In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist, 

I’m interested in incorporating feng shui into the way I style my home, because I want to make it as tranquil as possible- a sanctuary to return to after work. What plants are best for feng shui and how should they be positioned according to the feng shui tradition?

Thanks for your help,

J.V.

Dear J., 

Feng shui is such an interesting practice. It can be explored very deeply, but it’s also simple to understand the basic tenets and allow them to guide your choices for greenery and the way you place plants in your home.

Maximizing the tranquility and energy of your home is a worthy pursuit. And it’s different than the way you’d organize a workspace: home is about relaxing, feeling entirely yourself and recharging your spirit. 

I’m going to start by sharing an assortment of plants that are among the most feng shui friendly. Be sure to double check that the light your space receives will be appropriate for the plants you choose (you can reference our light requirements guide for support).

Best Houseplants for Feng Shui: 

Braided Money Tree

It may not be surprising that a plant called a Money Tree is considered to be a bringer of prosperity, but did you know that they are also powerful air purifiers? Braided Money Trees are traditionally believed to capture luck in their braids- but their canopies also capture airborne pollutants, and transform them into clean, beneficial oxygen! In traditional feng shui, they are recommended for placement in wealth or health areas. But we think that Braided Money Trees belong anywhere and everywhere- their flexible preference for medium to bright indirect light means that they can thrive in many different spots.

Unsurprisingly, the Braided Money Tree is one of the most common plants in the teachings of feng shui.

The Snake Plant

Another incredible air purifying plant, the Snake Plant is a feng shui mainstay. In feng shui, it is beloved for its role as protector, and is recommended for placement by doors (especially front doors) and in pairs. It is not traditionally recommended for bedrooms. Snake Plants are exceptionally low-maintenance, require little water to thrive, and are appreciative of all light levels, but prefer not to be scorched by direct sun. 

Philodendron Brasil

Health is wealth! And the feng-shui favorite Philodendron Brasil addresses both, with a reputation for encouraging both monetary prosperity and physical wellness. A bedroom superstar, Philodendron Brasils are ideal for tranquil spaces. Per feng shui tradition, rooms in the southeast or east areas of your home are ideal. 

Cascading Pothos 

Pothos varieties are gorgeous and invigorating. In feng shui tradition, stale energy can gather on cabinet tops and in high corners, restricting the home’s overall positive energy. Pothos plants are the perfect way to alleviate this. Place a pothos on a high cabinet or shelf, or suspend it in a basket or macrame hanger, and allow its foliage to grow in cascading tendrils. This easy-care plant will thrive with medium, indirect light, and you can enjoy its misting and watering routine weekly. 

The entryway deserves special attention in feng shui, and is a great place to add greenery. Pictured here: Monstera Deliciosa, Braided Money Tree, and Zanzibar Gem

More Thoughts on Placement:

When it comes to our homes, we are each the captain of our own ship, and it can be fun and gratifying to intuit for ourselves where we’d like to place our plants. But the feng shui tradition has quite a bit to say on this, the general gist of it being: 

• As soon as you enter your home, you are in the mouth of chi. That means that your front entryway is where chi (energy) enters your home. This area should receive special attention and focus, and is a good place to showcase your most beautiful plants.

• General entryways, your living room and dining room are also key areas in your home to focus on. They tend to receive the most varied light and set the scene for your home’s energy overall. 

• Dying plants are not good for feng shui. Ensure that you choose plants you can care for, and that are a fit for the lighting your space receives.

Feng shui is an ancient (dating back to 4000 BC or earlier) and complex traditional practice. There is so much one can learn about it, and myriad applications for its wisdom. If you’d like more information, consider learning your home’s feng shui bagua, or energy map. You can also read more about the significance of the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water) of feng shui. But to begin, consider the basics: placing healthy plants with auspicious connotations in the most frequently loved and used areas of your home. 

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This Mid-Century desert home enjoys a Bird of Paradise for a splash of green.

In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist,

I recently moved to the desert and want to decorate my home with more plants. I used to live in a very wet climate, on a tree-lined street, and while my new home is nestled amidst the arid beauty of the desert (and this landscape is stunning in its own right) I can't help but feel that I need some more lush greenery in my life! Can you offer some guidance on the types of plants that would thrive in my desert home while adding the vibrancy and life I'm yearning for?

Sincerely,

D.D.

Dear D.D.,

The desert is so beautiful, but for someone who loves to gaze at green, I understand it can feel stark! Creating a green haven in a desert environment is not only achievable but also incredibly rewarding, and the good news is, as far as houseplants go, a desert climate won’t limit you too much, since your plants will live indoors. I’m sure we can help you select plants that should help scratch your itch, as well as complement the stunning landscape that surrounds your home!

