Scrim's Florist

Scrim's Florist 262 Elgin St. Ottawa ON - Sharing a little plant-inspiration with a selection of plants we have carried in the past. Feel free to give us a call to discuss what is currently available at 613-232-1733 or visit scrimsflorist.com

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Once Upon a Time, There was a Queen of the Cacti 🦎

And she lived happily ever after atop her Fairy Castle Cactus throne

Although surprised to find a little friend among our cacti, it was no surprise that she chose to call the Fairy Castle Cactus home! I mean how could one resist its  enchanting five sided stems resembling spires and turrets and endearing castle-like structure? Let’s be real - sweet desert dreams are deffffinitely made of Fairy Castle Cacti. 

PLANT CARE: Happily ever after for a Fairy Castle Cactus would include a bright, naturally lit environment and thorough waterings when the soil is completely dry. Just like other cacti, it is best to keep the plant away from any drafts of cold or hot air. 

WATERING: As the Fairy Castle Cactus can be quite dense around the base of the grow pot where the plant and soil meet, we find that it is best to water the plant from below. This means that instead of pouring water directly into the soil/base of the plant, we recommend filling a container or tray with a couple inches of water and then placing the plastic grow pot inside. Ultimately, this watering method allows the plant to soak up all the water it needs, and have also found that it helps to avoid rotting the base of the cactus. On average waterings will be more frequent in the summer months and less frequent in the winter months.   

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Oakleaf Croton

I just can't help that I am so in leaf with you, oak-ky? 😘

It’s not hard to fall in love with the Oakleaf Croton’s vibrant foliage. Tones of yellows, greens, oranges and reds will add a nice pop of colour to any space!

They are happiest in a very bright, naturally lit, humid environment and should be watered when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. If you let this plant friend dry out a little too much, its foliage will start to droop down and signal to you that it could use a drink!

Some of our favourite other varieties in the shop include: Croton Magnificent and Croton Petra ☺️ 

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Why not sh-air some love with an airplant?

As they say, sharing is caring!

Airplants enjoy moderate light and high humidity. If your space is quite dry, we encourage you to mist the tips of your airplant’s leaves in between your regular soakings/waterings. This will help to prevent the leaf tips from turning brown, which is generally caused by dehydration.  After misting or soaking/watering your airplants we recommend holding the plant from its root/base and then gently shaking off any excess water. To prevent your airplants from rotting due to overwatering, it is important to keep your plant upside down for several hours (the longer the better!) after soakings. This will help to thoroughly drain the water that has accumulated in-between the leaves and at the base your airplant.  

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Bloom! There it is.

"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" -Dr. Seuss

Fun fact: All cacti have the capability to bloom! Factors such as age, environment, water, lighting, fertilizer (and we like to think a bit of luck 😉) can all play a role in the process.

This bloom surprised us not only with its beauty, but also its size! Lasting for only a couple of days, the flower would bloom to its fullest mid-day before slowly closing up again. 

In terms of overall care, cacti generally enjoy a bright, naturally lit room and thorough waterings whenever the soil is completely dry (this process will be more frequent in the summer months!).

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Cut Echeveria

These plants are anything but a handful!

The beauty of these cut succulents is the freedom of knowing that they do not need to be planted in soil immediately. So while you wait for the roots to start to grow, you can let your imagination run wild with how you chose to display them in your home!  

We will often place a bit of moss at the base of the plant as a medium for the roots to grow into before displaying them in hanging glass ornaments, special containers/displays, floral arrangements or even bridal bouquets... the list is endless!

Eventually, you will know your plant is ready to settle down once it starts to grow some roots. At this point, you can place it on top of soil and voilà, it has found its forever home! 

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What A Catch - Goldfish Plants!

Imagine reeling in these beauties into your urban jungle 😘

These guys love bright light and can produce fun, vivid blooms that resemble fish 🐠. They are also generally known to be non-toxic for cats and dogs, so pet lovers can breath a small sigh of relief!

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Opuntia - 'Prickly Pear Cactus'

Between you and (cact)I, we've always felt that our Opuntia's welcoming open arms have just screamed "hug me!" 😘

To keep this cactus friend happy, we would recommend a bright, naturally lit room and thorough waterings when the soil is completely dry (this process will be more frequent in the summer months!). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ CARE TIP: We generally water our Opuntia (and other cacti) from below. This means that instead of pouring water directly into the soil, we fill a container or tray with a couple inches of water and place the grow pot inside. Ultimately, this watering method allows the plant to soak up all the water it needs, but we have also found that it helps to avoid rotting the base of the cactus. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A frequently asked question is: How will I know when the Opuntia (or other cactus friends) is finished drinking using this watering method? Often you can tell by two indicators: (1) the change in the colour of the soil from a light brown to a dark brown which is moist to the touch (2) the weight of the grow pot is now significantly heavier with the additional moisture ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Ficus Lyrata Bush

I like large lush foliage and I cannot lie 😉

A favourite among plant lovers and interior designers alike, these large foliage beauties love bright, moderate light and prefer to be watered when the top layer of soil dries out about an inch deep. Also commonly known as Fiddle Leaf Figs these indoor plants will make a wonderful addition to your tropical plant family!

