Category: Houseplant of the Month

While outside it is getting gray and gloomy, the ‘Houseplant of the Month November’ is adding a dash of exotic beauty and color to the home. The month of November is dedicated to specialty orchids. Not the regular orchids you know from the supermarket and garden center. This month we want to highlight the beauty of outstanding, special orchid varieties. The unusual shapes of these houseplants with slim stems, heavy crowns, and bizarre tendrils create a visual focus point in any home. Paired with other plants, terrariums, mirrors and crystals, the specialty orchids add a real dash of mysterious beauty and exotic vibes to interiors.

Today we want to introduce six specialty orchids to you: Cymbidium, Paphiopedilum, Cattleya, Zygopetalum, Brassia and Dendrobium nobilé. As exotic as the names are, one thing they have all in common: exceptional beauty. The Cymbidium stems from the tropical rainforests of the Himalaya and does not resemble a classic orchid at all. The orchid is rich in grassy foliage with one or more  branches on which a long series of beautiful cup-shaped flowers appear. The flowers can be yellow, green, orange or cream.

The Paphiopedilum is a native from southeast Asia and has tall green leaves, which make this orchid attractive even without flowers. The flowers however are very impressive too: russet, yellow or green with beautiful markings and an elegant shape. The Paphiopedilum is a shade orchid and thus tolerates partial shade, but not full sun.

The Cattleya is a tropical orchid which only occurs in South and Central America. This outstanding orchid features  a tuber from which only a few thick leaves emerge. The flowers are usually 10 to 20 cm in diameter, and range in colour from white through yellow, orange, green, pink, purple and beautiful pastels. Some have a beautiful fragrance, which has earned Cattleya the nickname ‘Queen of the Orchids’. This orchid prefers a humid environment so place it on a tray with wet pebbles to increase the humidity around the plant.

The Zygopetalum grows on tree stumps and rocks and on the soil amongst the leaves in South America. The flowers are burgundy, green and brown and sometimes almost blue; some varieties have a sweet fragrance. As with most orchids, after flowering cut the flower stem off at the bottom. The orchid will produce more flowers on a new shoot. That does require patience: it can take 8 to 12 months.

The Brassia is referred to as ‘Dancing Lady’ in its native South America due to its delicate flowers which move when you pass by. It has curved stems with 10 to 15 greenish flowers with a diameter of 15 to 20 cm. The flowers themselves are spotted black and purple and the cup90gir.com white lips have unusual green spots. This unearthly appearance makes Brassia a very eye-catching orchid which originates from the damp rainforests of Central and South America. The long train of flowers has earned it the nickname ‘spider orchid’. Despite its exotic appearance the beautifully scented Brassia is easy to keep in the living room.

The Dendrobium nobilé distinguishes itself from other orchid species by the cluster of flowers which grows at the axil of each leaf (it is the orchid on our images in this blog post). The flowers give off a lovely scent. In the wild this orchid grows both in the cool mountains of the Himalayas, jungle of New Guinea and the desert of Australia, so it can easily cope with a living room climate. Dendrobium flowers for four months on average and is known for flowering again for anyone who can be patient for a couple of months. The name derives from Greek and translates to ‘Tree Life’ – which is based on its natural habitat as an epiphyte that grows on other trees.

Orchids are in general pretty easy houseplants. If the air indoors is very dry, it’s best to mist orchid buds every day. That prevents them from drying out and not opening. All orchids look best with ‘loving neglect’. You only need to immerse the pot in water with orchid food for half an hour every 10-14 days, then allow to drain thoroughly. Remove wilted flowers and otherwise leave the plant alone. Here is our plant care chart for you:

If you like you can read more about specialty orchids here:
• In English
• Auf Deutsch
• En français
• In het Nederlands

Houseplant of the Month is an initiative from Mooiwatplantendoen.nl and Bloemenbureau Holland and in collaboration with them we will present you every month a new Houseplant of the Month, right here on Urban Jungle Bloggers.

Photography by Urban Jungle Bloggers

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The sun is setting earlier, the days are getting crisp and the first veils of morning fog are covering the landscape: Clearly autumn has set in on the northern hemisphere. It is the time when we have to move our plants indoors and prepare them and ourselves for the change of season. But with our houseplants even a grey autumn day feels like a lush day in a jungle. And even more so if you have the “Houseplant of the month October’ in your home – the Chinese Evergreen or Aglaonema. Its beautiful leaf markings feature a fresh array of green and silver shades, yellows or even red glows.

