Low Maintenance College Dorm Room Plants

Ponytail Palm 

Add a beautiful plant to your room with dramatic ponytail palm. Low-maintenance and stunning, ponytail palm features bright, pom-pom-style foliage that looks lively all year. 

Ponytail Palm Care
Place your ponytail palm in a bright spot, such as a windowsill or sunny desk. Because ponytail palm has low moisture needs, you only need to water it once the soil has dried—that may be once every seven to 10 days. 

Why It’s the Perfect Pick
Ponytail palm has a unique appearance, which makes a bold statement and sets your dorm apart from the typical college space. 

Succulents 

Create your own desert escape on your desk or windowsill with cacti and succulents. These dry land plants are super easy to care for and come in an array of amazing textures and colors. 

Cacti and Succulent Care
Cacti and succulents love bright light; keep them near a sunny window or right under a desk light. Allow the soil to dry almost completely before you water them.

Why They're the Perfect Pick
With their trendy appearance and low water needs, cacti and succulents are terrific picks for busy and stylish students. 
 

Peace Lily 

Peace lily is a popular houseplant that features dark green leaves and large white blooms, making it one of the prettiest houseplants you can grow. This easy-care plant has a resilient nature and natural ability to purify indoor air.

Peace Lily Care
Grow your peace lily in medium to bright light (the more light it gets, the more it blooms) and keep the soil evenly moist. 

Why It’s the Perfect Pick
Peace lily works hard to keep the air clean and fresh; it also adds a charming element to your décor. 

Anthurium 

Anthurium’s bright blooms and shiny, deep green leaves bring color and life to cramped rooms.  This pretty plant is easy to care for and tolerates a variety of living situations. 

Anthurium Care
Grow anthurium in bright indoor light for best results. Don’t let the soil dry completely, but don’t drench it either. 

Why It’s the Perfect Pick
With its colorful, heart-shaped blooms, anthurium makes any room feel cozy and homey. As long as it receives enough light, anthurium will bloom all year!
 

Ferns

Ferns are classic houseplants that feature fine-textured fronds that add a graceful, elegant look to indoor spaces. Versatile and attractive, ferns work well with any decorating style and make terrific living accessories. 

Fern Care
Keep your ferns in a medium-bright spot and don’t let the soil dry out. Ferns love humidity, so group them together with other houseplants. 

Why They're the Perfect Pick
Ferns are some of the best natural humidifiers out there, and their fresh green color brightens any small space.  

Late Summer Early Fall Collection

Last week we debuted a few arrangements for our late summer, early fall collection, we will also be regularly changing our product line throughout the next coming weeks. Here are some of the new arrangements added to the collection. 

Flutter 

Lacy asclepias and alchemilla mingle with protea, vanda orchids and saracena lilies in this envelope shaped vase arrangemet.

Gossamer

Stunning ‘amnesia’ roses pop against lavendary-blue gentiana, creamy gerbera daisies and dusty miller.

Monarch Bright, colorful tones of late summer combine into a glass cylinder vase. Hot pink roses, creamy gerbera daisies, pink calla lilies, astrantia and a pop of green sedum create a beautiful garden-inspired bouquet.

Bright, colorful tones of late summer combine into a glass cylinder vase. Hot pink roses, creamy gerbera daisies, pink calla lilies, astrantia and a pop of green sedum create a beautiful garden-inspired bouquet.

Painted Lady 

Spectacular Saracena lilies float above Brenda protea, pink calla lilies, amnesia roses and alchemilla are gathered in a rounded glass vase.

4 Things To Plant This Fall!

Fall is a great time to plant, bright sunny days  with cooler temperatures make for a perfect climate to plant and prepare for the next growing season. We also recommended planting these five plants in fall before the frost.

Shrubs and Trees 

Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. The root systems will begin to form before the frost sets in, essentially establishing the shrub or tree in the ground for the winter. We always suggest mulching around newly planted trees and shrubs this will ensure protection for new transplants throughout the winter. Be sure to remove any coverings on the root balls of plants before planting.

BULBS

September is right around the corner and this is the time to plant for early spring blooming bulb flowers such as Daffodils, Tulips and Crocus.  A good rule of thumb is to plant Tulips and Daffodils 6 inches deep and crocus plants 3 inches deep. Bulbs should be put into the ground before late October to allow a bit of root growth before the frost.

PERENNIALS

The biggest misconception for perennials is that once they start looking a bit passed they are no longer worth planting, this is not the case sping and summer perennials do great when planted in Fall.If you are undecided about where to plant them now, you can always keep them in pots and soil in a covered or protected area outside until the spring and plant them then. Be sure to label the perennials before hand for easy identification when it is time to put them in the ground.

