Decorating with house plants

loving the green.

i'm not good w/ house plants - either. outdoors = yes. i love the ferns. so classic.

I love plants, but unfortunately I seem to be the doombringer-of-death for any kind that I come across! One day though...one day!

I keep a cat nip plant in my house and my kitty adores it. She goes nuts attacking it and even though the leaves can be a little messy sometimes it is so darn cute I don't care. Plus it encourages her to get her lazy butt up and play! They don't require much direct sunlight at all and mine roams around the house, corner of the kitchen, table, counter, outside on the patio, it thrives everywhere and grows back quickly after kitty has done her damage.

This is totally OT for this post but I was looking through pottery barn teen today and saw a little white table almost identical to what you made and they wanted 100 dollars for it! I love thrifty! I also love your pops of green but all my indoor plants always go black. You have inspired me to try again though because i have a perfect corner for a pop of green in the form of a fern.

You crack me up! My favorite is the one that didn't make your cat puke - now there is a catchy ad phrase!! I tend to grow baskets of death myself.. no idea what I do wrong, but they don't stay green for long! I agree they look beautiful though - love the pop of freshness they bring!

I have the fern on the barstool.
Love that look. Love ferns. LOve old ratty bar stools.

I love this post. I have cats too and haven't had plants for years because of the very reason you describe above. But I think I will try it too. Thanks for the great info.

Well, this is just swell! I, too, have a black thumb and 3 cats, so I've always thought that house plants were just not in the cards for me. Thanks for doing all the hard work for me to find this stuff out. Now, I can just stroll into the local garden center and say "I want these!" (Of course, I think they may have a sign up by the cash registers sporting my face with strict instructions not to sell me any type of living green thing. I told you--I have a black thumb.)

Love! :-)

Hey Sarah, Love your plants! I have quite a few plants around the house and seem to have a pretty green thumb. Except when it comes to ivy. Now I thought they were supposed to be very hearty and grow no matter what - well not at my house! I drives me crazy, I love them and I somehow kill them. Maybe I'll give them one last shot. Love the greenery!! ~ Catie

LOVE it! Green does add a lot of pop. Thanks for the health benifit list also.. I may try to keep a few a live.. My grandma had a green thumb and gave me a cactus assuring me I couldn't kill it... I proved her wrong.. It took a while but I killed it. :( I didn't want to prove her wrong.. I am just that bad at keeping plants!

There is something special about adding something that's ALIVE to the house, isn't there? Nice choices!

green minds think alike. I just got a fern (having trouble with leaves dropping.. alot).. and I got a little fern looking plant too! I am tired of all the plastic so trying to add some life to the inside! Posting my garden containers shortly.

Sara, procrastination NEVER pays off. I have purchased indoor plants within the last couple of weeks and had planned to blog about it, darn! I too am loving them, I really want a terrarium, just watching for a good planter at the Goodwill. I don't remember you showing us that curtain in the kitchen, are those Ikea curtains? They kinda look like it, if so just bought them for my studio, love the vintage feel. Good luck on the plants, be sure to get some Miracle grow! :)

Catie, I had some ivy topiaries and they were so beautiful for about 4-6 weeks. They started looking sad, dropping leaves and became overall sickly. I was told ivy gets spider mites (sick, gross), but that it was quite easy to treat. You just add a small amount of dish soap in a spray bottle and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Mist them really well one or twice a week and no more spider mites. Hope that helps. My plants were named Grace and Ivy, may they rest in peace. :)

I think plants really liven up a house!

In your second pic, your fern is on a little strip of tile against the wall. What is that? It looks like the little area that might be in front of a fireplace, but I don't see one in the pic (and even if there was one there, your side table would be covering it). What purpose does that serve? If you have it, maybe I need it, too! :)

Great post! I love that feathery fern! I used to have a very black thumb but my brother (who is a plant guru) bought me an african violet one year at christmas and I kept it alive for two years! After those two years he convinced me to branch out and I have been a plant maniac every since. When I go into Ikea its impossible for me to leave without a plant! My fave's are succulents (SO easy and don't need much water), african violets (put on a sunny windowsill and water once every two weeks), and any I recently got a lipstick plant and that's pretty awesome too. They add so much life and color to a home! Thanks for the inspiration!!

I really like the way these plants just liven up your rooms! I am with you on the Venus fly trap -- my Mom used to have them growing up, and they're pretty fascinating (and a tiny bit scary, lol!)

