Before and after of trimming a Fiddle Leaf Fig. Photo credit: @leonandgeorge

The latest in plant care tips for keeping your foliage happy and healthy, brought to you by premium plant delivery service Léon & George.

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As plants age, it's natural for them to develop the occasional brown spot or discolored leaf. Trimming and pruning is a part of maintaining our plants so they stay beautiful throughout the seasons. Here's how to keep them looking fresh.

1. Grab a pair of clean scissors and work your way from the bottom leaves to the top.

2. For trimming, follow the natural shape of the leaf - it takes a bit of practice and artistry. Think natural curves instead of straight lines.

3. Ideally you should leave a bit of the brown edge so as not to create a fresh wound. If you do cut into the leaf, use a tissue paper to help the edges dry.

*BONUS TIP* Don't overdo it! Take a step back and admire the shape of your plant. It's okay to leave a few discolored areas, especially if they contribute to the overall fullness and allure of your plant's natural shape. 

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Also the home of George of Léon & George.

Barbie and Nico are team members at Léon & George, and partners in real life. Here they share with us some of the behind the scenes of getting this startup started in their very own home.

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How did you know this home was for you?

A very finicky Fiddle Leaf Fig we named Fifi #2.

The morning we saw our apartment listed, there were no photos and we were feeling hopeless after visiting 30+ places in the span of 2 weeks. But this one was just around the corner from where we were staying so we had to give it a try. As soon as the door opened, we were welcomed into a long hallway and bright living room with the charming details of a San Francisco home. We looked at each other and knew this was it.

What inspires you when you decorate?

A blank canvas is always nice, but chaos also works. We see the opportunity of creating order, space and beauty. We're pretty minimal when it comes to decor, mostly only buying pieces out of necessity, but we take a long time to decide on each piece. We do our best to buy pieces we really love, that spark inspiration or have personal meaning, items we want to invest in and keep for a long time.

What are your plant care secrets?

Let them do their thing. We try to cover their basics of having the right amount of light and we err on the side of underwatering. But mostly we leave them alone. Barbie likes to talk to them. She greets them in the morning or at night. When we leave on trips she reassures them that we'll be back.

Bootstrapping a startup means your home becomes your office, distribution center, photo studio, and lastly the place you sleep. It was also a great way for us to learn about plants and how they react in a real home environment over time.

Julia lived in her perch above Valencia Street for seven years before taking off to London for a new adventure. Just before the big move, she remembers what inspired her to make this place her home.

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How did you know this home was for you?

I remember I had to dash out of a mid-afternoon meeting to view the apartment. The main building was still under construction, so I had to duck under a tarp to get in. Needless to say it wasn’t a perfect start! But when I entered the apartment and took one look at the huge windows and the view of Sutro Tower overlooking Valencia Street, I knew it needed to be my new home. Having just ended a 9-year relationship, this was my first-ever “big girl” apartment - living on my own, completely free to do things exactly as I wanted. It was luxuriously freeing.

Julia’s plant care motto: leave them alone.

What inspires you when you decorate?

So many things inspire my taste! The record that’s on at my local coffee shop, Four Barrell, in the morning. A stack of old books at the barber shop I pass on my way to work. In the case of my living room interior, I was very inspired by a version of the Life Aquatic movie poster and mimicked the colors and tone when painting and decorating. Plus I’m a bit of a globe freak and have a small collection of antique ones in various shades and versions of the USSR.

Julia looks for low-maintenance when it comes to houseplants, like the ultra-hardy Pothos.

What are your plant care secrets?

Leave them alone (some) and sing to them (all).

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Dragon Tree

Jade Pothos

The latest in plant care tips for keeping your foliage happy and healthy, brought to you by premium plant delivery service Léon & George.

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Watering your plants truly is a simple task, but here are a few quick tips to make elevate your routine to leave your plants happier, healthier, and better looking than ever.

• Water around the edges of the pot since that's where the roots gather. This makes it easier for your plant to drink and get even saturation.