The Aglaonema is perfect for a playful home with patterns due to its richly patterned foliage – combined with wall art and postcards (like the lovely postcards by Paruspaper as seen above or the DIY banner by Sister Mag) you can emphasise the patterns and colours while simultaneously calming the scene with neutral or monochromatic accessories like the simple ceramic vase Lily by Louisa Köber for Designerbox or the Butler watering can by Xala. Pattern, colours and neutrals make a great combination for the Aglaonema in any home. However, Chinese Evergreens make a good figure with wood, wicker or varnished materials too – get creative and find the right balance between patterns, textures and colours for your home!

For a livelier styling opt for a variety of Aglaonemas in different sizes and combine them with geometrical planters in vivid reds, blues, yellows and greens for a contemporary twist of the 1980s Memphis style. Or enjoy the lush and peaceful foliage with neutral planters or woven baskets – whatever you prefer or whatever fits your interior styling, the Chinese Evergreen is a good and patient green fellow to enrich your own urban jungle. But where does this beauty come from? And how to care for it? Let us elaborate on that below!

In the wild Chinese Evergreen grows in the subtropical rainforests of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, where the plant thrives under the canopy of larger trees and bushes, which means that the sun can hardly reach them (think of that fact for the optimal light condition indoors). The plant is a member of the Araceae family, also known as the arum family just like the Peace lily, the Diffenbachia or the Anthurium for example. Chinese Evergreen have variegated leaves and generally remain fairly small so do not wonder if it does not grow too high – it rather gets bushy. Alongside the fabulous foliage, this plant’s greatest strength is that it is very easy to maintain compared to other green plants. The Aglaonema is forgiving and tolerates forgetful waterers and will not easily disappoint. That makes it a fabulous houseplant for all newbies or those looking for green roommates with minimum care requirements.

As heard before, due to its natural habitat this plant prefers semi-shade or even full shade in your home. Perfect for those darker corners at home, right!? However, the plant should get at least some natural light as it won’t thrive under artificial light alone. Irregular watering is fine, you can keep the soil moist or it can even dry out every now and then. Just don’t let it sit in too soggy soil. Misting the leaves from time to time will keep them shiny and healthy as well as dusting – it will keep the leaves’ pores unclogged and the plant will breathe better. Thus it will be most beneficial for your home’s indoor climate. The Chinese Evergreen also grows some small but rather unspectacular flowers that grow on a spike surrounded by a bract. The plant puts lots of energy in the production of those flowers but you can also just snip them off and thus divert the energy into the production of leaves. Up to you!  As usual here is our little plant care chart to help you keep your Chinese Evergreen healthy and happy!

If you like you can read more about hanging plants here:
• In English
• Auf Deutsch
• En français
• In het Nederlands

Houseplant of the Month is an initiative from Mooiwatplantendoen.nl and Bloemenbureau Holland and in collaboration with them we will present you every month a new Houseplant of the Month, right here on Urban Jungle Bloggers.

Photography by Urban Jungle Bloggers – plant pot/vase by Louisa Köber for Designerbox – Watering Can Butler by XALA – Postcards by Parus Paper – Enjoy the little things DIY banner by sisterMAG

The exciting month of September has kicked off: Not only are we launching our #urbanjunglebook this month in Munich, Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam, but we are also putting a new range of plants in this month’s focus. In September, the ‘Houseplants of the Month’ are not a certain botanical genus or species but a variety of all kind of plants that have one thing in common: their growing habit. In September we are focusing on hanging plants.

Hanging plants are truly a highlight in any interior: They add an extra dimension of plant goodness and fit in every room – no matter how small it is. With hanging plants you can surprise and create an extra green corner in a rather unexpected way. Hanging plants vary in their shapes, colours, foliages, fronds – from colourful Tradescantias to gem-like String of Pearls, out-of-space looking airplants or blooming hanging plants like the Medinilla. With hanging plants you can play with transparency and the light by creating a hanging garden in front of a window or you can transform a corner into a playful plantarium with an extra dash of colour (for example a painted corner in a room) and mirrors for extra impact. Be playful and create your own version of the hanging gardens of Babylon!

Another visual punch can be added with adequate hanging planters. You can opt for modern, sleek glass vessels with leather belts, colourful DIY-pots with natural cord, handmade macramee hangers combined with simple terracotta pots or semi-spheric bowls. Add stones or crystals to the pots, hang your wooden Bojesen mokey, go wild with accessories and details. You can opt for a streamlined look or embrace a more eclectic mix of styles, materials and colours. You are the stylist and gardener in one. The effect will be unanimous: a beautiful and unusual hanging indoor garden!