I love me some greenery! I wish I could keep things low and on the ground but my kitty eats them. Like as soon as they are potted! Little stinker ;) Anyway, looking good! Wondering if the ferns do well inside during the warmer months {when the AC can't quite keep up?}

I'm pretty sure I have 800 plants in my house. Okay, maybe not that many, but there's a lot.

I have a cat and a dog and neither have ever bothered any of them. Although, my sister's cat got EXTREMELY sick last year from eating a poinsettia. I thought animals were born with some sort of 6th sense that told them what and what not to eat?! Clearly not cats. And clearly this comment has gone on waaaay too long.

But, before I go, you should try pothos. They're super easy. Begonias too. You can stick a leaf in dirt and it will grow. Or start it in water and wait for roots. Which means you can get all different ones by putting a leaf in your pocket. Not that I condone stealing. But you know, if you walk by one in a store and accidentally bump into it and a leaf falls on the floor. Then you can call it, cleaning up.

I'm going now before I'm served a restraining order....

I love green plants; but I seldom buy them because we're military and I always have to give them away when we move (we've never had a move that wasn't international or coast-to-coast). Someday...! Yours look lovely!

Nerve plant is very unique plant. I never seen this plant in any agriculture farm. I really like its deep green leaves.

I couldn't live without plants in my house. Glad to know there are some that a dog-friendly for when we get our first pet!

Your plants look great! I myself have only outside plants, fake inside, I forget to water them! LOL
Susan

Your plants look great...I guess my mom always had them around when I was young so I do too. To me it's the cheapest way to spruce up my house when it needs a little pick me up. I also have to worry about what my cat will try to eat...I've learned over the years what she won't touch so that's what I go with. Enjoy your greenery!

I have to admit, when I saw the new post, which began with your raves about having some green around the house, I thought, "Here we go, time to feel guilty for not having plants around the house because of the cats." So I was so happy that it turns out you also had to push through and find some that worked with your kitties... I have new inspiration! Thanks!

My post would read little pops of brown instead of green. We have a lot of houseplants, but they are looking a little sad right now.

And thanks so much for the pet friendly plant suggestions. Our cats totally eat and shred my peace lilies and then puke them up later ... joy.. Insert eye roll.

Loving all the green and E just saw the venus fly trap and said he wants one too...so I guess a trip to Lowe's is in my near future.

I haven't met a plant I didn't kill, EXCEPT for one- the air plant. I bought them at WalMart, have had them for years. They don't seem to grow, though, so they are for small spaces, at least the ones I've found. I think there are different varieties, but I've only found the one kind around here. I don't know about toxicity, either....They don't need soil, so they are fun to put just anywhere.

I love that touch of green they bring and make a room feel more alive. I'm not great with indoor plants either, but the ones I do have have to be up on something, because my dogs want to pee on them (*sigh*). Guess it feels too much like the outdoors to them!

I love having live plants in my house. Green is my favorite color, so of course I love the green. And they're so lush and full and ALIVE looking. Which I guess makes sense, since they're alive and all.

Here's a trick: if you're concerned about a plant's getting enough light, place it under a lamp. Plants don't really care if they're getting natural sunlight or light from a bulb--they just need the light so that they can photosynthesize. I have some happy plants who live nestled up against a lamp! :)

I hate to be the Debbie Downer here, but aren't you worried you might get moisture on those nice wood floors from the bottom of the plant pots, especially after watering?

Have been reading MM for awhile, and she has some really neat features on her blog. Did you see how she made built-ins with bookcases from IKEA? Too cool!

I love the bit 'o green you have going on. It is inspiring to me. We have lots of green going on outside with flowers and the vegetable garden, but I think a fern or two might be nice indoors!

I make it a point to check your site everyday. And, this morning I was pleased to find someone else's need for "real" green!!!! We have an assortment of peace lilly plants. We have a dog and he doesn't pay any attention to them! Just a little messy once the flower blooms (pollen). Though, they do need the sunlight! Good luck!

DON'T go for pothos - they are very easy to grow, but toxic to cats. You can find a fairly comprehensive, searchable database of plants toxic and non-toxic to cats and dogs at the ASPCA here - http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/.

Begonias, however, are fine. Orchids too, believe it or not. And I'm told some of them are easy to grow (but I haven't tried it yet). Don't forget Spider Plants, non-toxic to animals AND one of the best air-cleaning plants. And pretty easy to grow.

