Mulhall’s is also getting a growing number of requests from collectors looking for specific and hard-to-find specimens.
The plant craze has allowed smaller independent businesses to thrive, too. Places like Drips Botanical Elements and Sheelytown Market have joined The Green House locally. But big box stores like Lowe’s and area supermarkets also are selling plants and everything needed to grow them.
Members of online plant groups gleefully announce their finds. Others on Facebook are devoted to buying, selling and trading, which is how Porter and Sehi made their connection.
Owners Shannon Beck, left, and Abby Fleek next to the soil bar at the Nodest plant store downtown.
The two met at Nodest, located within Bad Seed Coffee & Supply at 24th and Harney Streets. Not only does Nodest sell plants but it has a soil bar in which you can purchase the perfect mix for that new baby.
It’s great for apartment dwellers who don’t have room for big bags of potting mixtures, Beck said. Each mix, at $3 a pound, comes with a fun name, such as Desert Daddy for cactus and succulents. All contain local compost churned out by Hillside Solutions.
“Oh my gosh, we’ve had a lot of success,” Beck said. “You can’t beat coffee and plants.”
10 EASY-TO-GROW HOUSEPLANTS
Table of Contents
Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Staple decor in dentists’ offices everywhere, this slow-growing waxy-leaved plant might as well be plastic, but it’s real. Able to withstand abuse from any plant serial killer, this one will stand the test of time. The snake plant is like a cockroach — you couldn’t kill it if you tried.
Air plant (Tillandsia xerographica)
Though they’re a bit more difficult to take care of than most people realize, air plants still require very little maintenance. A common misconception, the idea that air plants don’t need to be watered (or just need to be misted), will have your air plants turning brown and crispy after a few weeks. Submerge them in a bath for 10 minutes every 10 days and you’ll have healthy, vibrant air plants that last a lot longer.
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The ZZ plant has become a staple of interior design shows and blogs. The perfect companion for someone looking for a little green in their life, this highly toxic plant is best kept out of reach of dogs, cats and children.
Dragon tree (Dracaena marginata)
This hardy alternative to pickier palms will give any room the tropical look. Technically an entire family of plants originating from Africa and Australia, Dracaena have spiky leaves and curvy trunks that give any room a whimsical look. Bright indirect light and biweekly watering will keep your dragon tree healthy.
Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa)
Monstera, also known as “Swiss cheese plants” and “split-leaf philodendrons” (although they’re not technically a philodendron), are hardy plants with lots of love (and leaves) to give. While it’s not a plant you can forget about for months on end, the monstera requires little upkeep besides a biweekly watering in the summer and a monthly watering in the winter.
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata)
Who doesn’t want a blooming cactus to warm up their home in the winter? Bringing home a Christmas cactus, or its cousin, the Easter cactus (Schlumbergera gaertneri), is an easy way to liven up your space, especially those with furry friends. Why? These plants are nontoxic to both cats and dogs. So, if a pet that loves snacking on greenery has deterred you from taking one of these home, rest easy — you’ve found your plant.
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The queen of easy propagation, spider plants produce dozens of “pups” per plant. These pups, or baby plants, can survive in just water while they develop root systems. Pick up a mother plant that already has pups growing out of stems for a quick way to fill your home with greenery. For beginners, this plant is easy to take care of and provides lots of opportunities to start over if you neglect the mother plant.
Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
The pothos is a quick-growing vine that requires little care beyond a biweekly watering. It grows so rapidly that it has gained an infamous reputation in the plant world, known as “Devil’s Ivy.” Cut a few leaves off and stick the stem in water and suddenly you’ll have two pothos. And then four pothos. And eight pothos. You get the idea.
Marimo moss ball (Aegagropila linnaei)
It doesn’t get much easier than this, folks. Native to Japan and northern Europe, this living sphere of algae will thrive in a glass of water with indirect light. Change the water every couple of weeks (or when a film appears on the glass) and the marimo moss ball will stay green. This plant may be ideal for gardeners who are prone to overwatering, as it’s impossible to give it too much water.
Mottled spurge (Euphorbia lactea)
Technically not a cactus, despite its looks, this succulent is a great choice for those of us who may have trouble remembering to water our plants. Weeks, months go by, and the drought-resistant euphorbia will continue to stand tall. Just make sure it receives plenty of sun and has well-drained soil.
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