Cheralyn Darcey

🌺 Devil’s Ivy, Bird of Paradise, Sweet Alyssum, Rosemary and Snapdragon Magickal Botanical Grid

Gathered from my garden tonight to create a Devil’s Ivy, Bird of Paradise, Sweet Alyssum, Rosemary and Snapdragon Magickal Botanical Grid.

This spell grid will help break you free from any magick or negative energy you feel has been cast upon you. It will also assist you to gain a deeper understanding of how to protect yourself in the future by helping you find personal insights into your strengths and weaknesses.
Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzua spp.)
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officialis)
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

How Do you Find the Best Plants and Flowers for Your Office?

Plants and flowers should always be included in workspace environments as they bring what is our natural human daylight living state, the outdoors, to us. Although many of our homes may do so, the vast majority of office spaces, if they feature windows at all, usually have views of other offices.

When we are in the presence of plants and flowers, we are calmed, settled and more focused while inside during the day. Flowers bring an emotional change for the better in us. They are the reproductive parts of the plant and so their job is to be attractive to pollinators and they do this by usually being beautiful, colourful and fragrant, all elements that coincidentally make us humans feel wonderful too! Plants are known to improve the air quality, and this can be of great benefit to human health. They do this by absorbing many different types of toxins, volatile gases and even germs through their leaves and roots.

a few of my well-loved friends that share my office space

WHICH PLANTS AND FLOWERS? 
To select the best plants and cut flowers for the office, always start with the most suitable plants and flowers for use indoors and particularly in office environments. Have a chat with your local garden centre and florist but to start here are some good allrounders:
Plants
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Devils Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
Violet (Viola spp.)
Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Orchid (Orchidaceae spp.)
Pansy (Viola tricolor var. hortensis)
my current Arrowhead crop ready for potting up

Cut Flowers
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) 
Protea (Protea spp.)
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Lobester or Crab Claws (Heliconia spp.)
Orchid (Orchidaceae spp.)
Most Australian Natives
Australia Native Greenery
(an Australian Native)
card: The Language of Flowers, Cheralyn Darcey, Rockpool Publishing

PLANT AND FLOWER CARE
Always keep your office plants and cut flowers away from air-conditioning outlets and drafts. Very few plants will survive the drying effects of constant artificial wind. Never place either right next to windows that face full sun for any part of the day as this can lead to burning of the leaves. Ensure that plants and cut flowers are situated away from electrical outlets and you have assessed the possible angles they may fall if bumped. You don’t want water or plant material on or near electrical and computer equipment or your work items. In saying all this, most plants suitable for indoors will enjoy filtered light and you will want them where you can see them of course. The same goes for cut flowers.
Though not always necessary,
I've taken my Cast Iron Plant outside to enjoy a little fresh air this week. 

To offer the best care to your office plants, keep any information that came with them and refer to it and also look up care tips for individual types. Not all plants need the same amount of light, water, grooming and repotting. Generally, soil needs to be slightly damp and saucers should not usually not be full. Make sure you repot as the plant grows out of its home. Cut flowers do better when all foliage is kept out of the water and the water is changed every second day. Trim away flowers and foliage as they die.

Most cut flowers love a good feed and a home made one:
4 cups of water, 1 teaspoon bleach, 1 teaspoon vinegar, and 1 tablespoon sugar.

The Language of Plants and Flowers for the Office
Why not include plants and flowers that hold traditional meansing to impart even more joy, energy and good vibes to your office space. The following are traditional meanings of a few office-friendly plants and cut flowers.

PLANTS FOR THE OFFICE
Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)  youth, beginnings, inspiration
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) longevity, pride, self-respect
Devils Ivy (Epipremnum aureum) prosperity, protection, boundaries
Pansy (Viola tricolor var. hortensis) remembrance, immunity, loving thoughts
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.) calm, communication, peace
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) happiness, cleansing, truth
Begonia (Begonia spp.)transition, creativity, removal of negativity
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) education, development, transformation
Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginate) legacy, tenacity, endurance
Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina) wisdom, progression, attainment
Violet (Viola spp.) faithfulness, modesty, subconscious
a new collection of plants I've found this week,
some destined for an office home

