Growing your own and spending time in nature has never been more popular, or more important. Cityscape digs up some tips for taking care of your plant babies, and predicts what will be the next hot thing in the plant world.

Trends

THE NEW MONSTERA

We love our holey, 70s-vibing monsteras, but we reckon it’s time for another plant to have its time in the sun – the humble cactus. The bunny-ear cactus in particular has been having a serious resurgence, and we also love the wiggly leaves of the fishbone cactus – the kind of plant you can point at and say “My four-year-old could draw that!”

GIY - GROW IT YOURSELF

Herb boxes and potagers are the latest landscaping trend. The popularity of cooking at home and consuming locally grown produce has shot upwards like Jack’s beanstalk since Covid came on the scene, and what could be more local than your own backyard? Lemon trees are also a popular inclusion in landscaping plans this summer – all the better to gin with!

Tips

LEVEL UP (OR DOWN)

Want to change the colour of your hydrangeas? You don’t need to go out and buy new ones – the pH level in your soil is what determines the colour of the flowers, so if you add coffee grounds to the soil, they might turn blue. If you want pink flowers, try mushroom compost.

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

Next time you’re boiling vegetables, don’t pour that water down the sink – keep it to pour on your garden. It’s filled with nutrients that your plants will love.

A HANDEE PLANT-SITTER

Going away for a few days and have no one to look after your plants? Keep those little guys hydrated by rolling up a paper towel and putting one end in a glass of water and the other end in your pot plant.

HOW TO: TAKE YOUR OWN CUTTINGS

1. Water your plant the day before you’re planning on taking a cutting, and the best time to take cuttings is early morning, because the plant will have the most moisture at this time. 2. Make a clean cut and ensure you’re taking the cutting from the right spot – this will be somewhere in the middle of the stem where it partially breaks in one spot when bent. 3. Keep your cutting cool and damp until you’re ready to plant it. 4. To plant, strip off any lower leaves and insert the bare stem into potting mix. Ensure your cutting stays moist by loosely wrapping it in clear plastic or creating a makeshift greenhouse with a cut-off milk or juice bottle. Place it in a spot where it will get plenty of light (but not too much direct sunlight) and wait for magic to happen!