How To Care For Chinese Money Plant

The Chinese Money Plant has become a favorite on everyone’s wish list for houseplants, and there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation: they are just THAT amazing. These plants make a perfect window display, are fast growing, and are easy to propagate and gift to your friend. They have beautiful coin-shaped leaves and are very easy to take care of, so let’s dive in.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Pilea Peperomioides originated from the Yunnan province of China; they were cut by a missionary family and brought home to their family and friends, hence why they also have the nickname “missionary plant.” 

WHERE TO GROW
These plants really enjoy being by a window that receives a lot of indirect sunlight. They are also fast growers, so you might find that you will need to rotate your plants at least once a week. Like many plants, they grow towards the sun, so rotating them will help to even out the growth. 
(Tip- you may want to dust your plant’s leaves from time to time. This helps with maximum absorption of sunlight by the leaves.)

SOIL

The Chinese Money Plant does well in an indoor potting soil mix, with a pot that has a drainage hole. 

WATERING
Depending on your conditions, you may need to water weekly, making sure that the soil dries between waterings. A sure sign that your plant needs more water is a drooping of the leaves. 

PROPOGATING
Lightly pull the “baby” pilea that is growing around your “mother” pilea. Plant in moist soil, and keep the soil moist to encourage root attachment. Once it is established, continue care as mentioned above.

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to visit with us, come by any of our five North Carolina locations. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other recipes and blog posts, or are needing more inspiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

Our Top 8 Indoor Plants And How To Care For Them

If you’re looking for easy ways to add some beauty in your home that will not only make it more beautiful, but also reduce stress and filter your air, then we HIGHLY recommend you come to Garden Valley Farmers Market and pick out some of the many indoor plants that we carry. Not only do they provide a warm, personal touch to your home’s decor, but they also remove toxins in the air and release fresh oxygen for you to breathe and enjoy.

Here are our top eight indoor houseplants that we recommend you add to your home
and how to care for them:

Bird Of Paradise
Light. Direct sun through a window or door
Soil. Well draining potting soil
Water. Water when surface of soil starts to look dry

Rubber Plant
Light. Bright, indirect light (can accomplish this by shielding the plant with a sheer curtain)
Soil. Well-draining and well-aerated soil
Water. In growing season (summer), keep the plant moist (Droopy leaves means that it needs more water)
You can also learn more about them here.

Succulents
Light. Succulents LOVE sunlight and need AT LEAST half a day of sunlight, depending on the variety you choose
Soil. Repot in a succulent soil
Water. Water heavily, but not often, making sure the soil is dry between waterings

Hoya Tricolor
Light. Bright, indirect light. Hoya also loves humidity, so it’s the perfect plant for a bathroom that has natural light
Soil. Well-draining soil with a perlite or pumice mix
Water. Less is better. Hoya hates overwatering, so make sure the soil dries out between waterings

Split Leaf Philadendron (Monstera Deliciosa)
Light. Bright, indirect light
Soil. Peat based potting mix
Water. Water regularly, allowing soil to dry slightly between waterings. You can also mist the leaves to create humidity, which mimics its natural habitat)

ZZ Plant
Light. These like indirect, moderate light, but can also survive in low light conditions (perfect for offices)
Soil. Not picky
Water. Only water when the soil has dried out (yellow leaves means too much water)

Pothos
Light. Do well in either bright/indirect light, as well as low light
Soil. Any potting mix is fine
Watering. Allow soil to dry out before watering again

Snake Plant
Light. Grows faster in bright light, but also does well in low light conditions
Soil. Well-draining cactus soil will do fine
Watering. Prevent overwatering by allowing soil to dry out

CAUTION: Even though these plants can be so beautiful, they can also be harmful and toxic to your pets and children. Please remember to research and take this into consideration when choosing your indoor plants.

And as a general rule of thumb, if you are going to repot your plants, remember to choose pots that have drainage holes in them (or drill your own) in order to prevent root rot. It’s also important to choose a pot that’s only 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the nursery pot. This will allow room for growth but will not engulf the plant.

Thank you so much for joining us here. For more information on what Garden Valley Farmers Market is about, you can visit us here. If you’re wanting to follow along with us, you can do so either on our Facebook or our Instagram. And if you’re wanting to check out our other blog posts or needing more inpsiration, follow us on our Pinterest. We’d love to have you join us in our journey of planting better, eating better, and living better.
Much love,
Your Garden Valley Farmers Market Team

How To Care For Geraniums

Geraniums are a beautifully colorful and fragrant option that give you all the spring and summer gardening vibes. They have over 250 species, are low maintenance (once you learn their needs), and make a great addition to your garden.

When healthy, Geraniums are full of lush blooms and filled with green leaves, so they make a great addition to cover the base of shrubs. They are also beautiful in window boxes, in a hanging basket, in single pots on their own, or in an eclectic mixed container. And not only do these beauties smell amazing, but they also help to repel insects… mosquitoes in particular. Geraniums can be grown outside and indoors, making this plant very versatile.

DID YOU KNOW…
…that when most people think of geraniums, they are actually thinking of what is called a Pelargonium, and Pelargoniums are not a “true” Geranium. Because in 1789, Geraniums were separated into two genus species, one of them being Pelargonium. But for reference, we will refer to Pelargoniums as Geraniums for this article… because it’s easier to say and write.

How To Care for Geraniums

Geraniums have very specific needs, but once they are learned, you’ll see that these beautiful plants will thrive and be the next show stopper piece for your garden, front porch, or back deck.

Where to Grow.
+ Indoors. Geraniums need a minimum of moderate light indoors, but more blooms will be yielded if they receive heavy light. Also, if you’re more interested on growing Geraniums indoors, check out this blog post over on Balcony Garden Web.
+ Outdoors. If growing outside, place your Geranium in a spot that receives FULL SUN (minimum of 6 hours of sunlight). If you are in a climate where the temperature reaches above 90 degrees, you also might want to consider planting your Geranium where it receives morning sun, but afternoon shade.

When and How to Plant.
Plant your geraniums only after the threat of a frost has passed. You can check your individual tags on the specific type of geranium you have purchased, but generally, you will want to space them 8”-12” apart.

Soil.
Geraniums love a slightly acidic, well-draining soil. If planting in a pot, you can easily accomplish this by adding moss to your soil, and covering the base of your pot with rocks to allow for better drainage.

Watering.
Geraniums can be prone to root-rot, so you should only need to water them weekly. Allow the soil to dry out completely, and then give it a good soaking.
How to Water: Soak your geranium at the level of the soil of the plant thoroughly. Be careful to avoid getting the leaves and blooms wet. This can cause rotting/disease of the leaves and burning of the blooms (when in the sun).

Pruning.
You can prune Geraniums by pinching off the end of the stem. This allows for two new growths to happen in its place, and will also produce a more “full” looking bush.

So where can you even get these gorgeous plants? We have TONS of options available for purchase at each of our locations at Garden Valley Farmers Market. We are local to the following locations in North Carolina: Greensboro, Haw River, Graham, Elon, and Burlington. So stop by today, and see just how beautiful these gorgeous plants really are.

Comment below and tell us what your favorite colors are!