First things first—as I mentioned, don’t feel limited by the dry and arid climate of your new home. While your outdoor landscaping will be a completely different story, your houseplants will live (I imagine!) in a climatized setting indoors. That means mostly indirect light and regular watering with a watering can—no need to wait for the desert rain for these plants! However, depending on how much you run your AC, you may like to consider getting a humidifier.

Now that we have this out of the way, we can focus on plants that bring lushness to a whole new level, while also vibing well with a desert decor—think Joshua Tree or Marfa inspired! The Fiddle Leaf Fig is such a classic and popular plant, probably because it so gracefully complements quite literally any decor. It’s big, fiddle-shaped leaves will surely inspire you, and having an tree inside your home is obviously a no-brainer if you miss your tree-lined street!

A Fiddle Leaf Fig blends into an environment, including a desert decor. Photo via newdarlings.com

Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Olive Tree

Another statement plant you may consider is an Olive Tree. The Olive Tree is actually a very drought-resistant and heat-tolerant plant that you could even place outdoors in your desert home. If you do place it indoors, make sure to find a very sunny spot as this plant likes to have several hours of direct sunshine per day.

And we would be remiss not to mention a cactus—it is the desert after all! Both the Jade Cactus and Desert Cactus are, in reality, tree-like succulents that are adapted to live indoors (but can also go outside!). If you’d truly like to make a nod to your new home’s beautiful landscape, consider one of these gorgeous and minimalist cacti. Another perk of these plants is they need very infrequent watering and in general next to no upkeep!

How can you resist a cactus moment in a desert setting? Photo via @thejoshuatreehouse

Desert Cactus

Dracaena Compacta

For smaller floor plants, you might consider something like the Dracaena Compacta—its lush green leaves look great against neutral interiors and the sand-toned exteriors of the desert. The Ponytail Palm is a quirky plant that seems to marry a jungle look with dry, desert vibes, and Snake Plants are great air purifiers whose minimalist look will complement a desert decor.

Don’t forget to add accents here and there: consider a Cascading Pothos to bring lushness to shelves, bathrooms or other areas where its trailing foliage may hang, or a Parlor Palm for a mini oasis wherever you place it.

Finally, might I suggest grouping plants together in clusters. Mix and match different heights, colors and foliage shapes to maximize the feeling of lushness in your home.

I hope this was helpful, and please share the results— I’m so excited to see your desert abode come to life!

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Photo by Lauren Engel for Mid-Century Home, featuring a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree and Monstera Deliciosa.

In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist, 

I’ve bought small plants locally in the past, but I’m ready to invest in some statement plants from Léon & George. I want them to align with my apartment’s style: 1970’s inspired, Laurel Canyon-esque vintage. Any idea what kind of plants Joni Mitchell had?

Best,

K.F.

Dear K.,

I love receiving inquiries like these, because plants can bring so much style to an already beautiful space, and they make incredible focal points. 

The style of your home sounds like a natural match for living greenery. Houseplants reigned supreme in the 1970s, so there’s no way to get this look wrong. Still, there were a few standout varieties that really encapsulate the aesthetic of the ‘70s: Pothos varieties, ferns of all sorts, and cacti are all emblematic of the decade.

In the ‘70s, Pothos and Fern varieties were popular for their ultra-lush foliage. The cascade of leaves displayed by Pothos varieties is stunningly sculptural, reminiscent of intricate macrame or even the eponymous beaded curtain. A pair of Cascading Pothos, situated on staggered levels, is a stunning way to showcase these medium plants. Pothos are tolerant of varied light and require watering about once a week. 

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Complements like wood stands, macrame hangers and baskets were very popular in the ‘70s, and for good reason. They’re a way of showcasing pieces of exquisite hand-made craftsmanship, and they can elevate your plants for purposes both pragmatic and stylistic. Our wood stands are handmade of sustainable hardwood, and they are compatible with our classic, cylindrical Mid-Century planters. Playing with tones of coral and gray ceramic will be a fun way to inject earthy color into your abode.

I’d be remiss not to mention that a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree would be a seamless choice for a floor plant in your space. Super-popular in the ‘70s for their romantic, viola shaped foliage, they bring height and fullness with great texture and jewel-bright coloration.

And for vibrant accent plants, ferns are a shoo-in. I think just about everyone had a profusion of verdant ferns in the ‘70s. Just look at this living room, filled with beauties like the Boston Fern, Bird’s Nest Fern and Staghorn Ferns.

Photo via Design Sponge, featuring a Bird’s Nest Fern, Fiddle Leaf Fig, and Staghorn Fern.

You can get a sense of the conditions that ferns require just by looking at them. Luscious and bursting with life, they like to be kept consistently moist, and appreciate indirect light and shade. The Bird’s Nest Fern, with its elegant, quill-like foliage, is a perfect gateway plant to the intoxicating world of ferns. And Philodendrons, like the Little Hope, are a seamless complement to ferns, with similar watering and light requirements.

