Guide

Plant care tips from the expert

21.10.2019

Translation: machine translated

Light and furniture give a room atmosphere and plants fill it with life. But where do I start when choosing green roommates and how do I look after them properly?

Although I know a thing or two about interior design and know that indoor plants are what make an interior really complete, I only have one plant: a Pilea peperomioides. I already know the latest houseplant and flowerpot-trends. All I need now is some information about the right care so that I can stock up on new houseplants.

Luzia K. Rodriguez - a trained environmental engineer and urban gardening specialist - discovered precisely this knowledge gap among interior designers and private individuals like me and founded the company "Kraut + Quer" shortly afterwards. Together with her team, she offers interior and exterior greening concepts for companies as well as courses for beginners. I meet Luzia in person at one of her completed projects, the café "Pause im Foifi".

The "Pause im Foifi" café has now become a small jungle. I imagine your home is similar. Do you still count your plants there?
Luzia Rodriguez: I don't have as many plants as in Kafi Pause (yet). But it's already very green in my house. I love having plants around me, observing them and learning from them. They are living beings and I like being in company.

When did you start urban gardening?
In 2012, I took a job as a gardener for the garden of Mrs Gerold's Garden. The result was so popular that one enquiry followed the next. Our company "Kraut + Quer", which specialises in urban gardening, was able to grow organically as a result.

How do you manage the watering at home?
When I'm away, my father looks after the plants. Otherwise, flower pots with an integrated water reservoir that can water automatically help. If you know how your houseplants work, you can train them: For example, I only water my plants "properly" once a month. To do this, I put them all in the bathtub and water them until the soil has soaked in.

How do I determine how much water a plant needs?
The amount of water depends on the location and size of the houseplant. When watering, less is more. Plants should never be soaked in water, otherwise the roots will rot. Empty the saucer regularly to avoid this.

In addition, I ensure the optimum room climate by moistening the leaves vigorously once a week with a spray bottle. I use low-lime and lukewarm water for this. Only cacti are the exception: succulents or thick-leaved plants do not need to be misted. Increased humidity strengthens their immune system and promotes new growth. It also keeps pests away, especially in winter during the heating period.

Which of these should be placed in a dark corner and which in a sunny spot?
Of course, all plants need sunlight for photosynthesis. However, you can use the anatomy of their leaves as a guide to the optimum amount: thin and large plant leaves do not need direct sunlight because they can already absorb a lot of sunlight thanks to their mass. Monstera and ferns, which have thick or hairy leaves, need a sunny spot. The same applies to succulents. To find out how much light a room has, you can use a luxmeter if you don't trust your eyes. It measures the luminance or light intensity in the room.

I have the most trouble putting a plant in my bedroom because I'm afraid of small insects. What species would you recommend here?
If you create optimal conditions for your plant, you will hardly have any problems with pests. It doesn't have to be your fault if they appear. Fungus gnat eggs or larvae may already be present in the substrate. If this should happen, I recommend plant protection products.

There are plants like the monstera that are hyped by "plantinfluencers" because of their appearance. Which other houseplants are considered particularly air-purifying and pretty?

Visual eye-catchers include Hedera, Spathiphyllum, ferns, Calathea, Dracaena Marginata or philodendron. It's a good idea to start out by only acquiring plants that you find beautiful. You will look after them more carefully than others.

The next houseplant course will take place on 16 November 2019 from 11 am to 1 pm in Zurich. You can register until 14 November and ask Luzia more questions there.

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Pia Seidel

Senior Editor

Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.ch

Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.

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