I'm so glad you're here. Let's find your Green Thumb

Rachel OKell waters one of her 70 indoor plants

We all kill plants, it's part of the process.

I know how hard it can be, you bring an indoor plant home... and watch it slowly die.

I've been there. I've killed the plants and I've learnt a lot along the way.

But why should you listen to me? Everyday I meet people just like you, who buy plants for their home, but don't know the first thing about keeping them alive.

If that's you, I've got you, let me help you learn about plants.

Join my mini course

ebook cover, an image of green houseplants in white pots with the title: A plant for any room, the beginners guide to bringing plants indoors by Rachel Okell Owner and Founder of Our Green Sanctuary. Featuring 5 ways you are torturing your houseplants and how to stop it in one day or less

Get your free

E-book:

A PLANT FOR ANY ROOM

The beginners guide to bringing plants indoors

Just enter your name and email address and I will send you your FREE copy straight away.

Hello! Let me introduce myself.

I'm Rachel. I'm a horticulturist, Teacher & Mum and I'm hugely passionate about sharing my knowledge of plants. I created Our Green Sanctuary as a way to educate people on the fundamentals of houseplant care, so they can enjoy their plant hobby without the stress of dealing with plant problems they don't know how to solve. I'm here to help you learn about plants.

Rachel Okell surrounded by her hanging plants, at home in the garden on the Central Coast NSW

Our Blog Posts

5 things you need to keep your houseplants happy

How to propagate houseplants with cuttings

3 Must Do’s When Repotting Your Houseplants

The 3 most common mistakes new plant parents make and how to avoid them.

ourgreensanctuary

🪴On a mission to help YOU be successful with plants
🌿Sign up to my mini course below 👇
💚Free E-Book Download
🍃How can I help you? DM: GREEN THUMB

Your houseplants DON'T need a fancy set up to THRI

Your houseplants DON'T need a fancy set up to THRIVE

If you're just getting started or you've tried before and aren't sure what you're doing wrong, here's what I can tell you from experience..

You don't need a humidifier running 24/7 for most houseplants.

You don't need a glass house set up, for more rare plants these set ups work great but for many houseplants it's not necessary.

You don't need grow lights, unless you want to keep plants in areas of your home that are dark and have no natural light (or view of the sky ) for the plant to use.

The 3 things your plants DO need are:

1. The best light you've got. A view of the sky is IDEAL because then you know the plant can see a decent amount of light all day. For most houseplants some morning sun is totally fine. Watch how they respond and you'll know if it's the right spot or not.

2. Drainage, it provides air flow which ensures the plant isn't drowning. Drainage means an appropriate potting mix and pots with drainage holes.

3. Know your plant! Some plants like ferns like to be evenly moist and others like pothos / devils ivy/ epipremnum are happy when they dry out between waterings. If you can learn about the plant you have it will be easier for you to care for.

If you're feeling stuck with your plants and aren't sure what you're doing then check out my mini course at the link in my bio @ourgreensanctuary to answer all your questions and more 🌿💚🪴

#ourgreensanctuary #minicourse #houseplants #plantcare #gardeningaustralia #indoorplants #plantlover #horticulturist #plants #indoorjungle #indoorplantlover #indoorplant

WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY PLANT? Watch the video to l

WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY PLANT?

Watch the video to learn how I work it out 🤔

Plant name: Scindapsis pictus silver splash

Problem: curling in leaves and dry potting mix + a section of stem without leaves

Diagnosis: not enough water, hydrophobic potting mix, and lack of light causing the stem to grow long as if reaching for light

Solution: wash off existing potting mix and replace with fresh premium potting mix + perlite, trim off the bare stem and propagate the tip cutting in water, move to a better light position.

Have you got a plant problem that needs solving? Hit me up for some help!

Join my mini course to learn all the best plant care tips 👉 link in my bio @ourgreensanctuary

📢 Central Coasties 🌊🌊🌊

🪴 Garden & Plant consults are now available 🌿
DM me CONSULT for more info or check out my website
ourgreensanctuary.com/plant-consulting

#centralcoastgardening
#centralcoastgarden #gardenreels #gardeningaustralia #gardenersofinstagram #plantcourse #houseplantclub #ourgreensanctuary #houseplant #indoorplant #indoorplantlover #indoorjungle #urbanjungle #garden #plantconsulting #gardenadvice #plantcaretips #plantcare #horticulturist #teacher #plant #plantsmakepeoplehappy

This Saturday on @coastfm963 I'm talking with Pete

This Saturday on @coastfm963 I'm talking with Pete and @cheralyn from @thegardeninggang about houseplant care in Autumn.

