Journal/Authors

Wren Hollis

Wren Hollis

Houseplants & Indoor Styling

65 articles

Wren has killed enough houseplants to know exactly why yours is struggling — and kept hundreds more thriving in a small, bright flat that doubles as her test lab. She writes about reading plants instead of following rules, and believes every windowsill deserves at least one leaf.

Articles by Wren Hollis

Large Monstera deliciosa leaves in bright indirect light

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Care for a Monstera Deliciosa

A practical Monstera Deliciosa care guide: light, water, humidity, soil, and fixes for yellow leaves, no fenestration, and root rot.

A shelf of lush indoor houseplants beside a window

Indoor Styling · 6 min read

10 Best Low-Light Houseplants

Ten houseplants that genuinely thrive in low-light rooms — north-facing windows, hallways, and offices — with care notes for each.

Collection of colourful succulents in terracotta pots

Care Basics · 5 min read

Succulent Care for Beginners

Everything a first-time succulent owner needs: light, watering, soil, and how not to kill your Echeveria in its first month.

Person tending to a collection of green houseplants

Care Basics · 5 min read

How Often Should You Water Houseplants?

The honest answer is 'it depends' — but here are the six variables that actually decide, plus a simple watering routine that works.

Sunlit windowsill with a row of small houseplants

Care Basics · 6 min read

How Much Light Does Your Houseplant Actually Need?

Learn to measure indoor light in real numbers — foot-candles and lux — and match every houseplant to the right window in your home.

Person mixing liquid fertilizer for houseplants

Care Basics · 6 min read

When and How to Fertilize Houseplants

The complete guide to fertilizing houseplants: which NPK ratio, how often, and the signs your plant is hungry (or overfed).

Repotting a houseplant into fresh soil on a workbench

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Repot a Plant Without Killing It

A step-by-step repotting guide: when to do it, what size pot to choose, how to handle roots, and how to avoid transplant shock.

Handful of dark potting soil above a terracotta pot

Care Basics · 6 min read

Potting Soil Explained: What Mix Each Plant Needs

Not all potting mix is created equal. Learn what perlite, bark, coir, and peat do — and the exact ratios for aroids, succulents, ferns, and orchids.

Tropical foliage misted with water droplets

Care Basics · 6 min read

Humidity: The Care Factor Everyone Ignores

Why humidity matters more than most beginners realise — target levels for every plant type, plus the humidifiers and hacks that actually work.

Gardener pruning a leafy houseplant with small scissors

Care Basics · 5 min read

Pruning 101: Where to Cut and Why

Where to cut, when to cut, and what pruning actually does for a houseplant — plus how to make cuttings root every time.

Metal watering can pouring water into a potted plant

Care Basics · 5 min read

Top vs Bottom Watering: Which Is Better?

Bottom watering is having a moment. Here's the honest comparison — pros, cons, and which method your specific plant should get.

Houseplant beside a frosty window in winter

Seasonal · 6 min read

Winter Care: Why Your Plants Sulk from November to March

Less light, drier air, colder windows — winter changes every rule of houseplant care. The full seasonal adjustment plan.

Potted plants arranged on a sunny outdoor patio

Seasonal · 5 min read

Moving Plants Outdoors in Summer: The Right Way

A summer holiday outside supercharges most houseplants — if you acclimate them properly. The two-week hardening-off plan.

Seasonal · 7 min read

How to Keep Plants Watered While You're on Holiday

Going away this summer? Wicks, bottle drippers, capillary mats and self-watering pots compared — what actually keeps plants alive for 1, 2 or 4 weeks.

Seasonal · 7 min read

How to Care for Houseplants in a Heatwave

Heatwave houseplant care: move plants off hot windowsills, water in the morning, raise humidity, hold off repotting and skip the misting myth.

Care Basics · 7 min read

Orchid Finished Flowering? What to Do Next

Your orchid isn't dead when the flowers drop. Where to cut the spike, how to care for it between blooms, and the cool-night trick that triggers reflowering.

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Care for a Snake Plant

Snake plant care made simple: how much light and water a Dracaena trifasciata really needs, plus fixes for mushy, drooping or wrinkled leaves.

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Care for a Pothos

A complete pothos care guide: how much light and water a pothos needs, why the leaves go yellow or leggy, and how to keep the variegation bright.

Care Basics · 8 min read

Spider Plant Care: How to Grow Chlorophytum comosum

How to care for a spider plant: light, watering, brown tips, and propagating spiderettes — a plain-spoken guide to Chlorophytum comosum.

