Tips

Interior Plant Service Creates Decor for Girl’s Baby Shower with Succulents

January 28, 2014 by Miko Morita 2 Comments

Working with interior plants, my friends assume that I must also be a florist. This is flattering, but not the case. Floristry is an exquisite profession that I have not mastered (but definitely something I may peruse in the future).

Anyways, when a best friend asked me to help decorate for her baby shower I was thrilled to put my creative touch on a room filled with lots of pink and girliness. Although, since I was not using cut flowers as center pieces, I turned to my trusty succulent plants!

As a busy and practical person, I saw one of the main advantages of using succulents as center pieces was their resiliency. Succulents could be planted well in advance and would sit pretty for weeks or months before the event! This is not the case with cut flowers. Succulents were obviously the best answer!

I used grey clay pots that I had in my garage. Rose-colored reindeer moss to add a pop of soft girliness and of course pinwheels to keep in the baby shower theme. Making the pinwheels was something I was also able to do in advance. I used a great step by step website to create these adorable decorations.

Who knows, maybe ENVIRONMENTS BY MIKO needs to add party decorating to it’s list of services. An Interior Plant Service Business with Interior Party Decor Services! I like the sound of it!

Other fun decor ideas we incorporated into the party, as well as a pic of the Mama-to-be shown below:

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Houseplants, indoor succulents, Interior Plant Maintenance, Interior Plants, low maintenance, Party Decor, Succulents, Tips

Interior Green Plants that Bloom Indoors

January 13, 2014 by Miko Morita Leave a Comment

Other than the trusty Orchid and trusty Bromeliad plants, clients always ask me what blooming plants we can bring into their homes and offices. Interior spaces typically do not have ideal conditions for most flowering plants, but there are a few that I love. I would recommend trying one or a few of them to see which does best in your indoor space. Most of these plants will live for years if you care from them properly and give them the conditions they need. Some of them will bloom year-round, while others bloom for a season.

My first Blooming Interior Plant has beautiful green succulent foliage year-round with the bonus of delicate flowers in the spring and/or summer. It is the Hoya Plant. This is by far one of the most interesting of the blooming interior green plants indoors because of it’s glossy succulent leaves and it’s unique flowers. There are many varieties of Hoya Plants, they are also known as Wax Plant or Star Clusters. Some varieties have variegated leaves, some have delicate thin leaves and some even have clusters of hanging branches that resemble rope!

They do great in hanging baskets in bright indirect light or on a shady patio. The flowers only bloom once a year and you won’t want to miss the bloom! They look like little pink candies on an often furry star all clustered together. Probably one of the cutest indoor plants with flowers!

Another Interior Blooming Plant I love is the Lipstick Plant. It’s name is a great descriptor of it’s flowers. When the flowers first emerge they start as a purple lipstick case, then as it matures, you’ll notice the RED LIPSTICK coming out of the center part. It’s definitely one of the coolest blooms I’ve ever seen.

The Lipstick plant does great in a hanging basket or in a bowl on a table where it’s arms can hang down. It loves bright indirect light and blooms typically in the Spring and Summer. I feel especially bonded to this plant because growing up, my Mom had one growing in our bathroom for years and since it had a perfect environment, it seemed like it bloomed year-round!

A tried and true blooming plant that seems to last forever is the Anthurium Plant. These beautiful plants sit upright and come in Red, White, Pink and Purple. Florists use them for their long lasting blooms. The leaves and flowers have a glossy, almost waxy sheen. I love finding unusual colors and sometimes I come across flowers with color combinations!

Keep your anthurium on the dry side and give them bright indirect light. I’ve had anthurium plants that live for years and bloom all year!

I can’t leave out one of the most common used interior blooming plants on the market, the Spathiphyllum Plant aka Peace Lily. This beautiful blooming plant has dark green glossy foliage and elegant white blooms. It LOVES water and will talk to you if you don’t water it enough!

