Making most of space

I love getting creative with my space, especially if its limited. I throw down seeds where ever I see room, and having a bed that is deep enough for lots of roots to grow down helps them grow happily. I do love seeing beautifully structured rows of the same flower in other flower farms, but I think i'm a little non traditional in that way. I enjoy seeing the variety of colors and leaf structures growing together. A lot of the time, a volunteer plant will pop up from last year or from seed dispersal and if its growing well then I'll leave it and watch it grow. I'll thin them out once I see which ones are growing strong, but I'll leave the variety. 

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Houseplant Soil Aeration

One critical task for houseplant care that is often overlooked is soil aeration. Aeration is creating space in the soil where air can reach the roots. All potted indoor plants need their soil aerated regularly. It's like a breath of fresh air for them and they will thank you for it. 

  • Use a thin stick (chopsticks work great) and poke a few holes in the soil and wiggle a tiny bit. Nothing too thick or it might crush precious roots. 
  • Aerate right before a watering to help moisten the soil evenly

Most importantly, be attentive and responsive to your living plant. Most plants will tell you what they need if you just observe and listen to them. 

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How it all started

La Otra Flora happened organically. I have been a gardener since 2006 and love taking pictures of natural beauty that I see everyday. Whether its a wisteria vine I see on a walk, a dewy spiderweb, new leaves on my monstera, or a new bloom in the garden, I can't help but take a few shots and share them with friends. This year I decided to start a cut flower garden, which has been a dream of mine for a couple of years.  My darling designer husband surprised me one day with a brand, a logo, and a website all for whatever I wanted to share. So here we are. I call myself a flower farmer now and have plans for summer and fall blooms in the works. I decided to start writing and sharing more about my experiences which is outside of my comfort zone.  I nerd out on all things houseplants and gardening and I really want everyone to know how easy and fulfilling it can be to own and grow plants. I don't know exactly what this project will evolve into, but I do know that this is a good place for me to grow as a person. 

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Tillandsias

I've killed more air plants than any other plant. They require a fair amount of attention and care than I thought. So here's what I learned.

  • let them live right next to a window without direct sun (no less than 2 ft away) 
  • give them a quick dip in water once a week
  •  gently but vigorously shake ALL excess water off and leave them upside down to drip dry (or they will rot) 
  • return to window when dry
SPREAD TILLY LOVE 

SPREAD TILLY LOVE