Blog

If you’ve come into Retreat looking for a hardy houseplant, we’ve probably offered up the snake plant. Most of the time, when we point it out, you all nod in recognition. Everyone has seen a snake plant before, and for good reason! This plant is super easy going, can thrive on neglect, and will remain happily root-bound. This plant often frequents the top of easy-to-care-for plant lists. Who doesn’t want an easy-going, light-flexible plant? Snake plant is a great versatile plant to add to any collection.

We’ve featured the Snake plant before, and you can check out the blog post about it here: http://retreatinteriors.com/meet-the-sansevieria/

That post will give you helpful tips and tricks on snake plant care!

This week, we got our hands on more varieties of snake plant. We thought it would be fun to take a closer look at some of these. Sansevieria boasts something like 70 different plant varieties, over 10 of which are commonly grown. Today, we will look at four of those! Sansevieria will be our plant of the week for March 3, 2019 – March 9, 2019. Enter to win a Snake plant during this week on our Instagram and Facebook accounts. For this week only, we will also be giving discounts for 20% off any sansevieria purchase.

Some types of Sansevieria we currently have in the shop:

The Sansevieria Zeylanica features a dark green leaf with a interesting, almost animalistic stripe pattern. It’s spear-like shape is easily recognizable as your traditional, classic snake plant.

The Sansevieria Laurentii is very similar in appearance to the Sansevieria Zeylanica in that it has that similar spear-shaped leaf. It is a brighter green, and it is recognizable by the yellow outline around each of its leaves.

Sansevieria Fernwood looks similar to the Sansevieria Zeylanica in coloring, but it has cute narrow leaves that almost look cylindrical. As the plant grows the leaves begin to open up. Look at one of these plants in the shot and you’ll see where they start to uncurl.

The Sansevieria Boncel is one of our more unusual varieties of Snake Plant that we carry. Their dense fan-like shooting leaves makes it an amazing addition to any collection. They are a little top-heavy, so they need to be well propped.

So there you have it! Four varieties of snake plant. Now which one would you choose?

Even the name of these cute little aquatic plants sounds mysteriously majestic. To clarify, the Marimo moss ball is not your backyard moss. If fact, they are not really moss at all. They are actually made of algae. These amazing balls are living plants that come from various Northern Hemisphere lakes. The current in the lakes gives them their cute round shape. They grow ever so slowly (about 5 cm per year), and they can live to be about one hundred years old.

We offer sizes: Mini ($4), Small ($7), Medium ($10), Large ($13), and Extra Large ($22). With your moss balls, you can create a small or large terrarium (our large pond terrarium is pictured below). Some customers name their moss balls and keep them as pets, others add them to freshwater fish tanks (be sure to check ahead and see if they agree with your fish type!), and still others use them to bring some plant life to low-light rooms where other plants may not thrive. They are versatile and low maintenance.

Star Trek fans probably recall the ever so troublesome tribbles aboard the Enterprise to which these moss balls have been compared. They have also been likened to puff balls, pom-poms, pets, etc. However you think of them, these plants make amazing conversation starters, and we love them! Check out some low-maintenance Marimo moss ball tips and tricks below.

Marimo Moss Ball care:

• Avoid direct sunlight, especially kept in a glass container like most are.
  • The direct sun can turn your Marimo brown, and the sun magnified on the glass can also make the water much to hot for your Marimo to thrive
  • Low light, or indirect light is best
• Keep Marimo in water
  • You can have a Marimo outside of water for transit, or for short durations, but for long-term living situations, they are going to need to be submerged in water.
• Use distilled water efor optimal care
  • Leaving a jug or container of tap water out on your counter for 24 hours before using on your moss ball should do the trick!
• Change out the water once per week
  • When you change out the water, also gently squeeze your moss ball to clean it. Squeezing it also helps it to keep its nice round shape.
• Remember to also periodically clean out the rocks at the bottom of your vessel if you have them
• If you notice a little piece of algae come off from your moss ball, this is normal
  • This is how new moss balls are created.

