Caring for houseplants has always been a bit of a struggle for me. This winter, I have tried to educate myself as to how to care for them properly. Thankfully I found the book Tiny Plants: Discover the joys of growing and collecting itty-bitty houseplants by Leslie Halleck. It is a mix of beautiful pictures, funny observations and wonderful advice. For this column, I am interviewing the author.
What makes tiny plants unique?
I think tiny plant species are particularly fascinating, in that they can often go completely unnoticed, while being incredibly beautiful. Tiny plant species have adapted to their environments in ways that allow that to maximize both space and resources -often with the ability to tolerate certain environmental extremes than their larger leafed plant relatives cannot.
Who do you recommend tries to grow tiny plants?
Anyone who wants to keep collecting new plants, but may not have enough space or light to accommodate any more standard sized or larger foliage plants should consider growing tiny plants. You can keep hundreds of tiny species in a fraction of the space. So, they are obviously great for anyone limited on space in general. If you want to grow under glass, such as in terrariums or Wardian cases, tiny plants are perfect.
What are some examples of where tiny plants may be grown in a home?
In Tiny Plants I break down two main humidity categories: plants for the windowsill and plants for growing under glass. Windowsills are obviously great places for tiny plants, since they fit so well! You’ll follow the same guidelines for plant placement and sun exposure as you would standard sized houseplants – with high light plants preferring southern and western exposures, and lower light plants happy in east or north facing windows. But the beauty of tiny plants is that you can tuck them into bookshelves and other non-traditional spaces where larger plants won’t fit. By using some of the smaller LED grow lights available on the market these days, which are perfect for tiny plants, you can integrate them more easily into darker living spaces. Terrariums are wonderful ways to show off tiny plants.
Is there a specific growing media that you recommend our readers use?
Growing media will always vary by species/type of plants. You’ll follow the same recommendations for tiny plants species that you would their larger relatives. It’s often the container size and porosity of the container that is more important. Containers that are too large for your tiny plant could result in overwatering. Tiny plants that need more moisture are better grown in pots with sealed material, while tiny succulents are generally happier in porous pots.
For the beginning gardener, what tiny plants might you recommend?
I’d advise starting with some of the lower humidity species that don’t need to be growing under glass in high humidity. I love creeping button fern, and you’ll find its one of the easier ferns to grow in lower humidity spaces. Baseball plant is a unique succulent species that is easy to care for, and Vietnamese violets and miniature African violets are perfect if you want some blooms. But, of course, there are many more wonderful favorites I share in the book.
Could you please tell us what readers of your book might expect to learn regarding Tiny Plants?
Tiny Plants is focused on introducing you to many tiny plant species you’ve probably never heard of or seen before. My goal was to open up a whole new world of plant collecting possibilities for the indoor gardener. I also offer up plant care information regarding water, humidity, light, fertilization, and some basic propagation tips.
Where might our readers purchase your book?
My books are sold on Amazon, and any other online book retailer, brick and mortar book stores.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
