Winter Houseplants For Your Home

Houseplants are an excellent addition to any household, since they add warmth and charm to any living space. Beyond their decorative benefits, they also are scientifically proven to increase mental well-being and enhance quality of life. By incorporating houseplants into your decor, they can transform a gloomy area into a warm and inviting space.

Whether you are new to houseplants or a seasoned expert, houseplants can be tricky to take care of during the winter months. With reduced sunlight and dry air from indoor heating, winter is not a time when your plants will thrive. However, with the right care, they can certainly survive. Below are the best houseplants to enjoy during the winter months.

Birkin Philodendron: Birkin Philodendron is a unique plant with dark green and creamy white foliage. This houseplant is perfect for small spaces and thrives with limited light. Low maintenance and great for beginner plant owners. 

Snake Plant: Snake Plants are one of the easiest houseplants to grow. Their stiff leaves grow in a compact whorl, making a perfect plant for adding height. Snake Plants are an easy and adaptable plant that is well suited to a lower light area. 

Pothos: Pothos is a great houseplant choice for beginners. This low-maintenance plant thrives in low light, and their heart-shaped leaves offer a beautiful display. These plants are perfect for hanging baskets with their trailing leaves. 

Need help? Visit our Greenhouse at Studley’s for expert advice and everything you need to know about houseplants.

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A Little Summer TLC

As we reach the peak of summer, now is the perfect time to give your garden and flower containers a little TLC. A mid-summer refresh will not only keep your blooms vibrant but can also ensure your plants thrive throughout the rest of the season.

Here are some simple ways to get started on your mid-summer refresh and keep flower containers looking stunning:

1. Deadheading

Deadheading offers more than just a clean look for your plants – removing older blooms is an essential task to encourage new growth and ensure your containers stay looking fresh. This simple act helps your plants conserve energy, so they can focus on producing new buds.

2. Refresh Soil

If your containers have been sitting for a while, the soil may have lost crucial nutrients. Consider refreshing the top few inches with fresh potting soil for a mid-summer infusion!

3. Add New Plants

Swapping out some plants will add a fresh burst of color. Summer annuals, such as petunias, coneflowers, and Black-eyed Susans, are perfect for adding vibrancy to your containers. Check out the links to these plants below!

4. Watering Habits

Watering is key during the heat of summer. Confirm your containers are getting enough water, but avoid over-watering. You  can perform a simple finger test to check in on your plants. Stick your finger into the soil up to your first or second knuckle. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water. If it feels moist, wait before watering again.

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Beat The Summer Heat!

As the hottest days of the year roll in, your garden may need a little extra care to stay vibrant and productive. Whether you’re growing flowers, vegetables, or just enjoying a beautiful outdoor retreat, these five quick tips will help keep your garden healthy, hydrated, and happy all summer long.

1. Water Consistently

Timing is everything when it comes to watering. Aim to water early in the morning before the sun is high and evaporation kicks in. If mornings aren’t possible, early evening works too. The key is consistency: water deeply and regularly to keep roots strong and soil moist.

 2. Encourage Blooms

Keep those flowers coming! Regularly deadhead spent flowers to promote new growth. For an extra boost, feed your container plants weekly and apply fertilizer to garden beds around mid-summer to support ongoing bloom cycles and plant health.

3. Mulch & Maintain

A fresh layer of mulch does wonders in summer heat. It helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and gives your garden a tidy look. Pull weeds during your regular watering routine or while strolling the garden in the evening to make upkeep feel effortless.

4. Create Shade

Shield heat-sensitive plants by introducing natural shade. Use trellises, tall plants, sun-loving vines, or small trees to reduce harsh sun exposure and keep your garden cooler. Not only does this protect your plants, but shade can make your entire yard more inviting.

5. Mow Less, But Higher

Resist the urge to cut your lawn too short in the summer. Raise your mower blades to 3 inches or more. Taller grass grows deeper roots, retains moisture better, and withstands the summer heat more effectively.