Spathiphyllums come in different varieties with different size leaves. Typically, the smaller the leaf, the more blooms you’ll get. So, although the large leaf varieties are gorgeous just for their leaves, if you’re looking for flowers, then choose a variety that has smaller leaves and you’ll get flowers most of the year.

One plant that you really can’t ignore despite that fact that your Grandmother or Mother had a collection of them in a bay-window throughout your childhood, is the African Violet Plant. When this plant is happy it blooms all year-round! And you can’t deny that the flowers and furry leaves aren’t adorable. I just love the bright purple varieties.

African Violets don’t like their leaves wet, so they prefer to be watered from a saucer or self-watering container. They love the morning sun. So find a window that gives good morning sun and they will thrive forever!

Lastly, a discrete bloomer, the Goldfish Plant. It has small orange flowers year-round! It’s nice to have a plant that blooms consistently with glossy healthy leaves year-round. Many people buy this plant just for the foliage and then the flowers are an extra perk! I love how low maintenance this plant is because although it drops flowers, it’s easy to maintain. Initially it will grow upright, but eventually, the arms will sprawl and crawl.

What’s your favorite Interior Blooming Plant?

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blooming interior plants, Green Plants, Houseplants, Interior Plant Maintenance, Interior Plants, Office Plant Maintenance, Office Plants, Orange County, Plant Care, Plant Service, Tips

Low Maintenance Easy Design Tips with Succulents in Exterior Containers

October 9, 2013 by Miko Morita Leave a Comment

Succulents are your best friend if you live in Orange County and are looking for a low maintenance plant. They are versatile and can live in almost any type of container with very little water.

Here is a picture of a Succulent Fountain we planted about 3 months ago. It does not have a lot of root space or soil, but it does have drainage holes (drilled). The plants are thriving and by not having a lot of root space, the Kalanchoe thyrsiflora (aka Flapjacks) has turned red and the Crassula ‘Campfire’ is blooming and sprawling all over. We water this succulent fountain once a week and check for insects regularly. So far, it has been insect-free and is in full sun by the coast.

Make your boring containers pop by planting succulents around the base of your tree, shrub or this bird of paradise plant! It’s one of the easiest and most cost effective transformations you can make to your container plants. This once boring bird of paradise is now a focal point in the garden. We took different shades and sizes of succulents with the same basic shape (rosette) and planted them all the way around at the base. In this container we planted Aeonium zwartkopp, Aeonium urbicum, Aeonium kiwi and Sedum clavatum. Have fun with it, but it’s best to have a plan. Either stick to a color theme and/or shape theme.

This next exterior succulent container was planted as a flat container landscape in a pot. As I said before, you should always have a ‘plan.’ In this plan, we used the color of the purple Echiveria to create an ‘S’ shape down the center of the round pot and then we build around the ‘S’ with a similar Echiveria in blue with Jade ‘golem’ around the outside for some contrast. Picking only three species of succulent and repeating them creates a modern design and look. Creating a living succulent design can be that easy!

My final tip to create a dramatic succulent container garden is to create something spectacular and repeat it! As you can see these matching tall vase planters have virtually the same succulents planted in each container. They are lining the entry way to this home in Newport Beach, CA. As you walk up, you can’t help but notice the color, shapes and texture of these interesting plants. Best part, is their low maintenance and year-round interest!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Architectural Plants, low maintenance, Modern, Modern Design, Office Plant Maintenance, Orange County, Plant Care, Plant Service, Style, Succulents, Tips, Tricks

60’s Style Houseplants – Part 2 : Modern Macrame

August 21, 2013 by Miko Morita 2 Comments

Writing about 60’s Style Houseplants in my last article, I got a lot of positive feedback. This inspired me to dig a little deeper. The 60’s and early 70’s undoubtedly had a hippy sensibility. And quintessential hippy decor would have to be MACRAME! It’s been blowing up on Pinterest and due for a revival!

I mentioned this to my Mom last week when we were doing our weekly mall walk and she didn’t believe me. She said that there was no way she would ever use macrame in her house again. As we were almost at the end of our walk, we glanced into the window of a store, and there was macrame hanging everywhere! I was thrilled to see that I was not alone in the Modern Macrame come-back!