HERBS

Fennel, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Wild Strawberry, mint and parsley are some of the herbs that do well when planted in the fall, provided they are established plants or divided from an existing herb plant and not new growth or seedlings.

Amnesia- a rose you won't forget.

Amnesia Rose

Our late summer collection will be arriving soon but in the meantime, we thought we'd give you a little taste of what's to come. One of our featured flowers this time around is the Amnesia rose. This is not an obvious choice for everyone, but the subtle color is exquisite. Considered a lavender rose, it is mauve with a hint of gray and taupe. This is a rose to melt the heart of any floral designer. Brides are also gushing over this variety. Paired with the soft gray of dusty miller or warm cream tones, this is a Pinterest dream.

In our upcoming collection we are using Amnesia with copper tones, soft and bright greens, peach, as well as some deep dusty pinks. 

New collection arriving soon! Don't forget (hehe) to keep and eye out...

Jewel Weed

Yes we love all the gorgeous blooms from Holland but we should take a moment to appreciate the native plants (aka weeds) too!

Let's take a little trip down memory lane to my very early childhood. It was a week before the first day of preschool  and my new teacher Mrs. Perritz had just stopped by my house to meet me. We walked out into my back yard and that is when I learned about this adorable little plant. She delicately plucked a seed pod off the plant and told me to hold out my hand....KAPLOOEY! The pod exploded, sending me off giggling and the seeds inside the pod shooting into the air. It was love at first explosion. We did it again and this time held onto one of the seeds. She then scraped off the outer layer of green skin, exposing a bright turquoise blue seed, well, jewel.

This is jewel weed. They have delicate seed pods that when ripe, pop and shoot their seeds out when touched. So anytime a little creature goes to eat the seeds at least a few will escape and propagate. You can imagine how thrilling this was for a little 3 year old horticulturalist. Over the years I have always looked forward to late summer when these plants start to take over. I have also learned that while the exploding seeds with the secret blue hue are wicked fun, these plants have a couple other cool secrets too. 

The seeds are edible. I hope none of us are ever lost in the woods but if we are and it's late summer, look out for the jewel weed and have yourself a snack! The little blue seeds inside the pod are tiny but tasty and for their size provide you with at least a few calories. I've tried them, they're nutty and great.

The stems of the plant are a cure for poison oak and poison ivy. While its best to just stay away from those awful plants, sometimes accidental run-ins happen. Mash up the stem of the jewel weed plant to make a poultice and apply to the effected area. This is also a natural remedy for stinging nettles, insect bites and stings, and even acne.

Moral of the story: Weeds are plants too, and we should show them a little love.

Zillions of Zinnias

It's zinnia season!

As a floral designer, I am often asked what my favorite flower is. C'mon people, how could you possibly expect me to choose?! I'm in this profession because I love flowers, all of them. It depends on my mood, on the lighting that day, on the specific shade of color, it can even depend on the outfit I'm wearing. That said, I do have a few that undeniably delight me and zinnias are one of them. I love growing them from seed, love them by the pot full, love them mixed with other flowers in vases, love them all by themselves en masse. Oh! And I really love them when there is a hummingbird or butterfly hovering over them, 

They are remarkably easy to grow from seed. The perfect choice if you're introducing kids to gardening. As soon as that little seed feels the sun's warmth through the soil, the sprouts start popping up. From seed to flower takes about two months when planted in the spring. If planted later in the season the summer heat can really speed up that process (make sure to water!). Once they bloom they will continue to do so until the frost, in a spectacular array of colors! And, bonus, their bloom time coincides with the part of the season when most of the other garden flowers around here have started to fade. As I mentioned above, they also attract butterflies and hummingbirds, a welcomed addition to any garden. 

Want some? We've got 'em by the bunch! Come by and add a little color to your life. 

Flower Crowns: More than just a Snapchat filter.

Beyoncé and Rhianna rocking flower crowns in the Vogue September issues.

Let's be real. We're all fab. We're all queens at heart. Why don't we cash in on this floral crown trend more often? It is totally hot with celebrities and every time I see it, I think I should be doing it too. I'm a floral designer, what excuse do I really have? Surrounding yourself with flowers just enhances your natural beauty. Next time you're going out on the town, try letting your inner queen out and top off that outfit with a gorgeous, over the top, flower crown. Of course, simple is good too. Baby's breath, wax flower or just elegant foliage also make lovely crowns.  Call up the girls at Rouvalis, let us know your vibe and color scheme, and we'll have your head piece ready for girl's night.  Stand out from the crowd!

More of a shy violet but still diggin' on the flower crown thing? Also a great accessory (or activity) for bridal showers, birthdays, and bachelorette parties!

