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Houseplants rely on fertilizer to acquire the nutrients they need to thrive. During the growing season, April - October, it is recommended that you fertilize your houseplants every two weeks... but what should you do in winter? From November - March, many houseplants go dormant and do not require regular fertilizing. Sticking to your same two-week schedule can cause the fertilizer to build up and burn the roots of the plants. Many people steer away from fertilizing in the winter, but there are a few situations when continuing to fertilize can significantly benefit your plant. IS YOUR PLANT STILL GROWING? Many common houseplants including various monstera, pothos, philodendron, and calathea do not go completely dormant in the winter. How can you tell? It's simple--if your plant is still putting out new leaves the plant is not dormant and therefore could benefit from continued fertilizing. IF YOU ARE USING GROW LIGHTS Many people utilize grow lights to give their houseplants a little boost or offset low-light conditions in their homes. If your plant is under a grow light it will need to be fertilized as the artificial light keeps it actively growing. WANT TO GIVE YOUR HOUSEPLANTS AN EXTRA BOOST? Continue to support dormant plants by using SUPERthrive throughout the winter. SUPERthrive is a vitamin solution, not a fertilizer (and should not be used in place of fertilizer). This nutrient supplement contains over 50 vitamins and will give your plants an added boost through the tough winter months. It is a great addition to your plant care routine year-round. It can help revive stressed plants, aid plants damaged by frost or heat, and support plants after repotting. HOW ELSE CAN I SUPPORT MY PLANTS IN WINTER? HUMIDITY Make sure they have adequate humidity. Most houseplants are native to tropical regions and therefore don't like when the air gets too dry. Increase humidity by adding a humidifier to a room, using a pebble tray, or grouping plants together. Adequate humidity (at least 40-60% in the home) can help plants stay healthy and keep dreaded pests at bay (spider mites especially love dry conditions). WIPE DOWN LEAVES Show your plants some TLC every few weeks by wiping down their leaves or giving them a shower. Wiping down the leaves removes dust allowing for maximal light absorption and can help remove any unwanted pests (it's also a great time to look for signs of pests and check in on the overall health of your plant!). Keep plants at peak health by using insecticidal soap or neem oil. We love to recommend October Violet leaf polish and Elm Dirt Plant Perfection. Both are currently in stock at Painters for the 2024 season!

Valentine's Day is for plant lovers, and what better way to celebrate than with one of these romantic plants? Give yourself a special treat, or share the plant love with someone special in your life! All of these plants will be available at our Valentine's Day Weekend Sale! 1. HEART LEAF FERN, Hemionitis arifolia With dark green heart-shaped fronds this fern lives up to its name. These plants can be a bit high maintenance but do well in terrariums or under a cloche. If you can get the lighting and humidity right, you will be rewarded with an adorable plant full of love! Sun Exposure: low-light Soil Needs: fertile, moist, and humus rich Water: keep moist but not wet Humidity: high Fertilizer: fertilize monthly during the growing season (dilute fertilizer by 1/2) Care: difficult 2. HOYA KRIMSON QUEEN, Hoya carnosa 'Krimson Queen' Featuring white to pink variegation on the outside of the leaves, this plant's new growth often emerges bright pink, with the occasional leaf entirely white. An easy-care houseplant that looks stunning climbing up something or trailing out of a plant hanger. Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light Soil Needs: Well draining soil (ideally one amended with perlite or orchid bark) Water: Allow soil to dry out almost completely Humidity: Will grow more quickly in humidity over 60% but can tolerate less Fertilizer: Spray with orchid fertilizer for best results Care: Easy 3. ANTHURIUM PTERODACTYL, Anthurium clarinervium x 'Pterodactyl' With stunning heart-shaped leaves this plant is a great way to say I love you! The thick dark green leaves have delicate white veins - this plant is sure to catch everyone's eye. Sun Exposure: bright, indirect light Soil Needs: well draining soil rich in organic matter and amended with perlite/orchid bark Water: Allow the top 1 inch of soil to dry out before watering Humidity: