For many years, I considered my husband to be the plant person in our partnership. He’s a Cancer, loyal to his commitments, applying method and routine to his hobbies. I wouldn’t consider myself well positioned for the job: I’m not into user manuals, and every day looks different. I’ve somehow killed a rubber plant in the past and found ways to off stalks of cacti and webs of ivy, which doesn’t make for a promising résumé.

But over the past year, I experienced a gradual shift. I was the one gently petting the leaves of our schefflera, trimming long strands of monstera adansonii, and regularly misting the succulents that line our windowsills. There was one problem child, though: the dracaena (or “dragon tree,” as the taller version is more commonly called). Due to a neighboring building, our apartment doesn’t get great light, and that little guy was not thriving. After testing out various positions, and noticing that our fiddle-leaf fig was also struggling, we decided to try a Soltech Aspect grow light late last year.

Soltech Aspect Grow Light

I won’t lie: I’d always resisted grow lights because of their laboratory looks, but there’s something contemporary and versatile about the Aspect that caught my eye. The pendant-style LED light is designed specifically for indoor plants, but it’s not far off from something I’d theoretically hang over my theoretical kitchen island. The solid aluminum fixture comes with a 15-foot fabric cord and is available in two sizes: small (20 watts) and large (40 watts). The small is appropriate for plants that need low-to-medium indirect light, and the large is made for plants that require bright indirect or bright direct light. U.S.- and Canada-bound orders also get an Outlet Timer, which can be used to create a 12- to 16-hour light cycle. The fact that Soltech products are hand-built in the U.S. and come with a five-year warranty really sold me on them. All of this combined does bump the price up from other basic grow lights, so take that into account. (To note, there are payment plan options if you prefer to buy now and pay later.)

The Aspect comes with most of the tools you need to hang it except for a drill, anchors, 3/16-inch drill bit, and No. 2 Phillips screwdriver (things you probably already have around the house anyway). How you go about installing it really depends on whether your ceiling is made out of wood, drywall, plaster, or cement. While someone might be able to install this on their own, I’d recommend a two-person crew. My husband and I, both able-bodied, handled it all in about 20 minutes. Essentially, it works like a little pulley system.

Large Aspect LED Grow Light, Soltech ($200)

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Large Aspect LED Grow Light, Soltech ($200)

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First, determine the hanging height based on the amount of rays your plants require. Soltech has a small resource for this in its plant guide, but even as an on-the-fly kind of person, I’d recommend doing your research. Otherwise, your fixture might not be effective or you’ll end up with burnt leaves. For example, Soltech says that if you’ve purchased a large Aspect for plants that need high light, hanging the pendant 24 to 26 inches above them is ideal.

Then you’ll screw in what’s called a swag hook on the ceiling, plus two fairleads on the wall (one near the ceiling and one near the floor). The piece weighs 4 pounds, so while it’s not nothing, it isn’t going to pull the drywall down if you’ve installed your swag hook properly. Nestle the cord in the swag hook so that the light is at its appropriate height and then snugly thread it through the two fairleads, which will tighten down the wire and keep it taught. Plug it in to the nearest outlet and—ta-da!—light. Our timer is set to an overnight cycle, so everyone gets their dose while we’re sleeping.

You would never know that we’ve experienced an exceptionally gray New York winter with the Aspect: My plants have never been happier. The dracaena got a prime spot directly under the light, right next to the schefflera and fiddle-leaf, and it’s previously droopy, brown tips are vibrant and pleased. To my surprise, the sansevieria grew more than it had in months.

The best part is that guests don’t notice it when they come over for dinner—the matte finish blends right into our white walls and the cord doesn’t draw your eye. Although, I wouldn’t mind even if they did.

Shop All Soltech Grow Lights and Accessories

Vita Grow Light, Soltech ($75 was $85)

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Rise & Shine Growlight Bundle, Soltech ($198 was $220)

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Archetto Transparent Wall Mount, Soltech ($30)

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Grove LED Grow Light, Soltech ($130)

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The post This Pendant-Style Grow Light Kept My Plants Perky Through a Long, Gray New York Winter appeared first on domino.

One of the things I often find gets overlooked when people bring greenery into their homes is the use of hanging planters. It goes beyond just the practical reasons of freeing up valuable floor space or getting the leaves out of reach of your pets’ curious mouths. In my work as an interior plant designer, I’ve found that adding even a single hanging plant to a room can do a lot, from drawing the eye up for the illusion of taller ceilings to creating a sense of scale and lushness and making the composition of your greens more dynamic. No matter what effect you’re after, this guide will hopefully demystify the process of how to hang plants indoors. You’ll be reaching new plant parent heights in no time!

