Latest news with #Monstera
Scottish Sun
13-08-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
I tried to swap my council house but got trolled for ‘living in a jungle', people say my home looks like a cannabis farm
Some reckon she has 'more plants than the garden centre' HOLY SMOKES I tried to swap my council house but got trolled for 'living in a jungle', people say my home looks like a cannabis farm Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WOMAN has been brutally trolled for living in ''a jungle'' after she tried swapping her council house with another property. From improving air quality and reducing stress to boosting ones mood, houseplants offer a wide range of benefits. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 One woman's gorgeous council house has left people divided - would you have this many plants? Credit: facebook/House Exchange Home swap Council or housing associations UK ONLY 2 Whilst many liked the greenery, others weren't so sure of the look - which they dubbed living in 'jungle' Credit: facebook/House Exchange Home swap Council or housing associations UK ONLY Whether you opt for the Swiss Cheese plant or Peace lily, plants can help increase humidity levels, potentially alleviating dry skin, sore throats, and sinus irritation. But while many of us may have the odd plant here and there, it seems that one plant super fan has taken things to a whole new level. The woman, Mia Field, from Bedford, took to Facebook to share snaps of her plant-packed council home she wanted to swap with - and the greenery has left people totally divided. Although Mia said she loved the current house, she's keen to live closer to her family who are an hour's drive away. read more on homes POT OF GOLD How to unlock thousands of pounds of cash just from your garden Desperate to find someone to swap properties with, the young woman said: ''Hey, I have a 2 bedroom house in Bedford MK41 with a driveway and a generous amount of storage. ''I love the house, it has a lot of potential but I need to be closer to family in the Watford area. ''The smallest bedroom has a superking bed with a built in wardrobe - (just needs painting) large shed in garden, separate toilet and bathroom. ''I am looking for a 2 bedroom house in and around the Watford area please. Thanks.'' In the post, uploaded on the popular House Exchange Home swap Council or housing associations UK ONLY group, Mia also attached a variety of images of her current home - and needless to say, the shocking amount of plants left people with their jaws on the floor. The living room, for instance, featured numerous Monstera plants of an impressive size and huge leaves, as well as what appeared to be Areca palms. My council flat is so stylish thanks to second-hand finds - plus the treasure chest place you need to look for bargains To go with the aesthetic, Mia had also kept the sofa light green, adding a few cushions with a leafy design. The dining area, too, boasted several smaller and larger plants - some of which were hanging - as well as a fish tank. Some of the smaller plants were sat neatly on the white shelves, adding plenty of greenery and life to the room. The bathroom - though not as green - was also home to an array of plants, all sitting in gorgeous pots. The darker shade of the Calathea plants provided stunning contrast of the sage walls and the otherwise more neutral aesthetic. How can I get a council house? To apply for a council home, you need to fill out and hand in an application to your local authority. To find your local authority, simply use the Government's council locator tool on its website. Once you have access to your local council's website, it should offer you guidelines on how to complete your application. After applying, you'll most likely have to join a waiting list. Bear in mind, even if you are put on a waiting list, this doesn't guarantee you a council house offer. Your council should also offer you advice on how to stay in your current home and solve any issues you might have, such as problems with a private landlord or mortgage. You are eligible to apply for council housing if you are a British citizen living in the UK providing have not lived abroad recently. Each council has its own local rules about who qualifies to go on the housing register in its area, but it is based on "points" or a "banding" system. For example, you're likely to be offered housing first if you: are homeless live in cramped conditions have a medical condition made worse by your current home are seeking to escape domestic violence Once you are high enough on a council's waiting list, it will contact you when a property is available. Some councils let people apply at the age of 18, while others let you apply even sooner at 16-year-olds. EU workers and their families and refugees may also be eligible. A council house is reached through a points system, so depending on your housing needs, you may be considered low priority. The council will contact you about any available property once you are high enough on the waiting list. There is no limit on how long you can expect to be on the waiting list. Mia's council house has since taken the internet by storm, leaving fellow Facebook users totally divided. Whilst many liked the greenery, others weren't so sure of the look - which they dubbed living in ''a jungle'' and even ''a cannabis farm''. One troll said: 'Wow that's a lot of greenery plants. Like a jungle in there.'' ''How long does it take to water them all?'' another wondered. ''More plants than Garden Centre!!'' a third chuckled. A fat hit back at the critics, writing: ''Wow. I am speechless at the amount of plants. Absolutely breath taking. Your home is beautiful and the plants are incredible.'' ''No swap to offer but just wanted to say I love how much your home looks like a jungle fairy tale!'' a fan added.