So which plants can you choose for a hanging garden?

Rhipsalis: The wild and messy Rhipsalis is actually a cactus, albeit one without spikes. It grows rapidly with long tendrils hanging down. This plant prefers like all cacti a bright spot and can tolerate direct light, too. The soil can dry out between waterings – be aware that a very sunny spot requires some more waterings than in a semi-shade position. And if the tendrils get too long for your taste or style, you can simply cut them back. This will not harm the plant. Moreover, the Rhipsalis has excellent air-purifying characteristics!

Tradescantia: Tradescantia grows vigorously and fantastically, with pointed leaves which can contain a hint of pink or purple, but also silver and gold. The flowers are ultramarine, white or pink. A hanging Tradescantia in front of a window is an extra highlight: the filtered daylight makes the leaves shine and appear semi-transparent. Water moderately, avoid standing water, soil can be left to dry out slightly between waterings. The variegated varieties should be in a lighter spot in order to prevent the leaf from reverting to green. You can play with different varieties such as the dark purple Tradescantia pallida or the beautiful Tradescantia zebrina with it’s zebra-like leaf pattern.

More hanging plant options include the succulent Senecio rowleyanus or String of Pearls, the beautiful and fragile looking Ceropegia woodii (String of Hearts), the lush dark green Aeschynanthus or Lipstick plant with its dark red flowers, all kinds of airplants such as the Tillandsia usneoides or Spanish Moss, the airy Asparagus fern, the indoor vine Cissus, the easy-to-care Epipremnum aureum or Devil’s Ivy, or the flowering Columnea or Goldfish plant. The choice is all yours!

If you like you can read more about hanging plants here:
• In English
• Auf Deutsch
• En français
• In het Nederlands

Houseplant of the Month is an initiative from Mooiwatplantendoen.nl and Bloemenbureau Holland and in collaboration with them we will present you every month a new Houseplant of the Month, right here on Urban Jungle Bloggers.

Scorching August days with high temperatures can be a sort of challenge for your houseplants sometimes – but not for the ‘Houseplants of the Month’ in August – the famous cacti. They have been trending for quite a while but they are still a popular green addition to interiors – even to the homes of people who dislike regular plant care!

Cacti are not only prickly fellows, they are some of the most unusual and decorative plants around. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, varying hues, they surprise with colourful blossoms, they grow like poufs, like pillars, they come bare, spikey or fluffy. They equally resonate with today’s lifestyles and living trends where boundaries are flurry – indoors and outdoors merge, living and working areas grow together and the cactus is an excellent plant for either way. They thrive indoors as well as outdoors, they add calm and focus in a vivid living environment or add geometric shape and visual highlight in a home office. In a nutshell: they are an all-round plant for the contemporary dweller!

When it comes to interior styling you can go wild and decorate with cacti in all kinds of ways: cacti look particularly pleasing when paired with smooth and functional materials such as wood, ceramics, concrete or colourful injection-moulded plastic. They also look very genuine in terracotta pots and recall the arid south where they stem from. Cacti can either bring calm and focus into lived-in interiors and vivid interior stylings like bohemian homes. At the same time they can also bring visual highlight and geometrical accents in calm and monochrome interiors. With their various shapes, sizes and colours they can perfectly match and accentuate your personal interior style.

Plant care for cactuses is the easiest part: they like a light place (think of a south facing windowsill) and little water. They prefer less water than too much water which eventually is fatal. They store water in their roots, leaves and stems so you can even forget to water them once in a while. In winter you can leave them to rest with less to none water at all – they will then produce flowers (seeds) to survive.

But cacti are not only decorative, they are fantastic in general: for centuries cacti have been a source of food, drinking, medication, tools and building materials, they have adapted to the harshest living environments and in countries like Mexico they are even of national importance being depicted on the national coat of arms. And even though your indoor cacti might be of a manageable size, some species can grow up to one meter thick and 20 meters high. A real cactus tree!

If you like you can read more about cacti here:
• In English
• Auf Deutsch
• En français
• In het Nederlands

Houseplant of the Month is an initiative from Mooiwatplantendoen.nl and Bloemenbureau Holland and in collaboration with them we will present you every month a new Houseplant of the Month, right here on Urban Jungle Bloggers.

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