Timely tips and discussions featuring houseplants that our team of experts know and grow!

December

Welcome back Norfolk Island Pines! (for a limited time) This adorable and popular indoor pine tree is here just in time for the Holidays! Okay, that’s not scientifically true for the name is misleading; Norfolk is actually a Conifer! 

The Norfolk was discovered on Norfolk Island in 1774. They can grow over 200 feet in their natural habitat. It was once thought they would make great ship masts because of their straight trunk but sadly it was not strong enough for that. It was then introduced and cultivated as an ornamental plant in the late 18th century. The Norfolk won't grow anywhere near as tall indoors (thankfully!) They typically only reach about 6 to 8-feet at max after decades of growing. This lil’ guy is a slow growing (maybe 5 to 6-inches a year) powerful air purifier that gives its roommates a taste of the outdoors, inside! 

Care for Norfolk is simple… Keep their pot size on the small side (no more than 2-inch increase of diameter from root ball) with good drainage. Water when the soil is dry and keep it in a bright window but protect from the sun. Norfolks love a misting every now and then. You can also prune to keep a desired shape. Don’t cut the top off your tree though, the central leader will not grow back! They prefer the temperature to stay between 60 to 70 degrees but they can dip lower for short periods of time as long as they aren’t allowed to fall below 40 degrees for too long. High dry heat is not their favorite either, this can cause their foliage to dry up and if they are in the sun too long, they will burn. Fertilize your tree with a good organic liquid fertilizer every other watering for best results. If your tree starts to lean towards the light, rotate the plant to keep it straight. 

Other plants making a comeback this month: Amaryllis, Christmas cacti and more varieties of Poinsettias! 

November

Welcome back Myrtle topiaries! (For a limited time). It’s finally cooling down here and that means we can bring back plants that don’t handle the intense heat in our greenhouse during the Spring/Summer months. 

Myrtles require bright light, at least 6 hours of it! This means that this lil’ shrub would prefer to live in a South or West facing window. They also hate to be dry. No, seriously. They HATE it. They will throw quite the dramatic tantrum if they stay dry too long; Tantrums include losing leaves or defoliating completely in the blink of an eye. This doesn’t mean death, but it does mean that they will need some extra TLC. (Come talk to one of our specialists if your myrtle gets upset, we’d love to help!) That said, like most houseplants, they do not want to be swimming in damp soil either, so make sure that they are in the right sized pot with good drainage and the appropriate houseplant soil.

Myrtles need a misting at least once a week, they need to keep their leaves clean, dust free and would enjoy a humidity break from our super dry, heated homes. If you would like your Myrtle to sing for you, mist them every morning! Also, Myrtles love fertilizer! We recommend that you use a liquid organic fertilizer every other watering during the growing season (you can skip winter). Myrtles can live outside in the spring and summer, so long as they are only receiving morning sun. If you are transitioning a Myrtle from outside to indoors, remember that they really do need a lot of light, so in the winter your Myrtle would appreciate a full spectrum lightbulb nearby, in addition to your brightest window.

• Other plants making a comeback this month: Florist Cyclamen, Christmas + Thanksgiving Cacti, Norfolk pines, Neathebella palms, Rhaphis palms, Clivia and yep, we’ll have poinsettias soon too! 

Want first dibs? Call to be placed on our wishlist today! (425) 334-2002

Stay tuned for more coming soon…