You’ve probably seen it in our shop. Its dark green leaves and thin stalks are beautiful! It’s such a classic looking houseplant and it’s become a staple at Retreat. We love the bright green punch of color it brings tucked among other plants. The question we most often get about the Coffee Arabica Plant is whether or not it will produce beans. The answer is yes! It will!

However, it’s important to know that this plant will not bare fruit overnight. It takes about 4-6 years to see fruit. You will also need to hand-pollinate your plant, which requires some time and effort. There are a lot of great resources online about how to do this! When the Coffee Plant is ready to produce (in summertime) you will notice white star-shaped flowers that are sweetly fragranced.

If you’re a true Washington coffee lover, your plant won’t produce enough to sustain your habits, but it’s such a fun conversation starter nonetheless. While you are waiting on your precious brew, keep your coffee plant moist, but not soggy, preferably with some humidity. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the beauty it brings to your home!

Quick Tips on Growing the Coffee Bean Plant:

• Coffee Plants like to stay moist but never soggy
  • One way to tell if it is time to water is by inserting your finger about an inch into the soil to feel for moisture. If you don’t feel moisture, it is time to water again.
  • Watch the roots—these plants love to droop when they aren’t hydrated enough
  • Provide good drainage so that they plant doesn’t feel like it is sitting in water
• Bright, indirect sunlight is best for these plants
  • Try to locate the brightest spot in your home without the plant sitting directly in any harsh sunrays.
• Periodically wipe the leaves of your Coffee Bean Plant to avoid too much dust from settling.
• Despite its delicious beans, this plant is toxic to pets and people so please keep out of reach of curious eaters.

We love Philodendrons at Retreat. Just starting out with plants? We often suggest Philodendrons as a great starter plant. They are fairly easy going, and they grow fairly quickly. They are not our very easiest plants (which would probably be the ZZ plant or Snake), but they are definitely up on our list of easy-to-care-for plants! One of the things we love most about the Philodendron Selloum is how big and bold they are. They originally come from tropical forests and you can tell! Many people who come into the shop are drawn to the full appearance, large leaf size, and rich green color of these plants, and we can’t blame them! They are great space fillers if you want a really large plant without committing to something too difficult to care for, or that takes a really long time to grow!

Some Quick Care Tips for your Philodendron Selloum

• Bright, indirect or medium, indirect sunlight is ideal for these plants
• Water these plants when the surface of the soil dries. You can check the first inch or so of soil by inserting your finger and feeling for moisture. When no moisture is felt it is time to water your plant
  • When watering, saturate the plant, allowing a generous amount of water to trickle out the bottom of the pot drainage holes
  • You’ll notice your philodendron will need less water in the winter. Allow your Philodendron to get just moist.
  • They don’t like to be soggy, so the more drainage the better!
• Clean off the leaves of your plant regularly with a wet, damp cloth
• They don’t love drafts so if you can keep them away from doors, open windows, and air vents they would be most happy!
• These plants are poisonous to both pets and humans, so please keep them out of reach of curious eaters

Meet the Alocasia “Polly.” From the arrow shape of its leaves, to its bold coloring, this plant is striking. It’s a hard plant to ignore! It begs you to look at its cool veining and unique shape! These plants naturally grow in tropical Southeast Asia, so the environment they are happiest in is warm and humid with minimal sun exposure. They also appreciate being kept moist, but never soggy. A pebble tray is a great idea with this plant!

Some of Alocasia Polly’s nicknames include: African Mask, Black shield, Dragon Plant, and Elephant’s Ear. This Alocasia tends to be a little picky. It loves warm and humid environments, and is medium difficulty. This simply means that it will need just a little more attention to thrive.

Quick Facts about the Alocasia Polly:

• Keep these plants moist, but never allow them to get soggy (which can rot the roots).
  • A great way to keep these plants moist, and allow them to get rid of excess water is to put them in a pebble tray. Simply fill a tray with rock, and add a small amount of water among the rocks.
  • These plants do not like to be dried out
• Bright indirect light is this plants favorite, but it will also tolerate medium light conditions.
  • It’s important that your Alocasia Polly not receive much direct sunlight, which will scorch its leaves.
  • However, you also want to make sure your Alocasia is not in too shady of a spot, which it also won’t tolerate well.
• Remember to wipe the leaves periodically with a wet rag so that too much dust does not collect.
• Humidity is important with this plant, so try to give it as much humidity as possible!
  • Consider using a small humidifier or even an essential oil diffuser (without the fragrance), to add extra humidity if your home is dry.
• This plant is poisonous to both people and pets. Keep this plant out of reach of curious eaters!

