Home visit: how to set up a plant station

Get growing

Watch Zoe take a cutting from her favorite plant and propagate a brand new one. Here’s how…

1. First, cut a stem that has two or three leaves from the mother plant, just below the nodes (the point at which shoots emerge from the root system).
2. Place the cutting into a container of water and pour in a small amount of rooting powder. Use a glass so you can see when the new roots sprout!
3. Position the cutting to propagate in a bright spot with enough light. Now wait and watch the roots grow! Depending on the plant, the process can take from a couple of days to several weeks.
4. Once the roots are long enough, it’s time to put the cutting in soil.

Zoe’s five-step guide to happy plants:

1. Water large, leafy plants every other day, if needed. Test the soil with a finger and if it’s dry, add water. Succulents and cacti only need watering once a week – place them in a bowl of water for an hour.
2. Wash smaller, green plants in the shower once a week if they get dusty. With bigger plants, wipe off any dust with a damp cloth.
3. Regularly check for dead or yellow leaves and remove any with scissors. Dead leaves take energy away from the healthy ones.
4. With tropical plants, use a humidifier to make sure the humidity is between 60 and 70%.
5. Every three months, add a fertilizer stick to the soil.

Plant power

“Plants are so important to me – I really feel that the energy has changed in this house,” says Miriam. “I bought one plant, then two, and now I have more than 150!”