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
16 Parents Who Might Be Having The Worst Day Of Their Lives
The next time you think you're having a disastrous day, remember there are parents out there who are living through absolute nightmare scenarios, thanks to their kids. Here are 16 photos that will make you grateful you're not the parents behind these cameras: 1.A mom realized her son ate the middles out of every cinnamon roll before she had a chance to try any. Related: parent was left wondering how a carpet stain could possibly get any worse. parent was speechless when they discovered their kid had attempted to pierce their own nose, only to end up inhaling an earring in the process. horror this parent must have felt when they watched their son smash their TV through the home security camera. parent came home to their beloved plant, limp and leafless. Related: Mom let her toddler use her phone. When she got it back, she realized she had been locked out for 47 years. plant lover's son gave their Monstera an unforgiving trim. just say this parent is never letting their 4-year-old play with food dye again. Related: parent had no words when their daughter used a plastic cutting board as a pizza pan. parent was in shambles when their son decided to make the kitchen his acrylic paint project. Mom probably regretted ever buying any lipstick. parent is probably never going to let their kid have a playdate again. Dad must have been fed up after realizing his son had broken his monitor just one day after he bought it. Related: finding out your neighbor put a book called "Effective Discipline for Children" in your mailbox. That happened to this parent. was probably the breaking point for the parent who baked these brownies. finally, this parent had no idea what to do when their toddler shredded a library book. What do you think? Let me know in the comments! Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds:
Buzz Feed
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
16 Parents' Worst Days Caught On Camera
The next time you think you're having a disastrous day, remember there are parents out there who are living through absolute nightmare scenarios, thanks to their kids. Here are 16 photos that will make you grateful you're not the parents behind these cameras: A mom realized her son ate the middles out of every cinnamon roll before she had a chance to try any. This parent was left wondering how a carpet stain could possibly get any worse. This parent was speechless when they discovered their kid had attempted to pierce their own nose, only to end up inhaling an earring in the process. The horror this parent must have felt when they watched their son smash their TV through the home security camera. This parent came home to their beloved plant, limp and leafless. This Mom let her toddler use her phone. When she got it back, she realized she had been locked out for 47 years. This plant lover's son gave their Monstera an unforgiving trim. Let's just say this parent is never letting their 4-year-old play with food dye again. This parent had no words when their daughter used a plastic cutting board as a pizza pan. This parent was in shambles when their son decided to make the kitchen his acrylic paint project. This Mom probably regretted ever buying any lipstick. This parent is probably never going to let their kid have a playdate again. This Dad must have been fed up after realizing his son had broken his monitor just one day after he bought it. Imagine finding out your neighbor put a book called "Effective Discipline for Children" in your mailbox. That happened to this parent. This was probably the breaking point for the parent who baked these brownies. And finally, this parent had no idea what to do when their toddler shredded a library book. What do you think? Let me know in the comments!
Straits Times
27-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Root Awakening: Flowering plants grow best outdoors
It is difficult to grow flowering plants in high-rise gardens because they need at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. PHOTOS: SOWMYA GOPI Plants may have root rot I have a hibiscus, petunia and dianthus. The hibiscus gets bright filtered light, and the other two get a few hours of direct sunlight on sunny days. The hibiscus has developed white patches and looks unhealthy. The leaves of the other two plants are yellowing. The plants are watered daily and have been fertilised recently. I also applied neem oil to the hibiscus. What is wrong? Sowmya Gopi It is difficult to grow your flowering plants in high-rise gardens because they need at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Dianthus and Calibrachoa (the plant with petunia-like flowers) are often produced in moisture-retentive growing media that remain moist for a long time, if they are not grown in a sunny location. Wet feet can cause the plants to suffer from disease and root rot. You may be able to save your plants by taking healthy cuttings and propagating them. Your hibiscus does not seem to have pest issues , so you need not apply neem oil. Pomelo infested by mealy bugs These sap-sucking pests produce a sweet secretion that attracts ants. PHOTO: FONG KAH WAI I see hairy white patches and ants on the undersides of my pomelo leaves. Are the patches eggs? How can I remove them? Fong Kah Wai Your plant has likely been infested with mealy bugs. These sap-sucking pests produce a sweet secretion that attracts ants. Take your plant to the bathroom and wash off the pests. Spray summer oil to suffocate any remaining bugs. Complete coverage of the plant, and repeated applications, are needed to manage and reduce the pest population. Inspect the plant regularly and act promptly. Hibiscus needs