Coleus from last summer, cut it back and it appears to be staging a comeback back!

Hanging out on a Lantana bloom last November

January can feel a little… beige. The garden beds are sleeping, the patio pots are quiet, and even the sun seems to clock out early. But here’s the good news: 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰-𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬. They don’t need blooms to look stunning. In fact, the right leaves can make your home (or plant nook!) look like you hired a designer. Below are some “𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞” foliage plants that look polished even on your most tired winter day. Plus quick tips to keep them looking their best. 𝟏) 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬 (𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐍𝐞𝐨𝐧, 𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: trailing vines instantly soften shelves, bookcases, and corners. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: give it a bright window if possible, but it handles medium light well. Let the top inch or two of soil dry before watering. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: put it up high and let it spill down — instant “plant stylist” vibes. 𝟐) 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 (𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝:: upright, sculptural, modern. It’s basically living decor. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: water sparingly (seriously). It’s happier a little dry than a little wet. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: looks amazing in a simple pot with a clean shape (white, black, or terracotta). 𝟑) 𝐙𝐙 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: glossy, structured leaves that always look freshly wiped. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: low water + tolerates lower light better than most plants. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: a ZZ plant on a side table = instant “grown-up” plant corner. 𝟒) 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 (𝐀𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: gorgeous patterned leaves — silvers, greens, and even pinks/reds in some varieties. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: one of the best options for medium-to-lower indoor light. Keep it evenly moist (not soggy). 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤:: use it as your “color plant” when everything else is just green. 𝟓) 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐧 (𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐟, 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥, 𝐞𝐭𝐜.) 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝: lush, soft, and elegant — like pothos’ slightly fancier cousin. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩: bright indirect light is best; water when the top inch dries out. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: it looks stunning in a hanging planter or in a pot on a plant stand.

I plant bulbs for early blooms

(𝐵𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑒𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑡… 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 “𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝐼 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡?” 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡.) January is a great time to tidy and shape many plants. Especially indoor plants and overwintering container plants, because growth is slower and you can actually see what’s going on. But not everything should be cut back right now. Some plants need that winter pause, and some store their future blooms in buds you can accidentally snip off. Here’s a friendly, no-drama guide to what to prune in January… and what to leave alone. ✅ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐩𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 (𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 + 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡) 𝟏) 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐲 If your pothos, philodendron, tradescantia, or spider plant is looking stretched and sparse, January is perfect for a trim. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐭: * long, bare stems * stems that are reaching toward the window * any growth that looks thin or weak 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐭: Trim just above a leaf node (a little bump or point where leaves come out). That’s where new growth will branch. 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬: Most of these cuttings root easily in water—free plants! 😄 𝟐) 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 (𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐲) Indoor herbs love a “haircut.” 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬: * basil (pinch the top above leaf sets) * mint (trim often) * oregano (pinch tips) * thyme (light trims) * rosemary (very light shaping only) 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞:​ Don’t remove more than about ⅓ of the plant at once if growth is slow. 𝟑) 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 (𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞) This is the easiest “yes.” Prune off: * yellowing leaves that won’t recover * crispy brown leaves * mushy stems * anything moldy * anything with obvious pest damage 𝐓𝐢𝐩: Use clean scissors/snips, especially if you’re removing questionable leaves. 𝟒) 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 (𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠) If you brought in things like geraniums, herbs, or patio plants, you can tidy them gently. 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬: * remove dead stems/leaves * cut back long scraggly growth * shape for a fuller form Just keep it modest as most overwintering plants aren’t growing fast right now.