Gardening enthusiasts got an inside look into houseplant care and maintenance Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at “Houseplant Seminar: Aroid Edition” hosted by Urban Earth Garden Market and Nursery at 80 Flicker St.

Saturday’s event marks the first time the Midtown store has hosted a free educational gardening seminar since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Urban Earth is situated on 1.4 acres and has a 6,212-square-foot retail market. The nursery sells a variety of indoor plants including pothos and philodendrons, and outdoor and landscaping plants including hollies, native perennials, evergreen shrubs and paper bush shrubs. 

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The nursery also provides landscaping services and tools and accessories for both indoor and outdoor gardening. 

Lauren Gentry is the retail sales manager for Urban Earth. Gentry said the houseplant seminar helps gardeners understand the scientific aspects of plants and learn to cultivate them more effectively, including propagation. 

“When you propagate houseplants for example, it’s really gratifying to see something grow so much that you can then divide it into multiple plants,” Gentry said. “It can be as cheap as getting a free cutting from a friend all the way up to investing in some really hard-to-find plants.

“For a lot of people, having something to nurture is just healthy and life-giving.”

Urban Earth employee and master gardener Cora Pitt led the seminar. Originally from Minnesota, Pitt began gardening on her family’s dairy farm as a young girl.

She relocated to Memphis in 2004 for college and eventually received her master gardener certification in 2021 through the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. 

“Prior to the pandemic, we had classes here a few times a month, so we’re refining that back up,” Pitt said. “There’s a lot of eagerness for plant education and plant care, not just with landscaping but with houseplants, which are very popular and a lot of fun.”

Pitt said keeping and cultivating houseplants can not only enhance an indoor space, but they also have a therapeutic effect on those taking care of them.

“I’ve met many people in the community who got into growing indoor plants to keep from feeling depressed,” Pitt said. “The great thing about houseplants is they’re tropical and have grown in tropical regions, so you can create this indoor jungle aesthetic in your home.”

What are aroids?

“Aroid” is the common name for plants from the Aracese of Arum family also sometimes referred to as the philodendron family. Common types of aroids include syngoniums, monstera, philodendron, pothos, Caladium and zamioculcas zamiifolia, also known as zz plants.

Aroids are grown from cuttings, seeds or tissue cultures grown in a lab and thrive best in coarse potting mix that retains moisture. Perlite also opens up the soil for better airflow and reduces moisture retention.

The family of 140 genera and about 4,075 known species is most diverse in New World tropics but is distributed in the Old World tropics and northern temperate regions.

Propagation

To propagate houseplants, Pitt suggests choosing the healthiest plant available and watering it a couple of days before propagating. Propagation is best done in warmer months when plants are in their growing period. 

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Pitt noted to always take more cutting than you need when propagating as not all of it will take and to use clean, sharp shears, clean pots and fresh soil.

“The use of fungi, microorganisms and beneficial bacteria is huge for the quality of your plant,” Pitt said. “You might have heard of mycorrhizal fungi, which is a really important fungus in your soil that feeds the roots, and the roots feed the fungus.”

Pitt said there is a symbiotic relationship between the fungus and the roots of its host plant, which keeps the soil healthy. 

“That’s why it’s better to spend a few extra dollars on a really good potting soil for your plants,” Pitt said. “You’re going to have better growth, and your plants will be happier in general.”

Houseplant troubleshooting

For pet owners, Pitt suggests carefully considering the placement of houseplants, as most plants have a level of toxicity when ingested by humans or animals. 

Some common problems associated with houseplants include overwatering and under-watering, dry air from heating and air conditioning, lack of ventilation, over-fertilizing, too much or too little light and insect pests.

Overwatering can lead to plant roots becoming waterlogged or rotten. Under-watered plants will often droop, and the leaves curl in an effort to communicate their thirst. 

Heating and air conditioning can cause air in the home to be incredibly dry, which can have a negative effect on foliage. 

Since many indoor plants prefer a humid and warm climate, a lack of adequate humidity will cause dry, brown leaf tips, often accompanied by infestations such as spider mites. 

“Small humidifiers are only about $50 or $60, so they’re not a bad investment if you have a lot of houseplants,” Pitt said. 

Too much light causes plant leaves to become chlorotic, meaning they will have a yellow tinge all over because they are producing an insufficient amount of chlorophyll. Too little light will cause house plants to have sparse growth.

Collierville resident and gardener Monique Lawler, 39, heard about the seminar through a friend at the Junior League of Memphis. 

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“Myself and another lady started an affinity group for plant lovers,” Lawler said. “We share information back and forth, and someone posted in our group that this was going on.”

Lawler has approximately 85 houseplants in her home. A self-described “plant lover,” Lawler said despite her knowledge of horticulture, she was surprised to learn about the large variety of aroids.

“Now it’s like I need to know what plants I need to bring home against my husband’s wishes,” Lawler said. “I loved this seminar and would definitely come to another one.”

Urban Earth’s next seminar called “Preparing Your Spring Garden” will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, from 10 to 11 a.m.

“We want to get excited about what our staff members are excited about,” Gentry said. “We haven’t had one since COVID so it’s very exciting.”

She said plants are “aesthetic, they’re beautiful and add to the visual appeal of the house.”