Pronounced: (cal-uh-thee-ah mah-coy-ahn-uh)
Fast facts:

• commonly known as 'peacock plant' or 'cathedral windows'
• a flowering tropical evergreen low shrub that is native to Brazil
• non-toxic to cats and dogs
• member of the family 'marantaceae' of which prayer plants are also a member, though in a different genus (maranta)

A revered genus, Calathea are truly a crowd pleaser that will not fail to impress with their showy foliage. The peacock plant, as well as other members of this genus, love high humidity environments and its important to be mindful of not placing them directly in front of heating or air conditioning vents. They will not appreciate the dry air! Small ways to increase humidity are by placing bowls of water near plants, grouping plants together, or setting plants on a tray of water filled with pebbles so that water is underneath plants, but not touching the pots. Medium-to-low lighting conditions are best, and the soil would like to be moist to touch, but not soggy. To achieve this, it can be helpful to plant into a medium with proportional amounts of peat moss and perlite. Fertilizing these plants on alternating weeks during the growing season will aid in healthy growth. Browning at tips is somewhat common in a home environment, and is usually due to a lack of humidity, or fluoride present in the water. In happy conditions, the peacock plant will reward you with blooms of small purple flowers!

Pronounced (pep-er-ROH-mee-a gra-vee-OH-lens)
Fast facts:

• ​commonly known as 'ruby peperomia' or 'ruby glow'
• non-toxic to pets
• semi-succulent
• native to Ecuador

An easy to care for houseplant we love, Peperomia graveolens is a small succulent shrub growing up to 10" in height. Preferring bright indirect light, it is an excellent choice to sit in the sill of an East or North window, or set back from a West or South window. Leaves are V-shaped with green tops and wine red undersides and stems. This specimen has low watering needs, the soil must dry out in between waterings, and we'd recommend planting in a well-draining soil blend, such as a cactus or succulent mix. If leggy, tops can be pinched off to encourage branching and a denser growth habit. Blooms are long lasting and  emerge as long tendrils from the main growing stems of the plant with a red stem and creamy white to light green flower, deadhead when desired. A great selection for the individual looking to add some low maintenance color in their home or office environment!