Watermelon Peperomia
Peperomia argyreia
Family: Piperaceae
Care Level: Easy
Toxicity: Non-toxic to people and pets
A compact, perennial houseplant known for its striking, watermelon-patterned foliage. The leaves are green with silver streaks and have a shimmery appearance.
Medium to Bright Indirect Light – 150-200 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
Place the plant 6 ft / 1.8m away from a south, west or east-facing window.
Ensure the plant does not have a direct view of the sky.
If direct sunlight on the leaves is unavoidable, a sheer curtain can be used to filter the light.
Consider a PAR Meter, or PAR Meter App to measure photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).
Water when the topsoil feels dry to the touch.
Use room temperature rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water.
To ensure optimal plant health, a pot with drainage holes is essential.
Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out the drainage holes. Then, allow the excess water to drain completely before placing the pot on a saucer or in a decorative planter.
Water considerably less in the winter months when the plant isn’t actively growing.
Ready Potting Mix
- For optimal growth, use an organic all-purpose potting mix.
DIY Recipe
- 3 parts Coir, 1 part Pumice, top dress with Worm Castings.
- Apply an organic all-purpose fertilizer every 2-4 weeks, from March to October.
Ideal Temperature Range
- 65-80 °F / 18-26 °C
Ideal Humidity Range
- 40-50%
Time to Maturity
- 2-5 years
Eventual Height
- 12 in / 30 cm
Eventual Spread
- 8 in / 20 cm
P. argyrea ‘Raindrop’
Features tear-drop shaped, plump leaves with a similar watermelon pattern as the classic variety.
P. argyrea ‘Maria’
Rounded leaves with a network of dark green and silvery-white veins creating a marbled appearance.
P. argyrea ‘Snow Drift’
Light green leaves with subtle white veining, creating a snowy effect.
Wax Plant
Hoya carnosa
Family: Apocynaceae
Care Level: Easy
Toxicity: Non-toxic to people and pets
A climbing vine with thick, glossy leaves and clusters of sweet-smelling, star-shaped flowers.
Bright Indirect Light – 150-250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
Place the plant 5 ft / 1.5m away from a south, west or east-facing window.
Ensure the plant does not have a direct view of the sky.
If direct sunlight on the leaves is unavoidable, a sheer curtain can be used to filter the light.
Consider a PAR Meter, or PAR Meter App to measure photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).
Water when the topsoil feels dry to the touch.
Use room temperature rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water.
To ensure optimal plant health, a pot with drainage holes is essential.
Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out the drainage holes. Then, allow the excess water to drain completely before placing the pot on a saucer or in a decorative planter.
Water considerably less in the winter months when the plant isn’t actively growing.
Ready Potting Mix
- For optimal growth, use an organic all-purpose potting mix.
DIY Recipe
- 3 parts Coir, 1 part Pumice, top dress with Worm Castings.
- Apply an organic all-purpose fertilizer every 2-4 weeks, from March to October.
Ideal Temperature Range
- 60-80 °F / 15-26 °C
Ideal Humidity Range
- 40-50%
Time to Maturity
- 2-3 years
Eventual Height
- 1-2 ft / 30-60 cm
Eventual Spread
- 12-18 in / 30-45 cm
H. carnosa ‘Krimson Queen’
Features white to pink variegation on the leaf margins.
H. carnosa ‘Krimson Princess’
Variegation at the leaf center.
H. carnosa ‘Tricolor’
Also known as ‘Variegata’, this cultivar has leaves with green, white, and pink variegation.
H. carnosa ‘Krinkle Kurl’
Known as the Hindu Rope Plant, it has curled leaves and forms clusters of pink flowers.
Weeping Fig
Ficus benjamina
Family: Moraceae
Care Level: Intermediate
Toxicity: Toxic to people and pets
A popular indoor tree with glossy, oval-shaped leaves and long, arching branches that cascade downwards.
Bright Indirect Light – 150-250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
- Can tolerate some direct sun in the morning.
Place the plant 5 ft / 1.5m away from a south, west or east-facing window.
Ensure the plant does not have a direct view of the sky.
If direct sunlight on the leaves is unavoidable, a sheer curtain can be used to filter the light.
Consider a PAR Meter, or PAR Meter App to measure photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).
Water when the topsoil feels dry to the touch.
Use room temperature rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water.
To ensure optimal plant health, a pot with drainage holes is essential.
Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out the drainage holes. Then, allow the excess water to drain completely before placing the pot on a saucer or in a decorative planter.
Water considerably less in the winter months when the plant isn’t actively growing.
Ready Potting Mix
- For optimal growth, use an organic all-purpose potting mix.
DIY Recipe
- 3 parts Coir, 1 part Pumice, top dress with Worm Castings.