Indoor Styling · 6 min read

The Best Plants for Your Bedroom (and Whether They Help You Sleep)

Which plants actually suit a bedroom, whether it's safe to sleep with plants in your room, and what they can — and can't — do for your sleep.

Care Basics · 7 min read

ZZ Plant Care: The Complete Guide

How to care for a ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): watering, light, why leaves turn yellow, and why it's one of the toughest houseplants you can grow.

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Propagate Pothos in Water: Step by Step

How to propagate pothos in water: where to cut, how long roots take, when to pot up cuttings, and fixes for cuttings that rot instead of rooting.

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Care for a Calathea (Prayer Plant)

A no-drama Calathea care guide: light, water quality, humidity, and fixes for curling leaves, brown edges, and fading patterns.

Care Basics · 7 min read

Fiddle Leaf Fig Care: Light, Water & Problems

How to care for a fiddle leaf fig: exact light, watering and humidity needs, plus fixes for brown spots, leaf drop, and leaning trunks.

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Propagate Succulents from Leaves & Cuttings

Turn one succulent into dozens: leaf propagation, stem cuttings, and offsets step by step — callusing, watering, and why some losses are normal.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Propagate a Monstera: Water, Soil & Moss

Step-by-step monstera propagation: where to cut, why the node matters, water vs soil vs moss rooting, timelines, and fixes for rot and stalled cuttings.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for a Philodendron

Philodendron care made simple: light, watering, soil, feeding, propagation, pet safety, and fixes for yellow or leggy growth.

Seasonal · 7 min read

When to Bring Houseplants Back Inside (and How to Do It Without Bringing Pests)

Bring houseplants indoors before nights hit 10 °C. A step-by-step autumn checklist for pest inspection, quarantine and light acclimation.

Care Basics · 6 min read

Anthurium Care: How to Keep It Blooming

How to care for an anthurium: light, watering, humidity, soil — plus how to get it to rebloom and what brown or green flowers mean.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for Orchids Indoors

How to care for orchids indoors: light, watering by soaking, bark mix, feeding, and how to make a Phalaenopsis rebloom year after year.

Care Basics · 6 min read

Hoya Care: How to Grow the Wax Plant

How to care for hoyas: bright light, drench-and-dry watering, chunky mix — and why you must never cut the flower spurs if you want reblooms.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for a Peace Lily

How to care for a peace lily: light, watering, humidity, and how to get it to flower — plus fixes for drooping, brown tips, and yellow leaves.

Care Basics · 7 min read

Rubber Plant Care: How to Grow Ficus Elastica

How to care for a rubber plant: light, watering, soil, pruning and propagation, plus fixes for leaf drop and yellow leaves on Ficus elastica.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for a Bird of Paradise Indoors

How to care for a bird of paradise indoors: light, watering, humidity, feeding, repotting — plus fixes for curling leaves and no flowers.

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Care for a Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

A practical jade plant care guide: light, watering, soil and propagation, plus fixes for dropped leaves, shrivelled leaves and leggy growth.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for an Alocasia (Elephant Ear)

Alocasia care without the drama: bright filtered light, airy soil, steady warmth and humidity — plus what winter dormancy and spider mites really mean.

Care Basics · 6 min read

Pilea Peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant) Care

How to care for Pilea peperomioides: light, watering, soil, and propagation from pups — plus fixes for curling, doming, and dropping leaves.

Care Basics · 6 min read

String of Pearls Care: Keep It Alive & Trailing

String of pearls care made simple: the light it really needs, soak-and-dry watering, propagation, and fixes for shrivelled or mushy pearls.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

How to care for lucky bamboo in water or soil: water quality, light, feeding, propagation, and why stalks turn yellow — with fixes.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for Dracaena (Dragon Tree & Corn Plant)

Dracaena care made simple: light, watering, why tap water causes brown leaf tips, pruning leggy canes, and the best varieties for low light.

Care Basics · 6 min read

Air Plant (Tillandsia) Care: How to Keep Them Alive

Air plants don't live on air alone. Soak them 20–30 minutes every 1–2 weeks, dry upside down, give bright indirect light — the full Tillandsia guide.

Care Basics · 7 min read

Bonsai Tree Care for Beginners

Bonsai care made simple: which species live indoors, how to water (never on a schedule), light, feeding, repotting — and the mistakes that kill most first bonsai.