Listen in from 8:00am to hear us chat about what you need to consider as the season changes, so your houseplants can stay happy and healthy!

We'll talk about:
☀️ The light changes in your home as the sun moves lower in the sky and how that affects your houseplants
🧹 Dusting your leaves so your plants can absorb the light better
💦 Adjusting watering as the days get shorter because your plants will start to use less water with less light available
🍌 Fertilising your plants as they have just gone through a massive period of growth and need their nutrients replenished
🪴 Repotting your plants if they need more space to produce new growth and how to know if your plants need an upsize

I can't wait to chat on Saturday and hear what you think!

#thegardeninggang #coastfm963 #talkbackradio #radio #centralcoastgardening #centralcoastgarden #centralcoast #gardens #gardening #plantcaretips #plantconsulting #plantcare #indoorplant #indoorjungle #plants #houseplants #houseplantcare #houseplantlover #horticulturist #interview #radiointerview

What's wrong with my plant? Plant - Philodendron

What's wrong with my plant?

Plant - Philodendron Brasil

Problem - yellowing and browning leaves, leggy stems, leaves dropping off the plant, roots climbing out the drainage hole into the watering reservoir

The verdict - too much water, the wrong type of pot for this plant and it needs more light

The answer - chop it up and propagate the cuttings in water, repot the remaining plant into a different pot with drainage and no reservoir

Did this help you?

Let me know if you've got a plant problem you need solved!

#plantcourse #plantobsessed #plantmum #plantproblems #plantcaretips #plantlover #plantconsulting #plantconsultant #indoorplantcare #indoorplant #houseplant #houseplantexpert #houseplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #indoorjungle #urbanjungle #indoorplantcare

Autumn is such a beautiful time in the garden. T

Autumn is such a beautiful time in the garden.

This evening, as my sister and I walked the streets of our neighbourhood, admiring gardens and plants along the way. I was reminded again why I love this time of year.

The growth of summer is ever present in the garden and I can see the changes the season has brought. I'm reflecting.

Some of the flowers are still blooming and it's great to enjoy the colours in this milder weather.

There's still work to do (there always is) but I've pulled out a few tomato plants that didn't produce that well but still taught me something.

I've still got one plant that produced the biggest tomatoes I've ever seen! It's got a few still left to ripen and I'll definitely be growing it again.

I surprised myself by growing a few cucumbers when I thought the plants weren't going to bear fruit.

Mostly I reflected on how I'm grateful that even in my tiny backyard (all 30m² or there abouts)
I have a tropical garden, flowers, herbs and vegies growing.
It helps me learn, offers me nourishment, is a beautiful place to sit and play and gives me mindful time in nature without leaving my front door.

You can create a garden in ANY space and I can help. Send me a DM if you want to learn how... @ourgreensanctuary

.
.
.
.
.

#plantlover #plantconsultant #gardenconsulting #gardenadvice #plantcare #planttips #houseplants #gardening #gardeningaustralia #tinytropicalgarden #indoorplants #tropicalplants #plantsgrowhere #growyourown #gardener #plant #plants

Are you clapping tiny flies out of your face? Yo

Are you clapping tiny flies out of your face?

You might have fungus gnats.

These tiny black flies are eating your plants roots and indoors, they can cause havoc and multiply quickly.

Want to know how to get rid of them for good? Follow my step by step plan 👉

1. Get some yellow sticky traps
These help you monitor the population (switch them out often)
And they catch the adult flies

2. Use Neem oil as a soil drench and spray. This kills the larvae and eggs in the soil. This step is important to interrupt the lifecycle. You may need to repeat this step to ensure eradication.

3. Let the soil of your plants dry out for as long as possible (without killing the plant) Gnats love moist soil and will multiply quickly so this step helps to get them under control.

4. Quarantine infested plants to stop the spread. This can be difficult if the gnats are in multiple plants but do what you can with your space!