What to Look for in a Hanging Planter

First, you’ll want to make sure the planter is the right size—too small and the soil will dry out quickly, which can make watering a nuisance if it’s placed higher up. As a rule, your pot should be at least 1 to 2 inches larger than the plant. (This will also give the plant enough room to grow so it gets lush and long!) 

Planters that don’t come with a hole in the bottom will make watering less of a mess. However, they require proper drainage—I recommend lightweight expandable clay aggregate, aka LECA—and a lighter hand when watering. Containers that have a removable rubber stopper are another great option because they give you control: If the soil is really dry and needs a good drink, you can leave the stopper in and let it rehydrate, avoiding dripping water all over your floor. For plants that are more sensitive to wet soil (or if you’re worried you’ve overwatered), just take the planter over to the sink and remove the stopper to let it drain. 

I tend to look for designs that incorporate the rope, leather, or cord hanging device on the outside of the pot, because natural fibers can easily decay or wear over time with multiple waterings. The result can be coming home to find your beautiful planter in pieces (sad face). However, styles with holes for the cord are common, so if you’re using one, just be mindful to plant below the rope line if possible.

One last thing: Don’t be afraid to switch out the existing hanger on your planter to match your decor or give you more (or less) height.

The Best Plants for Hanging, aka the Best Hang for Your Buck

Generally speaking, I like to use cascading or trailing plants so I can take full advantage of all that vertical growing space. You will get the greatest impact from larger-leaf plants, such as pothos, scindapsus, heart-leaf philodendron (Cortadum, Brazil, or Mican), monstera adansonii, Boston fern, spider plant, or ivy.

Other varieties such as hoyas, lipstick plants, rhipsalis, or trailing succulents like string of pearls offer a more delicate spilling-over-the-sides look. Bonus: In the right conditions, these varieties often flower a few times a year! When it comes to trailing succulents specifically, their smaller roots are a good match for hanging planters, which tend to be shallower.

Many of the varieties I’ve mentioned are also low-maintenance—some can go two weeks or more between waterings, depending on the conditions—which makes them ideal for a spot that’s a pain to reach.

How to Style Your Hanging Planters

Placement Is Key

It’s super-tempting to immediately buy that really cool plant you just saved on Instagram, but it’s important to first assess the lighting conditions where you want to hang it, then decide on the plant type that works for that spot. It will make for easier care and one very happy plant.

I tend to reserve hanging planters for room corners (preferably near windows); to one side of a large window (to keep it from entirely blocking the rays coming in); or to the side of a bed, lounge chair, sofa, or desk (being mindful not to hang it directly overhead, as it’s not always comfortable to sit with something looming over you).

Be a Plant Groupie

Pots suspended above a cluster of plants on the floor will make a bold focal point, but you can achieve the same look using a few hanging planters grouped on their own. Placing each one at a different height, mixing and matching container type and/or size, and using a range of plant varieties will help to give you a dynamic and verdant display. But don’t underestimate what a single planter can do: In the right space, an extra-large one can make a big statement.

Wonder Walls

Another method that’s often neglected is mounting your greenery to the wall. This works especially well between windows, on small walls, or on columns. Most hanging planters can be suspended from a simple wood or metal wall hook. (Pro tip: Make sure your hook extends further than the width of your planter by at least 1 to 2 inches, so it doesn’t rest awkwardly.)

How to Hang Plants Indoors

No matter what ceiling material you’re drilling into, the process of hanging a planter is generally the same. Although there’s an enormous range of hooks out there, these steps are specifically for National Hardware’s swivel swag hook, which I recommend. My instructions also assume that you’re dealing with the most common ceiling in most people’s homes—drywall with a hollow space behind it—but just in case, here’s what you’ll need for every situation.

The Supplies

For drywall: 

• National Hardware’s Swivel Swag Hook
• Pencil
• Electric drill
• Hammer
• Toggle bolt
• Drill bit that matches the width of the bolt
• Machine screw that matches the size of the toggle bolt

National Hardware Swivel Swag Hook, Amazon ($20)

National Hardware Swivel Swag Hook, Amazon ($20)

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For brick, stone, concrete, and plaster: 

• National Hardware’s swivel swag hook
• Pencil
• Lead anchor
• Electric drill or, ideally, hammer drill with a depth gauge (to make sure you don’t drill too far)
• Drill bit for masonry
• Hammer
• Screw that matches the size of the lead anchor

For wood:

• National Hardware’s swivel swag hook
• Stud finder
• Pencil
• Electric drill
• Drill bit for wood
• Wood screw

Step 1: Mark the Spot

With a pencil, mark the spot on the ceiling where you want your hook (and therefore your plant) to go. 

