When I envisioned my daughter’s nursery, I pictured a serene nature scene with calming tones and lush greenery lining the window sill. I shared my Pinterest-worthy vision with my husband, and he quickly reminded me that I wasn’t good at taking care of plants, probably wouldn’t have the energy with a newborn, the room didn’t get much light, oh, and those plants I was lusting after might be toxic.
Right. Back to the drawing board.Â
I’ll admit that I do not have a green thumb, but fortunately, there are many kid-friendly and low-maintenance options available.Â
Since my plant knowledge is lacking, I chatted with Erin Marino, Director of Brand Marketing at The Sill, an online plant delivery business, now with brick and mortar locations in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Erin shared the three important questions to ask before investing in a plant, “Does my space receive enough light to support this plant, does my schedule allow for enough time to care for this plant, and how toxic is this plant (for families with young children and pets)?”
Source: The Sill
As for general plant-care tips, Erin explained that it takes a lot of trial and error. If you kill a few plants along the way, don’t be discouraged. While you can read all the blogs and do all the research, every environment is different, and you’ll need to see what works best for your space.
For families with older kids, houseplants are a fun way to teach young kids responsibility and care. A puppy could teach them those lessons too, but plants are probably the easier route.
And if all else fails, don’t be afraid to go the faux route. Perhaps you won’t get the air purifying qualities of real plants, but even faux plants can bring brightness and cheer to your home. Invest in high-quality faux plants, and you won’t even be able to tell they aren’t real.
As for nursery decorations, remember that though a room might get lots of light, you may prefer to keep the shades set most of the day (baby needs those naps!). Beyond the obvious fact that a fake plant doesn’t need light, going the faux route means the plant will always look perfect and doesn’t require your precious new-mom time to thrive.
We’ve rounded up our favorite plants (both real and faux) to add to your home. All are pet-friendly and great for plant newcomers as well as seasoned plant parents.