Good for you! If you need any plant pointers, holla - my real job is in the green biz and can point you to a lot of resources for plants that work indoors (and how to keep them looking good after you get them home.)

I confess: I do great with my outside containers, but I generally kill houseplants (don't tell anybody!) but we've got a sunroom in our new-to-us home and I'm already scheming some plants to have indoors this winter since I have the perfect place for them.

Hope the flytrap does well for the bub - fun, fun, fun!

Terry
The Domestic Dilettante

After years as a serial plant killer, I finally know my limitations and only keep succulents in the house. They don't seem to mind weeks of neglect, and I think they're the most interesting shapes.

I don't have cats or house plants, but I do believe my dog could be a test case for outdoor plants and toxicity. She eats EVERYTHING... mulch, clumps of grass clippings, flowers, sticks and rocks... yes, I said rocks. She's a walking skin rash, but her stomach is rock solid :)

Enjoy your greenery!

I have two cats who eat everything green and they have NEVER tried to eat my pothos,it truly is one of the easiest plants to grow. Another one is mother in laws tounge,it has wonderfull long spikr like leaves of verigated color, my cats and dog leave it completly alone and it is low light and one of the best plants for purifing indoor air. We have had ours for over 5 years and all we do is water it- when we remember;)

LOVE the plants - though I'm really dying to lift it up and put it on your candle stand - I can't remember if your post said the top of it was secured on or not - I just think it looks a lot like an antique plant stand ; )

As a vet, I often get asked what is toxic to pets, and what is safe. As far as plants go, almost all are 'toxic' in some form or another. HOWEVER, 99% of them cause only very mild stomach irritation (as they would if we ate them!) but are still listed as toxic. Eg, Pointsettas? NOT toxic, but does cause mild GI symptoms if eaten. Lilies? HIGHLY toxic and a very very small amount will easily kill a pet. That site is a great one for searching out toxic substances. Just be sure to check if it says why it's toxic and how toxic it is (ie mild GI, or deathly!). G'luck with the plants, they look wonderful!

I always have plants in my house. Wouldn't be without them. I have dogs and have never had a problem, but I know that cats can be worse because they like to dig in the dirt. So you may need to add rocks on top of the dirt...which looks nice anyway! As for the ferns...one note of caution is that they don't like to be touched. Which is why you see them up high a lot. When they get touched they brown and drop their leaves. They can be very high maintenance sometimes. Which is why I currently don't have one. I second the comment on spider plants...they are soooo easy and forgiving. And you can start new plants with their "babies". I also have good luck with jade plants. And Hoya are very easy, but they are climbers. When they bloom they are so pretty...the flowers are like wax.I could go on and on...can you tell?! Have fun with you plants. Just don't be discouraged by any problems. Plants aren't a destination, they are a journey :)

I'm a total house plant addict, too! I have them absolutely everywhere, LOVE the pop of green. And I've convinced myself that they are cleaning our air too. Only problem is watering them all (I do it once a week, and don't soak them) I used to round them all up, put them in the kitchen sink, wait for them to dry, then put back in pots and redistribute. ugh. Now i just fill a little pitcher and give each a tiny little splash (not so much that it leaks out the bottom) twice a week. Takes only a few minutes.

you may lose a few, but that's okay. My latest love is succulents. They look so cute with a little pea gravel.

okay, longest comment EVAH

Beautiful! I need to get more greenery in my house, but like you I have a cat and a dog that I'm afraid will get sick from them. You've just given me some options to check into. Thanks!!

I love plants! Best of luck with them. They really do look very pretty. I always bring them outside in the spring/ summer and back in the house in November. Some of the ones I have are even older than my teenagers! One got so big I had to take it for a ride to live in Florida.. I've had a dog and a cat for 14 years.They never bother with them. The one you can't bring in is the Dumb Cane it's very poisonous. And be careful with pointsettas at Christmas.

SO much for not spending any money this month huh??? lol I tried to do the same thing and failed miserably lol

I'm not much of a green thumb either, but I LOVE plants. However, I do use the fake stuff. They make them very "real" looking now and if you use quality pots they look even better. I have greenery in almost every room of the house. It really does make the room come "alive". Glad you found some that won't make the kitties sick.

Your plants are stunning. Seems like all I can't kill is plain ole ivy, but yes, I do have that. Hugs, Marty

My mother dearest lives with me, so I am able to have house plants. However, my cats are obsessed with them. I have two on top of my kitchen cabinets, one on top of my pot rack, two in my kitchen window and one up above my computer.

