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There’s one word that is definitely NOT on our DIY resume.
GARDENERS. Okay, “chefs” or “bakers” are definitely not on there either…but that’s a story for another day.
Look at Casey…pretending to be such a happy, gardening expert #fake
We like to think that we’re pretty good at a lot of a few things when it comes to the home, but there’s no denying that we kinda suck at keeping plants alive. But the only way to get better at things is to practice, right? (At least that’s what Coach Bridget says!) So over the past few months, we both decided that we need to incorporate some live greenery into our homes. Keyword: LIVE.
We started small…and have slowly started to bring in more nature into our pads. And the verdict? So far so good!
When deciding on what plants to buy, we knew they had to pass this test.
Checklist for our Indoor Plants
- Must be $30-$50 and under <— when the probability of death is high, there’s no use spending hundreds of dollars!
- Must be low maintenance
- Must be pretty & fit well with our home decor
Here are our favorite indoor plants that we’ve used in our own homes & in a few recent makeovers. Keep in mind we are not experts, and you may want to chat with an expert at your local garden center when you purchase one of these plants.
Why we like it: We purchased this tree on a whim (from Ikea) for Maggie’s condo makeover, and instantly fell in love with it. It’s tall, substantial, and don’t you just love the braided trunk? Plus, it’s called a MONEY TREE. How adorable! Casey loved it so much she purchased one for her home, and it’s currently residing in her master bedroom.
How to care for it: Keep it in bright light, but not in direct sun. Casey originally had hers in her front living room right by the window….but then it got pretty droopy so she moved it to her bedroom where it doesn’t get quite as much light. In terms of water, give it a big dose and allow it to dry out in between waterings.
Why we like it: Bridget purchased this plant (again from Ikea) to include on her patio this summer. It stayed outside amongst her gorgeous patio decor, but now it’s inside adjusting to its new indoor home. And that’s why this plant is great…it’s both indoor & outdoor! Plus we love that it gives a feel of the tropics, even though we’re Midwest gals.
How to care for it: This baby is a sun worshipper! Give it lots of bright, direct light. As for water, give it more in the summer and less in the winter. Once a week should be plenty!
Why we Like it: We’ve all seen plenty of fiddle-leaf fig trees all over the blogosphere. And we too have admired these large gorgeous plants! But many fiddle-leaf trees come with a hefty price tag. We’re talking over $100. We both decided to start small with a bush instead of a large tree. Consider it our way of baby stepping into the fiddle-leaf fig family. We both picked up these bushes at the hardware store for about $20. We are obsessed with the glossy leaves on this plant and love the substance and instant warmth it adds to every room.
How to Care for it: These plants are harder than the others, and we’re still learning as we go. Keeping the trees in bright, direct light has worked well for us both so far. When it comes to watering, be careful. Don’t overwater or let it sit in a puddle. Instead make sure the soil is moist but well-drained. Casey’s plant has lost a few leaves (sad face), but with more attentio,n it’s looking a bit better.
Here’s an entire post on how to keep your fiddle leaf fig alive! And if that doesn’t work for you…then check out this faux fiddle tree (pictured above!) that looks incredibly real!
Why we like it: We both have snake plants all over our homes because they’re incredible easy to keep alive and don’t take up too much space. They also add some much needed height and life to any space. Plus, you can buy snake plants in all sizes…like the large one in this gorgeous planter above or the mini one below. 
How to care for it: Apparently this plant is almost indestructible (which is music to our ears!). It prefers bright, indirect light and doesn’t need to be watered too often.
Why we like them: Faux plants is where our love affair for nature began. We both own at least a dozen of the small fake plants from Ikea, and also have plenty of faux succulents around both of our homes. 
If you like the look of plants, without the care…we encourage you to fake it til you make it! The only thing you need to do with faux plants is move them around your home in different areas for styling, and occasionally change out the planter for a new look! And if you buy a faux fiddle leaf tree, then follow this tutorial to make it look as real as possible. 
How to care for them: Zero, zilch, nada… welllll, maybe a good dusting every now & then. 😉 <– we can handle that!
And if you need some great indoor planters, this post showcases our favorites.
Bridget & Casey
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