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Propagate a Snake Plant

Propagate a snake plant by leaf cuttings in water or soil, by division, or from rhizomes. Step-by-step timelines — and why variegated types need division.

Hands gently tending the leaves of a potted houseplant

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Clean Plant Leaves (and Why You Should Skip Leaf Shine)

Dusty leaves slow photosynthesis. The safe ways to clean houseplant leaves — cloth, shower, soft brush — and what to avoid.

Care Basics · 6 min read

Peperomia Care Guide: Light, Watering & Propagation

How to care for peperomia: light, watering, soil and propagation — and why this compact houseplant is safe for cats and dogs.

Care Basics · 8 min read

Boston Fern Care: How to Keep Those Fronds Green

How to care for a Boston fern indoors: light, watering, humidity, feeding — and why fronds turn brown and crispy, with fixes that actually work.

Care Basics · 8 min read

Grow Lights for Houseplants: A No-Nonsense Guide

Do your plants need a grow light? What PPFD really means, how many hours to run one, how close to hang it — and the mistakes that waste your money.

Care Basics · 7 min read

African Violet Care Guide: Light, Water & Endless Blooms

How to care for African violets: the right light, watering without leaf spots, soil, feeding, and fixes for no blooms, crown rot and leggy growth.

Care Basics · 7 min read

Money Tree Care: How to Keep a Pachira Aquatica Happy

How to care for a money tree: light, watering, humidity, braided trunks, and fixes for yellow leaves and leaf drop. Pet-safe and beginner-friendly.

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Care for a Cactus Indoors

How to care for a cactus indoors: full sun, deep-but-rare watering, gritty soil, and a cool winter rest. Plus fixes for stretching and rot.

Vegetable Garden · 7 min read

Tomato Leaves Turning Yellow? What Each Pattern Means

Yellow tomato leaves explained: how to tell normal lower-leaf ageing from nitrogen hunger, overwatering, magnesium deficiency, blight and wilt diseases.

Care Basics · 7 min read

English Ivy Care Guide: How to Grow Hedera helix Indoors

How to care for English ivy indoors: bright light, cool rooms, when to water, spider mite fixes, pruning, propagation, and pet safety.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Grow and Care for Lavender

How to grow lavender in beds and pots: sun, soil, watering, pruning and the right variety for your climate — plus fixes for woody, floppy plants.

Aloe vera plant with thick upright leaves in a terracotta pot

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Care for an Aloe Vera Plant

How to care for aloe vera indoors: how often to water, the right light and soil, repotting pups, and fixes for mushy, brown, or drooping leaves.

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Care for a Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

How to care for a Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema): light for green vs pink varieties, watering, temperature, soil, and fixes for yellow leaves and drooping.

Care Basics · 6 min read

How to Care for a Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)

Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) care made simple: light, watering, humidity, feeding, propagation — plus why leaves yellow and how to handle the toxic sap.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Grow an Avocado from Seed: Step-by-Step

Sprout an avocado pit in water or soil, step by step: the toothpick method, germination timelines, potting up, and caring for your indoor avocado tree.

Care Basics · 6 min read

Tradescantia Care: How to Grow the Inch Plant

How to care for Tradescantia (inch plant / spiderwort): light, watering, soil, and easy propagation — plus fixes for faded stripes and leggy stems.

Care Basics · 8 min read

How to Grow Rosemary (Indoors and Out)

Grow rosemary that thrives: the light it demands, how (little) to water it, pruning, overwintering, and how to root new plants from cuttings.

Care Basics · 5 min read

Bottom Watering Plants: How, When & How Long

How to bottom water houseplants properly: step-by-step method, soak times, which plants benefit, salt build-up, and when top watering wins.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for Begonias Indoors

A practical begonia care guide: the right light, watering rhythm, and humidity for cane, rex, and rhizomatous begonias — without powdery mildew.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for a Venus Flytrap

How to care for a Venus flytrap: rainwater only, full sun, zero fertiliser, smart feeding — and the winter dormancy most owners accidentally skip.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for a Prayer Plant (Maranta)

A practical prayer plant care guide: light, water, humidity and soil for Maranta leuconeura — plus fixes for curling leaves, brown tips and faded patterns.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for a Yucca Plant Indoors

How to care for an indoor yucca: light, watering, soil, pruning a leggy cane, and fixes for yellow or brown leaves — plus pet-safety notes.

Care Basics · 7 min read

How to Care for an Areca Palm

Keep an areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) lush indoors: light, watering, humidity and soil, plus fixes for brown tips, yellow fronds and spider mites.

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