Step 2: Drill the Hole

The correct drill bit size for the swivel hook and toggle bolt is ⅜ inch, but double-check what it says on the packaging. Then drill a hole into the drywall at the spot you marked. You won’t need to go very deep, at most half an inch to an inch, as there will be a hollow space immediately behind the drywall. The hole will look pretty big, which can be a bit disconcerting to see, but don’t worry—the swivel base of the hook will completely cover it.

Step 3: Prep Your Hook

The National Hardware hook kit has two parts to it: the base, which you’ll mount directly to your ceiling, and the hook, which slides into the base at the very end. Putting the hook aside for now, take the base and insert the long machine screw (that’s the screw that has a flat end) through the base, with the head of the screw facing down. Next, take the toggle bolt and screw it about an inch onto the other end of the screw. The “wings” of the toggle bolt should be facing down, so that they fold towardthe screw.

Step 4: Install the Hook Base

Fold down the toggle bolt’s wings and carefully push the entire screw and bolt into the hole in the ceiling. It may take a bit of force, and you can always gently tap the head of the screw with a hammer to coax it through. The toggle bolt will automatically spring open behind the wall—you’ll hear it. For reassurance, though, you can gently tug on the screw to confirm the toggle bolt has caught and won’t slide back out.

Step 5: Secure the Hook Base

Using your screwdriver, tighten the screw until the base is sitting flush with the ceiling. Gently pull downward on the screw as you go. This might seem counterintuitive, but it will ensure the bolt stays in place. Don’t overtighten—just make sure the base is snug against the ceiling with no wiggle. Then slide the hook onto the base, making sure it’s secure and rotates easily.

Step 6: Hang Your Plant

You’re almost done! Go ahead and hang your planter on the hook by its cord, adjusting its length as needed (I often aim for above eye level, but the sweet spot will depend on what else is in the space). Last but not least, step back and admire the newest addition to your plant family.

The post How to Hang Plants Indoors, According to Someone Who Does It for a Living appeared first on domino.

Allow me to state the obvious: Moving is stressful, even if you’re only going as far as down the street. Because it really doesn’t matter how many miles away your next home may be from your last, the truth remains that you still have to pack up everything—including your plants.

Unlike plates and pillows, greenery is living, so it needs special care for a move, and there are some things you should keep in mind before hauling your beloved olive tree across the country. We asked three plant experts for their advice on how to move plants, and here’s what they shared.

First, Make an Edit

They call it plant parenting for a reason—but who can choose among their children? That said, if you are moving to a smaller space or a home with less natural light, you might have to sell or donate some of your greenery. To make an edit, keep in mind the distance and duration of your move. “If you’re staying local, or driving within a few hours, you can usually plan to keep all of your plants,” says J’Maica Thomas of Blk Girls Green House in Oakland, California. But if you’re thinking of shipping them to your next location, just know that they’re less likely to survive that kind of journey, so consider giving them to a friend. (You can always visit!)  

Then again: “If the plant is sentimental to you—keep it,” says August Laska of The Old Yew in Manhattan. And if you do plan to make the move with it, here’s how to pack it. 

How to Move Small Plants

Keep your smaller plants (6 to 8 inches tall) in their pots for moving day, otherwise you risk causing them stress—more than they’ll already be getting by being transported to a different home. If your new place is just a short car ride away, you don’t need to do any intricate packing; just make sure they’re arranged in a way that they won’t break, like in a cardboard box or plastic bin, suggests Allison Futeral, owner of Crimson Horticultural Rarities in Oakland, California. 

If there’s a moving truck and a days-long journey in their future, potted greenery should go in a cardboard box poked with holes or a plastic bin with the top off. “Either option is fine, as long as there’s proper ventilation and plants have been watered/drained ahead of time,” says Thomas. “If they’re still a bit wet, they’ll soak through the cardboard and it will likely become soggy and less stable.” 

How to Move Big Plants and Trees

For trees and bigger plants, cover the top of the soil with crumbled packing paper, then use packing tape across the diameter of the pot to secure the paper in place, suggest Laska and Thomas. Seal it all off with plastic wrap around, over, and across the rim of the pot so that it’s totally sealed and no soil will spill, even if you need to lean the plant on its side during transport.

To help physically move them, you might need a dolly or cart, and here’s a trick that will make the whole process easier: “Avoid watering your plants for a few days before your move,” says Laska. “You want them to be as light as possible. Once you’ve taken the plants out of the box at your new place, give them a good, thorough watering so they have an easier time adjusting.” 