Now in answer to your question regarding Joni: we know for a fact that she had succulent, tillandsia and and cacti at her Laurel Canyon home. So without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to your statement plant: The Desert Cactus. Yes, they are mystical monoliths- but don’t be afraid of this plant, because it is exceptionally easy to care for. Ample bright light is all it needs to thrive, along with an occasional drink. And two desert cacti, flanking a doorway, create the ideal portal to a magical home.

Photo via www.vanityfair.com

So excited for you to begin your plant-gathering, K. Every home needs, as Joni Mitchell would say, a “Little Green.” 

And now, a playlist inspired by the vibe!

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In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist, 

Vacation was amazing. I felt so relaxed and I got to enjoy being in an environment with really lush plants everywhere. I swear I could feel the way they affected my mood (more peaceful, like I was breathing in good air.) Any recommendations for recreating this at home with plants that have a tropical look, but can thrive indoors? I have post-vacation FOMO now. 

Best,

V.F. 

Hi V.F., 

Ah, yes, the post-vacation FOMO. We know that feeling well. Often when we go on vacations, that means we’re traveling a bit beyond our usual stomping ground, so we’re seeing greenery that’s exciting and unusual. And sometimes vacationing means that we’ve left urban spaces for destinations that are closer to “nature”, i.e. the beach or, if we’re super lucky, a tropical climate. All of these factors, combined with the main, cognitive shift (that we are on vacation!) can mean that we feel better overall when we’re on vacay. But you are definitely onto something when you mention that the air felt healthy and you felt more relaxed. There is no doubt that plants purify the air, and that even just seeing the vibrancy of green plants naturally boosts our mood.

Balmy summer evenings call for tropical plants like the Monstera Deliciosa or Kentia Palm. Photo by @stevenfingar

Many indoor houseplants originate from tropical climates in places like south/southeast Asia and South America. It’s easy to inject your home with a tropical aesthetic that will elevate it above the ordinary by incorporating plants like these. Perhaps the most renowned plants with a tropical aesthetic are the Monstera Deliciosa, Bird of Paradise, and Kentia Palm. The bonus: they are all easy-care, low maintenance plants that don’t require a ton of water. Birds of Paradise should be situated in the brightest available spot, and receive as much direct bright light as possible. Kentia Palms and Monstera Deliciosas love to receive a steady stream of indirect, bright light, so they should be placed four or more feet from windows that receive direct light.

If you have any questions about how to determine the space your light receives and where to situate your plants within it, be sure to check out our Light Requirements For Plants: Explained! blog post. 

In regard to the air purifying effect of plants: this has been abundantly documented, not least of all by NASA’s amazing Clean Air Study. We’ve simplified the process of selection by offering our Air-Purifying Plants collection, which lists the best of the best air purifying plants that we offer.

Tropical settings are all about texture, created with plants like the Bird of Paradise and Tiger Evergreen. Photo by @renrevic

Now, onto more aesthetics. We often feel that the difference between spaces that read as cold or stress-inducing, and spaces that make us feel creative and comfortable, largely comes down to textures and colors. On vacation, you likely experienced a lot of textural variation in the plants that you saw. Even in super-specific climates like deserts, where plants have all adapted to the same harsh environment, you’ll note that the native plants exhibit a wide variety of textures. Every plant evolves with its own special form, to maximize its functions and protect it in nature. 

You can relish an abundance of texture and color by mixing and matching plants. Rubber Trees, for example, are smooth and glossy, with deep, rich pigmentation. Dracaena Lisas bring the lush texture of the jungle home with their emerald foliage, which falls in a lazy cascade from their columnar base. 

The Zanzibar Gem is an ideal textural plant, because its wandlike, long stems provide fabulous vertical growth, and each stem is adorned with a profusion of luscious leaves.

And just for fun, who’s dreaming of the Mediterranean? The Desert Cactus and the Olive Tree will both help bring the look to life (and with minimal care to boot). Photo by @deborahbrett

Mixing and matching plants is a great way to mimic the biodiversity of natural spaces in your home, and the results are always fresh and exciting. 

Even smaller plants can provide a perfect dose of texture and a wild aesthetic, like the Parlor Palm, the Pilea, and the Jade Pothos.

Choosing diverse pot colors and wood stands, and utilizing other textural accessories like baskets or macrame, is a great way to cultivate the feeling that we have when we experience unexpected visual treats. You don’t have to invest in floor to ceiling kilims or bedeck your entire home in that iconic, banana leaf wallpaper to access the novelty of far-flung places! (But you can, and we’d love to see that as well!) The goal is to spark wonder, a feeling of peace and an in-home reminder that we are natural beings. 

Happy hunting, and let us know how it goes! Living greenery is truly the key to making that vacation feeling last in your everyday life.

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Photo credit: This Old House

In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist, 

My patio needs a serious overhaul. I want it to be somewhere I can spend peaceful hours, not just a feature that I never set foot on. Do you have any tips for good outdoor plants?