They obsess over them. They try to find any way possible to munch on them.

And dig in them.

DAMNED CATS need to learn from yours!!

But I do love the green richness that it brings to the house. I need to color coordinate my pots better though. They are pretty ugly.

Thank you so much for this post. I have a cat and I LOVE plants. But since we got the cat, the houseplants have had to disappear. I am so glad you put the link to the ASPCA website. Now I can have plants in my house again. I can't wait to try to find some of these and add life back to my house. Thank you so much!!

In spite of working in horticulture for a few years , I have a hard time keeping Boston ferns alive ( that's the common name of yours btw). I have 3 cats & 2 kids ( the kids however are past the houseplant eating stage at 11 & 6) I found another plant that's relly excellent for cleaning the air is clorophytum comosum ( Spider plant) My cats have snacked on mine when I had it on a table. It's not poisonous but did have the predictable effect of making them vomit- sometimes not always they had a hairball anyway (which could be why they ate the plant to begin with.)I now have mine on top of a high set of bookshelves. My cats don't hop up there & the baby spiders look lovely hanging down the side of the shelf unit. I also love african violets & christmas( Zygo) cactus. The wider leafed dracaenas (Janet Craigii is the one we have) are great (& large) too. No one, human or feline, from our family have ever eaten thesebut I was taught they are not poisonous.-
Hope this helps.

In spite of working in horticulture for a few years , I have a hard time keeping Boston ferns alive ( that's the common name of yours btw). I have 3 cats & 2 kids ( the kids however are past the houseplant eating stage at 11 & 6) I found another plant that's relly excellent for cleaning the air is clorophytum comosum ( Spider plant) My cats have snacked on mine when I had it on a table. It's not poisonous but did have the predictable effect of making them vomit- sometimes not always they had a hairball anyway (which could be why they ate the plant to begin with.)I now have mine on top of a high set of bookshelves. My cats don't hop up there & the baby spiders look lovely hanging down the side of the shelf unit. I also love african violets & christmas( Zygo) cactus. The wider leafed dracaenas (Janet Craigii is the one we have) are great (& large) too. No one, human or feline, from our family have ever eaten thesebut I was taught they are not poisonous.-
Hope this helps.

I love the ferns! I've wanted a hanging fern in my bathroom for a long time now... maybe I'll have to make that happen!

I was so surprised when you said you had cats, because I was thinkin' "yeah, plants. You must not have cats." :-) My cats have devoured every.single.plant I've ever tried to bring into the house, including the succulents I tried this summer. I'd love to have plants as they really do make a room lovely, but it's just not worth $ it. For now, anyway.

I have always HATED greenery. For whatever reason. But lately I'm seeing places all over the house that could benefit from some live green stuff. I, unfortunately, also stink at keeping plants alive...mostly because I don't ever water them...SO, a little while ago (ok, it was last Christmas...shh) I picked up some of those self-watering globe things that you stick in the soil. Hoping those help. :) Now, to find some plants...

I am all about the house plants!! Luckily, our animals ignore them (and most everything else) completely. I have the most success with spider plants and varieties of begonias. But I am on the hunt for an ornamental lemon tree!

I recently discovered the joy of green things, too, and since it's my favorite color...it works! Did a blog post on it as well. Compiled a list of shade-lovin' plants if you need it.

I, too, have cats and houseplants. Initially, I had some trouble with the cats chewing on the plants, eating plastic Easter grass, moss mulch, etc. I have not had much trouble with this since I started feeding them Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula. It is supposed to help satisfy their need for greenery. It really does seem to help. I did have a cat in the past that pulled up every one of my plants by the roots. So it may just depend on the individual cat!

You do have to watch the pots on the wooden floor. Even if your pot does not have a hole for drainage, it may sweat underneath. The best things I have found for putting underneath them are large round clear glass plates(?) with a lip around them and little knobby feet that hold them off the ground. I find them cheap at the thrift store. I have no idea what they were originally used for, but they remind me of the squarish plates used to line the bottoms of microwave ovens. Air can circulate underneath them, so no more ugly water circles.

Good luck!

Your plants really look nice, and I wish you all the luck. I've never been good with houseplants, but maybe I will give these a try. I've always loved plants in a house, but so far I do the best with all of my plants and flowers outside. Now you have me wondering if I should give it a try.

Houseplants do wonders for warming up a space and adding structural interest. I especially like your plant with the white veining! I have several houseplants...have been quite successful with ivy, Christmas cactus (beautiful blooms once a year) and my newest, ZZ plant (google it!). :) PS-they also improve the air quality inside your home.

