Where to plant what plants when

Many believe that the addition of a little life and color to a room, desk or outside deck can greatly influence mood and overall ambiance.

Amanda King, senior in horticulture, has been working for Blooming Colors for three years now. She found the job through her mother and has loved working in the business. King said plants make people happy and help with regulating the mood in offices and confined spaces.

“They are good for the air — they clean the air,” King said. “It’s nice to have something living. It brings color to places that might be a little dark or stuffy.”

In her experience, she found that college students lean toward plants that are easy to care for like cacti and succulents. King said these plants don’t require much maintenance or watering.

“There are tons of plants, like Snake’s Tongue or Apothos that are not high maintenance and don’t require a lot of sun because those are two things that college kids don’t often have.”

As for an outdoor deck that receives light at different times of the day, King suggested that students do some research before purchasing a plant or talk to the employees at the store where you buy them.

“It really depends on what type of sun the plants will get,” King said. “The afternoon sun is a lot more intense, so it can take a lot more variety of plants. With morning sun, you would have a more limited selection. Shade-loving plants would be best.”

King said hydrangeas, ferns and orchids would do well in a shade-loving environment or on a deck that receives morning sun. When taking care of flowers, some blooms need to be pruned to grow more.

Hydrangeas fit into this category, while orchids only need pruning once a year. King said peace lillies are fairly easy to care for and will let the owner know when they are in need of water. Peace lillies are very forgiving, King said.

“With flowers, making sure you have good fertilizer and water is key,” King said. “Typically, the rule is ‘more sun, more blooms,’ but with certain plants, it can differ, especially with shade-loving plants.”

For offices, King recommended rex begonias. She said there are many bright color variations in the foliage that can liven up a dry place. They can tolerate low light while producing bright colors, King said. For those interested in herb gardens, King said most herbs do very well and are easy to maintain. The only herb that might cause trouble would be lavender.

“Cilantro does well if you can find it, and mint spreads,” King said. “If you can kill mint, you have a talent.”

With a budget, King advised buying small plants at a lower price and working with them to get them to a better size. She said it takes time, but when students are on a budget it is the best option.