Living in Sarasota, we love bringing the outdoors in. From sunrooms to lanais, one of the most popular ways to decorate is with beautiful green and flowering plants. With only a few frost days a year, we can keep our plants thriving year-round. But even if you do not have a green thumb, the experts at Beneva Flowers have the expertise and advice that you need to fill your environment with beauty – not to mention, the highest quality green and flowering plants!

Don’t Forget! Administrative Professionals Week is coming up, beginning April 23rd! Plants make an exceptional office gift – check out our collection here.

The Schefflera plant is a popular choice for indoor decor. Related to other favorites such as the umbrella plant and the arbicola plant, the Schefflera is easy to care for, but it does a couple sensitivities to pay attention to – most notably providing the right sun exposure and watering correctly.
* Position the plant in medium light, preferably filtered. Direct sunlight will scorch its leaves.
* If your plant begins to get “leggy” and droopy, it requires more light.
* To see the plant thrive, do not water until the soil in the pot is dry, and then soak the soil thoroughly.
* Make sure that you do not overwater, which is the leading way to kill the plant. You will know when the plant is
getting too much water, as its leaves will begin to turn yellow.  

The pothos plant is another popular green houseplant, much for the same reasons. It grows easily with minimal care, but exhibits beautiful green trailing vines that transform your home into a nature sanctuary! Here is how to cultivate a powerhouse pothos:
* The pothos does not enjoy extremes, so will not do well in either darkness or bright sunlight. Therefore look for the indirect, medium light of bedrooms or shaded lanais and it will remain happy.
* Unlike many plants, you should not wait until the soil is dry to water the pothos. Check the soil with your finger – if the soil sticks a bit but your finger is not wet, it is time to water.
* Pothos plants do not require fertilizer, but they may need pruning as their vines grow. Cut with scissors near the stem base, and make sure to keep the stub above the soil line to prevent rotting.Like the bromeliad, anthurium plants (shown above) are tropical, colorful and exotic – perfect for Sarasota homes and offices! The large, red waxy leaves (bracts) are not the flower, which is much smaller and located at the base of the bract. Here is how to pamper your anthurium plant:
* Position the plant in bright light, but not in direct sunlight.
* Protect the plant from drafts or temperature fluctuations (such as air conditioning vents), as they will likely cause the plant to wilt.
* Water the plant thoroughly when the soil is slightly dry, and fertilize every other month.
* In the winter, the anthurium plant needs a rest period in order to bloom to its potential the following year. For a six week period, keep the plant in 60-degree temperatures with very little water and you’ll enjoy a vivid new plant annually.

Sarasota is such a beautiful place, and Beneva is committed to making your home even more beautiful every day. Give us a call or visit our shop, and let’s discuss how to surround yourself with plants.