The Dirt

The Superiority of Plants

We often call ourselves plant caretakers. We bring young shoots into our homes or prepare garden beds outside, supplying them with fresh water, nu...

Plants are for Lovers

The caretaking habits we form around our houseplants mirror how we take care of our hearts, loving ourselves not as an afterthought or a metaphor b...

Why Plants Make You Happy

The practice of collecting and caring for indoor plants is enjoying a revival but there’s nothing new about the human impulse to keep houseplants. ...

How to Mount a Staghorn Fern

The staghorn fern stands out in any room as a majestic piece of living art. Equally rugged and elegant, it lends a modern feel and textural depth t...

Plants: Friends or Furnishings?

According to the field of plant neurobiology, plants may be more perceptive than we thought.