• Room temperature water (about 68ºF) is optimum for nutrient absorption and doesn't give your plant the shock of being too hot or too cold.

• Watering your plants in the morning allows them to stay hydrated during the day, a nice feeling during the summer!

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Indoor plants, potted & delivered

Premium plants paired with stylish ceramics, plus lifetime plant care support. Order online at leonandgeorge.com

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Photo by Atelier Doré

Natasha Feldman a.k.a. @noshwithtash is changing the way we see cooking by offering delicious recipes that fit busy lifestyles. She shares with us the important ingredients of a chef’s home.

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How did you know this home was for you?

Natasha wanted a lush plant as an accent piece in her kitchen, she went with a Cascading Pothos

As a cook, the most important thing for me was a nice sized kitchen, with a stove that could withstand my constant abuse and enough room for a big dining room table. Having people over and being able to cook and serve family style is always priority number one. That being said, if I were going to do it all over again, I'd focus more heavily on the second most important element... natural light! I can usually be found in front of my apartment on the street, wearing an apron with forks in my back pocket and taking photos of food, looking like a total crazy person because of the lack of natural light inside my place.

What inspires you when you decorate?

I love supporting local artists and more often than not an object will just speak to me and I'll have to have it. Then I take it home, and after putting it in five different locations, I'll find its home. I don't love having a ton of stuff around, I like a clean and easy environment with bold pops of color and lots of food-related adornments.

As a new plant parent Natasha wanted plants she couldn’t kill that also looked cool and modern. She picked out a cute Staghorn Fern, the bubbly Pink Rubber Tree and super resilient Cast Iron Plant.

What are your plant care secrets?

LEON AND GEORGE. Until finding their service I was never able to keep plants happy because I just didn't know how to find the kinds of plants I could keep alive, and how to care for them like tiny silent children. My secret is to follow the instructions to a T and adjust watering based on the seasons, they've really just made it so easy for me!

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Pink Rubber Tree

Cascading Pothos

Staghorn Fern

Cast Iron

The finishing touch to your newly styled space — living greenery.

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Come see us at West Elm!

For one weekend only, Léon & George will be popping up in both Northern and Southern California at West Elm Pasadena and West Elm Palo Alto! Add the finishing touch to your new style with fresh live greenery, paired with the perfect ceramic pot and comfortably delivered to your home (perhaps right next to that new West Elm chair you’ve been eyeing!). Hope to see you there!

See our best-selling Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree on display at West Elm.

We're in the business of making connections between plants, people, and the planet every day. So naturally, Earth Day is one of our favorite days of action. It's a day where we reflect on how our individual actions can impact the lives of our houseplants, our city parks, our forests, and relationships with each other.

Our plants are grown with the simple elements of sunlight and water. Some of them can take anywhere between 3 months and 10 years to grow before they find their way to your home. Occasionally they're fertilized, but they're naturally grown, never manufactured. This means no two plants are alike! At Léon & George, we merely preserve what nature has created, and offer you the service and tools needed to live alongside plants indoors.

We’re committed to supporting long-lasting relationships between each plant that goes out and their new homes. Similar to how pet adoption agencies vet potential parents, when you shop with us online or in store, we feel a similar obligation to matching plants with thoughtful owners and the environments they'll need to be happy indoors.

This year, we're celebrating Earth Day by acknowledging all of our plant-loving customers who make the world a little more vibrant, one plant at a time. To thank you for joining us on this journey, we're doubling down on our commitment to offset our carbon footprint. For every plant purchased on Earth Day 2019, we’ll plan two trees with the National Forest Foundation. That means your purchase will go twice as far toward producing more clean air (and happy plants) than ever.

Read more about your impact and our partnership with the National Forest Foundation here.

Here's to a plant-filled year and beyond. Together we can build a more sustainable future for people, the planet... and plants!

Wren and Jayme are friends who love a good theme party. When they found their charming San Francisco apartment, they knew it was a place they could take care of and make their own. 

