Most of us know Mrs. Anderson-Little as a social studies teacher at OM. But what you may not know is that she also has a passion for nature and plants. In fact, she has a total of 65 plants in her home. Her love for plants began after she moved out of her parents house and moved in with her now husband. She was inspired by “jungle room aesthetics” that she came across on social media which looked calm, peaceful, and spa-like. She loved the energy and vibe of the natural look, so she decided to use plants as decoration and instantly fell in love. Through years of developing her own expertise, Mrs. Anderson-Little offers advice for all the first time plant parents out there.

Easiest Types of House Plants:

According to Mrs. Anderson-Little, if you’re in the beginner stages with house plants, you should get a snake plant or a pothos plant. Snake plants and pothos plants don’t die easily or need daily attention with watering or sunlight. 

What to Look for in a House Plant? 

Before buying house plants, you should do your research and look for a plant that you can manage. Mrs. Anderson-Little suggests using caution at stores like Lowes and The Home Depot, since some of their plants carry infections, root rots, and spider mites, which is important to note. Mrs. Anderson-Little highly recommends going to a local nursery or gardening center instead to buy your plants because you can talk to the people that work there and gain important insight about plants.

What Materials Do You Need?

“Stay away from miracle grow,” Mrs. Anderson-Little recommends. Instead, “you need a basic, organic, Multi-purpose soil.” It’s good to know what kind of soil your specific plant needs because every plant is slightly different. You should also buy orchid bark and perlite to help with drainage. The orchid bark and perlite will help you not have compacted soil, which will lead to root rot and ultimately, a dead plant. You definitely need a tool set, but after you trim one plant, sanitize your sheers because you can pass infections from plant to plant. Pots are needed as well, and you can purchase them from your local Dollar General.

Tips to Maintain a Healthy House Plant:

• Do your research!

• Create a watering schedule for each plant you have

• Buy the materials that your plant needs

• Inspect your plants and soil to see what it needs 

• If you can bend the leaves easily, it’s thirsty – water it! If the leaves are stiff, they’re fine – don’t water it.

• Download a plant finder app on your phone that can tell you exactly what your plants needs

Pros and Cons of Having House Plants:

House plants are a beautiful and fun way to fill empty space or to use as decor in your house. They also give you a sense of responsibility and fulfillment. On the other hand, you have to pay attention to their needs and be careful of issues like fungus gnats. You might also have to move them around a lot for cleaning purposes.

All-in-all, “house plants give you a nice responsibility,” says Mrs. Anderson-Little. It’s a great hobby and a fun way to put your mind and energy into something positive.