Echeveria Black Knight

Hello so continuing with my series of the top 10 succulents to grow indoors, lets look at Echeveria Black Knight today. So far I have written about:

1. String of Bananas
2. Kalanchoe Tomentosa
3. Echeveria Black Knight

Echeverias offer a wide variety of options. These are easy to grow plants and are found in lot of different sizes hence are a popular option of succulents to grow. I particularly have a great weakness for the Echeveria Black Knight because of their dark outer leaves. It is a small growing, rosette style succulent with dramatic dark coloring. These delightful plants also have dark red flowers which are usually projected above the foliage.

Echeveria ‘Black Knight’ is mostly grown for its dramatic and bold foliage.

Most Echeverias are not complicated succulents to grow. As long as they are looked after and a few basic rules are taken care of. Lets take a look at what these are:

• Never allow water to sit in the rosette as it can cause rot or fungal diseases which will kill the plant.
• Any dead or dry leaves should be removed from the bottom of the plant as it grows. These dry leaves are a haven to pests which will also kill the plant eventually.
• Echeverias mostly should be planted in terracotta clay pots as they dry out quickly and that prevents the roots from rotting.
• Echeverias need plenty of light but direct sunlight is not good. So a covered patio or a windowsill which receives lots of light but no direct sun is a good place to keep these lovely succulents.
• Over watering will likely kill an Echeveria plant. It requires frequent watering only during its first year of planting after which frequent watering is only required during the summer months.
• Echeverias especially the ‘Black Knight’ can be easily propagated from leaf cuttings. To propagate a leaf cutting, place the individual leaf in cacti or potting mix and cover the dish till the new plant sprouts.

The Echeveria Black Knight can be grown both indoors and outdoors, it is a delightful plant to own.

These beautiful succulents are perfect for a sunny window sill if you are growing them indoors.

The Echeveria Black Knight looks really good in combination with other succulents like sedums for example especially for it brings out their colour.

This is one of the darkest Echeverias apart from Echeveria Black Prince.

If you own one of these stunning Echeverias, please do share a few images here and also if I have missed out on any care instructions, I would really appreciate it if you put forward your suggestions too.

String of Bananas

Hello everyone I have been missing from the blogging world for quite a while now, I have missed this space. How is everyone doing? I wanted to write 10 blog posts about the most popular succulents to grow indoors starting with the lovely easy to grow ‘String of Bananas’.

Very easy to look after and grow. It is one of those wonderful succulents which are also easy to propagate.

The String of Bananas plant is a very popular trailing succulent and is also called String of Fish Hooks because of the way it looks. It is one of the easiest succulents to have in a hanging garden, and if it is grown in the ground, it trails wonderfully.

It is one of the most popular succulent to have in a hanging garden.

The String of Bananas is a succulent which loves the heat but will not thrive very well in direct sun light. It prefers partial shade like a covered patio or a balcony. It is best grown in containers for it is a brilliant hanging plant. It is also known as Senecio radicans. If looked after well the trails can reach upto 6′.

Lets look at a few images of these lovely trailing succulents which can be the easiest way to start your succulent journey.

The String of Bananas works very well in combination with other succulents like the Echevieras.

String of Bananas is a very easy to propagate and does not need to much of looking after.

String of Bananas in a glass planter, these hardy succulents can also be kept indoors.

String of Bananas is a plant which is native to Africa. It grows very well in partial shade and will thrive well in indirect bright sunlight if grown indoors. These plants are mildly toxic in nature and if ingested in small quantities may have unpleasant side effects hence it is best grown or kept out of reach of toddlers and pets. If grown indoors it is best to place them in hanging containers or planters.

String of Bananas can thrive very well indoors where there is bright indirect sunlight. It is best to place them in hanging containers or baskets away from toddlers and children as if ingested they can have unpleasant side effects and is mildly toxic.

