A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Dear reader,
Plants have been a big part of my life for a few years now. I started buying and getting into plants at the beginning of high school. I later learned I could propagate my plants which allowed me to continue to have more plants without buying more from a store. It's a joy for me to see my plants grow! I love learning how to take care of every single one of my plants. Recently, for my birthday, my brother gave me a new challenge when he bought me a jade bonsai. I loved learning how to prune and take care of a more finicky plant that was more out of my comfort zone. Over the years I have definitely seen how plants have helped my mental health, as well as create a more peaceful environment in my home. I was really excited about this project because I hope seeing these pants in the library will have the same effect to you as it does to me.
-Maureen Dubolouz '23
plants IN THE LIBRARY COLLECTION
monstera
Hello my name is Luna and I am a Monstera plant. I like best to be in bright to medium indirect sunlight. I tend to drink water once every 1-2 weeks. I can grow up to 10-15 feet tall (which is probably bigger than you ;).
mini red vein
Hi my name is Scarlette and I am a Mini Red Vein. I love my environment to be very humid. I like to drink water every 7 days. I like bright light that is indirectly facing me. I hope to grow up to 3 to 6 inches.
golden pothos
Hey my name is Oliver, I am a Golden Pothos. I like to be in bright indirect light. I also like to drink water only once every 1 or 2 weeks. I am originally from the tropics so I really love my environment to be humid.
polka dot begonia
Hi my name is Dozer, I am a polka dot begonia. The amount of water I drink is not very consistent. In the winter I like to drink water only every 1 to 2 weeks. But in the summer I get thirsty and drink water every 4 days. JUST remember if you see me wilter you may have given me a little too much water. Pro tip: water me when my bed/soil gets dry (my bed should always be humid). I also really like bright indirect light.
Fire Stick
Hello my name is Frank, I am a Fire Stick. I don’t drink water very often; I usually only drink water every 3-4 weeks. I love the sun! I will grow and stretch best when I am in full sun for at least 6 hours a day.
Sparkling sarah
Hey my name is Mia, I am Sparkling Sarah. I only like to drink water once a week. Surprisingly I actually don’t love the sun. I like the peace and coziness of the dark. I am most happy in low lighting. I could grow as big as 4 feet.
BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY COLLECTION
635.9 SI
This book is a collection of photos and writing on the 60 most popular plants for budding plant enthusiasts. It is a great guide to help you start a collection of plants in your home.
635.9 DO
This book will help your green thumb flourish. It's a deep primer on how to take care of many different types of plants.
635.9 RO
How to House Plant is a perfect guide that explains how to take care of the 50 most popular house plants. Expect in depth information on how to pot and water plants, as well as most common pests.
SOCIAL TO FOLLOW
DID YOU KNOW? Self-proclaimed “plant moms” are flourishing on TikTok (known as Plant tok and the widely used #plantmoms) . Behind this quirky name and its accompanying hashtag lies a community of people who care for their plants as if they were their children.
@planto_momma on instagram
a blog, a podcast, and lots of tips on how to propagate (i.e. spread! make more!) plants you already own
@plantcareguide on instagram
amazing visuals ; lots of tips and tricks
benjiplant on tiktok
calm and soothing, prepare to learn a lot about moss varieties and how to decorate with plants
plantiiplants on tiktok
Plantiiplant’s house is covered with plants and takes you through their day on how to take care of them. They have a specific section explaining how to repot plants.
brandonbotanical on tiktok
Brandon is charismatic and funny! He has hundreds of tutorials on how to take care of plants. His videos are short and very interactive.
good and planty on youtube
Kat has longer videos and tutorials on how to care for your plant friends.
everything plants on youtube
300+ tutorials about pruning, propagation, fertilization, and more.
perfect plants nursery on tiktok
short tutorials that focus on one plant at a time; wide range of plants covered from cacti to fiddle leaf fig trees
apps to download
BLOSSOM
Is a plant care guide. You can enter any plant you own and receive a detailed description of how to take care of it. It can also let you journal about your houseplant life. Set care reminders and chat with plant care experts. This app also includes many blogs from real plant care specialists.
PLANTIN
PlantIn is like Instagram but for plants. It lets you post updates about your plants and other people on the app can like and comment on your post/blog. Its a great way to start a conversation with another person about your plants and get help/advice.
PICTURE THIS
PictureThis is another app that will let you identify plants and diseases. It can identify up to 400,000 species around the world. The app can additionally set watering reminders.
DID YOU KNOW PLANTS PROMOTE PERSONAL WELLNESS?
How Indoor plants Can Help With Mental and Emotional Health
This article highlights how specific plants can affect your mental health or space. One shocking statistic: in as little as 12 hours, one english ivy plant reduces 94% of molds in homes.
What science tells us about the mood-boosting effects of indoor plants
This Washington Post article is great for understanding the science behind the effects of plants on your mental health. Additionally, it specifically analyzes how different color plants, placement in your house, or artificial vs real plants affect your body differently.
Here’s How Indoor Plants Help Your Brain Health
This is a fascinating article explaining how plants help you brain health. Plants promote blood circulation in your brain, boots attention and memory, helps with screen fatigue, and induces positivity.
DIG DEEPER: WEBSITES AND BLOGS
A great place to get to know more about the plants you own. It has many detailed blogposts that talk about a variety of different plants.
Learn how to make/decorate a space to make it greener. It also has many care tips and efficient watering techniques.
Anyone looking to have a successful indoor garden should look at this website. It is both for people who just recently got into plants as well as houseplant experts.
House plants expert is an encyclopedia full of information solely on plants. The information is easy to follow and suitable for all indoor plant growers regardless of your skill or knowledge level.
How to Determine How Much Water Plants Need: 15 Steps
A great place to find visuals and descriptions on how/when to water your plants.
MONEY TREE
Hello my name is Arlo, I am a money tree (guiana chesnut). I like to be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks. But remember I really like to keep my bed/soil dry! I usually keep my bed 75% dry. I like to be in medium light but will also do fine in low lighting.