ALBERTS PLANT PARADISE

The Fiddle Leaf Fig ( Ficus lyrata ) is a stunning and popular houseplant, known for its large, glossy, fiddle-shaped leaves. Native to the rainforests of Western and Central Africa, this tropical beauty can bring a touch of the jungle into your home—if you know how to care for it properly! Ideal Environment for Your Fiddle Leaf Fig Fiddle Leaf Figs thrive in warm, humid environments, ideally between 60–85°F . They love bright, indirect light , so placing them near a south- or west-facing window  is best. However, avoid long hours of direct sunlight, as this can scorch the leaves. Watering and Soil Needs Proper watering is crucial for a healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig. Here’s how to do it right: Keep the soil moist but not soggy , allowing it to dry slightly between waterings. Occasionally water the plant in the shower  to mimic natural rainfall and clean the leaves. Use chunky, airy soil , incorporating orchid bark, perlite, and charcoal for drainage. Fertilizing for Growth During the spring and summer growing seasons , fertilize every two weeks  to keep your plant thriving. But beware—over-fertilizing can lead to root burn, leaf damage, and stunted growth. Consistency is key! Essential Maintenance Tips Repot every two years  or when roots start crawling out of the pot’s bottom. Shake the plant occasionally  to strengthen the stem, simulating natural movement from wind or birds landing on its branches. Wipe down the leaves  to remove dust and allow proper gas exchange. Use a pot with drainage holes  to prevent root rot. Aerate compact soil  with chopsticks to allow moisture to distribute evenly. Propagation: Growing a New Plant If you want to grow a new Fiddle Leaf Fig, propagation  is best done in the summer: Cut a fresh stem with at least one or two leaves. Place the cutting in a glass of distilled water  in a warm, sunny spot. Change the water when it starts to discolor. In about a month, roots should begin to form ! Toxicity Warning While beautiful, the Fiddle Leaf Fig is toxic  to humans and pets. Its sap contains microscopic calcium oxalate crystals , which can cause mouth and stomach irritation if ingested. Skin contact may also lead to irritation or blistering. If a pet ingests any part of the plant, contact your veterinarian immediately. A Personal Tip for Success Many Fiddle Leaf Fig owners notice their plant thrives in high humidity . I keep mine in the bathroom , watering it in the shower every two weeks. The result? Faster-growing new leaves! During winter, misting the leaves can help counteract dry indoor heating. Final Notes With the right care, your Fiddle Leaf Fig can grow into a towering indoor tree, purifying the air and adding a lush, tropical vibe to your space. Give it love, light, and a bit of humidity, and it will reward you with stunning foliage!

Orval Orval, my very first Prayer Plant, holds a special place in my heart. I started this journey with him as a small clipping gifted by my aunt. He made the trip home with me in a simple plastic baggie, marking the beginning of our plant adventure. For the first few months, Orval lived in a tiny shot glass by a sunny window, patiently growing roots. To speed up the process, I added a touch of root growth powder to the water. Once his roots were strong enough, I transplanted him into a small ceramic pot. Since then, Orval has thrived, moving up two pot sizes and now living happily on a dresser near an east-facing window. The spot provides gentle early morning sun and filtered light—his favorite conditions. When he gets plenty of sunlight, he even rewards me with delicate blooms, a sign of his happiness and health. Natural environment Maranta plants are native to the Tropical forests in Central and South America where they spread and grow all over the forest floor, looking for warm, moist, and humid conditions. The plants like to spread over the forest floor instead of climb. The variety ‘Rabbit Tracks’ are natively grown in the Tropical Brazilian forests. A hanging pot or open space is best for these plants since they have the tendency to travel/ spread. This plant does not climb, I would not recommend a moss pole or propping the plant up to climb. These plants can handle some extreme heat as long as it has the humidity levels to match. The hottest it gets in Brazil is 95 to 99 Fahrenheit (35/37 Celsius) and the lowest temperature is around 75 to 79 Fahrenheit (25/26 Celsius). The Average temperature that these plants tend to live in is around 68 to 77 Fahrenheit (20/25 Celsius) in the jungle’s biome. Living at the bottom floor of the tropical forests doesn’t give these plants constant sunlight like other plants. On average the tropical forest floors of Brazil receive around 2% to 3% sunlight. These plants have adapted to the canopy floor, so they enjoy the humidity of misting