More often than not, when a customer comes in talking about their Christmas cactus, it is accompanied by a story. They tell us about when they got it, the person who gave it to them, and how old it is. Maybe it was from their mother, or their friend, but it always seems to be a plant they’ve had forever. The Christmas cactus is the type of plant people seem to have around for years, if not lifetimes. If you’ve ever wondered why it is called the Christmas cactus, it is because it generally blooms just in time for Christmas.

Despite their cactus name, these plants are epiphytes and actually prefer a more humid environment to thrive. Hailing from the rain forest, these Brazilian beauties grow on trees and acquire quite a bit of dew, which is why they love to be misted. They need to be kept quite a bit moister than your traditional cactus plant. 

If you are looking for an alternative to flowers as a hostess gift for all those Holiday gatherings, consider a Christmas cactus as a creative gesture!

Quick Facts about the Christmas Cactus:

• Water once the first inch of soil is dry.
  • These plants are not your typical cacti that like to be watered once the plant has completely dried out.
  • In addition to fully watering your Christmas Cactus, consider misting your plant (especially when it’s in bloom).
• These plants love a lot bright indirect sunlight.
  •  They can tolerate some direct sunlight as well, especially in winter.
• In summer, you can set your cactus outside in a shaded area. The cooler, darker conditions help it achieve dormancy, which helps it to  bloom again in winter.
  • Alternatively, sticking it in a darker, cooler area of your home also works!
• The ASPCA considers the Christmas Cactus non-toxic to cats and dogs.

If you’ve ever wondered why this cute and colorful plant is called “the prayer plant,” you wouldn’t be alone! We get that question often and the answer is a simple one. At nighttime the prayer plant folds its leaves in half like two hands folded in prayer—amazing, right? We love this plant at Retreat. It’s easy care for, and we hear is a popular first time houseplant!

Not to mention, Cat and Dog owners can rejoice, because this plant is considered Pet-safe by the ASPCA. So if your pet is a curious eater and takes a bite, they would be okay. Whew. There are not many pet-safe plants out there so we are happy to frequently carry this option for our pet loving patrons.

Did you know that happy prayer plants often flower during their growing season? They are tiny buds that come from shoots on the plant, and they add another sweet element to this velvety plant.

Quick Facts about the Umbrella Tree:

• These plants are tropical, so they like to stay pretty moist
  • Water your prayer plant just before that top layer of soil is totally dry.
  • Water thoroughly
  • Misting the leaves in-between watering is also a good idea, especially if your home is dry
• These plants love bright indirect light, but will tolerate medium light as well!
  • Try to keep these plants out of too much direct light because their stunning coloring can fade.
• Consider turning your plant periodically to get it to grow evenly
  • These plants have many shoots, and long leave so if one area is always facing a wall, you might find that part of your plant not doing as well.
• These plants are considered pet safe if you have a cat or dog living at home

Want to stay in the loop about new blog posts, plant of the week giveaways, workshops, and other Retreat promotions? You can join our mailing list here. 

You’ve probably heard of Sansevieria, or the Snake Plant before. Perhaps you know this plant by Sansevieria Trigasciata’s less flattering nickname: the mother in law’s tongue. No matter how you have heard of this plant, you’ve probably also heard of its resiliency. This is one of our most hardy and difficult to kill houseplants. It thrives on little water, and can manage in flexible light conditions. These hard-to-kill plants are perfect for any plant novice wanting to give growing a go!

With fifty varieties of Sansevieria, you can easily find a Snake Plant to fit any area of your home. At Retreat, we offer a several sizes from tiny two-inch snake plants, all the way to more mature snake plants in gallon tubs. Receive 20% off the purchase of any size Snake Plant for the week of November 13, 2018- November 18, 2018.