5. If all else fails, it might be time to dump the existing potting mix and start again. Always use a well draining, good quality premium mix with added perlite or orchid bark for extra drainage (indoor plants NEED excellent drainage)

I've tested this method and it works so let me know if it helps you in the comments.

Love learning about plants with me? Check out my mini course @ourgreensanctuary

And for help with your plant problems send me a DM @ourgreensanctuary

#plantcontent #plantlover #planthelp #horticulture #plants #indoorplants #houseplants #fungusgnats #plantpests #plantproblems #plants #indoorjungle #urbanjungle #indoorplantlover #plantcare #planttips #planthelp #plantcourse #minicourse #onlinecourse

BUILD A TERRARIUM WITH ME 💚 You'll need: ✅

BUILD A TERRARIUM WITH ME 💚

You'll need:

✅ A vessel - I used a 5.5L glass jar with lid from @kmartaus
✅ Rocks or pebbles for drainage
✅ Sand - I used play & tiling sand ( this layer is optional)
✅ Horticultural charcoal - this helps with controlling bacteria and keeps the terrarium healthy
✅ Potting mix - I used 2 parts premium potting mix & 1 part perlite
✅ Terrarium plants - you can get terrarium tiny tots from your local @nararavalleynursery or @bunnings or use cuttings, mosses or any small plant..you may need to keep them trimmed or switch them out if they grow too big.

Watch the video to see how I made this one!

The layers are important to ensure there is a good amount of drainage for the plants.

The lid will create an enclosed ecosystem and this won't require much maintenance except for trimming and cleaning, and a small amount of water occasionally ( the water I added will cycle through the microclimate.)

Got any questions? Hit me up in the comments.

Tag me @ourgreensanctuary when you make your own!

Want to learn more? Join my online course - link in bio @ourgreensanctuary

#diy #plantproject #terrarium #buildaterrarium #indoorplant #houseplant #microclimate #ecosystem #indoorjungle #minigarden #fairygarden #tinygarden #tropicalgarden #tinytots #kmartaus #bunnings #nursery #gardening #rainyday #horticulture #horticulturist #plantcontent #plantcourse #learnwithme #plantteacher #minicourse #onlinecourse

What's wrong with my plant? Plant: Calathea orbi

What's wrong with my plant?

Plant: Calathea orbifolia
Problem: Not enough light, not enough drainage, not enough humidity 💦
Signs: completely yellow leaf 👎
Positives: two new growth points 👍👍
Solution: remove the yellow leaf, repot into better mix with perlite for drainage, move to better light and increase humidity

Have you got a plant problem you need solved?
Ask me today @ourgreensanctuary
Follow for more plant care and more 💚

#plantcare #plantadvice #plantcontent #plantobsessed #plantcourse #minicourse #plantlife #plantmum #peoplewithplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #horticulturist #plantconsultant #plantconsulting #indoorplant #indoorplantlover #houseplanttips #houseplants

GOT SAD PLANTS? It happens to everyone! Someti

GOT SAD PLANTS?

It happens to everyone!

Sometimes life gets in the way.

The best thing to do when this happens is take action!

Once you start, it's easy to keep going.

Take everything down, check, water, repot.

Step back and enjoy the view!

Got a plant problem you need help with? Send me a DM 💚

#plantcare #plantobsessed #plantfail #plantlover #plantsofinstagram #indoorplant #houseplant #indoorplantsdecor #indoorjungle #junglevibes #plantcontent #plantcourse #plantconsultant #plantconsulting

WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY PLANT? So I'm not the perfe

WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY PLANT?

So I'm not the perfect plant parent after all 😂

Just kidding, I never thought I was perfect!

This peperomia is in need of some TLC

THE PLAN
- drown it in water and soak off all the potting mix
- replace with fresh mix
- trim off any spent foliage

THE RESULT
Honestly I think it might die now.... I don't even want to show you what happened. It's bad guys. Really bad!

Head to my stories if you wanna see 🙈

I took some cuttings just in case!

#plantfail #plantcontent #plantcourse #plantteacher #houseplant #horticulturalconsultant #horticulturist #plantconsulting #whatswrongwithmyplant #plantcare #plants

Even when it all seems overwhelming, just take it

Even when it all seems overwhelming, just take it one step at a time.