Finally, Follow the Light

It’s okay if your greenery doesn’t get light for a few days or so inside of a moving truck, but make sure to place them near the door (in other words, put them in last) so they’re the first things you unpack. 

The one thing more important than light is temperature. “You want to keep your plants close to 68 to 72 degrees, but if you have to expose them to colder or hotter temperatures, do this for as short a time as possible,” explains Laska. (Futeral even suggests putting heating pads next to your plants if you know they’re going to be left in chilly temperatures.) How cold is too cold? “If you’re cold, your plants are cold,” Laska says.

Once you’ve moved your potted plants to their new forever home, remember that they’ll need some time to acclimate. “Give them some time to adjust,” says Laska. “It’s okay if they lose some leaves in the first few weeks. They will usually bounce back with continued care.”

The post How to Move Your Plants, From the Right Boxes to When You Should Water appeared first on domino.

Plants and small homes don’t tend to mix well: Growing greenery encroaches on your precious little space, dirt gets everywhere when you repot, and it’s all at the mercy of what few windows you have. Leave it to IKEA to come up with a more harmonious arrangement. Starting February 1, you can shop the new Daksjus plant collection in stores and online—it’s all about mess-free planting and effortless maintenance. 

More advanced plant parents can work on expanding their indoor garden with the propagation vases and sprouting dishes, the latter of which are made from a porous red clay that keeps the dish evenly damp. You can feel good about leaving all your tools and vessels out on display, too. Even purely functional accessories like the trellises and potting mats (a game changer if you are sick of getting soil all over your floor!) have a Josef Frank–esque quality about them.

DAKSJUS Plant stand, IKEA ($50)

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DAKSJUS Vase, IKEA ($15)

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DAKSJUS Self-watering plant pot, IKEA ($25)

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DAKSJUS Potting mat, IKEA ($5)

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For novice green thumbs, the Daksjus assortment—ranging from $5 to $50—checks a critical box: self-watering pots and accessories. The containers are made from porous terracotta that holds excess water, allowing your greenery to draw moisture when it needs it. (There is also a handy gap on the side where you can refill it over time.) And if you are worried about keeping something already potted—say, your Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta, the It plant of 2024—alive, a duo of self-watering glass bulbs is ready to shoulder the burden. 

The post This New $5 IKEA Accessory Takes the Stress Out of Potting Plants appeared first on domino.

For the past few years, olive trees, spotted begonias, and branches in elephant-size vases have dominated our feeds, but now there’s a new green goddess in town. According to EasyPlant’s 2024 Trend Report, sales of the Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta (aka dracaena deremensis) have doubled in the past couple of months, making it the houseplant of 2024.

And while the name might not roll off the tongue as easily as “monstera,” the African plant is a solid choice for adding greenery to your space because it’s fairly easy to care for and can thrive in a variety of light, even if your home doesn’t get direct beams of sun. 

As for care, you only need to water it once a week or when the soil dries down 2 to 3 inches, says August Laska, owner of The Old Yew Plant Shop, a favorite of Jeremiah Brent’s. “Additionally, it’s one of the top plants with air-purifying qualities, keeping our spaces fresh with oxygen and free from toxins.”

Style-wise, the spiky clusters of leaves make a statement wherever you put them and no matter what your home’s personal style—just keep in mind that they can grow tall, so you’ll want to make sure you place one in a room with enough clearance. Other than that, you’re golden.

Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta, EasyPlant ($269)

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The post Here’s the Houseplant Everyone Will Be Buying in 2024 appeared first on domino.

“Predictability is achingly boring,” says Kimberly Von Koontz. “If something is left undone or lying against the wall, it gives the room a sense of impending evolution.” The California-raised landscape designer, who helped create the rooftop garden at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, abides by her word. Nothing in her spacious two-bedroom apartment—which she shares with her son, Romeo—is what you’d expect to find in the heart of Manhattan’s Financial District.

With her wavy butter-blonde hair and streamlined personal style, Von Koontz looks every bit the successful New York designer. But as with much of her life, the path was hardly predictable. As a junior studying architecture at the University of Colorado and visiting Florence, Italy, on a study-abroad program, she became so entranced with the culture she decided to leave school and stay. “It was massively influential,” she says of the time spent in the city. Later, she moved to Milan to earn a master’s degree in fashion brand management at the Istituto Marangoni and then to Hong Kong to handle marketing events for Lane Crawford, a luxury retailer.