more light The plant may be aborting flowers due to pest damage or a lack of light. PHOTO: DASGUPTA SUDHANSU RAJAN My hibiscus' buds are aborted before blooming. I rotate the plant through various locations so it can get direct sunlight for a few hours every day. What is wrong? Dasgupta Sudhansu Ranjan From the thin, stretched and soft new growth of your plant, it seems that your hibiscus is not getting enough light. It grows best as a shrub planted outdoors under full sun, a common scene in local parks and gardens. In high-rise apartments, it will need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Water consistently and do not let the plant dry out, be it from wind or lack of water. This can stress the plant and cause it to abort its flowers. Check the fallen flowers for any sign of thrip damage, which will appear as white or grey streaks on the petals. These pests can cause flowers to abort prematurely. They can be difficult to control, but pesticides such as abamectin and spinosad can reduce their population. Brown patches on leaves could be due to injury The injuries are vulnerable to secondary infections by pathogens such as fungi. PHOTO: NANCY LEE There are brown spots on my Monstera and they seem to be growing in size. What is happening? My plant gets indirect light. Nancy Lee The patches seem to have been caused by a past injury, such as contact with hot surfaces, for instance, a window glass on a sunny day. The injuries make the plant vulnerable to secondary infections by pathogens such as fungi. You can prune the affected leaves, as they will not recover. You may want to move your plant to a brighter spot periodically for exposure to filtered sunlight for several hours. Do this slowly and carefully, as your plant has been grown in deep shade and its soft tissue is susceptible to sunburn. Over time, however, the increase in light levels will strengthen the leaf tissue and improve your plant's overhall health. Epiphyllum leaves eaten by snails Garden pests like snails and slugs are active at night during the wet season. PHOTO: JOHN LEE My Epiphyllum plant has white patches. What are they? How do I get rid of them? John Lee The white patches are a result of feeding by snails or slugs. These garden pests hide in the day and are active at night during the wet season. Check for small snails or slugs in the growing media of your plant and remove them promptly. Hang your plant in such a way that these pests cannot access it. Answers by Dr Wilson Wong, an NParks-certified practising horticulturist and parks manager. He is the founder of Green Culture Singapore and an adjunct assistant professor (Food Science & Technology) at the National University of Singapore. Have a gardening query? E-mail it with clear, high-resolution pictures of at least 1MB, if any, and your full name to stlife@ We reserve the right to edit and reject questions. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CTV News
22-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Shoppers are discovering once rare plants in local retailers in Canada
Plants that have colourful patterns that resemble paintings and even a starry sky were sold for hundreds of dollars during the pandemic houseplant boom. But amateur gardeners are finding that the Philodendron Pink Princess, Philodendron Ring of Fire and Monstera Thai Constellation are no longer hard to find in Canada. In fact, trips to local big-box retailers, grocery stores and nurseries are like treasure hunts for plant enthusiasts as they discover these non-traditional plants are sold for much lower prices today. This is a trend retailers and growers attribute to the continuing demand for unusual varieties. Rare plants in Canada: Genna Weber with spiritus-sancti Genna Weber holds one of her prized plants called the Philodendron spiritus-sancti, once considerd a 'holy grail' among plant enthusiasts. (Genna Weber) Because of the demand, these businesses found a way to mass produce them, which helped lower the prices. 'The plants that were rare and trendy during the pandemic are more mainstream now,' Justin Hancock, director of research and development for wholesale horticultural grower Costa Farms, said in a recent video interview with from Miami. Demand was a big factor in bringing in the non-traditional plants into Longo's stores, said Deb Craven, president at the Ontario grocery chain. 'I think what we noticed, especially during COVID, was that there was a demand for other types of plants and maybe plants that our guests wouldn't have been looking for in the past that they were starting to look for,' Craven said in a video interview from Ancaster, Ont. Rare plants in Canada: Philodendron Ring of Fire The Philodendron Ring of Fire is among the variegated plants that grew popular during the pandemic. (Home Depot) Pricey plant splurges Before the coveted plants started popping up at grocery stores, Pol Apiwong was among those who splurged on rare plants during the pandemic. Apiwong said he paid a grower in Thailand in 2021 around $400, excluding shipping, for a small Philodendron Spiritus Sancti, which was viewed as a 'holy grail' plant then. Before and during the pandemic, he said plant enthusiasts had to import rare plants or buy them from personal collectors or smaller plant shops. Four years after his big purchase, the Spiritus Sancti's price has plunged. The plant is currently sold out at the JOMO Studio plant shop in Toronto where Apiwong works as a manager. It has the price tag of $45 for the same size he paid the Thai grower. 