houseplant accessories that are really nice to have, and the best part is that they don’t cost a bunch of money. Here are six items under $20 that will make your plants happy.

While the grass may be a bit patchy—no surprise in Southern California—this 90-year-old yard actually looks pretty great. The house looks nice, the fence is attractive and offers a ton of privacy, the plants are interesting, and the accessories are well-suited to the space. While the home was perfectly fine before, wait until you see how it was transformed.

Although it seems so straightforward, watering your houseplants can be a surprisingly tricky chore. For a lot of people, the issue isn’t remembering to fill up the watering can once or twice a week—it’s figuring out how much water your plants really need. Enter self-watering planters. Your statement Monsteras and lemon trees will feel right at home in this modern square planter.

Great news, plant parents: the Instagram favorite fiddle leaf fig tree appears to be back in stock at select Costco locations across the country. You might remember how excited we got to spot them at a Michigan location last year (Auburn Hills) where they were around six feet tall and under $50 ($46.99 to be exact). Our plant sleuth Kaitlin Flannery just let us know that the leafy tree is back at Auburn Hills, though they are smaller in size and in price.

Let’s just take a moment to appreciate hanging planters. They’ve been popular for who knows how long, and show no signs of going away any time soon for good reason: They add a certain something to your space, no matter what the decor style, and are practical for a number of reasons. To start, they help you make the most of limited sunlight. I have exactly one sunny window in my otherwise dim apartment, so all of my plants need to share.

Many houseplants hunker down for an extended period of rest, or dormancy, during the winter months. They’ll stop flowering and growing new leaves. Some species will drop leaves (even all of their leaves like shamrock plants) and that’s okay! You haven’t killed it. It’s getting ready to rest, just like trees and plenty of garden plants.

File this under things that might bring unexpected joy to your busy, hectic day. These timelapse videos of plants, captured over the course of hours, are the most relaxing, mesmerizing things I’ve seen in ages, and I think I might just watch them forever. Caladium plants have large graceful tropical leaves that come in white, pinky-reds and green. This plant was filmed over the course of five days as its initial leaf unfurled, then was joined by another emerging stem from the soil.

While it’s always exciting to have any outdoor space at all, the owners of this particular outdoor space found it to be “tiny, messy, and not functional.” After six weeks of work, this backyard is now the dreamy oasis they were hoping for. Let’s hear a bit more about the inspiration behind this makeover, as well as the challenges it posed: Our backyard is small and on a grade, but we knew we could make it nice. [It] was tiny, messy, and not functional at all for us.

If you have a studio or one-bedroom apartment, then you know firsthand that there isn’t much room to turn around in. You have to be savvy with your space—where your coffee table acts as a makeshift storage chest, the sides of cabinets are tricked out with space-creating shelves, and every inch of the room is stacked and layered to help you feel like you have more room than you actual do. Which is why adding in plants to a not-so-big apartment can be tricky.

Looking for an excuse to grow your plant family? Amazon is having a one-day sale on houseplants from Costa Farms. The sale includes lots of hardy plants like cacti, succulents, and snake plants, making them great additions to nearly any home. If you’re just ready to dip your toes into the houseplant mania, these are a great way to do it. Already have a big plant brood? This is also a great way to grow your collection quickly without adding too many finicky varieties at once.

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and the saying holds true for homes. When your house is on the market, you want potential buyers to fall in love at first sight—and that means having major curb appeal. While the house itself is the focus of curb appeal, keep in mind that landscaping is an important factor to consider as well. Thoughtful use of plants can create visual interest and enhance the overall look of your property.

If you opened this story, chances are you’ve at least considered becoming a plant parent. Honestly, what’s there to think about? After all, 2018 is all about that plant life. Not convinced? Just check out our Instagram account @iplanteven. Not only are plants a great way to breathe some much-needed life into your home, many species can improve your space’s air quality. Pretty cool, huh? But with great (flower) power comes great responsibility.

The only thing better than a well-designed tiny home is one that’s dressed up in holiday decor. And thanks to the #tinyhousemovement—which advocates pared down living in small homes such as campers, Airstreams, and of course, tiny houses—sweeping social media, there’s no shortage of festively decorated mini-abodes to drool over on IG. Read ahead for seven tiny homes decked out in holiday decor we spotted on Instagram.

Plants and macramé go together like white fur blankets and Scandinavian homes. With the reemergence of Boho and trending #plantlady tags, it’s only natural that macramé plant hangers are popping up everywhere. They were big in 2018 and we predict they aren’t go away anytime soon. Macramé is such a beautiful craft that can be the perfect finishing detail to a room and we’ll kickstart your hunt with some of our favorite DIYs and buys.

The holidays may be over but there’s another uniquely important day to note on the calendar: January 10 is National Houseplant Appreciation Day, which means it’s time to celebrate the joys and benefits of tending to an indoor plant. Along with improving the air quality in our homes, houseplants make wonderful roommates—they’re quiet, easy to care for, and fun to look at—and NHAD is all about paying homage to their awesomeness.

