Beat the summer heat with cool houseplant options from Pike Nurseries! ​ ​

While grueling temperatures and summer showers make gardening outdoors less fun, Pike Nurseries offers expert tips for creating a cool indoor oasis using low-maintenance houseplants to keep green thumbs thriving throughout the sizzling season. Houseplants not only provide a pop of color to spruce up home décor, but they also help reduce stress and rid the air of toxins, keeping homes clean and healthy. From orchids and succulents to peace lilies and bromeliads, indoor plants are the perfect way for gardeners to continue to play in the dirt while beating the scorching summer heat!  

No-Fail Houseplants

High Light
Homes with plenty of windows are great for houseplants that need lots of light. A popular container garden choice, succulents provide a variety of texture, color and in some cases, offer bright blooms. With their need for little water, succulents are easy to maintain and go well with an assortment of other houseplants like the light and airy Asparagus Fern.  Bromeliads offer a unique, exotic look and can thrive in high to medium light. Glossy, strappy foliage of the bromeliad forms a bird’s nest of highly colorful, long-lasting bracts.

Medium Light
There are a variety of houseplants that are easy to maintain due to limited light and watering needs. Orchids are popular for their beautiful blooms and are surprisingly low maintenance (suggested watering is every seven to 10 days). To learn more about orchids, attend the free class this Saturday, August 12, at all Pike Nurseries locations. The striking sword-like leaves of dracaena’s many varieties and sizes add character to any home.  Pothos is a low-maintenance vine that can be grown to trail from a hanging basket or trained to grow up a stake. The peace lily is perhaps the most popular houseplant because it blooms nearly all year round and can withstand almost any light condition, though it will bloom more when there’s additional light. Peace lilies are easy to maintain as well – they like consistent moisture and give visual cues when they need more (the leaves droop when it needs water).

Low Light
Beginning or forgetful gardeners can have great success with houseplants that have low light requirements. Commonly referred to as “plants of steel,” these plants need little watering and attention in order to prosper. One of the most popular low light plants is sansevieria, commonly known as Mother in Law’s Tongue. Not only does it help clean the air, but its vertical leaves allow it to fit in almost any location in the home. Similar in sturdy structure is the nearly indestructible ZZ plant, which sprouts tall, succulent stems with glossy leaves. The ZZ plant is perfect for the bathroom or a window-less office, although it can also thrive in medium to bright indirect light.

Decorating Tips
Whether bright blooms or lush foliage, plants are great additions to any home and can fit with any décor style.  They can be shown in glazed pottery, hanging baskets and other indoor containers. Smaller houseplants can be grouped together under a window or in the center of a table, whereas large specimen can make a statement in the corner of a room.

Houseplant Care
Houseplants need consistent water – usually about once a week – and a good fertilizer like Bonide Liquid Plant Food in order to thrive. When away on vacation, be sure to use a water globe or absorbent soil amendment granules, like Soil Moist, to keep indoor plants hydrated. Mixed with the right amount of light, houseplants can grow beautiful and strong for years to come.

Whether it’s a colorful flower or an interesting fern, gardeners of all experience levels can beat the heat by playing in the dirt indoors with Pike Nurseries’ wide variety of no-fail houseplant options. For more information on how to pick the perfect plant, visit www.pikenursery.com/pages/choosing-a-houseplant or stop by any of the 16 Pike Nurseries locations and speak to the garden experts.