Like most succulents, The String Of Bananas will need bright light or some sun to thrive well indoors. They do survive in very low light but as a result the growth will be slow or totally stop.

These plants will rot if watered very frequently so it is safe to say that they will grow happily if watered optimally or maybe once a week or once the soil is totally dry.

To keep your Senecio radicans healthy and thriving, it is enough to use a normal houseplant feed once every two months. It can be easily propagated through their stems or even leaves. It is quicker to propagate new plants from stems which have a few leaves attached to them. These succulents look much better when grown in clusters as in single strands they do not have the effect required.

These beautiful succulents are the most easy to grow plants to have in hanging planters or gardens.

String of pearls….my current plant obsession.

As it goes I always have a current favourite where plants are concerned. So right now it is ‘String of Pearls’. Do you have this amazing plant? I have not been able to get my hands on one as yet but can’t wait to own one. Also known as ‘String of Beads’ or ‘Rosary’ String of Pearls is a perennial vine of the Asteraceae family and is native to south-west Africa. It belongs to the succulent family and it requires very little hands on care.

Sources: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10

This bead like succulent is quite a unique looking plant and will do very well in bright light. Consider putting your plant in a sunny windowsill.

This succulent loves to sprawl, make sure there is plenty of room for it to grow. Hanging baskets are a very good way to show off this lovely succulent.

Grow it in combination with other succulents and the effect is purely magic.

This particular succulent is distinct and different, but be cautious and keep it away from pets and young children as it can be toxic when consumed.

Display these beautiful succulents on your mantel. See how stunning they look.

What a creative arrangement and such a clever way to use the string of pearls.

It is an ideal plant for indoors and patios in hanging baskets and patios. It is a drought tolerant plant.

These amazing plants are both drought and heat tolerant but not very cold tolerant.

It’s mostly the foliage rather than the flowers which interests most gardeners.

I really want to own one of these, I will keep you posted about that.

I came across this brilliant article about how to care for and propagate the String Of Pearls plant. Check it out here. Do any of you own this beautiful succulent? Have you kept it indoors or outdoors. Please do share any useful tips that you might have about this beautiful succulent.

Top trending color of 2017- Green.

So as we come to the end of January let’s look at some top design trends for the year 2017.When we think about interiors, color is one of the most important aspects which affect the design choices we make. The Pantone Color Institute has named  green to be the  color for 2017.Every year since the year 2000 this company has selected a particular color which represents the current cultural climate the world over. So what does the color green mean to you ? What does it represent ? Green is the color of nature and health. It represents the environment, it is said to have healing powers and a color which is healing to the eye. Green in interiors ? Green as a color is energizing , powerful and it radiates positive energy. Let’s look at 10 really cool ways to introduce green into your space with minimal effort.

Source: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10

Get some indoor plants. They wont cost a fortune and there are lots of plants out there which improves the quality of air in your space. To add a style element get a few planters with character.

Don’t have a green thumb, fear not!! You can always use a leaf patterned cushion instead.

How about using some absolutely gorgeous bed linen with plants on them of course. Having a few real planters won’t hurt either. Try it for yourself and see.

Green ceramic Urli for your home. Get green into your homes by means of these lovely accessories.

Easy to maintain indoor plants can be used as room dividers. Cool isn’t it?

Instead of arranging flowers in a vase, take a green bottle and grow plants in them. It will not only look unique these kind of arrangements are definite conversation starters.

You don’t need to go to a tropical island for a vacation, just introduce a leaf printed wallpaper to have the same holiday vibe throughout the year and at the same time you get to use the color green.

Get some leafy art work into your space. They surely stand out and definitely make a style statement.

Create a miniature succulent indoor garden with old recycled bottles. What better way to get green into your space.

Create your own hanging succulent miniature garden using wine bottles.

I simply love the color green especially plants. They really do enliven any space and are uber chic. Plants will never go out of style. There really are numerous fun ways to get green into your space. How will you embrace this fresh and positive color this year? Do share your views.