Deciding you want to “be a better plant parent” is a great goal, but it’s kind of a dud of a New Year’s Resolution. The best resolutions are small, specific, measurable, and something you can write down and track. So if a green thumb is on your goals list for this year, try reframing your ambition into something more tangible. Here are a few simple-but-specific resolutions to set your black thumbs on the path to success (plus keep your fiddle-leaf fig alive and thriving).

While we’ve been busy compiling hacks designed to help you to get cleaner air at home, scientists have been hard at work coming up with a seriously hardcore fix of their own: genetically modifying a houseplant to purify the air. Without getting into the dizzying details of what it takes to genetically modify a seed, here’s what we know about this scientific undertaking that could increase the air quality in our homes.

It might still be January, but for those overachievers with their sights set on (the swiftly approaching) Valentine’s Day, we have great news. Your favorite warehouse stores have already released their flower deals for the most romantic day of the year. Here’s how you can save big on those bouquets. Costco is bringing back its popular 50 roses for $49.99 deal this year.

We first got a glimpse into the colorful world of Troy Solomon (a.k.a. ABearNamedTroy) and Ian Mofford when we toured their whimsical West Hollywood apartment last year. Since then, the couple has transformed their drab second story patio into an equally magical wonderland laced with astroturf and pops of pink. The result is a satisfying transformation that begs the question: Why can’t we all be outside drinking piña coladas from disco balls right now?

One of the hardest parts of becoming a plant parent is ensuring your leafy babies stay alive and thriving when you’re traveling. You can board your dog, but sometimes it’s just not feasible to have a friend stop by and give the thirsty pots a drink. Unsurprisingly, Martha Stewart has a tip for keeping potted plants hydrated for up to one week.

If you’re an occupant of a small space, finding an ample outdoor area for gardening is a challenge. More often than not, you’re running into barriers with sunlight or simply a designated area to set up. While there are community gardens, farmers markets, and other safe havens for sourcing fresh produce, OGarden has a tiny (but huge) solution.

Move over cup holders: plant holders are this year’s newest table accessory. No longer do plants need to placed on the floor or tucked away on a window sill, but front and center on their own specially designed space. Created by the uber-talented Toronto design studio WOOYOO, the Pokopoko table makes it easy to give your favorite plant babies a seat at the table, according to Contemporist. The designers wanted to create a table that took advantage of the empty flat space.

On a day off, just for fun, the owner of this house transformed its plain white facade with a very colorful paint job. This is utterly delightful—playful and vibrant with a dreamy palette that must make passersby wish they could be invited in. Roxanne of @daintylibrarian frequently creates fun, colorful DIYs that are whimsical and unpredictable. This particular shade of pink is perfection: sophisticated and modern without a hint of saccharine.

When it comes to the care of plants, we’ve got you covered. But there’s one thing you can’t tell just from a quick Google search: how long your plant has been sitting around in the store. Ideally, of course, store staff have been taking good care of them, but there are lots of unknowns at the time of purchase. It might seem small, but it could make a huge difference in your plant’s longevity.

While it still feels like winter in many places–especially where there’s still snow on the ground–an easy way to ring in spring is bringing indoor plants into your home. Luckily, Aldi has your back with its latest deals on five-inch pots with assorted foliage and vegetable and herb seed packets. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the offerings: Also known as the dwarf umbrella tree, schefflera arboricola grows best in bright, sunny areas and should be pruned when needed.

We all have been swooning hard for a while now on cacti. Not only have we been loving the image of the iconic desert plant on interior wall murals and bedspread prints, but we love the cactus itself, too. Robust and relatively easy to care for, these wonderful additions to the home bring a lovely southwestern vibe into any space. Luckily for all of us, most cactus dealers—online and off—are responsible. They grow their plants from seeds and wouldn’t dream of poaching.

Whether you’re dyeing eggs for Easter, or you’re just really into packing hard-boiled eggs with your lunch lately, here’s a smart tip you can use soon: Save your egg water for your plants. Plants love calcium. When it’s present in a plant’s soil, calcium helps to keep the pH in check—a neutral soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5 provides plants with the ideal environment to soak up all the nutrients they need. You know what naturally contains calcium? Eggshells.

Instagram is one of our favorite places to find home inspiration—specifically, houseplant inspiration. From easy-to-care-for hanging plants to surprisingly affordable fiddle leaf figs, there’s no shortage of greenery on the ‘gram. But there’s one houseplant account you’re probably not following that you absolutely should be: Boys with Plants. Boys with Plants is exactly what it sounds like: a feed of attractive men posing with their houseplants.