- Apply an organic all-purpose fertilizer every 2-4 weeks, from March to October.
Ideal Temperature Range
- 60-80 °F / 15-26 °C
Ideal Humidity Range
- 40-50%
Time to Maturity
- 5-10 years
Eventual Height
- 6-10 ft / 1.8-3 m
Eventual Spread
- 3-5 ft / 0.9-1.5 m
F. benjamina ‘Starlight’
Recognizable by its variegated leaves with creamy white edges.
F. benjamina ‘Golden King’
Has glossy green leaves with a yellow or cream band around the edge.
F. benjamina ‘Monique’
Features stiff, sharply-pointed dark green leaves with scalloped margins.
F. benjamina ‘Reginald’
Large, glossy leaves colored in a creamy lime shade, adorned with splashes of darker green.
F. benjamina ‘Exotica’
Noted for its light green leaves.
F. benjamina ‘Wiandi’
Dark burgundy foliage, matures to produce fragrant white flower spikes.
F. benjamina ‘Petite Samantha’
Displays bright green leaves with creamy-yellow borders and red-brown stems.
White Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia nicolai
Family: Strelitziaceae
Care Level: Easy to Intermediate
Toxicity: Toxic to people and pets
A large, architectural houseplant with stunning, glossy, paddle-shaped leaves. Can produce striking white and blue flowers, but rarely blooms indoors.
Bright Indirect Light – 150-250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
- Can tolerate some direct sun in the morning.
Place the plant 5 ft / 1.5m away from a south, west or east-facing window.
Ensure the plant does not have a direct view of the sky.
If direct sunlight on the leaves is unavoidable, a sheer curtain can be used to filter the light.
Consider a PAR Meter, or PAR Meter App to measure photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).
Allow the soil to almost dry out before watering.
Use room temperature rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water.
To determine when to water, use a knitting needle or chopstick to test the moisture at various depths.
To ensure optimal plant health, a pot with drainage holes is essential.
Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out the drainage holes. Then, allow the excess water to drain completely before placing the pot on a saucer or in a decorative planter.
Water considerably less in the winter months when the plant isn’t actively growing.
Ready Potting Mix
- For optimal growth, use an organic all-purpose potting mix.
DIY Recipe
- 3 parts Coir, 1 part Pumice, top dress with Worm Castings.
- Apply an organic all-purpose fertilizer every 2-4 weeks, from March to October.
Ideal Temperature Range
- 60-80 °F / 15-26 °C
Ideal Humidity Range
- 50-70%
Time to Maturity
- 5-10 years
Eventual Height
- 6-10 ft / 1.8-3 m
Eventual Spread
- 3-5 ft / 0.9-1.5 m
S. reginae
Known as the Bird of Paradise, it features sword-like leaves and smaller, vibrant orange flowers.
S. alba
Similar to S. nicolai but with pure white flowers.
S. caudata
Known for its banana-like leaves and white flowers with a blue tongue.
S. juncea
Characterized by rush-like leaf stalks and orange or yellow flowers.
Windmill Palm
Trachycarpus fortunei
Family: Arecaceae
Care Level: Easy
Toxicity: Non-toxic to people and pets
An evergreen palm with fan-shaped, dark green leaves and a fibrous black trunk.
Bright Indirect Light – 150-250 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
Place the plant 5 ft / 1.5m away from a south, west or east-facing window.
Ensure the plant does not have a direct view of the sky.
If direct sunlight on the leaves is unavoidable, a sheer curtain can be used to filter the light.
Consider a PAR Meter, or PAR Meter App to measure photosynthetically active radiation as PPFD (μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹).
Water when the topsoil feels dry to the touch.
Use room temperature rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water.
To ensure optimal plant health, a pot with drainage holes is essential.
Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out the drainage holes. Then, allow the excess water to drain completely before placing the pot on a saucer or in a decorative planter.
Water considerably less in the winter months when the plant isn’t actively growing.
Ready Potting Mix
- For optimal growth, use a specialty organic potting mix formulated for palms.
DIY Recipe
- 2 parts Coir, 2 parts Coarse Sand, 1 part Pumice.
- Apply an organic fertilizer formulated for palms every 2-4 weeks, from March to October.
Ideal Temperature Range
- 65-75 °F / 18-24 °C
Ideal Humidity
- 50%
Time to Maturity
- 10 years
Eventual Height
- 6-8 feet / 1.8-2.4 m
Eventual Spread
- 3-5 feet / 0.9-1.5 m
Trachycarpus fortunei ‘Nanus’
- A dwarf cultivar with a slower growth rate and reaching only 3-4 ft / 0.9-1.2 m tall indoors.