My last post this year….

So in about a little over 24 hours , we will be welcoming 2016. For me this year has literally raced by. I thought my last post of 2015 should definitely be about plants. I love indoor plants and have quite a collection and they have been great companions and given me so much joy. Styling your home using plants is such a good idea.I really enjoyed it. Here are some ideas to display indoor plants in your home.

Display your plants in a sunny corner of your home using a collection of different sized planters and plants. Plants on the shelf styled with a range of succulents and climbers provide interest and is balanced very well with the large planter by itself. http://www.lobsterandswan.com

If you have some space or an empty corner in your living room, place a big plant like this Fiddle Fig leaf in an oversized planter and the effect you get is a wow!!

Have a side table dedicated to your small plant collection. It is more likely to get more attention placing them together than in different places in a room especially with small planters.

Club all your small and interesting planters on a console table. Place it in the hallway if there is space, it will make such an impact. http://www.we-are-scout.com

If you have absolutely no space, you can still own a few small planters with the hardy succulents which will take up no space and can be displayed with your other much loved curios.

The staircase is such a good place to display your plants…..and if they are all put in white planters then nothing like it to really highlight the beauty of these lovely plants indoors. http://www.refinery29.com

Put a single green large leaf in a plain glass bottle to make an impact.

Hang a few pots using interesting jute macrame plant hangers to make an instant impact. http://www.anthropologie.com

A common ivy in a coloured bottle is a lovely way of getting some green into your space. The roots in the bottle makes it a unique display.

Have a sunny window ledge? Line it with your collection of potted indoor plants….instant impact. http://www.flickr.com

Have a bookshelf? Display your plants in combination with all your curios and plants in a bottle……

Create your own interesting mix of planters….big or small does not matter….plants are good for our homes.

I hope you enjoyed these images full of green inspiration. I am signing off wishing everyone a very happy, peaceful and wonderful 2016.

My Planty Wishes 2016

Wow is it the end of 2015 already? Wow again…..this year has literally flown by very fast. The Urban Jungle Bloggers topic to end the year 2015 is ‘My Planty Wishes 2016’…..it’s an expression of what all the lovely and creative bloggers of this plant loving community wants or desires for in the new year and having their say through plants.

Urban Jungle Bloggers is a monthly series hosted by Igor (Happy Interior Blog) and Judith (Joelix.com). Every month they share different ideas to create an urban jungle through styling ideas, DIY’s and green tricks and tips. You can also be a part of the fun by visiting their website. Stay inspired and welcome some green into your spaces.

I have created a calender for 2016 using all my beautiful lovely succulents and my favourite tiny birds that I absolutely adore. Let’s all get some green into our homes this new year. Have a peaceful and happy 2016.

January…..

February….

March…..

April…

May…

June….

July….

August…

September….

October….

November…

And finally December. You can dowload a PDF version of the calender here. photo-calendar-2016-standard

December….

My Personal Plant Gang……:)

The Urban Jungle Bloggers topic for May is celebrating plant diversity. Plants are wonderful and come in all shapes, sizes and colour, even if they are all green, there are so many varied hues and shades. I am excited to be part of this team of plant loving bloggers and you can join in the fun too by visiting their website. The blog was started by Igor and Judith both avid plant lovers.

I gathered a few of my favourite plants in the balcony and decided that our outdoor patio table was the best place to show off my collection of plants to the best effect.

My favourite plants…..:)

A view from the top…….:)

The succulents and the other plants all look very good together.

Add a birdcage and a bird and its perfect in my opinion……

A close up of my best mini succulents…..

The bird-cage and the colourful vases….

The hidden red horse……..surprise elements are always good…..

A few interesting planters can add so much character……

The many shades of green…….create your own Urban Jungle.

Enliven your space with some green……

Another look at ‘my plant gang’……..

