Okay, so, I decided it was time to up my indoor plant game. You know, get some of those big, leafy guys that really make a statement. I started by hitting up a few local nurseries, just browsing, getting a feel for what was out there. There were so many options, it was a little overwhelming, to be honest.
First thing I did was scope out my apartment. I made a mental note of where the light hits throughout the day. I have a couple of big windows that get good morning sun, but then it gets pretty dim in the afternoon. Didn’t want to get a plant that needed constant bright light if I couldn’t give it what it needed. Then I remembered a friend talking about how important it was to match plants to your lighting conditions. I thought I should probably listen to her advice.
I ended up grabbing a Bird of Paradise. This thing is majestic, with these huge, banana-like leaves. It definitely fit the “large” bill, I mean this plant was almost taller than me. I also picked up a Snake Plant, which the lady at the nursery said was pretty much impossible to kill. Which is good because I’m still a beginner in plants.
Getting them home was a whole other adventure. I had to borrow my neighbor’s SUV, and even then, it was a tight squeeze. I put the plants on the back seat and used the safety belts to try my best to protect them. It took a few attempts to get the positions right. Luckily, I made it back without any major casualties, just a few bent leaves.
The first thing I did after bringing them home was to wipe the leaves with a clean cloth. I can’t remember why I need to do this but I remember it helps them absorb better. I’m not sure. I just feel that they like it and it doesn’t hurt to do it.
Next, I had to figure out where to put them. The Bird of Paradise went in the corner by the window, where it gets that nice morning light. The Snake Plant, I put on a shelf in the living room. It’s not super bright there, but from what I read, they’re cool with that.
Then came the watering situation. I definitely didn’t want to overwater them, but I also didn’t want them to dry out. The nursery lady said to let the soil dry out completely before watering the Bird of Paradise, so I’ve been sticking to that. For the Snake Plant, I just kind of eyeball it. So far, so good.
- Bird of Paradise: Gets bright, indirect light. Watering when the soil is dry.
- Snake Plant: Tolerates lower light. Watering less frequently.
It’s only been a few weeks, but I’m already loving having these big plants around. They really brighten up the place and make it feel more alive. Plus, it’s kind of cool to see them grow and change. I can’t wait to see them grow taller and taller. It’s like a sense of achievement to see them grow.
I also bought a smaller one – English Ivy. I heard that it can purify air very well. I put it in my study room and it looks nice. I’m going to observe how well it can do.
I’ve even started looking into getting a few more. Maybe a Rubber Plant or a Croton, because my friend just got one and it looks so cool. I saw that it was also a good choice for large plants. But I think I should probably slow down and see how I do with these first. I don’t want to get ahead of myself and end up with a jungle I can’t manage. But yeah, it’s definitely been a fun and rewarding experience so far. I might try to find some big pots and try to do some layering next time. I should probably also start figuring out how to use fertilizers. But for now, just keep them alive and happy is my main goal.
