House plants add lovely leafy notes to any indoor landscape
Mary Dunlap says house plants are having a moment. As the owner of Wilder, a plant shop plus retail space in downtown Travelers Rest, she would know. Coming up on its two-year anniversary, Wilder is a joyful jungle of diverse greenery and curated knickknacks. Doubling as a gallery space, the shop features the work of local potters on a rotating basis and spotlights different artists quarterly, the latest one being Sunny Mullarkey. And, of course, it’s packed with plants.
“Anything that’s different to me is what I love,” Dunlap says. “I want to get things you can’t find at a Lowes or a Home Depot.”
She picked up the houseplant hobby during COVID, and when the retail space became available in 2023, she jumped in headfirst. “It’s been the most rewarding, fulfilling experience I’ve ever had professionally,” Dunlap acknowledges. Wilder is a hot spot in its own right, but also because Dunlap is generous with her plant knowledge. It’s clear she wants her philos and ficus to thrive in their new homes, so if you’re looking to dive into the house plant world, she has a host of tips.
Tips for House Plants
Tip #1: Know What Your Plant Needs
“The majority of house plants you will have in your home are tropical or subtropical,” Dunlap says. “Meaning they are generally exposed to hot, humid, shady, and dappled light.” The exceptions, of course, are cacti and succulents, which like dry and sunny environments. In addition to consulting the plant shop, Dunlap recommends snapping a photo of the plant and looking up what its needs are to make sure you have the right space for it in your home. “Research is key,” she notes.
Tip # 2: The Water Situation
The demise of most house plants is overwatering, which eventually drowns the plant. Checking soil dryness is important, but Dunlap also reminds customers that many plants need less water in the colder winter months when they are not exposed to as much sun. Misting foliage is also helpful, as some plants drink through their leaves.
Tip # 3: Transitioning from Outside to Inside
Most house plants benefit from summers outside on a shady porch. But since they can’t survive subfreezing temperatures, Dunlap recommends bringing them inside and off porches when it starts to dip below 55 degrees. To prevent pest infestations, she sprays her plants in the shower, then uses neem oil wipes to clean the leaves.
Finding the Perfect Plant
With thousands of house plant options, it can be intimidating to choose the right plant. Thankfully, Dunlap offers a few categories to help you identify your ideal specimen.
Beginners: Pothos / Rubber Plant
Dunlap has multiple go-to suggestions for beginners, but the quintessential pothos plant and ficus elastica, or rubber plant, are easygoing options that are hard to kill.
Dark Corner: Snake Plant / ZZ
These two plants are not just fine with low light, they’re also drought tolerant. Snake plants come in plenty of interesting colors—like Black Dragon and Silver Queen.
Color and Texture: Philodendron / Alocasia
“Philodendrons come in so many different colors and shapes,” Dunlap says. Look for vibrant varieties like Prince of Orange or Pink Princess, but don’t skip over alocasias, which offer a diversity of tone and texture.
Sunny Window: Prickly Pear Cactus / Pencil Cactus
Dunlap recommends finding a warm, sunlit spot for cactus. Go for pencil cactus if you want a funky look, but prickly pears make a big statement and can even bloom indoors.
Showstoppers: Bird of Paradise / Fiddle Leaf Fig
“This would be like your fancy piece of furniture,” says Dunlap. While these plants have a higher price tag, their boldness and beauty make them worth it.
Keeps on Giving: Pothos / Monstera
Want a plant that makes more plants? Monsteras and pathos are both easy to propagate—just snip a piece off below a node and stick it in water to root. For leaf color diversity, look for variegated varieties.