Name: Carrie Location: Windsor Square — Los Angeles, California When we first toured our apartment, the patio looked like a prison yard. The paint was dirty and peeling, the floor was inexplicably covered in commercial kitchen mats, and the view was a tangle of power lines looming over the ugly backsides of three neighboring apartment buildings. (And don’t get me started on the flattened toilet boxes one neighbor used for curtains!

Project by: Anne-Claire Location: Rockville, Maryland Our back patio was nice enough when we moved in. It was made of flag stones, had a fun round shape and was surrounded by plants and trees. But after almost two years in the house, we felt that a wood deck would look warmer and more inviting. So this spring while my parents were visiting from France, my dad helped us build one. He’s a very good DIYer and had already built a deck for their own home.

Name: Erin & Ken Francois Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location: Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. Spring has sprung and Erin and Ken are itching to fix up their gloriously large backyard for grilling season.

Q: Our house is a basic brick ranch fixer-upper, with a large addition on the back. I know that painting brick is an extremely controversial subject, but I’m wondering if we should go ahead and paint the brick [photo below] when we paint the siding (which needs painting anyway). We’re on a corner lot, so the side of the house is very visible. I like the look of painted brick, and I think it would help unify the house.

Q: I’m really hoping the Apartment Therapy forum will help me out on this one. My husband and I bought our first house in October, and now that the weather is nice we have turned our sights to the exterior. Landscaping aside, we want to achieve a brand new look on the cheap by repainting the upper purple scalloped siding [see listing photo below].

Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.

Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. The patio rock, sand, and pavers arrived on Friday, and Ken and I both took the afternoon off to begin laying the rock base layer.

Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here.

Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. After a slow progress week last weekend, Ken and I were ready to hit the dirt and power tools with full force this weekend.

Name: Erin & Ken Type of Project: Backyard Redesign Location:Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex The Renovation Diaries are a collaboration with our community in which we feature your step-by-step renovation progress and provide monetary support towards getting it done in style. See all of our Reno Diaries here. With these being the last two weeks of the project, we definitely made a big push to get the remaining projects wrapped up.

Name Type of Project Location: Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex Erin and Ken finished their total backyard on time, but did they also get the job done on budget? What’s your guess? Did they go over or under? Electrician: $494.46 Design fees: N/A Gas Grill: $288.57 Exterior Backdoor Light: $325.96 Garage Sconces: $192.55 Semi Raised Gardens: $112.75 Screen Door & Hardware: $88.88 Garage Main Door + Hardware: $303.98 A/C Fencing $245.

Name Type of Project Location: Upper Tangletown — Minneapolis, Minnesota Type of building: 1930s Tudor-Style Duplex Erin & Ken managed their backyard project with skill, getting it done in plenty of time to enjoy all summer long! Here’s what they learned in the past seven weeks… Now that your backyard is complete, what are the most valuable lessons you learned from the project? We’ve compiled our top 5 lessons learned from our backyard redesign: Plants are expensive!

If like us, you have an old concrete stoop that has more than seen better days, rather than going through the hassle of tearing it out, why not give it a facelift? From concrete stains and epoxy coatings to a variety of enclosures, there are several ways to go about this. We chose a composite decking surround as we liked the low-maintenance factor and wood look.

If we humans dread the end of summer, think about how poor plants feel. People get coats and sweaters to arm against the elements, but they rely on us to keep them safe and happy. You’ve done a good job all season, but leave them outside too long after Labor Day, or bring them inside without proper prep, and it’s a shock to their little systems. It’s not often that we say it’s a matter of life and death, but this is one of those times.

Gone are the dark and dreary days of courtyard-level studio living with nary a plant in sight to green your place. Thanks to the innovative combination of LED-powered grow lamps and mid-century modern pendants, one designer has created a terrarium that everyone can keep alive — and in any space. Globe Terrariums are hanging, hand-blown glass orbs masterminded by designer Richard Clarkson, featuring an LED light integrated and hidden right inside the slim stainless steel cable.

Ready for your next weekend project? With summer slowly winding down, all I can think about is spending my evenings outdoor, whether in a friend’s backyard, a restaurant patio, or a city park. Patrick Davis, consultant by day, DIY carpenter by nights and weekends, has just the project to get your outdoor space ready for those early fall hangs. The best part? It only takes up a few square feet!

IKEA hacks are often inspiring, but there are so many I’ve never tried myself because they take too long and require tools that I don’t have–and they’re often furniture pieces that I just don’t need. So when I found myself wandering the floors of IKEA recently, and the TOPPIG lantern presented itself as a possible hanging planter, I knew it was a hack I was willing to try because I could do it quickly and with minimal supplies.

It’s about time to perk up your patio—or at least start thinking about what you might want to replace or tweak about your yard or deck. If you’re wondering where to start your shopping, I’m here to tell you not to discount IKEA. You might even want to move it to the top of your list. This Swedish retailer has really upped its outdoor game in the past couple of years across multiple categories. Seriously.