If You Love Indoor Plants These Tips Can Save Money

Bringing the outdoors in is always a wonderful idea. I do LOVE having fresh flowers in the house as well as plants. I have mentioned in the past my affinity for flora and that I have over 50 plants inside my home. But, that being said I don’t always have a green thumb. I like plants…but they don’t always like me. So, I do end up replacing quite a few in a year….and that can get pricey. Potted house plants and fresh flowers are not always budget-friendly. It can all add up! So, if you enjoy all the color and life that greenery can bring into a home and if you love indoor plants … these tips can save you money!!!

My Three Tips

To keep things simple I thought I would share three helpful tips. The first tip is to try to look for long-lasting blooms as well as greenery. It sounds simple but being able to have them last longer is key. Another tip is what I call “bringing the outdoors in” which is using cut stems from plants from my own yard…whatever the season. And lastly, I like to propagate plants at home which allows me to regenerate more of my very favorite varieties.

Tip 1: Buy Long Lasting Varieties

If I’m looking for fresh flowers and greenery I head straight to my local grocery store. And, if you’re lucky enough to have a Trader Joe’s….their floral section, although tiny, is superb! And the prices are amazing too! My favorite budget blooms are Alstroemeria, Zinnias, and bulbed Daffodil plants. Believe it or not, when these are fresh I’ve had them last for two weeks or longer! For greenery, I enjoy Cocculus, Ruscus, and Variegated Pittosporum. These stems last super long as well…I bought Cocculus over a month ago…and they still look great!

*A vintage aqua blue vase displaying pale pink Alstroemeria

*A sunny yellow vintage McCoy pitcher displaying Variegated Pittosporum

*Cocculus *Variegated Pittosporum

Tip #2: Bring The Outside In

To bring the outdoors in…I search my own yard. I look for fresh stems that I can cut and display. It is very budget-friendly, convenient, and beautiful. I use the cuttings in flower arrangements or on their own in vintage vases. They can stay looking fresh for long periods of time. Sometimes I have cuttings that last for several weeks! Hostas, Peonies, Hydrangeas, and Coleus are a few of my favorite leaves to showcase. They look fabulous on my windowsill! And the amazing part is that most of them can propagate new roots!..which means more free plants! Yay!

*Enjoying my kitchen window sill display with cuttings from my yard: Coleus, Hostas, Spider plants, and Hydrangeas. Tall shot glasses and juice glasses work great to hold the long stems.

Tip #3: Propagate Plants For Free

This brings me to my next category…propagating plants! Propagate means for a plant to reproduce. There are two main ways for a plant to reproduce, from a seed, or from a shoot sprouting new roots when placed in water. Now, I didn’t start out knowing that certain plants could grow their own roots…it was a happy accident! In decorating, I use fun leaves all the time and after a while, I noticed that when some of the cuttings were placed in water new roots began to grow…how cool is that! And how easy is that? It’s just nature taking its own course. Even several varieties of houseplants can grow roots in water. I like propagating Spider plants, Hydrangea leaves, and Coleus …it’s easy to do and really fun to watch the growth process! Now I have “created” several new plants that I can pot!.. nothing beats FREE plants!

• A shoot from a Spider Plant develops tiny little Spider Plants also called “Spiderettes”. In water, these will start propagate in only a few days.

Steps for propagating

• Choose a leaf that can be easily regenerated. If coming from the outdoors check carefully for bugs and remove them (Penoies are notorious for having ants)
• Cut the stem below the node with clean sharp scissors
• Place cutting in a clean glass jar with clean water
• Remember to change the water when needed
• Place cutting in indirect light
• Watch for new growth in a few days ENJOY!

*Coleus cutting *Hydrangea cutting

*Fresh cuttings in water *A few weeks of root growth

Try it at Home!

One of my home decor themes is “bringing the outside in.” Having beautiful flowers and plants is a key element in making a house more natural and joyful! …and I could absolutely not live without them. They can bring rooms to life for me! My favorite is to propagate plants in water. I cannot believe how easy it is and how pretty they look in a regular glass container…stunning! Your friends and family will be amazed when they see the roots growing out in just a few days. So if you love indoor plants these tips can save money. Just give it a try! It’s an easy, fun, and less expensive way to add more life to your decor! So let’s get HOMEY!!!

• If you liked this article, see “Make a Home Special: Bring The Outdoors In.”
• Be sure to check out Trader Joe’s floral section. It cannot be beat!
• These are some perfect glasses (paid link) to use for cuttings.