Phéno: a plant in a vintage object

Season 2 of L'Appartement #MerciLesPlantes is coming to Do It! In 2020, this event takes on a 100% digital form, but still inspiring. This week, Do It In Paris and @Maplantemonbonheur unveil a new room in this apartment where plant curiosities are the stars ...

The vegetal boudoir is the new trend where we combine green vibes with a passion for retro… The mantra of this new lair-workshop: taking care of the hands to clear the head ... finished his masterpiece, the satisfaction is to see him reign in this room "apart".

In this cocoon where we take care of ourselves, we give free rein to our creativity and we indulge in activities that do good . Repot plants in original antique objects or vintage tableware is the new decoration hobby for trendy girls.

How to get started Follow our instructions to create your own plant boudoir through this ultra-easy and creative DIY lesson.

There is no imposed figure. The principle ? “Sublimate a favorite object. It could be a birth cup or a grandmother's teapot, a somewhat old-fashioned trinket found in a flea market or forgotten on a shelf and which becomes a very strong decorative piece with a real personal story. ” explains Barbara Leperlier, founder of The Blond Cactus (17 rue Crussol, Paris 11th) which claims to be an “ alternative florist ” and gives a second life to old objects thanks to self-sufficient plants.

It can be tableware such as a jewelry box, a cup, a stoneware bowl, a sugar bowl, a gravy boat ... And even, why not, Scandinavian pottery if you prefer more minimalist or raw objects.

As these are generally small objects, we rely on very resistant plants with slow growth such as Kalanchoe , Opuntia , Spurge , Variegated Aloe or Haworthia ...

For those who think bigger and fall under the spell of Sanseveiria or Anthurium , we bet on larger containers ... Why not a jump with champagne! But beware, even if the plants are larger, we remain vigilant when it comes to watering! Moderation is essential ... so that water does not stagnate at the bottom of your vintage find.

For beginners or those who don't have a green thumb, Barbara advises instead to start with a cactus , the most robust model. If we have a pronounced taste for plants that have pep, we put on the flower cactus very Frida Khalo style , a variety of natural dried flowers, both solar and colorful.

Instructions for repotting "boudoir" version and some wise advice specific to cacti for those who are going to "spice up" their ... boudoir!

Before starting your workshop, take a walk in the garden center or your florist and list the right equipment. You need :

• 1 plant
• 1 mottled object which serves as a "pot"
• Cacti soil (and not green plant)
• Clay balls
• 1 fork
• 1 spoon

For a cactus, think of:

• Special soil for cacti
• 1 large piece of newspaper
• 1 paint brush
• Pebbles (colored)

Step 1.
Place clay balls about 1/3 the height of the container. Then cover with a layer of potting soil.

2nd step.

Gently take the plant out of its old pot and aerate the roots then scrape them to remove the old soil.

If you have opted for the cactus , wrap it in newspaper, forming a large sausage to easily catch and handle.

Step 3.

Gently place the plant on the layer of soil and fill the container with soil. Firm as compactly as possible with potting soil to keep the base of the plant solid.

For the cactus , mix a tablespoon of the new soil with the old one. Cover with a layer of this soil and create a small well to receive the cactus then complete with the rest of the soil mixture.

Step 4.

Clean the plant and its container of soil residues, possibly using a brush.

Step 5.

Once the plant and the edge of the pot are clean, possibly line the soil with pebbles to give a precious touch to your object and protect the plant. The pebbles protect the soil from external aggressions: sun, humidity, dust ...

It's time for a first watering, except for cacti for which it is better to wait 10 to 15 days!

Pay attention to the location: “ Never direct sunlight on the plants! ”, Warns Barbara, even if cacti and succulents need a very bright room.

When it comes to watering, be careful: make sure that the soil is always dry to the touch before watering moderately. And even more for cacti that live very well with very little water - between 1 tsp per month for very small ones, up to 1 tbsp per month for larger cacti .

Skip the clay ball step: the plant will inevitably rot and die.

Too much watering: Most plants survive a dry period very well but do not recover from stagnant water in their pot.

If you have repotted your plant in a silver container, do not treat it with household products at the risk of damaging the plant.