A leafy forest and brilliant blooms await customers within the vast indoor plant section at Watson’s Greenhouse and Nursery. Whether you are looking for a gift that will last, an office plant, or something to provide clean air in your home, there are countless varieties to choose from at Watson’s. In addition to the great selection of indoor plants, Watson’s has a highly knowledgeable staff who will provide tips for care, advice on accessories for care, and will be a guide while you choose the plant that is perfect for your needs.
Choosing the right plant for your needs is the first step in purchasing a houseplant. “Picking the plant for the light condition and the care that will be done is the biggest part to picking out a plant that will last,” explains Sherrie Konken, the houseplants buyer and indoor plant expert at Watson’s, “Making the decision is the hardest after we provide you the choices.” And there are so many to choose from. Sherrie says, “We carry a wide variety of houseplants. From small 2″ ferns, tropical, cactus, and succulents all the way to very large Ficus Lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig), palms and others.” Some of the most fascinating plants are the air plants, which come in many whimsical forms, the carnivorous plants that help to keep your home pest-free and the towering, broad-leafed philodendrons.
Taking on the task of caring for an indoor plant may be somewhat daunting – some struggle with finding an easy plant to care for. Although indoor plants have sometimes gotten a bad rap, there are many indoor plants that are very easy to care for. Sherrie explains how, “The most favorable and easy to care for would be split leaf philodendrons, cactus and succulents. The philodendron can handle low light conditions and needs to go dry between watering. The cactus and succulents need high light to full sun and to be watered every 3 weeks or longer.” The succulent section at Watson’s is also full of beautiful, rustic décor with the added effect of succulents.
Watson’s also has a variety of more unique and extraordinary plants that take a special amount of care. “Ferns, Gardenias, Jasmine, Aralias and Scheffleras” are among these, explains Sherrie. “Ferns don’t like to dry thoroughly and suffer if not watered often. Gardenias need to be watched for water as these do not like to dry out and are prone to spider mites, which are easy to care for. Jasmine suffers with lots of temperature changes and fussy on watering conditions. Aralias and Scheffleras are easy to care for if the soil is drier and prone to root rot with any moist soil.” All these difficulties are easily combated, though, with expertise found with the staff of Watson’s.
Another perk to owning indoor plants is the benefit of cleaner air. No matter if you have a single plant or a jungle of leafy greens, it’s possible for the air in any space to be cleaner and better for you. “There are many plants that can help reduce toxins in the air,” says Sherrie. “NASA did a great study of plants and what toxins are removed from the air.” Sherrie provided information from the study, which reveals that plants like Lady Palms and Barberton or Gerbera Daisies are not only great at absorbing airborne toxins, but are also nontoxic to pets. Other plants like Flamingo Lilies and Weeping Fig or Ficus Trees are also great for providing toxin-free air, but are toxic to pets if ingested and should be kept out of reach of furry friends. There are many plants that will provide air-purifying benefits, just stop by Watson’s and ask an indoor plant expert to show you.
The soil and pot for the plants is a highly important thing to consider when caring for an indoor plant. Sherrie recommends some basics: “A pot with good drainage. A non-draining pot can be used for just decoration by keeping the plant in the plastic pot with holes and not watering directly into the non-draining pot. We recommend Espoma Organic Potting Soil due to its well-draining properties, Osmocote fertilizer for its ease of use and it keeps the plant fed, [and] SuperThrive for its vitamins that keep plants healthy and the roots stronger.” With a great medium for the root system and proper watering techniques, anyone can grow a gorgeous indoor garden.
The expert staff and the plethora of plants at Watson’s will transform your home, office or any other space to be full of color, life and clean air. Take a trip down to Watson’s any time of year to discover a new plant and the best ways to care for them. Watson’s is open Monday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Check out posts on the Watson’s blog, Bareroot, or call (253)-845-7359 to speak with an indoor plant specialist for any questions about indoor plants.
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