Mariama Janneh Interior Design
I asked the wonderful people at Patch for some advice for those living in urban environments (and for people like me who have committed plantslaughter)
on the best plants for your home and how to take care of them.
There is also a 15% discount for my clients!
Who are Patch ?
"Patch helps you discover the best plants for your space, delivers them to your door and helps you look after them.
Currently over half the world’s population lives in cities, and that number will reach 5 billion by 2030. With more of us choosing to live in big towns and cities, we’re leading busy, stressful lives and experiencing a growing
disconnection with nature.
That’s why we created Patch – to help you choose the right plants for your space, to deliver them quickly and with care, and to provide expert
advice on how to care for them.
We believe that by bringing plants into your home, life can be so much
calmer, healthier and joyful. "
Growing up in a country setting means getting knee deep in muddy fields, annoying the cows grazing in the fields and cycling up and down abandoned lanes strewn with blackberries, overgrown thorn bushes and stinging nettles! The countryside is full of natural beauty and calm.
Those living in an Urban environment do not have the same advantages and for
for city dwellers maintaining a sense of calm and natural order can be difficult due to the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Overcrowded cities mean less green spaces, so how do you bring a sense of calm and natural order to your life? Indoor plants of course! And that is where Patch come in!
Which are the most popular house plants?
Over the last couple of years cacti and succulents have been the leaders in the plant world. Now that they've helped many novice plant parents to gain confidence, I think we'll see some more colourful, exciting specimens come into prominence over the next year.
Low-maintenance plants will still remain popular, but we'll begin to see more colours, shapes and textures. Juliette, our Calathea, is one example of this, with her beautifully ornate leaves. Our Peace Lily, Pippa, rewards careful care with elegant white flowers and has the added benefit of filtering the air of toxic compounds. Of course some of the classics remain popular, such as Big Ken (Howea Forsteriana), whose impressive fronds can transform a room that offers less than ideal conditions. Similarly Rapunzel (Golden Pothos) is one of our favourite tumbling plants, and her hanging vines can also put up with a bit of neglect.
Easiest to look after for those on the go?
We receive a lot of questions from anxious potential plant parents,
who are daunted by the prospect of caring for a living thing. At Patch
we want to reassure you that it doesn’t have to be hard to look after
plants.
Our collection of (Almost) Unkillable houseplants was put together
with nervous plant parents in mind, as they can all handle a bit of
neglect. We know that with the busy lives Londoners lead, there isn’t
always a chance to care for a finicky plant that needs daily attention;
this collection contains some of our favourite tough specimens that
will still bring a bit of nature into your home.
Included in the collection is Cassie, our Zamioculcas; she’s also
known as the eternity plant for her ability to survive almost anything.
In her native environment she’s used to extended periods of drought,
so won’t punish you for a forgotten watering. Similarly Howard the
Aspidistra is known as the cast-iron plant as he’s pretty much
indestructible.
Big Ken, an impressive plant that's easy to maintain. Great
for those with a hectic life on the go!
Best plants for each room ?
We know it’s important to be strategic with your space, especially as an urban gardener who measures space in square feet rather than acres. We design our collections around this, making sure they’re filled with plants that are the best suited to the space.
Our kitchen collection, for example, contains herbs that can be used in cooking and aloe vera which can be used to soothe burns. Our bedroom collection contains plants that can improve sleep quality by releasing oxygen at night, but won’t cause too much clutter.
What are your beginners tips?
Our top tip is always to consider your plant’s natural environment before jumping into a care routine. For example, a desert plant like a cactus will require more sun and less water than a fern, native to shady and humid tropics.
We offer a free beginners’ Plant Parenting Course, delivered each day by email, covering all of the most common questions and concerns we see in bitesize lessons. Everything from how much to water your plant, to humidity, pet-safe plants, and dealing with bugs. Just head to our website to sign up for the course and get the basics down in no more than 5 minutes per day.
How to keep them alive (for people like me who kill them!)
We often see plant owners worry about neglecting their plant, and overcompensate as a result; when we get questions about why a plant is unhealthy the most common reason is actually that it has been overwatered! So don’t kill them with kindness - you’ll be surprised at how resilient your plants are.
If you’ve chosen the right plant for your space, and learned a bit about its natural environment and care needs, you should have plenty of success keeping your plants alive.
If anything goes wrong, Patch plant parents can always get advice from our Plant Rescue Service. Go to our website, hit the chat bubble and send some photos of your sickly plant so they can try to diagnose the problem and suggest a cure.
If you live in London please visit https://patch.garden and order some of their wonderful plants.
All orders are hand delivered to ensure top quality service and care.
There is a fantastic 15% discount for MJID clients!