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How did you know this home was for you?

When we visited the apartment it was empty. They had just re-sealed the floors and there was warm natural light reflecting from everywhere. We sat down in the middle of the floor and it felt comfortable. It was a home we could see ourselves investing in, filling with nice furniture and pieces that would last. 

Wren wanted a plant that handles low light for their small common area, she went with a Zanzibar Gem

What inspires you when you decorate?

We both like playing with color and themes. One of the first pieces we purchased for the apartment was a shower curtain, which we picked out from Urban Outfitters. As we were browsing a "Welcome to the Jungle" doormat was suggested and that ended up becoming our theme. We eventually added plants, our colorful velvet couches, and fun animal decor. 

What are your plant care secrets?

A light touch. They don't need to be bothered all the time, but it does help to have a rhythm. We typically check in on them on Sundays. Being aware when something has changed or seems to be wrong, then testing out adjustments is also something we do. When they get big, you notice them even more, so you can't help but be aware of how they're doing. 

Jayme picked a Bird of Paradise as a larger plant that would do well with the bright light in her room.

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Bird of Paradise

Monstera Deliciosa

Cascading Pothos

Zanzibar Gem

Ah, the Kentia Palm. We love it for the effortless tropical vibe it creates, striking beauty, and easy going attitude, but yellow leaves are never fun and sadly they can be quite common on this variety. Discoloring fronds won't change back to green so you'll have to trim them off, but here are a few things that could be causing them, plus adjustments you can make to keep your palm lush and green.

Overwatering

Yellowing spots are more often than not the result of stagnant moisture in the soil, typically due to watering too much. Try drying out the soil a bit before the next watering - this could take a few weeks. If the yellowing continues, root rot may have set in. Check the soil and if there is plenty of moisture, offer your Kentia a soil change and trim damaged dark and soft roots. Healthy roots will be white and firm.

Lack of Moisture

Browning tips are typically caused by under watering, but a thirsty Kentia Palm may also show some yellowing or dying fronds. This plant loves a humid environment, so make sure to water when the top two inches of the soil are dry and add misting to your routine.

Too Much Fertilizer

Kentias are slow growers and don't require much fertilizer. If you overdo it on the fertilizer, this may cause discoloration or fertilizer burn on the leaves. Moving forward, fertilize only in the growing season (spring and summer), and never more than once a month.

Light Imbalance

Kentia Palms are prone to sunburn, so keep them out of harsh direct sunlight. Instead, try soft dappled light, indirect light, or medium light (see our light guide if you’re not sure!). Keep in mind the more light your Kentia gets, the thirstier it may be and vice versa.

A Note on Leaning

Leaning branches are common for Kentias as the fronds can get top heavy. Stake or loosely tie the branch back into place, and make sure to rotate your plant regularly for even growth on all sides.

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KENTIA PALM

With long majestic leaf fronds rising up from the bottom, the Kentia Palm is the ultimate statement plant. Surprisingly resilient and easy to care for.

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A fast grower that's easy to care for, the Pothos is known as the perfect plant for beginner green thumbs. Here are the most common characteristics that might cause new pothos parents worry. 

Yellow & brown leaves

Finding the right light/water balance for pothos is as easy as it gets in the houseplant world. Yellow leaves = too much water, brown leaves = too little. Snip off any discolored leaves, adjust your watering amount, and your plant should make a full recovery.

Limping

If the vines are looking limp and less perky, your plant may not be retaining the water it needs. Soak the bottom of the plant in an inch of water, allowing it to drink through the holes in the bottom of its pot. Within 24-36 hours you should see the vines perk back up with life and fullness. 

Slow growth

While the pothos can sustain lower light areas, it won't grow as fast, and in some cases not at all, without proper light. If you're aiming for that sweet jungalow look with vines that can trail up to 10ft in length, keep your pothos in a room with bright indirect light. 

