The Plant Club Monthly July 2021 Unboxing & Review – Duranta erecta
Hey guys, it’s been a while since I shared my Plant Club boxes! Judging by the number of pageviews on my previous reviews, it seems to be a very popular box – or at the very least, a lot of you are interested in it. Since I live in Michigan, I wasn’t sure if adding new plants during the colder months would be a good idea, so I paused my subscription until it got warmer. My August box is already on the way, and I realized that I never shared what I got in July, so without further ado, here’s what came in the mail!
HOW IT WORKS:
For $39 + $4.95 S&H subscribers will receive a package that includes one carefully wrapped healthy “featured plant”, a suitable pot, premium potting soil mix with a bag of pebbles for drainage, if necessary, a plant name tag, and a hand-illustrated sheet with instructions. At the time of this post, there’s no option to receive pet-friendly plants only. Click here to subscribe.
Want to see how other plants are doing? I occasionally update my original reviews with current photos.
The Plant Club Monthly somewhat takes into account your location so there’s some variety to what subscribers might receive; I’ve seen people on IG getting tropical-looking plants that probably wouldn’t grow well here. July package contained a cute mini shrub with yellowish leaves that vary from green to golden in color. According to the monthly card, this plant is called Duranta erecta Cuban Gold, which is native to Central and South America. And you may also know Duranta’s fragrant cousin, Verbena – the two of them belong to the same family. Although duranta is often grown as an outdoor shrub in tropical climates, it also takes well to pruning. This quality helped duranta become a popular choice for bonsai beginners, who use this cute little bush to hone their skills.
What’s included in The Plant Club July 2021 box:
- Duranta erecta aka Cuban Gold plant.
- Premium decorative clay container.
- A bag of green gemstones for drainage.
- Premium soil blend, custom made by The Plant Club to match the plant’s needs.
- My box also included a wooden plant tag, a collectible coaster, a piece of strawberry candy, a pencil, and a custom-made magnet with the name and image of the plant.
Care instructions are a little demanding and as a beginner plant parent I felt a bit intimidated:
1 // Duranta erecta prefers hot temperatures, ideally 65F-75F, and can thrive even in triple digit numbers.
2 // It can tolerate both dry and humid conditions, and doesn’t mind salty air of beach climates. After all, it’s originally from the Carribbean!
3 // Duranta likes to be thoroughly watered at all times. It’s recommended to water when the top 1″ of soil is dry, which for me is roughly every 2-3 days.
4 // If your plant starts dropping leaves, that’s a sign it’s not getting enough water.
5 // Duranta erecta is not a pet-safe plant. The leaves and unripe berries have a known toxic effect so it’s best to keep this plant away from animals and small children.
View this post on Instagram
Duranta erecta inspo on IG. Maybe I should prune mine and turn it into a bonsai tree, too?
Fun facts:
- Duranta erecta is named after Castor Durante de Gualdo, a famous botanist, physician, and poet who lived in the 1500’s during the Italian Renaissance era.
- Duranta erecta is also commonly called Sky Flower, Golden Dewdrop and Pigeon Berry.
BOTTOM LINE:
I’m a little conflicted about this one. As a novice plant parent, I would prefer to buy houseplants that are easier to care for, and compared to my other plants, Duranta seems like the most needy one. The fact that I can’t go on vacation for a few days without worrying that my plant will suffer in my absence is not a good feeling, and I’m not committed enough to buy an irrigation system. On the other hand, maybe this is a chance for me to try my hand in making a bonsai tree? I browsed them a little bit on IG and they all looked really nice. How do you feel about this plant?
What do you think about this subscription service? Do you have any plants at home?