A thrilling highlight was assisting Italian architect Roberto Baciocchi, who established the look of hundreds of Prada boutiques globally, with trend research for in-store displays. In 2012, when she arrived in New York—“The most sophisticated place I could dream up”—she quit the fashion world to devote herself to landscape design, which she had been studying in her spare time. Today her eponymous firm tackles everything from creating a meditative green roof for a renovated firehouse in Manhattan to studding a horse farm in upstate New York with scores of crab apple trees.

Like her landscapes, Von Koontz’s home has a sense of wildness to it that defies easy categorization. “I wasn’t trying to capture a mood,” she says nonchalantly of the living and dining areas. “This is literally a collection of my things.” The through-line here is the fact that every item is something she wants to own forever. Of course, with Italian mid-century collectibles, including a 1950s wood bar cart and Superleggera chair, it’s not hard to see why. A pair of low-slung Gae Aulenti chairs, placed around a glass table with a cantilevered steel base, play well with the “sexy” black lacquered floors, while an array of Italian sculptures, some by Giorgio de Chirico and Marino di Teana, hint at Von Koontz’s love of old-world refinement. The “menacing” aluminum blinds are a recent addition.

As one would hope, her home is a showcase for Von Koontz’s enviable green thumb. Rex begonias, with their splashy displays of color and love of indirect light, are perennial standbys, as is Strelizia nicolai, the white bird of paradise with a hauntingly beautiful flower. (Romeo’s pick: the escargot, whose snail-like foliage makes him gasp, “Oh, wow, Mama!”) Much like the hallway, which dazzles with an enormous abstract tapestry by French painter Edgard Pillet and a pair of Carl Fagerlund mirrors scored from Von Koontz’s friends at Maison Gerard in Greenwich Village, Romeo’s bedroom is a study in contrasts. A banner of slick bubblegum pink fabric Baciocchi made for Prada hangs from the wall by the bed, a cheeky rebuff to the vignette of neutrals—a chocolate-and-cream checkerboard rug, an industrial table, and a resin and papier-mâché chair. “It has this speed to it,” Von Koontz says fondly of the cloth. “And that little yellow mirror worked out perfectly, too.”

Still, she doesn’t like her apartment to feel too crowded, so she stores many things, including treasured ones, in a warehouse. Culling and editing Romeo’s toys has become a pastime, and she isn’t afraid to give things away. “I think having 10 inspiring toys is far more useful for a young mind than thousands,” she notes. Coming from someone who has owned the same plates for 25 years, this makes sense. “Never buy anything that you don’t totally love,” Von Koontz states adamantly. “Go without the dishes until you can get the ones you want.” This strict sensibility informs how she lives. She likes a set table—preferably with 18th-century Chinese plates, silverware inlaid with Swarovski crystal, and prized Venetian glasses plucked at a street market. “All these temporary baby things go against my creed of purchasing something you’ll keep forever,” she says. Not that Romeo isn’t making his mark. He has his own idea of keepsake possessions, and if you look closely, you’ll see toy animals lining his windowsill. Says Von Koontz, “The house has never been given over to kids, but I’m increasingly seeing how he’s spreading his wings.”

The Goods

Lounge Chair by Gae Aulenti for Knoll, Chairish ($2,495)

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Walker Checkered Shag Area Rug, AllModern ($130 was $173)

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Raawii Duplum Mirror, Nordstorm ($180 was $250)

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Set of 3 Earth Fired Clay Dishes + Saucers, Terrain ($40 was $60)

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This story was originally published in our Spring 2019 issue with the headline “In Pursuit of Beauty.”

The post Like a Good Fabric, Houseplants Add Texture in This Landscape Designer’s NYC Apartment appeared first on domino.

Truth: Terracotta—the color and the material—is everywhere. Thanks to earthy designers like Sarah Sherman Samuel and the couple behind Posada by the Joshua Tree House, the desert-y shade has appeared in furniture, bedding, and even bathrooms. And we’re certainly not mad at it.

That’s because terracotta, the actual clay material, is a total must-have for design-minded plant parents, too. First of all, it’s porous, so it allows water and air to flow through it. You can also use it indoors and out. And the look, while it happens to be timely, is also totally timeless.

But sometimes the planters you find at your local nursery, though utilitarian, can be a little plain. Here, we’ve rounded up the most stylish versions for sprucing up your home and yard.

Grow Your Own Way

Areaware Small Stacking Planter, Hawkins New York ($80)

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The curved shape is pretty, and the fact that this porcelain planter comes in two sizes, each with a saucer that catches water, is extremely practical. 

Pattern Play 

4-Inch Footed Terracotta Outdoor Planter Pot by Hilton Carter, Target ($10 was $15)

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Hilton Carter’s raised geometric pattern paired with a footed base makes a run-of-the-mill pot feel special.

