Lesson 2: Easy Houseplant Party Tricks
Here are a few ways to decorate with plants that are considered "cool". These projects are surprisingly easy to start and maintain, once you've memorized the little tips and tricks I've provided below.
Any one of these creates a show-stopping display for friends and family to admire, and provide YOU with that happy, contented feeling of accomplishment.
Trailing Vines and Espaliers: a simple place to start
Love the look of a creeping green thing, bursting with health, clambering across a banister or crawling over your bookcase? How about a green "tree" in the shape of a heart or cat? It's really quite simple to create an espalier - and trailing vines are even easier.
Trailing Vines
Where do you want your vines to grow? Along a window frame? Down the staircase? For many of these plants, just wrap the vines around your banister of choice. For window frames, attach pieces of string between nails. Use twist-ties to start the plant growing up the strings. You can purchase green ones where you buy your espalier, or use the kind that comes with garbage bags. Do not fasten the stems so tight that the plant will be choked! Use your judgement to make the ties just tight enough.
You can also use this technique with trellises inside the house, to create a living room divider/screen wherever you want one.
Trailing a Vine is THE best project for students who fear taking on the other, more difficult experiments that follow. You really can't go wrong! And with Pothos, for example, simply placing one on any shelf will start your trailing vine experience, all at once.
Espaliers
Viney plants can easily be trained to grow along a wire shape. You can buy pre-made espalier shapes at any nursery, Wal-mart or Home Depot. You can also make your own:
- Shape some plain or plastic coated wire how you like it.
- Insert into your vine's pot, very carefully, past the plant's leaves and down into the soil. Be sure your framework is firmly embedded into the pot.
- Some great ideas for easy shapes to make at home: Heart, Circle, Spiral, Christmas tree, Mickey Mouse Head, Bonsai, Diamond. Or try something more challenging, like a cow or house!
With your training wire in hand, attach plant stems to the framework with small twist-ties. Attach gently, so as not to cut into your houseplant's living stems.
From this point, be patient. As your plant grows, tie more stems to the frame. Pinch off sections that refuse to grow along the frame. Remember to turn your espalier regularly so all sides can get enough light to grow evenly. Enjoy!
Topiaries are a bit more time-consuming than espaliers, since your plant has to grow in three dimensions instead of two. But if you are feeling spunky, give it a go. Start by reading Table Top Topiary, by Barbara Martin.
Choose your creeping vines based on ease of care, below
These babies can withstand dryness and a bit of neglect
- Pothos - Easy to care for and pleasant to view. This plant will trail across your furniture without any prompting from you. The multi-colored, yet unobstrusive foliage will brighten any room. NOTE: Pothos will wilt when thirsty, yet perks right up after a good soaking.
- Philodendron - Heart-Leafed Philodrendron (with the smallish leaves) is a dark green favorite.
- Monstera - Provide a post and it will climb right up. It prefers bark posts, if possible (buy at your favorite nursery). Monstera takes up a lot of space, with big, architecturally exciting leaves. Use this one for making a bold visual statement. You can grow Split-Leafed Philodendron the same way, and has a very similar look.
- Sweet Potato Vines - You can create this pretty little climber from the humble vegetable. Just stick some toothpicks in the potato, hang one end in a vase with water, and let it take off!
These vines like a moister environment
- Purple Passion Plant - This fuzzy, exotic looking houseplant will climb anywhere you tell it.
- Wandering Jew - Another purple houseplant. Very hardy! Wanders all over your house. Trim them back every few months to keep them from taking over or getting stringy. No direct sun.
- Grape Ivy - These will grow right up a brick wall if you let them. Little 'hairs' curl out from the stems and grab anything they touch. Bright light to shady corners: it can take it all! Just don't let it stay dry for too long.
- English Ivy - Needs more light than Grape Ivy, but still, a superb creeper.
- Creeping Charlie - Nice and easy.
High-Maintenance Creepers to Avoid
- Hoya/Wax Plant - A nice flowering climber. Consider it a good intermediate vine.
- Baby's Tears - The delicate little leaves are lovely, but a bummer to keep well watered. If you don't pay it constant attention, you'll end up with those tiny leaves all over your floor. Actually easy to grow if you never, ever let it dry out. Very difficult to maintain in desert latitudes!
- Jasmine - Tempting, so tempting. The flowers smell great, and this plant is usually sold already trained around a frame. But it's a difficult plant for many people to keep alive, let alone keep in a flowering state!
