BY KELLI MESSICK, OWNER OF PATIENTLY ROOTED
Hi, plant friends! My name is Kelli and my goal is to help more people become plant people and see all the amazing benefits plants can bring to your life. As the founder and owner of Patiently Rooted, a company dedicated to spreading the word about the benefits of plants, I have always had a love of nature and plants, and now I want to share my obsession with other people.
Kinds of Trailing Plants
Trailing plants are the perfect addition to any space. They add the perfect amount of color and greenery and are very simple to take care of. Most trailing or climbing plants have similar care and that is they love to be left alone and do their thing, which is to grow! You will most likely see these types of plants on bookshelves with their leaves dangling down, but they can also learn to climb things like trellises. As long as you give the new growth support, these plants will thrive just about anywhere.
One of my favorites is the Marble Pothos, these plants have beautiful leaves that are always a surprise when they start to sprout. They are usually white and green but sometimes have completely white leaves! They love either shade or part-sun and like to be watered when the soil is completely dry, so around every 2-3 weeks. I keep mine in the shower and it thrives off of the humidity.
Another great trailing plant is the Lipstick Zebra Vine. These are great if you don’t have a lot of light in the space because they love the shade. These have beautifully colored leaves that mimic a zebra design on the top and bottom of them. If you care for them the right way, they will even bloom for you. They love to be watered when they are dry or about every two weeks depending on the environment you put them in.
A more rare trailing or climbing plant is the Monstera Adansonii Swiss Cheese. These get their name from the holes in their leaves that resemble swiss cheese. These grow quickly and can adapt to almost any environment. They love the sun and they love the shade, and you only have to water them about every 2-3 weeks or when their soil is completely dry. These plants will tell you when they are thirsty because their leaves will actually droop and look unhappy. After giving them a good drink of water, they will perk right back up!
Basic Care Tips
If you have been following along from my other blog posts, the most basic care tip I can give people for their plants is not to overwater. Always check to make sure the plant isn’t sitting in water, and don’t give them more if their soil is still wet. If you overwater a plant it is harder to bring them back to life because the roots might already be rotting. It is much easier to bring a plant back from underwatering because they are only dry and just need a good soaking.
When checking to see if your plant needs water, I would stick to a schedule. Stick your finger in the soil about every 1.5-2 weeks and if it is still moist or wet, wait to water them! If no soil is on your finger when you pull it out, then it is time to water your plants.
Once you get them on a schedule they will thrive and you will get into a rhythm of taking care of them. It definitely takes practice so don’t get discouraged if you kill a plant or two, but I find it soothing to check on them and see what they are up to and if they have any new growth I can admire.
Plants can always help complete your space and help you learn some patience along the way.