With a few small adjustments, your garden can flourish through even the hottest months. Keep these tips in mind as you care for your plants this season and enjoy a full, low-stress outdoor space all summer long.

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Celebrate National Pollinator Week With Us!

At Studley Flower Garden, we believe gardening is more than just beautiful, it’s meaningful. That’s why we’re proud to celebrate National Pollinator Week (June 17–23), a time dedicated to recognizing the vital role that bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators play in our daily lives.

Pollinators are essential to the health of our planet. They help 75% of flowering plants reproduce and are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. From vibrant flowers to fruits, vegetables, and nuts, pollinators make it all possible. Sadly, these essential creatures are facing growing threats. 

In honor of National Pollinator Week, below are a few ways your garden can be part of the solution.

Why Pollinators Need Our Help

Pollinators need healthy habitats with flowers, nesting spots, and clean water – but urban growth and environmental changes are shrinking these safe spaces.

Incorporating small steps, such as planting native flowers, using organic fertilizers, and avoiding pesticides, can create welcoming environments for pollinators in our yards, containers, and community spaces.

How To Make Your Garden Pollinator Friendly

At Studley’s, we’re here to help you plant with purpose. Here are a few simple ways to support pollinators this season:

Choose Pollinator Friendly Plants: We offer a variety of low-maintanence and pollinator friendly plants that are vibrant and will brighten up any garden space. 

Some Of Studley’s Favorite Pollinator Friendly Plants

• Mohican Viburnum
• Lucerne Blue-Eyed Grass
• Magnus Coneflower
• Grape Gumball Beebalm
• Vanilla Spice Summersweet

Go Pesticide Free: Many pesticides are toxic to pollinators. Choose organic or natural alternatives, and always read labels carefully. Insecticidal soaps and neem oil are great options for common garden pests.

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The Perfect Summer Host Gift

Summer is full of reasons to gather, sunny backyard BBQs, weekend dinner parties and casual porch hangs. If you’ve been invited to celebrate the season with friends or family, bring a hostess gift to make a real impression. A thoughtful gift goes a long way and is always a welcome surprise. Our fresh flower bouquets are the perfect way to show your appreciation.

Ancient Origins

In Classical Antiquity, the concept of xenia in Ancient Greece laid the foundation for modern-day hospitality traditions. Guests were expected to bring gifts as tokens of respect, and hosts reciprocated with generosity. This mutual exchange reinforced social bonds and obligations. Although the tradition of the host or hostess gift has evolved in many ways over time, we prefer to stick to our roots!

Fresh Flowers

As a universally recognized sign of gratitude and goodwill, fresh flowers are an excellent host gift choice because they immediately brighten up a room and bring elegance to a space. A bouquet in a vase provides a short-term burst of seasonal beauty and their temporary nature is a low-pressure option in a world of possibilities. Even a modest bouquet can feel luxurious for the receiver, and the arrangement can also be tailored to suit an event or feature seasonal blooms.

At Studley’s Flower Gardens, we make it easy to show your gratitude with fresh flowers. Our ready-to-go floral arrangements are designed with seasonal blooms in bright, cheerful colors, perfect for any summertime celebration. Want something more personal? Let us design a custom bouquet that fits your host’s style.

For our latest fresh flower bouquets, shop our Summer Bouquets!

Houseplants

Unlike cut flowers, a houseplant is enduring and provides a long-term reminder of the gift-giver’s appreciation. From a health perspective, houseplants help purify the air and add a sense of calm to indoor environments. The variety selected can serve as a conversation starter and complement the host’s personality or style. Finally, plants are a sustainable and environmentally conscious gift, continuing to give back to the home and environment as long as it continues to thrive.

Whether you are looking for a stunning single plant or a robust planter, Studley’s offers a wide selection of plant gifts.

Traveling to your destination? We also offer shipping for our houseplants! Our houseplants ship every Tuesday so you can coordinate with your arrival or even send as thank you following your visit. Choose from planters like the Dish Garden Selection or the Succulent Selection, or stunning plants like the Purple Oxalis or Orange Scented Geranium.