Hoping so-

C.B. 

Dear C., 

Patios are endless inspiration for us, and this is the moment to explore your vision!

Our plant fans have been asking us to carry outdoor plants for years, and the stars have aligned: we launched an Outdoor Plant Collection, and hand-picked the best of the best easy-care bushes and trees for our customers. These plants are hardy and resilient, and will easily thrive with ample light and appropriate watering. 

Outdoor plants are so evocative: we all have memories of vacations that we never wanted to end, and the plants that adorned those environments. For me it was moist, super-green tropical plants in Costa Rica. Others remember Joshua trees, or mediterranean citrus, or so many other beautiful outdoor varieties. Our Outdoor Plant Collection features a little bit of every aesthetic you could want, so let’s take a closer look at the varieties and go from there.

Olive trees are naturally pest-repelling and drought resistant. Photo credit: decorpad.com

Olive Trees

The Olive Tree, or olea europaea, features elegant, silvery green foliage, and is naturally pest and drought resistant. They love plenty of sun, so they’ll be a great choice if you get a lot of light on your patio.

This plant is incredibly popular, and for good reason. They aren’t just beautiful, but they are storied: sun-drenched islands, warm earth, Greek myth, artfully adorned hummus! The Olive Tree conjures them all. If you’re looking for outdoor plants that are classic and luxurious, these fit the bill. The Olive tree will produce fruit over time and with appropriate care, and also comes in an adorable bush shape!

Meyer Lemon Trees

Citrus trees are so romantic, aren’t they? And fun: the fruit they produce is so sculptural and vividly colored. Meyer lemon trees (Citrus meyeri) are lush and vibrant, with that enchanting citrus aroma we all love. With ample light, and over the course of several months, these plants will also fruit- first pushing out fragrant white blossoms, then meyer lemons, which are the ultimate multi-purpose citrus!  

The Sago Palm is a gorgeously lush and textural plant to bring a taste of the jungle into your patio. Photo by Kathryn Millet.

Sago Palm

If you love a jungle (who doesn’t?) the Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is really a special treat. It’s incredibly textural, with feathery fronds and a rich, coffee brown trunk. Sagos prefer indirect bright light, so they’re happiest in a spot outdoors that receives some shade. They are a match made in heaven for our ceramic pots— you’ll be delighted by how perfectly the proportions complement each other. 

Indoor Plants for Outdoors

Some of our indoor plant varieties can be suited for the outdoors, most notable the Bird of Paradise. Put it in a shady spot or spot with morning light, and watch it thrive! Their jumbo, quill-shaped foliage is stunning in outdoor spaces, and they’re exceptionally low-maintenance. If you’d like it to bask in full sun, slowly introduce it over the course of several weeks, as putting it directly in harsh sunlight will scorch its leaves. The Desert Cactus may also be placed outside and is less picky about the type of light it receives.

The Bird of Paradise can be transitioned outdoors for spring, summer and fall.

You’ve got options, C. And we usually find that the best approach is to follow your heart. There’s no need to try to match a trend to a “T”: plants are all about love. So choose the outdoor plant that makes you feel like breaking out in song. Then grab a good book and your sun hat, because you’re ready for patio time!

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The Cast Iron Plant is an excellent, ultra-hardy choice for a child’s bedroom or playroom.

In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist, 

We are finally getting around to decorating our kid’s room. He’s a super creative kid that loves all things visual and we want to brighten up his space with child- safe (preferably air-purifying) plants. Obviously, nothing too easy to kill or too delicate/breakable. Advice?

Best,

C.R. 

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Hi C., 

This sounds like a fun project! Kids epitomize creativity and because there are well-known links between the presence of living greenery and boosted mood, creativity and tranquility, we think that emphasizing greenery in kids’ rooms is a great idea.

Let’s focus on child-safe plants that have a fairly vertical silhouette, to minimize the chance of mishaps or foliage breakage. The presence of any plant will help to freshen the space and there are certainly no plants that are bad for air quality— though some are more widely regarded for their air-purifying properties than others, and you can find a comprehensive collection of the most highly-rated air purifying plants on our website. 

Large Snake Plant and Fiddle Leaf Fig Bush
Photo Credit: @mothermag

Monstera Deliciosa

Rattlesnake & Bird’s Nest Fern Duo

Good options for large plants include the large Monstera Deliciosa and the Cast Iron Plant. Monsteras are renowned for their fun, sculptural foliage. They’re also incredibly easy to care for and flexible when it comes to light! Cast Iron Plants are—you guessed it— virtually indestructible; a good option should you have a fledgling experimental botanist on your hands. Another great benefit of the Cast Iron Plant is that it thrives in shade, so if this room will usually have the curtains closed, the Cast Iron Plant will be perfectly content. 