Join in the fun and create your own plant gang…..:)

Lovin’ my plant shelfie…….:)

Hello everyone, I recently signed up[ to be a part of the Urban Jungle Bloggers, a blog started by Igor (www.happyinteriorblog.com) and Judith (www.joelix.com) to celebrate the beauty of houseplants and generally having greens in our lives whether it is in our homes, interiors or public spaces. Every month they share ideas to create an urban jungle through styling, DIY’s and green tips and tricks. The October topic is ‘Plant Shelfie’. I am joining in the fun, its styling a shelf with the greens around the home. I wanted to share a few images of my take on this topic.

My shelf with a few magazines and books. Looks really bare doesn’t it?

My favourite bird cage bookend….

See the transformation with the addition of my money plants and a few accessories….:)

A few close up photographs for you to enjoy of the first shelf….

Use a vintage bucket as a planter…..:)

Pops of colour and the money plant…..

The second shelf and the introduction of the ivy (an absolute favourite of mine!!)

The second/third shelves with the recycled bottles and the ivy…..:)

A succulent and a few birds in a tray….:)

The third shelf and yet more greens…..

Succulents and the garden ivy are some of the most easy to look after house plants…..

Having a plant is totally enriching….

Introduce colour by adding bright accessories.

A view from the top…..

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Now take a look at the finished shelf with all the green goodness….:)

I love the greens…..

What do you think?

An owl and a few planters…..

It’s all in the details……

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I loved styling my bookshelf with the plants that I have and a few accessories I love, I hope you liked it too!!

Plants really do liven up a space.

Lovely greens….

The mix of greens..

You can join the Urban Jungle Bloggers too by visiting their website: http://www.urbanjunglebloggers.com. Use #urbanjunglebloggers on twitter and instagram. You can find a lot of inspiration on their Pinterest board too.

 

Lovin’ a single succulent!!!

There is another corner in my apartment that I really like!! There are a few of my favourite books, an eclectic collection of decorative birds and of course a succulent!! You will also see my other favourite houseplant, the common garden ivy.

My Echeveria in a yellow ceramic planter !!

Beautiful isn’t it??

 

You can really work magic with a little bit of green!!

The Echeveria with the birds!!

 

My collection of birds and the Echeveria….

A closer look…….

 

A view from the top……

The common garden ivy is also a great way to introduce some green into your indoor space without taking too much trouble…..

 

Lovin’ my balcony garden……

As we race past July, I keep wondering where half the year has gone by. I stepped out into our balcony today and thought that my small  garden has done pretty well this year. It is full of the succulents that I love and a few wildflowers along with some varieties of the common garden ivy. It is a source of great joy and inspiration for me. Here are a few photographs of my garden for you to enjoy!!

A combination of succulents and flowering plants…..

A combination of a few big planters with smaller ones works really well in a small space.

Red poppies in full bloom……

Common garden ivy with a combination of red poppies and wild flowers…..

I have a lot of succulents, different varieties of cacti in my small garden. They are such resilient plants, gives you great joy, are really easy to look after and simply awesome to look at.

Potted beauties…….

Growing your plants in a few brightly colored planters can make a huge difference…..

Stunning aren’t they???

Plants are a source of great inspiration……

Cacti can thrive well in harsh conditions. They require less care than other indoor houseplants…..

Ivy is another very easy to care for plant and does not require much care and attention.

The garden ivy looks really good in combination with other plants especially succulents….

The money plant is also a good addition to a low maintenance garden……

Using unused household items, like this blue tray is a great way of recycling and adding interest…..

The lovely succulents…..

An old unused chair, a few succulents and some spring onions……:)

Another amazing succulent…..

 

On days when I don’t feel very upbeat, am down and broody I just need to step out into the balcony…….my plants are an instant mood booster, they make me smile again. I hope you enjoyed visiting my small balcony garden. You can view more images on my pinterest page http://uk.pinterest.com/nchakravarty/