Shop the wide selection of houseplants lovingly grown in our greenhouses year-round. 

Memorable Gifts are Always the Right Size

Bringing flowers or a plant to your next summer gathering is a simple, meaningful gesture that’s always appreciated. Whether it’s a small thank-you for a grilled meal or a thoughtful token for a weekend stay, we’re here to help you make it memorable.

Visit Studley Flower Gardens in Rochester or peruse our online offerings to find the perfect host or hostess gift for every summer occasion. Thoughtful, fresh, and always beautiful!  

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We know that being outside in nature makes us feel good, but did you know that bringing plants into our home and workplace environments can make us healthier and happier?

The Problem: Indoor Air Pollutants

Since the beginning of time, humans have depended upon a relationship with plants for our survival. Our lifestyle today has us spending less and less time outdoors. In fact, EPA studies show we spend about 90% of our time indoors, where concentrations of pollutants can be 2 -5 times higher than outdoors.

While our homes and buildings may be more energy efficient than they used to be, the EPA also finds most buildings lack adequate ventilation to properly filter for true indoor air quality. You might be surprised to learn that the places where we spend so much of our time are full of common things that produce harmful toxins.

Indoor air pollutants come from a long list of everyday culprits such as, building materials, HVAC sources, office equipment, glues, inks, cleaning and personal care products, furniture, and flooring to name a few. The chemicals from synthetic materials in the production or use of these items emit harmful toxins that can remain trapped in our tightly sealed homes and workspaces for us to ingest as we simply breathe.

The Solution: Naturally Air Purifying Plants

In 1989, when NASA researchers set out to find the best ways to clean the air in space stations, they took these factors into consideration. They determined, “The answer to these problems is obvious. If man is to move into closed environments, on Earth or in space, he must take along nature’s life support system.”

The results of the NASA Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement identified several air purifying plants that naturally remove toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene – chemicals from indoor air pollutants that have been linked to health effects. The research recommends having at least one the air purifying plants per 100 square feet of home or office space, to improve indoor air quality.

Plant Something Healthy

Studley Flower Gardens is a proud sponsor of Plant Something NH, a program of the NH Plant Grower’s Association dedicated to educating the public about the health, environmental and economic benefits of plants. With a little help from our Plant Something NH friends, we share these NASA recommended air purifying plant options

Plants Make People Happy

While the NASA study focuses on air purification, many other studies have shown that the effect of nature in our home and work space serves to stimulate our well-being in many other ways. If Instagram trends are any indication, plants simply make people happy and you should know there are many good reasons to bring plants indoors other than to make your home look like a jungle!

Plants have always been a means of cost-effective décor and they never go out of style, but for many, they represent roots where permanence is not yet possible, landscape where a garden is not possible, and the most heart-warming of all – a family of sorts, to care for and come home to. No matter what the science says about talking to your plants, we like to think they enjoy it!

The internet is filled with data on how nature and plants contribute to improved: physical and mental health, anxiety, community cohesion, compassion for one another, concentration, creativity, energy, healing, happiness, learning comprehension, memory, performance, relationships, and stress. In fact, plants make people so happy it is difficult to think of a reason why we would not all surround ourselves with plants, but they may not always make pets happy. With pet safety in mind, check out our picks for the Top Pet-Friendly Plants.

Simply introducing something from nature into your life might improve your circumstances. Discover more research sources and learn more about The Health and Well Being Benefits of Plants from the Ellison Chair in International Floriculture or check out Forest Bathing, a book by Dr. Qing Li, at your local library and see our article on How To Grow & Enrich Community.

My Pro Tip:

Create your own sanctuary, a natural and soothing place of refuge from the stresses of everyday life. Introduce several plants to every room in your home and work spaces, then note how your mood improves when in their presence. Using a combination of plants in varying heights, textures and habits, it’s easy to turn living areas into an oasis of good health and happiness.