Moving along to accent plants: in keeping with the fantastical aesthetic of children’s books and the desire for air-purifying prowess, the Parlor Palm is a great choice. There’s so much to love about these petite dynamos: their fun, feathery foliage and non-toxic nature are complemented by their super-relaxed light requirements. (Low light? No worries! They’re fine with anything from medium indirect to low, artificial light.)

Cap off your new biome with a decidedly Seussian Pilea Peperomioides. It just doesn’t get more fun than the Pilea: like a solar-system mobile, its lily-pad shaped leaves orbit around its base of stems. Keep in mind, though, that Pileas are sensitive to high temperatures. So if you’re cranking the heater, you’ll want to forego this option and perhaps opt for a Calathea Rattlesnake. Who wouldn’t love that colorful, Jurassic foliage!

Note: Looking for plants for a baby’s room? Read our full post on the best plants for a nursery, which only features non-toxic plants that are safer with younger children who may be inclined to take a bite out of their leafy friends! It is important to note that while none of the plants mentioned in this post are dangerous, some are considered mildly toxic if consumed.

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In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist, 

I’ve heard that plants like to be arranged in groups, but I don’t know which look best together. Also, do they need to have the same care instructions?

Thanks,

V.F.

Dear V.,

You heard it right. Plants do benefit from being situated in groupings together. But your second question is very astute— it’s important that the plants you choose for your grouping have the same requirements for light. It’s helpful, as well, if they have the same requirements for watering, because that mitigates the chance of over or under watering one as you attend to its friend with different needs.

The Snake Plant and Golden Petra make an adorable couple at this workspace.

So why do plants benefit from being grouped together? Apart from looking great, one reason is because plants release moisture into the air around them. When grouped together, they create a mini micro-climate of boosted humidity, which almost all houseplants, especially tropical ones, love.

In terms of aesthetics, I don’t think you can really go wrong with plant pairing. Grouping plants is all about maximizing the beauty of the plants’ textures through contrasting and mirroring, and different foliage types and coloration look lovely together. So it’s best to approach this from the more pragmatic lens of plant care requirements, as that is the part that’s really key to a successful plant grouping. 

Low to Medium Light Plants

If you’re creating a grouping for an area that receives low to medium light, you have a wealth of options. Consider grouping Zanzibar Gems with Snake Plants. Both are exceptionally flexible in regard to light, and both like for their soil to dry out entirely before being watered. Parlor Palms are an ideal accent for these large plants, and prefer low light and to be watered only when dry. 

Medium to Bright Light Plants

The Lady Palm, Monstera Deliciosa, and Tineke Rubber Plant making a bright and enviable corner in this living room.

This is the moment for Monsteras! One of the most iconic houseplants, with foliage that is immediately recognizable and inarguably fun, Monsteras love to be situated by friends. Monsteras enjoy medium to bright light, and like to dry out entirely between waterings, so they’re a perfect pair for the beloved Braided Money Tree and Rubber Plant. These gorgeous, glossy-leaved plants are renowned for their gleam and lush, jungle aesthetic. And you can choose your preferred coloration: the classic, emerald and burgundy Rubber Plant, the gently variegated Tineke Rubber Plant, or the rosy pastel Pink Rubber Plant. Pileas are also a wonderful option for a small accent plant, with their preference for bright light. They should also be watered only when their topsoil is dry. 

Pet Safe Groupings

If you need a jungle for your little jaguar or a curious dog friend, don’t fret! It’s totally doable. Consider pairing a Parlor Palm with a Braided Money Tree and a large and lovely Cast Iron Plant. Tailor the light of this grouping to the Cast Iron Plant. Parlor Palms prefer low light and Braided Money Trees are wonderfully adaptable, but Cast Irons require low light and must be kept from direct sun. All three plants can thrive in a shady spot. 

Pet Safe plant duo

Create an indoor jungle for yourself…and the one you couldn’t live without. Flora and fauna will live beautifully together with a set of two plants that are non-toxic, low-light adaptable, and bright in both color and style.

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Arrange! 

Arranging plants in groups is incredibly fun. You can explore varied pot and wood stand colors, incorporate baskets or macrame, and create a wonderfully textured microbiome that plants crave. Remember that if any of your plants should experience pests, you’ll need to separate the affected plant from the grouping while you treat it, so that the pests don’t spread.

And that’s that— you can enjoy the practice of liberally misting your grouping, and all of our plants (with the exception the Fiddle Leaf Fig, which prefers special plant food) will benefit from the same gentle houseplant fertilizers. Enjoy the journey and send photos! We would love to see your creation. Now, get grouping!

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In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

—

Dear Plant Stylist, 

I’ve put this off for a long time, but just this month I have finally carved out some time to convert the rec room into a yoga space. I’m trying to stick to this habit (wish me luck) and thinking that the more beautiful I make the space, the more I’ll want to be there. But I don’t know where to start with plants- and I want to make sure that the ones I get won’t take up too much space as I move through flows, stretch and adjust. Suggestions?