The plants look awesome! As a pet owner (2 cats/2 dogs) I haven't had live plants in my house in YEARS. Now, maybe I'll have to take a look around the garden center for some pretty green things. :)

I once had a venus fly trap, which I put in an kinda out-of-the-way spot. My cat found it and systematically ate all the heads! She was fine, but I never did get another flytrap!

I have orchid plants around my home. I don't know how they would work with animal but I love them!

I have a black thumb and have been accused at times of killing even silk plants!

I did have a lovely peace lily that I kept alive for several years until we got our new kitty who, instead of eating it, would dig in it and go to the bathroom in it.

If I could figure out how to keep the little monster from pooping and peeing in it, I would gladly go back to having a few forgiving houseplants.

Love the ferns ~ they look wonderful! And I love the idea of white pots ~ will have to get some to put my fake plants in {{sigh}}.

aaaaahhhhhhh . . . That's our house!!!
I'm so excited! I'm a HUGE thrifty decor chick fan!! That's too exciting!!
Thanks!!!!
p.s. LOVE your ferns!
Thanks for the shout out!!!
Lots of Love
Ashli

I love bringing the outdoors in. There is something about a live plant that adds comfort and relaxation to a space. I have to be careful to get plants that are not high maintenance, because I feel really guilty when one turns brown.
Have fun adding green.

It is so serendipitous that I found your spot! I just went to Lowes and spent over $200 on plants and pots for my new place. (I posted it on my blog yesterday. MarchMatron.blogpot.com) I’m such a fan of plants in a place. It really makes it seems like home.

*fronds* ;)

Lauralee, one way to keep cats from digging in your houseplants is to cover the dirt with those prickly gumball thingies that fall off of gumball trees. Cats don't like to step on those. And they're dirt-colored so they won't be too obvious.

I love having house plants around too, but what happens to us is that one day... we'll go to water, and a swarm of gnats/fruit flies with fly out. What is that about. Can you find out and let me know. Ha! Kidding. :) But that has detered me from having plants inside in a very long while. :)

You were featured on another blog today (of course I follow yours too!), and there was a picture of your TV set up. I am in the process of building a house right now and am in the never ending battle with my husband on where to put the surround sound. I think the only option to keep me sane is to have in wall speakers. Yours look amazing! Do you know what type or where you got those speakers from? Also, how did you get them to match your paint color exactly? I can see possibly painting the trim, but the speaker mesh seems to match too! I also love EVERYTHING else about your living room and DIY box on your craigslist entertainment center is insane!

bvernierster@gmail.com

Looks cute.

I love the MM blog too she has lots of great ideas =)

I'm a plant kill-ah. :( I've tried for years, but to no avail.

Good luck with the fittonia. They are sort of difficult. If it doesn't make it, don't be too hard on yourself. I have one in my bathroom, and it's barely clinging to life, and requires misting every dang day to keep from getting all MEHHH looking.

I'd suggest a pothos, and mother in law's tongue - both handle low light and low water requirements. Pothos comes in a BUNCH of interesting varieties now with different touches if white/pink in the leaves.

Not sure how much water they need? Try the water globes...best anti plant killer I've tried! lol Oh and I must be a serious coaster fanatic because the pot directly on your gorgeous wood floor is making me cringe. Please put a pretty plate or coaster of some sort under it :) I hate for your floor to get ruined!

your fly trap will need to be watered with distilled water only! if you place a tray under it, you can just fill it up and let it sit. they live in bogs and require high humidity. good luck!

The place on ebay where I bought my wheat grass seeds from had an excerpt about how it's also called cat grass because cats love to eat it and it's actually very good for them. So when I planted mine, I planted my cat his own special planter and he loved it. LOL

Lovely. Its always nice to live amongst green. I have a lot of plants but for some reason my ferns dont really flourish. I must read more on them and see what wrong I am doing there.

:) I am another one with a "green eating" cat.

I love plants though-and need some that don't need direct sunlight as my house seems to get sun in the strangest places!!

My mother has always had houseplants. In one house I have a clear memory of wall wall just being filled with house plants. She has such the green thumb for plants inside and outside. After reading this post I know just the perfect spot to place a "pop of green." Thanks Sarah!

Eeek! I used to live in Maillardville! (Homesick.. now in Australia, a long way from home) Thanks for making my day! Neala