Blooming on a Budget

Terracotta Plant Pot, H&M ($13)

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For less than $20 a pop, you can fill your WFH area with enough greenery to make your coworkers think you’re taking Zoom calls from a tropical oasis. 

Perfectly Imperfect

Efrem Terracotta Outdoor Planter, CB2 ($49 was $70)

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The tight, ribbing detail at the base of this planter will draw the eye up to your succulents of choice in this outdoor-friendly planter. Scoop up both the small and medium sizes for double the fun. 

Hang Loose

Cenote Hanging Planter, Sin ($165)

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Not all greenery belongs on the ground. This hanging container from Brooklyn ceramist Virginia Sin can float in any window, and its cutouts allow for strings of succulents to cascade down.

Variety Show

Franca NYC Stacked Planter, West Elm ($94)

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Playing with height makes an arrangement of vessels look interesting, even when they’re all made out of the same clay-colored material.

Bowled Over

Terracotta Round Bowl, Happy Plant Shop ($19)

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This sophisticated pot looks so much more expensive than it is, and a grouping of succulents would only help add to its luxe feel.

So Edgy

Bergs Scallop Bowl and Saucer Set, Terrain ($64)

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A scalloped design gives this handcrafted Danish planter a touch of charm; the patina keeps it from being too precious.

Stand and Deliver

Brice Ceramic Planter With Stand, Rejuvenation ($170 was $229)

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Give your squat pot a boost with a sleek metal stand that looks just as chic tucked into a corner of your apartment as it would greeting guests on your front porch.

Personal Preference

Checkerboard Planter Pot, Etsy ($22 was $28)

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Another amazing aspect of terracotta? You can easily paint it any shade you like. Or if you’re not the crafty type, this geometric design is already done for you.

Terracotta, But Make It Fashion

Rim Planter, EQ3 ($52 was $70)

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Shaped like an upside-down hat, this wide-rimmed planter makes a quirky-cool style statement.

Up, Up, and Away

Studio Arhoj Small Tri-pot, End ($45)

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Here’s an idea with legs: Each of these three stilts has a drainage hole at the bottom to keep roots from rotting. We’re partial to Workaday’s chunkier, three-legged version, too. 

Hold On 

Cosa Terracotta Outdoor Planters, Pottery Barn ($50 was $59)

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Handmade by artisans in the Philippines, we love the added detail of side handles to more easily rearrange your outdoor setup of mums or hydrangeas. And you won’t have to wait for that coveted patina to form. 

Side Slope

LBE Design Rancho Ceramic Indoor / Outdoor Planter, Lulu and Georgia ($44)

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Our trick to picking out a quality planter? Check the glaze. LBE Design’s is fully coated inside and out.

A Petite Suite 

Michiko Shimada Terracotta Mini Planters, Amazon ($33)

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Why have one terracotta planter when you can have three? This sweet set comes with a trio of differently sized and shaped pots with saucers, but each is perfectly petite. Happy planting!

The post 15 Cool, Contemporary Terracotta Planters You Won’t Find at Your Local Nursery appeared first on domino.

All it takes is one success story—a fiddle-leaf fig that’s still holding up after months or a pothos that finally grows long enough to start trailing—for a person to lean into plant parenthood. One becomes two, becomes four, and before you know it you need to figure out a tactic to keep all your greenery thriving and organized. The solution is simple: Consider the plant shelf.

Plant shelf ideas can be as simple as experimenting with your book-to-pot ratio, getting creative with your mix of plants, or sticking with a consistent color palette of pots. Here are 12 ideas that will inspire you to figure out the best arrangement for your growing collection.

Give Them a Shower 

After a remodel in this Domino editor’s bathroom filled every corner with sun, it seemed unfair to let the shampoo and soaps on the shower niche hog all the vitamin D. A couple of pots on the tippy-top shelf keep the greens happy and gives the space an even lighter feel. 

Mini Recycled Planter, The Sill ($34)

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Roseyat Shower Shelf, Amazon ($29)

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Get in Where You Fit In 

There’s greenery in almost every corner of this schoolhouse-turned-residence in Delaware, but it is the home of an artist, so most of the walls are reserved for, well, art. Instead, plants find a home on the tops of bookshelves, spice racks, and ladders. 

Areaware Tall Stacking Planter, Urban Outfitters ($100)

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Penn Shelving Unit, Burke Decor ($1,098)

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Table the Idea

Instead of hanging shelves in her Brooklyn rental, Airbnb host Barbara Silva keeps some of her smaller pots clustered together on a small side table next to the sofa. Their perch is made from a stump of wood that keeps the corner feeling extra-organic. 