Best,
S.N.

Hi S.,

What a fantastic project to take on in the new year. Investing your time and creativity into enriching your home is always a good idea, and even more so when most of us are still spending quite a bit of time at our home bases. (Perhaps more than we anticipated!)

Plants with Air Purifying Qualities 

We have a wealth of green options for you, and they all come with different perks. Our Air Purifying Plant Collection, for instance, specifically highlights plant varieties that have been scientifically shown to purify the air. But there are other perks as well, from aesthetic (slender plants that take up minimal space) to philosophical (plants with connotations of fulfillment and good fortune). Here’s our round-up for the best options for your yoga space.  

Both Snake Plants and Dragon Trees boast significant air purifying powers. They’re also sturdy, vertically-oriented floor plants that require little care, so they’re great options for limited space and corner placement. Snake Plants are traditionally associated with protection and abundance, so no injuries on your horizon! They’re a perfect protector for your yoga space.

Full and Luscious Plants

For an instant dose of energy and positivity, you can’t go wrong with a Monstera Deliciosa. They’re a low-maintenance, sun-loving plant with punchy, textured foliage that grows abundantly. Just be mindful of placement, because these gorgeous plants can really stretch! Still, they’re an ideal focal point for a cheerful, inspiring space as long as they’re placed in a spot that won’t encroach on your exercise area.

A Cast Iron Plant is a perfect plant for setting yourself up for success. If you’re looking to spend time focused on your flows rather than probing topsoil, they’re an absolute shoo-in. They require watering only seldom, and are adaptable to low light, so determining their placement is a breeze- just put one wherever you think it looks fabulous!

For accent plants, you can’t go wrong with a Cascading Pothos, Jade Pothos or Zanzibar Gem. These varieties boast beautifully textured foliage and pack a punch, even in small sizes. Pair them with our new Sand color of Scandinavian pot for an additional dose of warm, sun-kissed tonality and a touchable finish. 

Feng Shui Plants

And finally, a boost of feng shui. An ideal exercise space will have plenty of space for energy to flow, and greenery that fills your mind with serenity and peace. The Braided Money Tree is renowned for its connotation with bringing good health, wealth and prosperity to its owner, so we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that it is an absolute jewel for any space in which you hope to cultivate your own health and wellness! They’re slender to boot, with thin trunks and a compact canopy, so they can be seamlessly incorporated into any area that you want to fill with good vibrations. 

Happy shopping, S., and let us know how it goes! We’d love to see your serene space in situ. Here’s to a new year of good health and ample inspiration.

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Easy Care Plants, Delivered

Beautifully potted plants, plus lifetime plant care support. Order online at leonandgeorge.com

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Photo Credit: @riverwoodbuildingcompany

In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist, 

We just moved into our forever home— a modern farmhouse-style, two-story home that we waited years for. We chose this style because it suits our minimalist aesthetic, and the interior is spacious and gets tons of light. What plants will pair best with this style? I want easy-care varieties that will blend well with modern appliances and accents. 

Best,

T.B. 

Hi T., 

Congratulations on your new home! There is so much to recommend the modern farmhouse aesthetic, so you’ve made a great choice. We love modern farmhouses because they’re classic and clean, often incredibly energy-efficient, and they offer the perfect canvas for decorating in your own personal style.

You mentioned your preference for a minimalist look, which jives well with our ceramics collection. Every option-- the classic Mid-Century, more angular Scandinavian, and curved Nouvelle-- is ultimately minimalist in style and will blend seamlessly with the modern farmhouse aesthetic. So, go wild on pots! Shades of gray, black and white will be particularly good options for your home. 

Undoubtedly the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree is the ultimate statement plant for a modern farmhouse style. Photo Credit: @spmliving

The fact that you receive a lot of light in your home bodes well for your options in regard to plants. We recommend starting with a statement Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree— or two! These statuesque beauties thrive in bright, indirect light, and they’re especially breathtaking as pairs, flanking thresholds. They are also a wonderful choice for a solo statement plant to brighten a corner. 

If your space receives steady, direct bright light, you can incorporate a large Bird of Paradise. They bring fantastic size and texture, with an easy-care disposition that has endeared them to our customers nationwide! 

Large statement plants are definitely the way to go with most modern farmhouses, as they so often boast large features like windows and fireplaces and soaring ceilings where possible.

A Bird of Paradise brings a welcome splash of color and life to this beautiful white-washed sunroom. Photo Credit: www.homebunch.com

For subtle, large floor plants, Rubber Trees are a fantastic option. They have deeply tonal foliage and are the perfect height for placement near seating and end tables. Their streamlined style means that they blend well with varied decor, and they’re a perfect counterpoint for the charcoal, black and gray accents that are common in modern farmhouse interiors. Pairing the Rubber Trees with a dark or black wood stand makes their richly colored foliage pop, and they require watering only when fully dry. 