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Stromanthe 'Triostar'

Sure to be the star of your plant jungle!

Perfect for eastern or northern exposure, these tropical plants don’t enjoy the direct rays of the sun, but absolutely love humidity. With their multicoloured foliage, they are sure to be a little bright light in any space!

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Sansevieria

Also commonly referred to as: Mother-in-Law's Tongue or Snake Plant

These striking plants are incredibly easy to get along with! They will adapt to pretty much any light conditions, whether it be office environments with only artificial lighting to bright, natural sunlight in the home. Remember to water thoroughly whenever the soil is dry throughout the pot and remove any standing water that remains after about 15 minutes.

Furthermore, the Sansevieria Laurentii variety is a great plant to consider for improving the air quality in your home!

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Ficus Elastica Tineke/Tineke Rubber Tree

This beauty is very easy to care for and loves an environment with bright, natural indirect light. Water only when the top-inch of soil is dry and remove any excess, standing water after about 15 minutes to prevent rotting the roots over time. For some TLC, it is a good idea to gently wipe the leaves of the ficus using water and a soft cloth to remove dust from its foliage.

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Ficus Benjamina Bush

Now who wouldn't want this head of hair?!

This ficus prefers a space with bright, moderate light, and is located well away from any drafts of cold or hot air. While they can get a bad rap for dropping leaves, it is generally a result of changes in its care pattern or environment. Therefore, when you first bring this plant home patience is key as it may shed a few leaves as it adjusts. However, they are plants that love consistency and once you’ve found the perfect spot for it, it should settle in after a little while!

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Alocasia 'Polly'

Oh my gourd look at that Alocasia ‘Polly’ 😉🎃

This plant thrives in an environment with high humidity and bright, moderate light (no direct sunlight). In general, they prefer their soil to be consistently moist, but will tolerate drying out a little bit at the surface (be careful not to let the soil dry out completely). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ CARE TIP: We would recommend carefully checking your Alocasia plants regularly for pests such as spider mites. These unfortunate little pests thrive in dry conditions and are often identified through the webbing they produce. Therefore, some find it helpful to keep them at bay by either misting the plant often (if their space is not humid enough) or by delicately wiping the leaves of the plant regularly with a damp cloth to prevent any accumulation of dust.

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Aglaonema Osaka

How elegant are the tones of whites and greens in its foliage?

Aglaonemas will happily live in humid environments, with either moderate light (bright indirect light) or partial shade. However, they can also survive in areas with just artificial, fluorescent lighting, which is often found in office spaces (yay for office plants!). Furthermore, they would prefer not to have their foliage under the direct rays of the sun or next to any areas that would expose it to drafts of cold/hot air.

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Fig Tree - Ficus Carica

You're un-fig-ettable.

This beautiful plant is not that difficult to fig-ure out how to care for! Its forever home should have lots of bright, natural light and it would love to be watered when the soil dries out slightly at the top inch.  

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Alocasia 'Low Rider'

Which plant lover will be its ride or die - emphasis on the ride? 😉

This beauty of an Alocasia 'Low Rider' is currently in an 8-inch grow pot with gorgeous green leaves. Also known as Elephant Ears plant, it will gladly ride with your plant squad if you provide it with bright, moderate light and a humid environment! In terms of watering, they prefer being consistently moist, but will tolerate drying a little bit at the surface (just be careful NOT to ever let the soil dry completely!). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

We would also recommend taking the time to wipe the leaves of Alocasia plants regularly with a damp cloth as this helps to prevent the accumulation of dust on the leaves and to an extent the dry environment in which spider mites (a common pest of this plant) would thrive.

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Bromeliad Guzmania

Perfect for those with a mania for vibrant flowering plants!

These eye-catching exotic plants are a perfect alternative to traditional flowering plants! They enjoy bright, indirect natural light and homes with high humidity. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Although bromeliads only generally bloom once (typically lasting a few months), this exquisite bloom and fun tropical foliage make them a wonderful addition to any plant lover's urban jungle! And the fun doesn't have to stop there, with a bit of luck and patience you may even be able to grow new plant friends from the bromeliad pups growing from the main plant after it has finished blooming!