Jess, Alicia and Mary will discuss a few of the best beginner plants and how to care for them. Jess explains why you shouldn't fear the Fiddle Leaf Fig tree, Mary gives her preference for turtle and fish poop over measuring fertilizer and Alicia tests the edibility of spider plants.

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Tips from this Episode: 

- Use an app for reminders, but don't feel the need to follow it exactly. Mary and Alicia use Planta!

- You don't need the most expensive soil - but make sure it is well draining soil. 

- Make sure your pots have drainage. If you want to use a ceramic plant without drainage use a ceramic drill bit and drill a drainage hole. If you don't want to drill for drainage, keep your plant in the growers pot and place inside the outer pot for display then take it out for watering. 

- Find plants that match your lifestyle. 

- It is OK if your plants don't make it - even if they're considered "beginner!"

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Buzz Words From this Episode:

Variegation: diversity of colors

Root Bound: having roots formed into a dense, tangled mass that allows little or no space for further growth

Root Rot: any of various plant diseases characterized by decay of the roots and caused especially by fungi

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Plants Mentioned in this Episode:

- Spider Plant - (Chlorophytum comosum) Also known as spider ivy, ribbon plant and hen & chicken. 

- Air Plants (Tillandsia) 

- Crispy Wave Fern (Japanese Asplenium Nidus) 

- Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) Also known as Delta maidenhair fern.  

- Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

- Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)

- Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata, Dracaena angolensi or Dracaena pearsonii) Common name varieties include: Bird's nest, twisted sister, mother in law's tongue, rhino grass, Bantel's sensation

- Fiddle-Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) 

- Aloe Vera

- Angel Wing Begonia (Begonia x coralline) - Also known as the cane begonia

- Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) 

- Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum). 

- ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

- Lavender Plant (L. angustifolia)

- Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum) Also known as American Evergreen, five fingers, and nephthytis

- Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

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Products Discussed in this Episode: 

- Alicia's fertilizer: All-Purpose Indoor Plant Fertilizer

- Jess's fertilizer: Schultz Cactus Plus 2-7-7 Liquid Plant Food

- Moisture Meter: XLUX Soil Moisture Meter

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Sources: 

- Indoor Plants and the NASA Air Quality Study

- Adorable Airplant Holders