For plants to place on surfaces, the Tineke Rubber Plant is a shoo-in. Its gentle, pastel foliage is a gorgeous accent for the white walls of modern farmhouses. Leafy varieties like Little Hopes and Bird’s Nest Ferns are immediately homey and nostalgic, and make perfect centerpieces for dining areas and as accents to nightstands. 

Leafy plants like the Cascading Pothos (pictured) or Little Hope make wonderful accents for modern farmhouse decor. Photo Credit: www.homebunch.com

If your modern farmhouse is home to curious pets (or children!) be sure to check out  this collection, which features all of our non-toxic houseplant varieties, including lots of stunning options for shelves, tables and other raised surfaces. 

When it comes down to it, you really can’t go wrong when selecting plants for your modern farmhouse. That’s the magic of this streamlined style of home- it will easily accommodate your vision! But it can be fabulously accented by healthy, living greenery. Choose plants that will thrive in the bountiful light your home receives, and they will flourish for years to come!

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Easy Care Plants, Delivered

Beautifully potted plants, plus lifetime plant care support. Order online at leonandgeorge.com

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Photo credit: @ashleykane

In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist,

I live in the Sunset district of San Francisco and my apartment receives medium to low light. The sun almost never shines directly through my windows and it’s often foggy. What kind of plants would you recommend for my home? I want an extra large plant and a couple smaller complements to flank focal points in my living room. 

Best,

D.L. in San Francisco

Dear D.L., 

First things first-- we love the Sunset! That marine layer may make the neighborhood feel like Fog-gust is a year-round affair, but it’s one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in San Francisco, and it’s a wonderful place to call home-- both for you and your plants. There are so many gorgeous cities that experience that summer (or year round!) gloom, but don’t worry-- there are plants to thrive in every location, no matter what light it receives. 

You mentioned that your apartment receives medium to low light, and we believe you-- but it’s important to be sure of these things, so if you want to double check before you make any purchases, you can always use our Light Requirements For Plants: Explained! blog post. 

Now onto your plant options: the medium to low light that your apartment receives is not a dealbreaker. In fact, most of the houseplants we offer prefer indirect light. Houseplants are often tropical species, originating in rainforests with thick canopies which receive only diffuse light, so the bright light that can shine through (and be magnified by) glass windows is prone to scorch the leaves of many indoor plants. 

In short, you have a wealth of options and I’m excited to share them with you!

The Dracaena Lisa is a gorgeous, towering statement plant that can survive and thrive with little to no natural light.

For your statement plant, I’d suggest a Dracaena Lisa. These extra-large plants average six feet in height from bottom of pot to topmost leaf, and their lush foliage is reminiscent of tropical locales- they bring a tremendous dose of greenery to any space. They’re also exceptionally easy-care and low light tolerant. 

Your Dracaena Lisa would be best situated 5+ feet from any windows. 

My recommendation for a pair of plants to flank your space would be two of our large Zanzibar Gems. They’re a gorgeous match for the Dracaena Lisa, with fantastic texture, deep green tonality and a height averaging three feet from the bottom of their pot to their topmost leaf. 

Zanzibar Gems are low-maintenance, require remarkably little water, and are tolerant of all light levels. 

Parlor Palms and a variety of Pothos varieties would make great additional accent plants, and would do well in medium to low light without direct sun. The options are almost endless, and we offer two collections exclusively for medium light and low light environments, so you can feel confident as you shop from these collections that you’re purchasing plants that will thrive in your space.

With the plants done, we can move onto the next step! What reading chair will go beneath your gorgeous Dracaena Lisa? A Barcelona Chair, I hope-- maybe with an Eileen Gray side table? Nothing says San Francisco like streamlined design!

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Easy Care Plants, Delivered

Beautifully potted plants, plus lifetime plant care support. Order online at leonandgeorge.com

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In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist, 

One of my dearest friends has invited me to come along to her vacation house this summer. What would be a good plant to give as a Thank You gift for the host?

Something easy, please, 

L.R.

Dear L., 

First things first: congratulations on the getaway! We all need one more than ever after the year we’ve had. 

Living plants make such fantastic gifts for hosts. They’re truly thoughtful and emblematic of your appreciation and care. They can also be a little bit tricky to choose, because you don’t want to saddle your friend with a daunting new responsibility. But there are so many genuinely low-maintenance houseplants that this doesn’t have to be an issue. 

Let’s start with the biggest considerations, and then we can work our way down to styling preferences. 

Does your friend have kids or animals that might chew plants? We promise we’re not conflating beloved children with unruly pets, but toxic houseplants are a bad idea for both! If this is a concern, you’ll want to choose a non-toxic plant from this collection. 

Lighting also plays a part in choosing plants. Many plants are flexible, but if your friend’s space receives particularly low light, you’ll want to let this collection be your guide. 