them every so often. Another great way to mimic a forests floor is by placing plants near each other to create a humid environment. Care for plant Light Indirect light Prayer plants prefer to receive indirect sunlight that is filtered by a window or a large plant if outdoors. These plants thrive in shady and warm locations that get the occasional light and won’t survive if they are not covered by something protecting them from direct sunlight or if too close to a grow light. The sun is far away from the canopy floor so it’s best to mimic that light. Watering Moist but not water logged This plant likes their soil moist but not sopping wet. It’s best to water when the top of the soil becomes dry. Underwatering and letting the plant dry out completely will cause the plant to wilt, leaves with dry out and curl. If the leaves tips are turning yellow and fall off the plant is being overwatered which can lead to root rot. This plant is recommended to water every 1 to 2 weeks, that way the soil can dry out halfway between waterings. Filtered water is best for these plants, or even leaving water out for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours before watering. Soil and Fertilization. Potting soil and perilite The right soil is one of the most important things you can give a plant. These plants can thrive in regular potting soil if it has a well-draining and airy property like peat moss or perlite. The pot needs to have drainage holes to keep water from collecting at the bottom causing root rot. If the pot doesn’t have drainage pots. A layer of rocks can be placed at the bottom of the pot to keep the soil from holding water. Watering a plant in a hole-less pot is tricky. Water in smaller amounts and check the soils moisture by sticking a finger as far down as it can in the side of the pot to feel how wet the soil is. A good trick is to see what sticks to your finger to see where the soil starts to dry. A moisture meter is also a great way to check soil moisture level. Environment Tropical Forest floor Because these plants prefer to spread across the forest floor, they work well in hanging pots or pots placed in a spot where these plants can spread out. The forest floor is humid with low levels of light, so being by a window that doesn’t receive direct light or minimal hours of direct light is best. Being placed by other plants or by a humidifier can help create a humid environment for this plant. A trick I have heard of and use on other plants is a pebble tray filled with just enough water that it doesn’t go above the rocks.

Starting a plant collection often begins unexpectedly—just a single plant, a moment of curiosity, or an impulse buy. For me, it was a small succulent, and that one little plant opened a world of fascination. Plants have always captivated me—their incredible variety, their individuality. Each one tells its own story, whether it’s the way its leaves shimmer in the breeze or how it graces a space with vibrant greens, deep earthy hues, or the occasional pop of orange or red. There’s something magical about the way plants transform a space, breathing life into every corner they inhabit. The tranquility they offer, the clean air they gift us in exchange for care—it’s a connection unlike any other. They bring the crisp, refreshing feeling of the outdoors right into our homes, filling them with calm and vibrancy. My journey began modestly, but what started as a single succulent has grown into a passion. Over the years, I’ve collected plants in countless ways—cuttings from my travels, thoughtful gifts from friends and family, or irresistible finds at local stores. My collection has flourished, evolving into a full-blown obsession. Now, every sunlit nook in my home is alive with greenery, with shelves and stands overflowing with new plant friends. This blog is my way of sharing that joy and creating a community for plant lovers of all kinds—whether you’re just beginning your journey or you’ve been surrounded by plants for years. Here, we can learn, share tips, and celebrate the beauty and wonder of plants together. I’m thrilled to embark on this journey with you and can’t wait to see where it takes us. Let’s grow together! 🌿