One of the coolest Modern Macrame designs I’ve seen, is this DIY Macrame hanging pot done with untraditional brightly colored string on Refinery29‘s post about DIY Gifts for under $15. I think it’s clever and so cute with the tea cup size white vessel, florescent pink string and succulent! This would definitely fit into a Modern Home Decor without feeling overly hippy.

Another inspiring Modern Macrame idea was found on this Skinny Laminx post. She uses succulents to create a beautiful grouping of macrame planters. I like the sizes and colors she sticks to. Black, white and green and more small macrame vessels. It almost reminds me of a hanging sculpture wall, similar to the living walls that have become so popular today. I bet a small vessel macrame wall would look pretty awesome against a white wall in your home!

Another non-traditional use of Macrame for your home is this small tillandsia terrarium cupped in a bold turquoise macrame hanger found on Ouch Flower‘s blog. I love the color used and with the tillandsia it really reminds me of the coast. Bold color also makes this feel modern rather than the traditional natural colors commonly used in the 60’s and 70’s.

And lastly, if you’re not the crafty type or you just don’t have the time there are plenty of Macrame sources on the web. Doing a quick google or amazon search you will be overwhelmed by choices. But if you are looking for something more obscure, check out this Etsy page: HRUSKAA. They have a lot of VERY MODERN MACRAME planters that you can order and have shipped directly to your doorstep. You can have an instant Modern Macrame planter that will add sculpture and style to your home in an instant. I think my Mom might even agree!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 60's houseplants, 60's style, Houseplants, indoor succulents, Interior Design, Interior Plants, Living Wall, Modern, Modern Design, Orange County, Style, Tips

60’s Style Houseplants for your Modern Interiors Today!

August 12, 2013 by Miko Morita 6 Comments

1960’s Era Interior Design is huge right now and I’m loving it! Especially, since my house was built in the 70’s, which was really a carryover from the 60’s. Plus, my brother recently purchased an Eichler Home in Orange, it’s GORGEOUS and was the inspiration for this article. Eichler design is impeccable and he obviously had nature on his mind when designing these homes.

So, with 60’s architecture, comes 60’s Era Interior Plants. The first style of plants I think of are long drapping vines, most commonly used, Pothos Plants (Epipremnum aureum). These plants are easy to care for and will hang and climb as much as you let them. You would often see them climbing along walls or down bookshelves. I think it must have correlated with the free spirit of the 60’s lifestyle.

Some more modern uses of Pothos while still keeping that 1960’s vibe would be to use them in a more uniform manner along a wall or as a window covering. I love both of these Pothos pictures, because of their simplicity and I think this technique will differentiate the use of Pothos from the 60’s-frumpier-style to today’s-more-modern-take.

The next 60’s style plant I love is the Split Leaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa). This plant’s leaves almost epitomize a 60’s icon, also known as the Swiss Cheese Plant. You don’t see them often right now, but with the recent revival of 60’s design, I imagine they will become increasingly popular in the Interior Plant Industry! Their finger or hand shaped leaves are irresistible and best of all they are super easy to maintain. They thrive on neglect, need little water and medium light. When they are thirsty, they will tell you by drooping their leaves and that’s usually the best time to water because overwatering is a sure kiss-of-death for these dark green beauties.

Your Split Leaf Philodendron looks best planted in a container on it’s own. It’s unique and organic shape should be showcased alone, so you can make out the detail in the leaves, funky stems and aerial roots. I like the way these look in a tall container raised off the ground and preferably in an area that isn’t going to get a lot of traffic so you don’t damage the sprawling leaves.

Living in a 60’s style interior you were often surrounded by plants! One plant that does a great job at giving you that jungle feeling while still remaining modern is the Ficus Lyrata aka Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree. This is a very popular plant right now and I absolutely love it’s massive leaves, shaped like Fiddles, hence the name. It’s related to the Rubber Tree, Ficus elastica which was even more popular in the 60’s, but I prefer the look of it’s cousin Ficus Lyrata. You often purchase them at a nursery in the shape of a tree or a column. You can keep them like this by pruning regularly, but naturally they’ll want to seek the light and create their own unique form (as seen in the photo above).