This task felt HUGE!

Don't know why I didn't think to do this sooner..

Did I think they would be in the way? 😂

My sister thinks the room looks bigger this way!

I am stoked with the way it's turned out 😍

So many of the plants were unhappy on the shelf where it was, so drastic measures needed to be taken.

The large plants that used to be next to the shelf (closer to the window - see slide 2) grew so much that they blocked out the shelf from receiving adequate light.

Here they will receive much more light, and hopefully I'll be better at watering🤞

I didn't adjust my watering for the lack of light OR the heat that we have been experiencing over the last few weeks. 😅

The soil had become hydrophobic for many of the small plants on the shelf and they were extremely unhappy (I'll share more about this soon in reels.)

Light is so important for plants, ideally your plants should be in front of the window, instead of off to the side, so they can receive the MOST amount of light.

Now I've made these changes, I'll be adding in the humidifier and I'll also cloche some plants with plastic bags to increase the humidity and fingers and toes crossed they recover. 😬

It was a mammoth effort to get this done and the plants repotted but I'm so glad it's finished and they will have all of autumn to adjust to their new environment. 💚

Have you taken drastic measures with your plant collection? I'd love to hear your stories 🪴🪲🌱🌿

Need help with your plants? Send me a DM @ourgreensanctuary

#plantcontent #plantstyle #indoorjungle #urbanjungle #houseplants #houseplant #indoorplants #indoorplantlady #horticulturist #plantcourse #plantobsessed #plantcare #plantlife #plantlover #plantshelf #plantshelfie #trailingplants #teacher #rearrange #junglevibes #plantconsulting

Ferns Beautifully ordinary A sparkle in the sh

Ferns

Beautifully ordinary

A sparkle in the shadows

Alone or with others they grow and shine 🪴

And even though they haven't always been the easiest plant for me, they have taught me so much 💚

But I'm not just here to share my experience

I know what I've learnt and continue to learn is of value

I'm not just here for the sale

I'm here to inspire and teach

I'm here to serve and advise

I'm here to guide and support

So if you want to surround yourself with plants, grow a garden or expand your expertise I would love to chat!

@ourgreensanctuary

#plantconsulting
#gardenconsulting
#tropicalgardens
#indoorplants
#horticulturist
#teacher
#horticulturalconsultant
#gardens
#onlinecourse
#minicourse
#linkinbio
#gardener
#gardeningaustralia
#centralcoastgardening
#centralcoast
#workwithme
#dmmefordetails

Obsessed with this fruit salad frangipani 🏵️

Obsessed with this fruit salad frangipani 🏵️

It's the first time it's flowered in two years and it smells and looks amazing 😍😍😍

#tropicalflowers #frangipani #fruitsalad #tropcialgarden #tropcialplants #gardens #gardenreels #gardening #gardeninginspiration #gardeningaustralia #centralcoastgarden #centralcoastgardening #gardenersofinstagram #plantobsessed #plantstyle #plantlove

Making my life happy one plant at a time 💚 Do

Making my life happy one plant at a time 💚

Do plants make you happy too? I'd love to hear your story 🪴

#plantsmakepeoplehappy #planttherapy #horticulturaltherapy #plantlife #plantcare #plantlover #tropcialgarden #tropicalplants #foliagegarden #foliage #garden #gardening #gardeningaustralia

What's your style? A gardener, with a few indoor

What's your style?

A gardener, with a few indoor plants?
OR
A houseplant enthusiast with a few outdoor plants?

Maybe you're somewhere in between?
OR
Maybe you're like me, and have so many plants indoors and outdoors that it's hard to keep track of them all!

Perhaps you haven't started yet and are looking for inspiration? 👉 You're in the right place @ourgreensanctuary

Which one are you? I would love to know in the comments.

#poll #plantlover #indoorplants #gardening #gardener #smallspacegardening #tinytropicalgarden #gardeningaustralia #mygarden #indoorjungle #houseplants #indoorplantlover #indoorplant #indoorplantsoutside #whichoneareyou

Friend or foe? This guy might look like a mealyb

Friend or foe?

This guy might look like a mealybug but he is not.