Many people worry about properly caring for plants and the secret is in choosing plants that are well potted and appropriate for your lighting, space and lifestyle needs. Prayer Plant is just one of many options for new growers that we recommend and you’ll find Jen Reviews has a comprehensive prayer plant care guide available online. Visit us and let our pros offer more suggestions to help you make the right selections for your environment, choose your containers and even pot your plants. We’re here to help you find joy in plant parenthood – nurturing and watching your plants grow!

See you at Studley’s!

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This is a common question at Studley’s and this is a perfect time of year to offer our expert tips on how to actually get your Christmas Cactus bloom to occur at Christmas time!

First a little education and plant triage…

There are actually three different Holiday Cacti: the Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus and Easter Cactus.

These are different species and their name is associated with the timing of their blooms. So, if you wonder every year while yours blooms early or late, the actual variety you have might be a factor.

To identify which holiday cactus you have, let’s examine the characteristics and growth habits of each…

The Easter Cactus is a member of the Rhipsaldipopsis family. Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti are members of the Schlumbergera family and are very similar in appearance, which can make identifying your variety a little tricky.

A closer look at the segments (branches) of your holiday cactus should answer any questions:

Credit: Iowa State University, University Extension

Common Name: Easter Cactus
Botanical Name: Rhipsaldipopsis gaerterni
Segments: Scalloped edge and the big clue to this variety is the two bristle like hairs on the tips.
Blooms: March – May
Flowers: white, pink, orange, red, symmetrical, (flatter and “star like” appearance) with shallow yellow anthem.

Common Name: Thanksgiving Cactus
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera truncata
Blooms: November
Segments: 2-4 pointy teeth along the edges
Flowers: white, red, lavender or salmon and asymmetrical with a bend at the ovary that is different from the Christmas variety, yellow anthem is longer than the Easter variety.

Common Name: Christmas Cactus
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera x buckleyi
Blooms: December – March
Segments: Also have teeth, but are more rounded the pointy teeth of the Thanksgiving variety.
Flowers: red, pink, white, yellow and also asymmetrical, but longer with no bend at the ovary as with the Thanksgiving variety.

How To Make Your Christmas Cactus Bloom For The Holidays

Now that the days are getting longer and the temps are cooling, the conditions are excellent for forcing Christmas Cactus bloom for the holidays. October is usually when Christmas Cacti will naturally begin forming buds, and to ensure the timing of your blooms, follow these simple steps:

Since all of the Holiday Cacti originate from the tropics, their requirements are a little different from the desert cactus. Christmas Cacti require even moisture, and if they become too dry, the buds will fall off.

1. A good rule of thumb is to water well when the top inch of the soil dries out.

Christmas Cacti also require a simulated “dormant period” in order to bloom.

2. Beginning in mid-October, make sure your Christmas Cactus gets about 12 hours of darkness per day for the following 6-8 weeks, or until buds form. Placing it in a room that you do not have a light on at night is the easiest way to do this, as the requirement for darkness corresponds to the naturally shortening days and lengthening nights of the changing seasons.

Christmas cacti do not tolerate extreme temperatures, so during the summer avoid prolonged direct sun, and during this time of year, avoid overly cold or drafty locations.

3. After the 6-8 weeks of daily, 12 hour darkness cycles described in Step 2 and once buds form, keep your Christmas Cactus in a light location allowing natural darkness cycles to occur at room temperatures between 55-75°F.

4. Pat yourself on the back and watch for a beautiful show of tropical color during the holidays!

My Pro Tip:

After your you enjoy your Christmas Cactus bloom, prune a few sections of each segment with your thumb to encourage it to branch out. If you lay the pinched segments in a empty pot of dirt, and keep it moderately moist, they will eventually take root and you can add to your collection or share with a friend!

If you find your Christmas Cactus frequently dries out or wilts, it may be time to move it to a larger container. Ideally, re-pot using a succulent mix, or make your own with a 2:1 mix of potting soil and sand or vermiculite.

If you like the Christmas Cactus, you may also like the Christmas Holly Goldfish Plant – both are available in our Greenhouse.

Order now and try the tips found in this blog for holiday Christmas Cactus bloom!

See you at Studley’s!

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