Some Quick Facts on the Sansevieria

• These plants thrive on a little neglect. Water your snake plant anywhere from once a week to once every four weeks depending on lighting, humidity, and time of year.
  • Over-watering is one of the few ways to have an unhappy Snake Plant.
  • Be sure to let the plant fully dry out before re-watering.
  • Less is more. If you tend to occasionally forget your plants, this might be a good match for you!
• Sansevieria technically prefer medium light situations, however, they will tolerate low light, as well as bright light.
  • Typically they do fine wherever you put them as long as there is some light for them!
• They will tolerate both dry and humid conditions.
  • This is another factor that makes this plant ultra versatile! It can survive just fine in a dry home, near a vent or humidifier, or even in a bathroom.
• These spear-like beauties are toxic to cats, dogs, and humans. Please keep of reach of curious eaters.

This plant hardly needs an introduction. It’s beautiful, big leaves have been featured everywhere in the last few years: popular home décor magazines, plant blogs, and celebrity homes! And we know you all love this beautiful plant because we can’t seem to keep them around here at Retreat. That’s right, it’s the Fiddle Leaf Fig! We are so excited to have this beauty as our plant of the week! For this week you will receive a 20% off discount on any size Fiddle Leaf Fig. And we also scooped up some adorable three and four inch tiny sizes of this plant that you are not going to want to miss out on!

Known to be a little fickle, sometimes this plant is avoided entirely by our customers. While the Fiddle Leaf Fig can be a little particular, once you learn its needs and its likes/dislikes, there is no reason why this plant won’t make a great addition to your houseplant collection! Check out our quick care tips and tricks below to see if the Fiddle Leaf Fig might be a good plant for you!

Quick Facts on the Fiddle Leaf Fig:

• Lighting on key for these trees!
  • They do best in bright, indirect light! Think of your best-lit space where they are not actually sitting in the sun’s rays.
• Water once the top layer is dry. When you water, allow the water to drain fully out the bottom drainage holes.
• Fiddle Leaf Figs do not like drafts!
  • Place these plants away from your vents, or close a nearby vent that is blowing air on your Fiddle.
• Turn your Fiddle Leaf fig, periodically. This is especially true if you have it positioned in a corner where one side is not getting as much light. This will encourage it to grow evenly.
• Wipe down the Leaves of the Fiddle Leaf Fig periodically.
  • You can even try a little coconut oil on them for some extra shine.
• Fiddle Leaf Figs are considered toxic to cats and dogs, so keep up and out of reach of curious eaters.

We are so excited to introduce you to the Umbrella Tree this week. This stunning tropical plant has an amazing leaf pattern that looks like an opened umbrella, hence the name! The Umbrella Tree is one of the earliest plants that Retreat carried, and it’s stayed an easy favorite for us. These plants are fairly easy to care for. They thrive best in bright indirect light, or even in partial direct sunlight. They also like to be kept moist! We recommend watering them when the top layer of soil is dry. If you have good light conditions, and water your Umbrella Tree frequently, it should make a great houseplant for you!

In their native Taiwan, these beautiful trees can reach heights of 30 feet, but in your home they probably will not grow taller than 6-8 feet. Still, that’s quite a statement plant! You can fertilize your Umbrella Tree to foster more growth, but be sure to do so only during growing season (spring/summer). This is a great plant choice for even plant novices. Enjoy!

Quick Facts about the Umbrella Tree:

• These plants like to stay moist so water the plant frequently
  • You should be able to tell when your umbrella tree needs watering by putting a finger into the soil about an inch deep. Once that top layer is dry, it’s time to water again!
  • Although watering frequently is best, be sure that your Umbrella Tree has ample drainage at the bottom to prevent the plant from sitting in water. This can lead to root rot.
• These plants love a lot of sunlight
  • Bright indirect light, or even partial direct sunlight, is best!
• Consider turning your plant periodically to get it to grow evenly
  • Umbrella Trees are pretty good growers, and can quickly grow lopsided to favor their sunniest sun. Turning your plant allows it to grow more evenly.
• Wipe the leaves of your Umbrella Tree periodically with a wet rag
• These plants are toxic, so please keep out of reach of curious eaters.