'We continue to see excitement around new and unusual releases,' he said in a phone interview with 'People still want to buy something special.' Rare plants in Canada: Philodendron Spiritus Sancti Genna Weber won this small Philodendron Spiritus Sancti in a giveaway in 2022. She says the plant was selling for around $500 at that time. (Genna Weber) Genna Weber, a plant influencer with the handle Genna's Plants on Instagram and YouTube, recalled buying a small Philodendron Pink Princess for about $25 in 2019. Then during the pandemic, the houseplant market took off as lockdowns kept Canadians at home. At that time, these plants were tougher to find as demand was high, she said. Prices were often at least $100 for a small Pink Princess, which has splashes of bright pink foliage, and even a few hundred dollars for a large specimen during the pandemic. 'And now, you can basically pick them up in any garden centre or Canadian Tire for next to nothing, like under $20 for a plant,' Weber said in a recent video interview with from her plant-filled living room in Norwich, Ont. Weber significantly grew her collection during the pandemic to more than 200 plants today. 'And then the supply kind of caught up with the demand.' Rare plants in Canada: Philodendron Pink Princess Genna Weber, a plant influencer on Instagram and YouTube, holds a Philodendron Pink Princess. (Genna Weber) Mark Beaty, senior merchant of the garden department at The Home Depot, said interest has continued to grow. He noted 'an immediate positive' response, anecdotally, when the big-box chain started to sell a plant that has creamy white variegation that some say is reminiscent of a starry sky, called Thai Constellation, in March 2023 in Canada. 'Our customers see them trending on social platforms like Pinterest and are inspired to bring them into their homes,' he wrote in an email to 'Our associates see rare plants at trade shows and will send me photos, asking 'have you seen these?' which leads to me ensuring we eventually carry them in-store.' Why are prices down? The spike in demand for the trendy plants has led to producing and selling greater quantities of them, thereby reducing the price, said Julie Codere, lawn and garden category director at Rona. Despite plant sales cooling since the COVID-19 peak, she said the Canadian big-box retailer has seen 'steady purchases' of these unusual plants. 'Our 'trendier' plants usually sell quite fast as we have repeat customers that shop often and also employees that share on social media as well,' Codere wrote in an email to from Boucherville, Que., noting popular ones include a plant with golden-yellow leaves called Chameleon ZZ plant, another with splashes of cream, white and yellow on its narrow foliage called Pothos Variegated Amplissium, Monstera Thai Constellation and a plant with varying white variegation called Philodendron White Knight. Rare plants in Canada: Chameleon ZZ plant The Chameleon ZZ plant is among the popular plants at stores in Canada. (Rona) She said Rona discovers 'trending' plants by visiting trade shows as well as following blogs and plant groups on social media. 'Large producers have specialized teams of researchers and passionate growers that bring that new discovery to the market and we're able to sell it at a competitive price,' she wrote. Perhaps one of the best examples of a once-rare plant that has become widely available in Canada, the Monstera Thai Constellation is another plant whose price has plunged. It was harder to find several years ago, selling for three digits or more, depending on the seller and size. But the plant recently became more accessible. Costa Farms began to send shipments of the Thai Constellation to its partners including retailers in Canada just last year, Hancock said. He said it's difficult to propagate some plants like Thai Constellation by the tens of thousands through traditional cuttings, which are stems with nodes from which roots will grow. But his company found a partner that could more efficiently and affordably propagate the Thai Constellation through tissue culture, allowing Costa Farms to sell larger numbers of the plant at lower prices, Hancock said. Monstera Thai Constellation Monstera Thai Constellation has variegation that resembles a starry sky. (Home Depot) These are some of the formerly rare plants that are now accessible to the masses: Monstera Burle Marx Flame The Burle Marx Flame has lance-shaped leaves in its young form that become heart-shaped with slits resembling a flame when it matures, according to Costa Farms. Monstera Burle Marx Flame Monstera Burle Marx Flame has been mass produced. (Costa Farms) Epipremnum pinnatum Albo-Variegata Epipremnum pinnatum Albo-Variegata, or Albo Pothos, has cream and white patterns, with leaves fenestrating as it matures. Epipremnum pinnatum Albo-Variegata Epipremnum pinnatum Albo-Variegata is commonly sold at garden centres and local retailers.(JOMO Studio) Alocasia Frydek Variegated Alocasia Frydek Variegated is prized for its green velvet leaves with white and cream patterns. Rare plants in Canada: Alocasia Frydek Variegata Alocasia Frydek Variegata is also known as Variegated Alocasia Frydek or Alocasia micholitziana 'Maxkowskii Variegata.' (JOMO Studio) Alocasia Jacklyn Alocasia Jacklyn, or Alocasia tandurusa, has distinctive dark-veined, bright green, arrowhead-shaped and hairy leaves with striped stems. Rare plants in Canada The Alocasia Jacklyn has drawn buzz because of its distinctive foliage. (JOMO Studio) Philodendron Gloriosum Philodendron Gloriosum is a crawling plant — which means it grows horizontally — with heart-shaped velvety leaves. Rare plants in Canada: Philodendron Gloriosum Philodendron Gloriosum is a crawling plant native to South America. (JOMO Studio) Anthurium Crystallinum Velvety anthuriums such as Anthurium Crystallinum were on many pandemic plant parents' wish lists. The Crystallinum has dark green, heart-shaped leaves with contrasting white veins.
