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Some thoughts on Concrete Pots

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We love the look of concrete pots, but there are some things to keep in mind when planting in them. Here’s a brief run-down of some things we’ve noticed:

1. If you are planting directly into a concrete pot with a raw (unpainted) surface, it will require you to water your plant more often. The concrete will suck out the moisture in the soil, much like terracotta. For some plants, like some succulents and cacti, this can be a good thing, but for other plants, not so much.

2. If you have a raw-concrete pot and want to plant in it, consider painting or waxing the inside, to seal it against the soil, so it doesn’t steal the moisture. Or, find a plastic pot of the same size and sit that inside the concrete pot. This will also create the necessary barrier and stop the concrete from drying out your soil so quickly.

Hope that helps!

Happy planting, people!

x

Little Plants Team

Zanzibar Gem Plant

What we love about: Zanzibar Gem

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What is ‘Zanzibar Gem’?

The ‘zanzibar gem’, or Zamioculca (not to be confused with zebra binoculars {yes they do exist…}, or the Hoodoo Guru’s ‘I’ve never been to Zanzibar’) is one of our favourite plants. It should be high on any list of faves in my {humble} opinion. It’s also in Costa’s top three in this Gardening Australia article.

Why is it so great?

Well, so many reasons! Firstly, it’s leaves are lovely and glossy. Secondly, studies have shown it to be beneficial in improving air-quality. And thirdly, because it’s just so easy to look after, as long as you don’t water it very much. Yes, that’s right, don’t water it… not much at all. I think that’s pretty awesome for a plant that looks and keeps so well in the unforgiving indoor environment. You can go on holiday and this little (though they can get bigger) plant will be happy no worries.

How do I care for it?

The care-tags on the plant will tell you more, but from my experience it does best with the tiniest watering every month or so, depending how drying the weather/air-conditioning has been. The main thing is to make sure it is never saturated or sitting in water. I usually water at the edge of the pot so the main rhizome and stalks of the plant are never really, really wet.

Tesselaar Flowers also has some notes about it here.

Where can I buy it?

From us, silly. Also your local nursery should have them if you can’t make it in : )

Would my Aunt Nina like it?

Yes, yes she would. She can sit it on the side table in the corner near the bench seat overlooking the side yard. You know the one I mean.