Hello CommonCreativ Readers! I’m Jess from LadyFlashback.com and welcome to my new monthly column, DIY + Drink.
A little about myself… I’ve been dwelling in the city of Atlanta for about three years. I’ve been running my fashion blog since 2007, covering topics like thrifting + vintage shopping, daily outfit posts, fashion inspiration and even night life photography. I’m currently enjoying life in the Poncey-Highlands area and soaking up all of the inspiration I can get from the locals.
With each monthly post, I’ll be sharing a theme drink recipe along with the DIY craft. This month, we’re making our homes all green and lively and celebrating with a Mother Earth-themed Mojito.
June DIY: Gardening 101
I grew up with parents who loved growing plants and vegetables plus a bonsai connoisseur dad. Over the years they each taught me how to make my own soil combinations, trim branches to ‘teach’ it to grow specific directions for shaping, when and how much to water as well as other tricks and tips of gardening. Trust me, I’m no botanist and have killed my fair share of pretty plants, but when it comes to planting and giving care to indoor house plants, it’s easier than you think.
Getting Started:
First: Make sure your pot of choice has a drainage hole at the bottom, you don’t want your plants to get soggy. Terracotta pots are cheap and plain.
Decoration: If you wanted to paint them, it’s very easy to do with some acrylic and/or spray paint — it could be free handed or stenciled — get creative! To spice up my potted plants I add little trinkets such as crystals or seashells. Here is a thrifted vintage mushroom push stake, a geode gifted from miss Adley and a crystal I bought at the Tannihill Gem and Mineral show recently.
Next: Fill pot about 1/3 full with fertilized or unfertilized moist potting soil. Lots of soil mixes out there, read the packaging to make sure it’s right for your plant. Then, loosen the plants root cluster then place the plant in pot, add more soil mix and press lightly. Once standing straight, water and let drain.
For materials: The mini ivy and fern I picked up at Boxwoods in East Andrews. It’s a great home store with a wide variety of plants and high-end potting supplies. There are many places in the Atlanta area as well to pick up cutesy potting supplies and plants such as:
Garden Hood in Grant Park
Pike Nursery in Buckhead
Ace Hardware in VA Highlands and Howell Mill — both feel like a Mom and Pop shop
Whole Foods on Ponce has a great herb section!
I found the 2 of the 3 succulents below at CVS. I initially fell for their tiny stature of around 2 inches. For this particular project, I upcycled three little jars I got from the Kanon Organic Vodka launch dinner a few weeks back that had live dill plants with place setting nametags in them. Other items that make good planters are vintage mason jars, baby/adult food jars, candle holders and unused vases.
Don’t be afraid to rescue plants.
Getting started:
For succulents or cacti types, a drain hole is not necessary as long as you add sand or stone in the bottom paired along with good draining soil. Like I mentioned, good draining soil is the most important thing, if you’re planting desert-like foliage. Personally, I made the mistake and had a few unique succulents die from improper soil.
Since the jars have no drainage, you’ll need to add stones about 3 inches from bottom. I tried getting artsy with the stones by color-coding them but realized with smaller pebbles the soil just covers most of the rock decor. I’d suggest bigger stones if you want the effect I was going for.
Carefully unpack roots by keeping the dirt damp, pack down with loose soil while getting it in firm but not too tight. Planting a mini cactus in a minijar got a little tricky, took a few jabs to the fingers, but a butter knife packed the dirt in safely. Water the plants and you have a new dining room table centerpiece or mantel décor.
A helpful hint with indoor plants c/o my mom:
Pick one day of the week (or two depending on the plant types) and water them on that day only, it’ll get you on a schedule and you won’t come home to sad plants!
Now onto celebrating your newly planted greens… Lady Flashback’s Mother Earth Mojito.