CUT FLOWERS FOR THE OFFICE
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) self-acceptance, inner beauty, excellence,
King Protea (Protea cynaroides)  creativity, courage, illumination
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) get well, strength, happiness
Orchid (Orchidaceae) uniqueness, refinement, grace
Heliconia (Heliconia spp.) pride, ideas, attention
Waratah(Telopea speciosissima) survival, courage, passion
Flannel Flower(Actinotus helianthi) calm, healing, trust
Grevillea (Grevillea spp.) creativity, solutions, work
Banksia (Banksia spp.) life, enthusiasm, interest

an office floristry design I helped create recently 

bunches of love, 
🌿 Cheralyn 🌻

PS: you can find lots of flower and plant meanings in 'Flowerpaedia' Cheralyn Darcey, Rockpool Publishing 

🌸🌱Camellia, Jonquil and Arrowhead Magickal Botanical Grid

🌸🌱Camellia, Jonquil and Arrowhead Magickal Botanical Grid for those who are finding goals, dreams and projects hard to get started. They may have the passion but are losing hope, may even need need a re-start or new beginning. All of these plants and flowers hold energies that work together for this outcome. I hope that those who need some of this Magickal Botanical energy find it in my grid.

Cast Iron Plant & Peruvian Lily Magickal Botanical Plant Grid 🌿

I'm currently learning to use 'Facebook live' and last night creating one of my little Magickal Botanical Plant Grid I had the spontaneous thought to share it this way and see how it went. I used Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria spp) and Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) to create the spell and I explain the how what and why of this Botanical Alchemy with you. Catch up is here. Once playing, hover your mouse over and click bottom right icon to turn sound on.

Cast Iron Plant & Peruvian Lily Magickal Botanical Plant Grid 🌿

🌿 Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum)

Tumbling over my wall, true and inspiring Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum). They will share with you the energies of
new ideas, beginnings, youth, inspiration, argument and stress reduction.

Arrowhead is a wonderful bedroom plant as it is known to help with sleep disorders. It can also be used in areas in which meetings are held or in general workplaces to facilitate more open negotiations and help inspire new ideas and inspirations. A really good plant to invite into your life when anxiety, stress and turmoil have been present. Give to another to say, “It is time to start again”, “I’m sorry”, “I wish you calm”

The Arrowhead plant has leaves that change their shape as they mature beginning as an arrowhead shape and then developing into a five-fingered structure. Interestingly the plant will have both shapes, or both immature and mature leaves on it at the same time. Flowers are a cream-white lily shaped much like a Calla Lily. A native of South America and Mexico, it can be grown as both a vine or a compact plant. They are a poisonous plant and care should be taken when handling as the sap can irritate skin.

Arrowhead plants prefer indirect light, but it still must be bright. If they are placed in full direct sun their leaves will become bleached and it will kill the plant. They will do best in cool to moderately warm areas between 16 and 24 C (60 and 75 F). Be wary over-watering this plant but ensure that the soil is kept moist. In the cooler months they will require less watering and letting them dry out a little is actually good for them.

Glory Flower aka Princess Flower (Tibouchina ureana)

My Glory Flower aka Princess Flower (Tibouchina ureana) is in full flower and The Language of this splendid plant brings deeper insight, awareness, clarity and understanding. 

Bottlebrush (Callistemon spp.)

To cleanse to remove, to banish what you no longer want in your life and to work towards balance, Bottlebrush (Callistemon spp.) will help you through fresh or dried flowers and botanicals, essences and through images. I found this one yesterday in Sydney, Croydon on my walk, along a train line and visualised the train taking away with it what is no longer wanted in my life. 🌸

Frangipani (Plumeria alba)

The last of summer. Not an end but a change. A reminder that the energy of the plant is expressed through its flowers and that the seasons will layer their various gifts and lessons upon what you find.
Frangipani (Plumeria alba) mean freedom and inner beauty, they will assist in uncovering deeper wisdoms and clarity. Picture from a walk yesterday between the rain in Burwood, Sydney 

🌱 Plant of the Day - Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

Cast Iron Plant will share with you ways to empower ~ work, longevity, pride, self-respect, protection.
This plant will encourage diligent work of the highest quality is achieved when positioned in work space but particularly in retail stores, restaurants, food outlets and offices. If you are looking at progressing in your own personal career or need some workspace protection, then Cast Iron Plant should be placed near the door you exit to go to your work or near or on your desk. Give to another to say, “Good Luck” if they are job seeking and to say, “I wish you well”.