Requires high humidity. We recommend using a humidifier or pebble tray Fertilizer: Fertilize regularly when actively growing Care: Medium 4. STRING OF HEARTS, Ceropegia woodii Also known as sweetheart vine, love will definitely be in the air with the beautiful trailing plant. With small heart shaped and lace pattern leaves, this and the variegated version pictured below are both very popular plants for Valentine’s Day. (Note, Painters' current availability is mostly smaller containers of these.) Sun Exposure: LOTS of bright, indirect light (near a southern facing window is ideal) Soil Needs: Well-drained cacti potting mixes amended with pumice or perlite Water: Allow to dry out completely (these plants also benefit from bottom watering) Humidity: Being a succulent, these plants do not require high humidity (40-50% is ideal) Fertilizer: Fertilize regularly when actively growing with succulent food Care: Medium 5. HOMALOMENA PURPLE SWORD, Apoballis acuminatissima 'Lavallaei' A stunning harder-to-find plant that has beautiful green leaves with large silver streaking and purple undersides. This plant looks like a work of art and adds both color, dimension, and texture to a space. Plus the dark purple undersides of the leaves feel very royal! Sun Exposure: bright, indirect light Soil Needs: A well draining soil mix that retains moisture Water: Consistently moist Humidity: Would benefit from a pebble tray or humidifier Fertilizer: Use an all-purpose liquid fertilizer diluted to half its recommended strength when actively growing Care: Medium 6. STRING OF PEARLS, Senecio rowleyanus Skip the jewelry and get your loved one the pearls they've been dreaming about! These plants thrive in bright sun, but be careful not to let them get sunburnt! In the right conditions these succulents bloom every winter, producing abundant puffy white flowers with a faint cinnamon scent. Sun Exposure: LOTS of bright, indirect light (near a southern facing window is ideal) Soil Needs: Well-drained cacti potting mixes amended with pumice or perlite Water: Allow to dry out completely (observe the pearls - if wrinkling/shrinking, they're thirsty, but they can also swell and rupture if overwatered!) Humidity: Being a succulent, these plants do not require high humidity (40-50% is ideal) Fertilizer: Fertilize regularly when actively growing with succulent food Care: Medium 7. HEART-LEAF PHILODENDRON, Philodendron hederaceum The Heartleaf Philodendron, also known as the sweetheart plant, is well known for its beautiful heart-shaped glossy green leaves! With the association with romance, it’s a great Valentine’s Day gift for your loved one! The lemon lime variety of this plant also features the heart shaped leaves and will bring a bright pop of color to any indoor space. Sun Exposure: Bright-medium, indirect light to part shade Soil Needs: Well draining Water: Water when the top 1-2" is dry Humidity: Normal household humidity will suffice Fertilizer: Fertilize 1-2 times a month during the spring/summer or when actively growing Care: Easy 8. CYCLAMEN, Cyclamen persicum Said to represent unconditional love, this beauty does double duty - not only are its leaves heart-shaped, but its rounded petals bring hearts to mind as well. As a houseplant, cyclamen grow to be about eight inches tall, are easy to care for, and bloom for weeks. When they start to drop leaves in warmer months, don't panic - they go through a dormant period in the heat of the summer but will return with the fall! Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light Soil Needs: Well draining soil that is loamy and moist Water: When actively growing/flowering, water when the top 1" is dry (bottom watering is recommended as getting water on the leaves can easily cause rot) Humidity: High humidity is crucial, use a pebble tray or humidifier, especially in winter Fertilizer: Feed with a diluted liquid low-nitrogen fertilizer every couple of weeks while in full leaf Care: Medium 9. BIRD OF PARADISE, Strelitzia reginae Birds of paradise are large, relatively easy to grow plants that lend a bold tropical flair to any indoor space. With proper care, a bird of paradise can grow to over six feet tall indoors, and if given the right conditions can produce beautiful, ornate flowers. Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light to full sun (though be sure to acclimate it slowly to prevent leaf burn) Soil Needs: A rich, well-draining soil that still retains some moisture Water: Keep the soil moist in spring and summer during the growing season, but allow the soil to dry between waterings in the dormant fall and winter months. Humidity: Typical household humidity is sufficient Fertilizer: Use an all-purpose liquid fertilizer diluted to half its recommended strength during the spring/summer Care: Easy 10. RUBY RUBBER TREE, Ficus elastica 'Ruby' The variegated leaves on this easy to care for ficus have a stunning pink tint. New leaves emerge in a bright pink/ruby color making this plant a true show stopper. The eponymous pinkish tint to the leaves of the Ruby will be most prominently visible if the plant is kept in adequate light. Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light (requires more light than the burgundy variety) Soil Needs: Well draining soil Water: Water when the top 2" are dry Humidity: Typical household humidity Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month in the spring/summer Care: Easy 11. LACELEAF ANTHURIUM, Anthurium andraeanum With stunning red and pink blooms that last for 2-3 months at a time, anthurium are very easy plants to care for. They don’t require much attention to look beautiful. Place your Anthurium in a bright room but not in direct sunlight. Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light Soil Needs: well draining soil rich in organic matter and amended with perlite/orchid bark Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry Humidity: Flowering varieties can tolerate lower humidity than other anthuriums Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month with 1/4 strength fertilizer Care: Easy 12. SYNGONIUM RED HEART, Syngonium podophyllum ‘Red Heart' With distinctive pink heart-shaped leaves, this plant is the perfect alternative to roses this Valentine’s day. As the plant matures it will begin to vine, which also makes this an ideal plant for a hanging basket or trellising. Sun Exposure: Low to bright indirect light (more light will stimulate growth) Soil Needs: Soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter, but still has the ability to drain well Water: Allow to dry out partially between waterings Humidity: Average household humidity is sufficient Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month during the spring/summer with 1/2 strength fertilizer Care: Easy 13. PHILODENDRON FUZZY PETIOLE, Philodendron nangaritense With heart-shaped leaves that emerge with a beautiful iridescent sheen, this is one of our new favorite houseplants. Like most philodendron, it is easy to care for and does well indoors! Sun Exposure: bright, indirect light to part shade Soil Needs: Well draining Water: Water when the top 1-2" is dry Humidity: Normal household humidity will suffice Fertilizer: Fertilize 1-2 times a month during the spring/summer Care: Easy 14. MONSTERA DELICIOSA, Monstera deliciosa The gift that keeps on giving, Monstera deliciosa remain one of the most popular houseplants because they are easy to care for, do well in home environments, and there is nothing more exciting than watching a new leaf slowly emerge! Sun Exposure: right-medium, indirect light to part shade Soil Needs: Well draining Water: Water when the top 1-2" is dry Humidity: Normal household humidity will suffice Fertilizer: Fertilize 1-2 times a month during the spring/summer Care: Easy

Did you know fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs? This is because the cooler temperatures and warm soil stimulate root growth, plus less watering is needed compared to the hot summer months. Trees and shrubs planted in the fall will have time to settle in before the first frost and develop larger root systems which will benefit them next spring. (You can plant them with success in spring as well, but it's best to avoid the heat of the summer!) Luckily Sara from Painters Greenhouse is here to walk you through all the steps to make sure your newly planted trees & shrubs thrive! She walks you through the materials you'll need, provides detailed instruction, and gives helpful pointers as she plants one of her favorite shrubs, Caryopteris 'Blue Mist'. This guidance can be applied to planting shrubs and trees of most any size or maturity, but some details are specific to transplanting potted shrubs and trees (as opposed to ball & burlap/bare root items). If you are planting a tree that needs some support (especially if you're in a windy location), visit this link for guidance on staking. Grab your shovels, mulch, and visit Painters during our Fall Season, September 9th-October 16th, to choose from an expanded selection of exciting, affordable, and locally grown trees & shrubs (over 250 varieties), including more natives and cultivars than ever before!