The Lucky Plant Set Duo is a great gift for hosts who can appreciate good feng shui.

Now, onto the fun stuff. If your friend and gracious host is holistically minded, (really, who isn’t?) you could consider giving her the gift of wellness and bountiful fresh air, by picking out an air-purifying plant for her. Many gorgeous houseplants have air-purifying qualities, and these have been verified by scientific institutions like NASA, so we’re not just pulling your leg. 

Rubber Plants are naturally air purifying, and they’re popular for their deep coloration and high-gloss foliage. They are a great fit for spaces with richly colored decor. Snake Plants, alias Sansevierias, are likewise air-purifying, and they’re possibly the most foolproof plant for gifting there is. They’re gorgeous, they have impressive height and lush fullness, and they’re virtually indestructible. They fit seamlessly into any style, and are a stunning addition when placed in the corners of rooms, or as a pair to flank an entryway. 

Our Lucky Plant Set Duo is a great choice for gifting because it has wonderful contrast and variety. A verdant, jewel-tone Zanzibar Gem is paired with a graceful and airy Braided Money Tree in this feng shui-friendly set of plants renowned for bestowing good luck (and even monetary windfalls!) on its owner. 

Houseplants have the wonderful quality of being aesthetically flexible. At their core, they are all case studies in natural beauty, and they can blend into and enhance any style of interior decor that a given space might have, which frees you up as the gift-giver to hone in on more specific details, like light requirements, non-toxic options, and care needs. 

Every plant I’ve mentioned above is low-maintenance and easy to care for, but don’t be afraid of go off-roading as you shop! We always list this designation on the product page for our plants. Find it by clicking “Is This Plant Right for Me?”

Happy Hunting, L., and have a great trip. Viva rest and relaxation! 

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Easy Care Plants, Delivered

Beautifully potted plants, plus lifetime plant care support. Order online at leonandgeorge.com

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In our Dear Plant Stylist series, we share styling and lighting inquiries received by our in-house stylists with our audience. So read on-- you just might find that your plant styling questions are answered below! 

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Dear Plant Stylist,

I love plants and I want to have them in my home, but I travel a lot. I’m worried that if I take the plunge and get some, they’ll just die while I’m out of town, which would be a) expensive and b) demoralizing. Are there any truly easy-care plants that can be left alone for a week or two on end? Can I even have nice plants?

Best,

A. S. in San Diego

Dear A., 

I understand your worries, but I’m going to share a little secret with you: contrary to popular belief, there are so many beautiful plants out there that will do just fine while you’re away. In fact, most plants tend to fare better in the absence of helicopter parents!

Furthermore, most of our plants don’t require much watering-- indoor plants tend to like having their topsoil (the top two inches of soil beneath the layer of decorative moss on a Léon & George plant) dry out entirely before being watered again. 

Some of these plants are even considered drought resistant, meaning that they can go even weeks without a drop of water.

It will be useful to get a sense of the light that your space receives, so be sure to check out the Light Requirements For Plants: Explained! blog post before placing your order.

The drought-resistant Snake Plant is one of the best plants for avid travelers, as it can go weeks without water.

For large floor plants, I would recommend Monstera Deliciosas and Snake Plants. Both exhibit gorgeous height, do just fine with medium light, and need to be watered only sparingly. 

For an extra large statement plant, I’d suggest a Dracaena Lisa, which is flexible in terms of light, super-adaptable, and requires watering only when its topsoil is dry. Depending on your environment, this will likely be around every ten days to two weeks, but you can also use a moisture meter to keep track of it. 

The Dracaena Lisa is a wonderful low-maintenance statement plant to fill out tired or empty corners.

Draceana Lisas make gorgeous focal points: they average six feet in height from bottom of pot to topmost leaf, and their foliage is deeply tonal and verdant. 

A Dracaena Lisa would be best situated 5+ feet from any windows. 

For easy-care accent plants, I recommend medium Zanzibar Gems. Zanzibar Gems grow from rhizomes, which are tuber-shaped root sacs that hold water and feed it gradually to the plant. These root sacs mean that Zanzibar Gems need to be watered only rarely-- they control the amount of water they release to their foliage, and are exceptionally low-maintenance and independent because of this behavior!

The Zanzibar Gem stores water in its roots, making for an incredibly low maintenance houseplant.

One last thing to keep in mind: there are lots of solutions if you do have an eye on a plant that requires a bit more attention. Things like self-watering hydrospikes are great to plug into your thirstier plants while you’re away.

Happy planting, A! Avid travelers and indoor houseplants truly can go together like peanut butter and jelly. We usually see that over-care (like overwatering) is what bothers houseplants, not neglect. So rest easy, because your low-maintenance plants should thrive in your absence!

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Easy Care Plants, Delivered

Beautifully potted plants, plus lifetime plant care support. Order online at leonandgeorge.com

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