Varieties of Pothos

Available in a range of colors and patterns, keep in mind that the variegated species with touches of yellow and cream grow slower and need more light than their fully green cousins. The green surfaces of the leaves are responsible for photosynthesis and if there's less green covering the leaf area, more sunlight is needed to keep your plant looking its best.

Here are some of the most popular varieties of Pothos:

• Cascading Pothos

• Jade Pothos

• N’Joy Pothos

• Marble Queen Pothos

• Golden Pothos

• Neon Pothos

• Silver Satin Pothos

• Manjula Pothos

• Glacier Pothos

• Hawaiian Pothos

• Snow Queen Pothos

• Jessenia Pothos

• Silver Splash Pothos
  

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THE CASCADING POTHOS

Gorgeously potted and delivered straight to your door, plus lifetime Plant Doctor support. Order online at leonandgeorge.com

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Did you know that Léon & George plant purchases come with lifetime access to real-life, expert Plant Doctors? Here are the top three questions our customers are asking, questions that may have been on your own list!

• I have direct light, is that good? What does bright light mean? - Direct light is wonderful, but for indoor plants, only a few can handle the intensity from uncovered South or West facing windows (ex. Snake Plants, Bird of Paradise). Bright indirect light for indoor plants is ideally a spot that is 1-3 feet away from a window. Check out our light guide for indoor plants to better understand the differences between direct light, indirect light and low light!

• I should fertilize, right? What brand of fertilizer do you recommend? - Fertilizer is like a vitamin supplement for your plant babies, and should be measured carefully. Feed your plants about two times per month during spring & summer to give them more energy for growing, and, if using a gentle fertilizer, reduce to just one time per month in the fall and winter. Our liquid plant food, Boost Vitaminé, is an excellent choice for all indoor plants, as it’s all natural, made with just four ingredients, and gentle enough to use year round.

• My plant has minor brown spots/holes. Is that bad? - Typically, no! Plants are living organisms with natural imperfections, just like us. Each plant will grow in its own manner and not always have perfect leaves and vines. Minor brown spots and holes are natural - we like to think of them as freckles. If you notice substantial browning, holes or leaf drop, then this could be a sign of needing to adjust your care. The first things to check are watering habits, sun exposure, and pest infestation. 

What are your biggest questions about plants and their care? If you’re a Léon & George plant parent, sign into your account to get in touch with our Plant Doctors today!

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THE NEW STANDARD FOR PLANTS

Premium plants paired with stylish ceramics, plus lifetime access to Plant Doctor support. Order online at leonandgeorge.com

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Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming - photo by the National Forest Foundation

It’s #GivingTuesday.

Since Day 1 of Léon & George, we've contributed a portion of our sales to fight deforestation and protect natural habitats. Giving Tuesday is a national day of generosity and today we're ramping up our support for the causes we care about.

As part of our commitment to building a socially conscious business, we do our best to limit our impact on the environment—which includes everything from sourcing locally grown plants to using upcycled packaging materials to limit waste. However, we know that as we grow the business, we have to do even more to offset our carbon footprint and support a healthy climate for all.

More than one million acres of National Forests are in need of reforestation. And thanks to our plant-loving customers, Léon & George has helped plant over 5,000 trees as a small business partner to the National Forest Foundation.

Why now?

Our commitment to reforestation has never been more vital than it is today. The California wildfires have had devastating effects on our communities and our climate.

But the simple act of planting a tree really can make a difference. Restoring new growth has regenerating effects that impact all our lives for the better. It's estimated that one tree can absorb 1 ton of CO2 in its lifetime (about 50 pounds annually). On top of that, trees help sustain natural ecosystems and scenery, and in our cities, they bring life to our sidewalks, parks, and playgrounds.

Join us

This Giving Tuesday, we’re tripling our contributions as a way to support the thousands of plant species that call forests home.

Today, for every plant sold we'll plant not one but THREE trees in National Forests. We hope you will join us, or any cause today that speaks to you.

"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
― Warren Buffett