As far as I can tell, Beyoncé has unparalleled floral crown game. She's looking on point in flowers in fashion shoots as well as in her everyday life. 

From that bohemian, music festival look to high fashion to bridal, flowers are beautiful and so are we. Take a cue from these famous females, get out there and show 'em how gorgeous you are! 

Felicitations Shawna and Dan!!

Today is the big day for Shawna and Dan. We wish them a lifetime of adventure and happiness together!

We were working with a black and white theme with bold architectural elements. When she came in to talk about her flowers she had great vision and knew right away that the blush or white king protea would be the focal flower. From there we pulled in the black and white Niobe protea, black calla, silver thistle, and the white ornithogalum with the black center. This was definitely a step away from the typical garden-y pink wedding style. And while I do love the lush garden look, this modern black and white was so much fun to work on. The day the flowers came in and we got a chance to see everything together en masse we knew this was going to be one for the books. Can't wait to see the photos. From the looks of things they are in for a great party tonight!

Thank you S+D for working with us! Hope you are having a blast (And don't worry thunderstorms on your wedding day are good luck and provide great lighting for the photos!)

The Curse of the Black Thumb

On an almost daily basis, someone will walk into our shop and look longingly at some cute little plant and exclaim "Ugh! I want one but I kill everything! I've even killed a cactus!!". Seriously, we hear this a lot, especially that last cactus part. Or maybe they come in, gaze at the orchid plants and walk away saying how difficult orchids are to care for. 

I write this to help cure your Black Thumb curse. I bet you aren't as hopeless as you think. Most people I speak to are actually just giving their plants too much love. Don't be a helicopter plant parent! Sometimes less is more. Almost all of the plants we carry at Rouvalis prefer a little Benign Neglect. That's right, leave it alone! The number one way people kill orchids is over-watering. This is the same for most succulents. That said, orchids and succulents do need a little water, so if it looks limp, it is trying to tell you it needs a drink.

Here are a few basic things to know about plantcare:

~Limp, yellow leaves & dry soil     -You guessed it, needs water.

~Yellow leaves and wet soil           -Back off! Too much water, check the base of your plant to make sure it isn't sitting in water as this can cause root rot. Wait until the soil dries out before you water again. 

~Drainage holes are key                -See above. If there are holes in the bottom of your pot you will be less likely to have the roots sitting in water. Place a saucer underneath to catch the runoff. If you notice it is full, dump it out.

-Indirect Light                               -You hear plant people say it all the time but what does it really mean? This means you want a bright window but not one that gets totally blasted by the sun's rays. When you look at the window are you squinting or covering your eyes to shield the light? That's probably direct sunlight. 

~Read your care tag                      -Most plants come with a little plastic tag in the soil with tips on caring for your specific plant. READ IT. Seems like a no brainer but you'd be amazed. It won't tell you everything but it will tell you the basics. Light and water, are you starting to pick up what I'm putting down?

~Talk to plant people                    -Plant people LOVE talking plants. If there is something funky going on with one of your plants, go down to your local florist or nursery and ask someone what they think. We're plant geeks, its why we do this. Even better, take a picture with your phone so we can see what you're talking about.

These are the most basic basics, but it is your foundation for plant success. We could get into fertilizing, bugs, humidity but that's intermediate level. Let's get you comfortable with the easy stuff first. 

I have faith in you. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Come see us. Grab a snake plant, a ZZ, or a pothos. You Can Do This!

More than just a pretty face...

Plants are beautiful. Having them in your home definitely ups the aesthetic but there are so many more reasons to keep plants around. Maybe you've noticed when you walk into Rouvalis, we all seem obnoxiously happy and beautiful (hah)... well, it's probably because of the plants!

Why we LOVE plants:

• Plants purify the air. They breath in the carbon dioxide we breath out and in the process naturally filter out toxins in the air.
• They expel water through their leaves into the air. This boosts humidity levels. Yeah we're loving summer right now but remember how dry it gets inside when we have to turn on the heat to fight the brutal Boston cold?  Like natural little humidifiers. 
• Studies have shown plants can help boost productivity and concentration by around 15%. Good for the home, sure, but maybe you should have a little guy on your desk at work too...
• Plants make you nicer. It has been proven that people who care for other living things (plants included) are more likely to show empathy and compassion to those around them. Nature vs. nurture? NO! Nature = Nurture! 
• Noise reduction. Tiny apartment buzzing with sounds of city traffic? You guessed it, the answer again is plants. Plants are often used to reduce the noise of busy roads. The leaves help reflect and diffuse background noise.
• Plants reduce your stress and boost your mood. A room full of plants can have a very calming effect. It has also been shown keeping green plants around combats loneliness and depression.