by Amanda Rose Newton
Maybe it’s the uncertainty of the times we live in but astrology is certainly becoming more mainstream. More than just a daily horoscope, astrological signs can help us find meaning in everyday events, provide direction, and even help us form meaningful connections.
Even if you do not subscribe to all angles of astrology, I think all of us can agree that it is just good fun!
Outside of personality traits and likely friends or potential enemies, astrology can also help provide ideas as to what your gardening style is. Believe it or not, personality plays a lot into it! What might make sense for some is not going to fly for others, so why not make gardening curated for you?
This month starts our monthly series on gardening by sign, exploring what plants may end your brown-thumb streak forever. Or at the very least, it gives you additional reasons to get out in the garden and excuses to buy “just one more” houseplant!
Fire in Winter: Aquarius
We are starting with Aquarius as this sign falls between January 20th and February 19th. If you know anyone born during this window, their personalities are much warmer (sometimes plain out fiery) than the temperature outside. They bring life to winter and pave (or plow) their own path in life, and that includes in the garden!
Represented by the sun, dry is going to be their style when it comes to gardening. The lower the maintenance, the better!
What to Plant For Your Sign
To clarify, lower maintenance doesn’t mean laziness. It just means you have things to do, and can certainly do it all!
Aquarius individuals are social and independent which may mean less time at home and subsequently, less time in the garden. Keeping it simple does not mean basic, as vegetables, flowers, and even bio-luminescent plants are still on the table!
Edibles
While annual vegetables take more time than perennial herbs or fruit trees, there are still quite a few that you can plant and forget with great results.
Squashes: From pumpkin to zucchini, it’s just a matter of tossing a few seeds in a bed or even growing vertically from a balcony container to have a bounty. Squashes are infamous for “volunteering” to grow in places like compost piles, so make sure you save and toast the seeds as a crispy topping for your baked squash dishes.
Legumes: Beans are independent, just like members of the Aquarius sign. They grow where planted and easily spread on to their next adventure. They also happen to leave your soil better than what you started with, making it a win-win for you. When grown on a trellis or porch railing, they also happen to be beautiful.
Dragon Fruit: When you think “easy plant” cacti are always the first that comes to mind. Dragon fruit also happens to come with edible fruit that will cost you much more at the grocery store than what it takes to grow it. If you are looking for a native option, consider the prickly pear cactus which provides both edible fruit and edible paddles (nopales) that are delicious when pan-fried.
Rosemary: The herbal scent and ease of care make this a must for Aquarius babies. It also takes simplicity to a new level as you can use it in your cooking or as a garnish directly, cutting out the spice jar middleman.
Flowers and Indoor Plants For Aquarius
Yes, you can still have blooms that wow and not spend hours clearing out the backyard! Sunshine and winter do not always mix and the need for reminders of a vibrant landscape is not lost on any sign.
Orchids: Guess what the birth flower of February is? Yep, it’s an orchid, which suits an Aquarius just fine. Here in Florida, orchids thrive outdoors where they can catch the rain and take in nutrients as they please when attached to trees. If you must keep them indoors, try the bathroom– an easy way to up the humidity with minimal effort.
Air Plants: If you are an Aquarius in Florida who doesn’t own an air plant yet, consider this a sign of a different kind.
Staghorn Ferns: Do not mistake for the parlor variety, those can be notoriously finicky.
Staghorn ferns are like the fern’s cooler older brother. It’s definitely a plant that would be at an Aquarius party.
Sunflowers: They already resemble the sun, and they are easy!
Sage: No matter where you live, there is likely a sage native to your region. With so many medicinal uses and a pollinator favorite, it’s a must for any garden and certainly an Aquarius garden.
Bird of Paradise: Once established and well-fed, birds provide years of color, unusual blooms, and interest.
Bromeliads: Beautiful, decorative, and low maintenance, there is a bromeliad for every corner of the yard and every style. Feel free to take these indoors, and yes, Spanish moss counts.
Wildflowers: Underrated and so fun, consider making a seed bomb (potters clay mixed with diverse seed range) and throw it around the yard. You will be gifted with a scattering of random wildflowers popping up to greet you unexpectedly for months to come.
Aquarius individuals are associated with electricity, so consider adding string lights or glow-in-the-dark items like pebbles in your indoor terrariums. If you happen to get a hold of bioluminescent succulents or fungi, this will be sure to make you and everyone you know glow with joy. If you didn’t know this was a thing, it’s a growing trend and likely to start popping up in a garden center near you!
As a final note, if you are trying to gift an Aquarius friend with something from the garden, choose something that radiates as much as they do with ease.