This is a MEALYBUG DESTROYER!

Cool huh?

This ladybird larvae is endemic to NSW & QLD and they love to eat scale and MEALYBUG insects!

So if you see this guy in your houseplants, don't spray him, he is here to help!

Have you seen one of these before?

#mealybugdestroyer #friendorfoe
#pestcontrol #knowyourinsects #plantcontent #plantobsessed #plantcare #indoorplant #houseplants #houseplanttips #indoorplantlover #garden #gardeningaustralia #smallspacegardening #goodbugs

Welcome to my tiny tropical garden 📍 Central C

Welcome to my tiny tropical garden

📍 Central Coast NSW

☀️ North facing aspect

🪴 Tropical plants for full sun and full shade

HOW?

All the plants are potted and positioned right up against the fence, densely layered to create a microclimate.

The larger plants tolerate the sun well.. as long as I water them (otherwise they burn) and they create shade for the ones that need it.

I love experimenting with different species and learn how adaptable they are in these conditions.

Summer in the garden is wonderful don't you think?

Have you got Tropical plants in your garden?

LEARN MORE @ourgreensanctuary

DM me to find out how we can work together in your garden

.
.
.
.

#garden #centralcoast #tinytropicalgarden #tropicalplants #tropicalgarden #gardening #gardenreels #gardeningaustralia #plantreels #plantcontent
#cippa #plantlady #plantcare #plantadvice #plantlovers #peoplewithplants #plantstagram #plantcommunity

TROPICAL PLANTS Indoors our outdoors Full sun

TROPICAL PLANTS

Indoors our outdoors

Full sun or part shade

High light and low light

There is one for every kind of space

If you're planning a tropical garden, or indoor jungle and don't know what plants are suitable for your environment?

I can help.

I'm Rachel, a horticulturist and teacher, specialising in tropical plants for both indoors and gardens.

I help clients choose the right plants for their space, and lifestyle so you can have plants that not only thrive in your environment but also don't turn into a chore.

You've got the plans, I've got the plants!

DM me Tropical plants to learn about my consulting services.

What help do you need to make your plant dreams a reality?

@ourgreensanctuary

#plantconsulting
#horticulturist
#tropcialgarden
#tropcialplants #tropicalfoliage #foliagegarden #foliagefriday #smallgarden #smallspacegardening #gardens #centralcoastgarden #centralcoastgardening #centralcoast #gardens #gardeningaustralia #gardeninginspiration #gardeningtips #indoorplants #indoorjungle #indoorgarden #gardenconsulting #diy

THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD PRUNE YOUR HOUSEPLANTS: Y

THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD PRUNE YOUR HOUSEPLANTS:

Your plants can direct their energy more efficiently when they aren't hanging onto spent leaves, resulting in more growth.

Removing dead, diseased or damaged growth is important for your overall plant health.

Keep your plants tidy by using snips or secateurs to remove yellow or brown leaves and foliage and not only will your plants look better, they will perform better for you too!

Do you prune your houseplants?

@ourgreensanctuary

#grow #growth #pruning #pruningplants #indoorplant #indoorplants #houseplants #plants #planteducation #plantcourse #plantcontent #contentcreator #containergardening #plantsinpots #plantmaintenance #houseplanttips #plantlover #plantobsessed #horticulturist

Worried about overwatering your houseplants? FEA

Worried about overwatering your houseplants?

FEAR NOT!

The best way to water your indoor plants is to pay attention to when they NEED more water.

What signs are your plants showing you?

This scindapsis had leaves curling in on themselves, very dry potting mix and the vine was drooping right over.

Since this big drink, where I saturated the surface of the pot, twice.

The leaves have uncurled completely and perked right up, the vine is more turgid and I can see the water has done its job as the soil is still moist.

How do you water your houseplants?
Share your tips in the comments 👇

Want more plant reels? 👉 @ourgreensanctuary

PLEASE ❤️ like 🗨️ comment & ↗️ share

#indoorplant #houseplant #plants #creatajungle #junglevibes #houseplants #tropcialgarden #tropicalplants #indoorplants #patioplants #smallspacegarden #gardeningaustralia #plantcontent #horticulturist #gardener #centralcoast #centralcoastgarden

Load More… Follow on Instagram