Though its called a "Mini Monstera", this plants only relation to monsteras is that they both belong to the "Aroids" family. Its actually not a monstera at all. Similar to Monsteras the leaves fan and out and have gaps in them making fenestrate leaves. Fenestrate means to have small preferations like little windows. This is something the plant has done to aquire as much sunlight as possible while also cutting back on the mass of leaf cells the plant needs to support. Baby Mo I found Baby Mo at a Lowes last fall in Nampa. It was on sale and was drying up due to underwatering. Underwatered plants are my favorite to buy on clearnace because its typiucally easy to revive the plant. I soaked the little wilted guy in a bowl of room temperature water and waited as the leaves revived and the roots could move around and breath after being trapped in dry tough dirt. I removed the yellow leaves with a clean pair of scissors then swapped the dirt out for a mixture of peat moss, soil, bark and charcoal but kept it in the original plastic pot and placed the easily drainable plastic pot inside a decorative pot. This way the plant can be bottom watered by taking the plant out of the decorative pot and soaking it in a large container of water. After a few weeks new leaf growth was present and the plant began to thrive. I have since then moved the plant into a bigger ceramic pot with drainage and a moss pole for the plant to grow on. When a plant grows on a moss pole, the plant become taller and feel that they are growing closer to sunlight above the rainforest canopy. This makes the plant progress into maturity which allows plants to grow larger leaves, along with helping to develop more windows in the plants leaves. Baby Mo's placed on a plant stand next to my monstera deliciosa under grow lights. The moss pole is sprayed down every three days so that the arial roots will climb and provide the plant with a way to grow more mature . Baby Mo did a lot better when it was in a window sill, but with limited window space, the grow light will do. Origin This plant is grown native to Southern Thailand to Malaysia. The environment these plants are from is tropical. The average day is about 84.2 Fahrenheit ( 29 Celsius). The hottest it gets is 95.9 Fahrenheit (35.5 Celsius) and the coldest at night is 69.3 Fahrenheit (20.7 Celsius). These are the extreme temperature the plant can tolerate during the influx of seasons. They have sunlight for an average of 9 to 11 hours a day depending on the season. The climate is around 70% to 80% humidity and a average of 125 days of rain. The plants grow in the humid underneath of the jungle canopy that get filtered sunlight. The mini monstera grows up trees and other plants towards the sunlight. Care for plant Light Bright filtered light. This plant does best in an environment that mimics a jungle canopy. These plants grow up trees towards the light. They mainly live in shaded areas that are touched by light. These plants do well indoors placed in filtered light, especially in west-facing windows. Mini Monsteras do not do well outdoors in direct sunlight, due to leaves scorching from the suns rays. If placed outdoors keep it in a bright shaded area that gets brief light. Watering Damp but not soaked Water when the pot is mostly dry, around 75%. A good way to test is by sticking your ringer in the pots and if you can feel it's moist or the soil sticks to your finger. If the soil doesn’t stick around the bed of your nail and doesn’t appear moist, it’s time to water. A great way to do this is by splashing water on the top of the plant and spraying down the leaves. Then bottom watering it for 10-15 minutes. This plant lives in the jungle so it doesn’t hurt to give it rain showers. A moisture meter is another great way if you aren’t sure if the soil is dry or not. Soil and Fertilization Soil, Orchid Bark, Perlite and Peat Moss This type of plant does well in mixtures that contain a mix of potting soil, orchid bark, perlite, and peat moss. The recipe I use is 1 & 1/2 cups of soil, 1 cup of orchid bark, 1/2 cup of perlite, and 1 cup of peat moss. The measurements don’t need to be exact, this is just a rough estimate of what I use. I fertilize this plant with a tropical plant liquid fertilizer every 5-7 weeks. I should be every 4 weeks in the spring and summer seasons. Environment Jungle Canopy Moderate humidity. If you are not living in an area that has a humid environment, like Idaho, there are ways to mimic that atmosphere for the plant. Plants that are near each other produce their own humid environment. If the plant is not in a location that is surrounded by other plants then opt for a humidifier. The humidifier doesn’t need to run all of the time, just enough to allow the plant's atmosphere to have a cool humid environment. Tips and Tricks This is an aerial plant, meaning it has roots that form on the nodes of the plant. The roots will grow towards the moisture just like the roots would in their natural environment to water the plant. When an aerial root is placed in a container of water the root will continue to grow into the water source and tends to grow a new leaf. Other An often cause of death for this plant is moisture. Diagnosed by yellowing leaves sometimes a smell is present. If the plant has root rot, remove it from any contaminated soil that bacterial could be rowing in. Ring is a mixture of 1/4 cup water and 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide for 10 -15 minutes then replant in clean soil with adequate drainage.