Mistletoe Cactus, Easyplant ($49)

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Millwood Pines Aatiqah Side Table, Wayfair ($178 was $228)

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Keep Them With Your Other Essentials

Sarai Reed believes bookshelves should primarily be used for books—but there’s always room for some greenery. She designed her own honeycomb shelving system (sketching it out on the back of a piece of junk mail), which suited her small condo. “I needed a streamlined look, so my books are roughly organized by color and shape, and I added a plant to the empty shelves,” she says.

Tortuga Modern Terrazzo Platform Planter, Food52 ($45)

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Geometric Shape Decorative Bookshelf, QVC ($377)

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Find Your Spot

For this shelf, Darryl Cheng of Houseplant Journal selected an arrangement of snake plants, all potted in neutral vessels. But most important is where he put the shelf. “There is a large skylight that provides the bright, indirect light that these plants enjoy,” he says.

Ravine Planter, Lulu & Georgia ($309)

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4-Tier Industrial Black Bookshelf by Honey Can Do , QVC ($200)

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Get Layered

“This is the area that receives some of the best light in my home, so I chose to stagger the shelves across the wall to incorporate plants and pots of varying heights,” says designer James Renaud. An extra-tall climbing monstera next to the wall installation completes the jungle effect.   

Earth Fired Clay Thin Rim Pot + Saucer Set, Terrain ($22)

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Matte black floating shelves, CB2 ($119)

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Mix Your Textures

Before adding plants to any space, Lindsey of Fancy Plants Chic first considers how much light it gets—this room receives medium-to-bright indirect light, so pretty much any plant can thrive in it. That made it easier for her to get creative with her plant selection for these floating shelves. “I arranged them with a mixture of varying textures and colors, as well as plants that trail and some that climb upward to fill empty space,” she explains.

Ceramic Planter Pot Black by Hilton Carter, Target ($10)

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Rattan Round Shelf Natural, Target ($45)

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Make the Most of Space

Have a lot of plants and not much room to keep them? There’s a simple solution. “Floating shelves are a great way to use wall space,” shares My Peaceful Moment. 

Sorbus Floating Shelves, QVC ($25)

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Two tier industrial pipe wall shelf by Danya B., Target ($90)

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Try Something New

“The shelf was originally meant to be merely a way to store books—I had it on the other side of the room, with all the books standing up and all the plants clustered together on one side,” says Noor Hasan. When she decided to move the shelf above her bed so she could put her projector on it, she took her books down in handfuls and topped each stack with a plant as a temporary solution—but she loved the look so much she decided to keep it.

Nude tanlines pot, Coming Soon ($65)

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Earth Fired Clay Herb Pot + Saucer Set, Terrain ($24)

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Embrace Imperfection

Christopher Griffin’s shelving solution also started unintentionally. “While I was hanging the shelf, it slipped and slid down into that position. It looked great to me, so I decided to keep it that way,” he says. 

Maya Terracotta Planter, Pottery Barn ($79)

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Svenshult Wall Shelf, IKEA ($25)

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Consider Your Plants’ Needs

Mish of Planty of Mish originally had a shelf with all-even levels but replaced it with a String shelf that works better for her greenery. “I can arrange the plants based on how big they are and what their light requirements are—some shelves have grow lights on top,” she says. “Because the shelf is wire, my humidifier is also able to mist the whole area well.”

Lifelike grass in ceramic vase by Vintage Home, QVC ($50)

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Santa’s Workshop iron shelf, HSN ($224)

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Stagger Your Greenery

For a more pared-back look, Laura Beeson of Those Positive Plants deliberately staggers her plants. “The string of hearts and string of pearls both look very elegant trailing, and I purposely positioned the philodendron monkey mask at the top of the shelf; as it grows the leaves will gradually trail down the side of the shelf,” she says. A few smaller plants, including cacti and a hoya kerrii, finish the look.

Celia vase, CB2 ($17)

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Modern wall shelf by Kate and Laurel Daxton , Amazon ($150)

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The post 12 Creative Plant Shelf Ideas to Display Your Greenery appeared first on domino.

Plant stylist and author Hilton Carter has duped us again. For his second collaboration with Target, Carter unsurprisingly gave us a stylish selection of planters, but it’s his collection of real-looking faux plants that had us zooming in for a closer look once more.