A classic 60’s plant that you don’t see much of any more is the Peperomia Plant. Just like the Split Leaf Philodendron, I believe that this little gem should be having a come back any day now. It’s unique 60’s appearance is just begging to be re-born in our Modern 60’s Re-do! Peperomia makes a perfect desk plant, it’s the type of plant you’d also put on your dining room table or coffee table so you can get up close and personal. The detail on the leaves and different textures of different varieties will make your guests want to reach out and touch these precious greens.

Also easy to care for, these little gems have succulent leaves and stems, so you need to be careful not to overwater. They will wilt a bit when thirsty and that’s usually the best time to water them. They like bright light, but don’t want direct sun, so place them in a window and fall in love!

Other 60’s style Interior Plants for your Modern Home: Spider Plant, Boston Fern, Sansevieria (Snake Plant), Rubber Plant.

Thank you for the inspirational photos from the following websites: Birch Box Blog, Mint Six Home Blog, The Brick House Blog, Elephantine Blog

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 60's houseplants, 60's style, Architectural Plants, Green Plants, Healthy, Houseplants, indoor succulents, Interior Design, Interior Plants, Maintenance, Modern, Modern Design, Orange County, Plant Care, Style, Tips

My Tricks for Simply Modern Interior Plants

July 25, 2013 by Miko Morita 1 Comment

Modern style is something that can be stunning when done correctly. It’s also a style that can feel cold and not home-like at all. No one wants to live in a cold museum, but a glamourous modern home is much desired.

That’s where plants come into the picture! Plants are living, breathing beings that create an instant sense of warmth to a space. I am a fanatic about balance and I believe that a cold modern space is easily balanced out by the warmth of a living plant. Plants make us feel human and even the most architectural-like plants still have a natural organic form that is calming to our soul.

The following are my personal tricks for Simply Modern Interior Plants:

Two Matching Extra-Large Plants is better than a Jungle of Small Plants

Three used to be the magic number with design, but lately I’m in love with the number two! Modern design begs for even numbers and when you make a space for two extra large plants in a room they have a undeniable presence! Keep it simple and repeat the pattern exactly or almost exactly. Plants with architectural form are often used, but I think even free flowing plants can look modern when used properly.

Resist the urge to underplant with smaller plants, this will only take away from the natural form of your original specimen plant.

Repeat the Same Plant and the Same Color

Monotony is NOT boring, especially when it comes to plants! It’s chic and sophisticated. It again makes the mind calm and give you a sense of order. The best part of monotony with plants is that they actually aren’t monotonous because each plant is actually slightly different than the other one. This makes the scenario even more interesting to the eye and the mind!

Sorry guys, but SIZE Matters

Whether it’s an extra large container with a small plant or an average sized container with an enormous plant. Size does matter! If you have the space, the bigger the better! Think over-sized, big big big! (just don’t hit the ceiling…that’s too big!)

Don’t forget the top-dressing

The finale of your spectacular specimen plant is the over-looked and under-planned top-dressing. The typical choice is moss for most people which works pretty great to cover the soil and grow pot. Although, if you want your plant to be a true show stopper, you’ll want to consider some alternatives. These are some of my faves:

–STONES: White Decorative Stones as top-dressing. Elegant and dramatic contrast, but honestly stones come in so many beautiful shapes and textures you can really have fun here. Pick a color that will complement the decor and feeling of your space. I think Stones always look MODERN and are one of my first choices!

MOOD MOSS WITH STONES AND GLASS WITH STONES: These both add contrast in elements. Both giving off a yin and yang feng shui feeling of balance!

–REINDEER MOSS: This gorgeous chartreuse moss is fluffy and has a gorgeous natural texture. It comes in all colors of the rainbow, but chartreuse and white are by far my favorites!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Interior Design, Interior Plants, Modern, Style, Tips, Tricks