Florist Eden Kersten of The Botanist has a unique way of bringing nature into her home. She shares her expert care tips to help your indoor plants thrive
Eden’s top 5 indoor plant tips
- Fail-safe indoor plants include Monstera deliciosa, philodendrons, begonias and cacti.
- To see if a plant needs water, check soil and water if it is dry. I water most of my plants once a month in the bath, and water the spathiphyllum every two weeks.
- Ensure your pots have holes for drainage, or otherwise place pumice in the base of the pot.
- Water the leaves as well as the soil by placing plants under a shower or tap.
- Plants love natural light but should be kept out of direct sunlight to ensure the leaves don’t burn.
Eden’s cacti tips
- Cacti are super easy to look after as they barely need watering. They are also slow growers so you shouldn’t need to re-pot them for years.
- Cacti scar easily so be gentle when transporting them and try not to touch or move them unnecessarily.
- Be careful to avoid spines. You may want to get spineless cacti if you have young children.
- Keep an eye out for mould. If cacti grow mould, or if they break, bruise or scar, you can shave the area with a knife to help it heal and eventually form a callus. Shave on a slant and allow it to drain and dry out (you may have to do this a couple of times).
- You can transform the shape of a cactus by cutting it and allowing new offshoots (pups) to grow.
- You can keep cacti anywhere – indoors with heaters on, outside or even in the bathroom.
Words by: Fiona Ralph. Styling by: Catherine Wilkinson. Photography by: Helen Bankers.
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