Carter’s 30-item line, which launched this week, is filled with pretty (and pretty convincing) fake foliage that gives black thumbs a chance to appreciate the lush life without the stress of plant parenting. From a small hanging string-of-pearls for those out of floor space to an impressive 5-foot-tall bird of paradise that’ll fill awkward empty corners, the lineup includes a range of sizes to suit any space, starting at $12. We quickly spotted the polka dot begonia—a highly sought-after and often finicky species in its living form, of which Domino’s Kate Berry is a big fan. Carter says, “It’s what I would call a ‘designer plant,’” adding that the signature spotted top and burgundy underside are what make it such an impactful addition to any space. It’s the attention to detail when it comes to the foliage’s standout shape and patterns that make this artificial version feel so authentic, he adds: “While it isn’t a spot-on replica, it does feel close.” 

16″ Artificial Polka Dot Plant by Hilton Carter, Target ($25)

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Prefer the real deal? Don’t worry, Carter thought of you, too. A variety of textured terracotta vessels are perfect for greenery that prefers dryer soil, and he recommends styling these with upright species. “A cat palm explodes out, giving you that more tropical look, and doesn’t hide the beauty of the planter itself,” he says. The self-watering concrete options are great for containing heat for warm-weather lovers like orchids, while the glazed ceramic pieces, starting at $10, retain plenty of moisture for thirsty types like ferns. Lazy gardeners, listen up: Every style is sized to fit standard nursery pots, which means no messy replanting—a relief for plant parents at any stage. 

Here are four more of our favorites from the collection.

10″ Wide Self-Watering Square Concrete Outdoor Planter Pot by Hilton Carter, Target ($40)

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8.5″ Footed Terracotta Outdoor Planter Pot by Hilton Carter, Target ($40)

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7″ Wide Footed Stoneware Outdoor Planter Pot White by Hilton Carter, Target ($15)

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9″ Small Artificial ZZ Plant by Hilton Carter, Target ($12)

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The post Hilton Carter’s New Target Drop Features a Convincing Faux Version of This “Designer Plant” appeared first on domino.

If you’ve ever been at the mercy of a finicky orchid or fiddle-leaf fig, you already know plant parenting isn’t always easy. That’s why Hilton Carter’s first three books focused on arming newbies with a deep understanding of the basics. But his fourth title is for those ready to graduate from foundational knowledge and cultivate some flair. In Living Wild, the plant-fluencer lifts the curtain on the artistry of plant styling with a deep dive into colors, textures, and statement-making combinations. Along the way, he takes readers into eight lush homes that he styled, including his own. In this excerpt, Carter shares how a little creativity turned a pest problem into the planter of his dreams. 

When I was plant styling my home and trying to find the perfect planters for every single plant, nothing could top our in-floor planter. Yes, you read that right. You see, sometimes good things can come out of bad situations. While we were renovating our home, inactive termite damage was found in the wood flooring of the living room. Not wanting the new floor there to clash with the original boards elsewhere, we decided to get new flooring for the entire downstairs of the house. 

While this caused us a lot of stress, as well as lost time and money, a silver lining did appear. We were going to place a new window on the south side of the house, and I suggested we build an in-floor planter in front of it before we installed the new floor. Then we could plant a citrus tree, a calamondin (Citrus x macrocarpa), in it and have it growing out of the floor, just like in Jack and the Beanstalk. This would blur the line between indoors and out (if it hadn’t been blurred already by the 300 other plants). “But how does it drain?” you may ask. Well, we had piping connected to a drain in the base of the planter that leads outside. You could say the house became the planter, and what a perfect one it is. 

Even when you don’t have a plant in mind, it’s hard not to purchase a new planter when you see one you love, just in case it works for a future project. But when I’m styling my own space, I’ll most likely choose the plant for a particular area first, then select the planter that it will be styled in. The in-floor planter was an exception to this rule. 

Once I’ve figured out the light situation and decided on the type of plant, I consider the colors and textures of the pieces nearby and pick a planter that vibes well with the plant. You can choose either to mimic the texture or color of the plant or create a cool conflict between the two. For example, the smooth, leathery foliage of a rubber tree (Ficus elastica) in a fluted terracotta planter feels like a perfect combination. Or imagine a Madagascar palm (Pachypodium lamerei) in a Japanese nerikomi-style planter. The coupling of the layers of colored clay with the thorny plant would be divine. 

From Living Wild: How to Plant Style Your Home & Cultivate Happiness by Hilton Carter, CICO Books. Photographs: Hilton Carter © CICO Books.

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Living Wild: How to plant style your home and cultivate happiness, by Hilton Carter, Amazon ($45)

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The post How Hilton Carter Turned a Termite Problem Into a Brilliant Indoor Gardening Moment appeared first on domino.