The Habulous Blog

With the cost of living at an eye-watering high, we wanted to share five tips and tricks for looking after your fruit and veg, from buying at the shop to growing your own.

But before we get into that, did you know we’re giving away ALL of our 5 A DAY air plant holders this month? Those are the little guys you can see smiling above. Each month we do a ‘Free Pots’ giveaway, and by simply being subscribed to our Habulous mailer, you could be that lucky winner.

1. HOW CAN I MAKE MY FRUIT AND VEG LAST LONGER? 

There’s nothing more annoying than finding your fruit and veg withered after a few days. Keeping your veg in a cool, dry place, such as your fridge, is the ideal environment. Some fruit and veg, however, are better kept out in a fruit bowl as this allows them to ripen, such as avocados, tomatoes, mangos, melons and pears. Others, like citrus fruit, grapes and berries, will last longer if refrigerated as they instead deteriorate if left out.

If you’re refrigerating chopped fruit or veg, cover with a reusable food cover (Click HERE to buy online - they are much better for the planet than clingfilm) as this will stop them from going ‘bad’ faster.

2. HOW CAN I SAVE MONEY ON FRUIT AND VEG?

Ever heard of ‘wonky veg’? That’s one of the many terms used to describe fruit and vegetables that don’t look perfect, typically due to an odd shape, so they’re sold at a lower price. Many supermarkets do this and it’s a great way to save money - even slightly shocking that food is being priced on how it looks although it still tastes the same!

Alternatively, you could get out those green fingers and get gardening with your own veg patch for a healthy yield of homegrown food (see tip 3).

 

3. IS GROWING MY OWN EASY?

It’s actually a lot easier than you think! If you have a greenhouse or garden plot it’s ideal, but you can still easily grow some fruit and veg in normal garden plant pots. The best for pots are: beetroot, broad and runner beans, carrots, peas, potatoes, peppers, salad leaves and tomatoes, as well as most herbs. You just have to make sure you have good compost and sunlight and then you’ll be good to grow!

 

4. DOES TALKING TO YOUR PLANTS REALLY HELP?

Although many people think this is a myth, there’s actually scientific evidence that talking to your plants really does help. It’s not so much what you say, but rather how you say it. Studies found that the female voice encouraged plant growth, supposedly due to the variation in pitch vibrations. However, the human voice in general encouraged the plants to grow more than without sound. So, although your neighbours might raise an eyebrow, why not talk to your fruit and veg every now and then?

5. HOW CAN I BE ECO-FRIENDLY?

As well as growing your own, shopping at any local farm shops or small grocery stores is a great way of supporting your local economy and avoiding fruit and veg that have come from abroad.

Using eco-friendly, reusable or recyclable food packaging to avoid using plastic bags or clingfilm and recycling your food waste into compost for your plants is a great way to reduce waste in general.

For many small businesses, it’s a long process to build and grow enough to ultimately provide a living wage for those employed - and we all know how difficult it’s been since covid! At Habulous we’ve been working non-stop to keep our current and new product ranges flowing out of our little studio. If you’ve been following us since the summer of 2021, you’ll know that the Habulous team has grown; with the additions of Ellie, Gregory, and our newest member Cara, with help from the government’s kickstart scheme. And, because of you lovely people who have supported Habulous or bought our products, this has meant permanent jobs have been created - so lots of happy dancing in the studio!

How awesome is that? There’s nothing better than supporting a local team who practice traditional making methods. You’re encouraging the growth of more individual, independent and unique companies, as well as helping to create jobs for young people. And this isn’t just from purchasing our products - this can be as simple as referring our business to a friend or family member.

Here are a few simple ways you can continue to help Habulous or any other small business.

• Mention us to your friends and family. 
• Engage with our social media posts - likes, comments and shares (most Instagram users will know how non supporting the algorithms can be for small businesses!).
• Simply tagging a friend in the comments on Instagram or Facebook helps with our engagement and at the same time you’re also sharing something you love with someone you love.
• Check out our handmade pieces in our shop and see if anything takes your fancy.
• If you do buy anything, why not snap a quick picture and tag us on social media?
• Write a good review - on some sites, such as Etsy and Not On The High Street, this is really helpful as it gives the business a good ‘rank’. Not to mention how great it makes us feel when reading a nice review.
• Sign up to the mailers - this’ll keep you up-to-date with the work and any new collections. With our mailer, we avoid any annoying spam and also offer FREE pots each month. You can sign up here.
• Be mindful that when you might be about to buy from a big business that a small business might have something similar, and ultimately needs your support a lot more.

Pretty easy, right? We are truly grateful for your support (as it means we can keep on with the happy dancing in the studio!).

Here's a quick snippet of our little Dartmoor studio. 

Behind every piece is a story, and this is ours.

At Habulous, everything we sell is handmade in our little studio on the edge of Dartmoor. Although our studio isn’t the biggest space it is a cosy place that feels like home for a bunch of creatives like us! The surrounding countryside and vast moorland are a constant source of inspiration and motivation.

'Handmade' means exactly that - everything is made in our studio by one of our team, and for many of our pieces we have all played a part in its crafting. Take a mug for example; Nicky throws the body on the wheel, ready for Ellie to then make and attach the handle. After it’s first firing, Greg will sand and glaze the piece, ready for it’s final firing.

The nature of our ceramic work being handmade means each piece comes with its own unique quirks that separate it from the sometimes characterless uniformity of mass-produced products. Having something you know took time and skill to make, and, that there is nothing else completely identical, is pretty special. Wouldn’t you agree?

The hand-making process is very evident in pieces such as our jellyfish air plant shells and whale vases. In the clay body you will often see marks left from fingers, palms and the tools we use. We love the individual character brought out by this as it makes every piece unique.

On the other hand, some things aren’t always in our control which add to the overall character of a piece. This is most evident in our glazes. Due to the natural variation in colourants or the varying temperatures in the kiln, colours may be softer or more vibrant. When quality checking, if these differences are too extreme, a piece may be marked as a second (read about seconds here).

In ceramics, there are many things that make the hard work especially rewarding. There’s nothing more exciting (and occasionally nerve-wracking!) than opening the kiln to see how the finished pieces look. As a small team, seeing shelves stocked with our work is incredibly satisfying and makes us proud of our efforts. When an order comes in, it is a particularly special moment as we know our hard work has paid off and that someone loves our product as much as we did making it.

So please keep supporting small businesses like us, because it means we can keep doing what we love and coming up with new products that are handcrafted, and, most importantly, unique.

We love handmade things especially when you can see the making process, however sometimes there are imperfections which mean some pieces don’t make it through our quality checks. On these occasions the items become seconds. Although we love some of these unique quirks on our pieces, it isn’t always to everyone’s taste.

In ceramics, there are specific types of flaws. The pieces are still functional, they just won’t look as perfect as we’d like. The seconds we choose to sell are ones where the piece is still fit for purpose, watertight and food safe.

Glaze Breaks

If a glaze is too thick or doesn’t take to the clay body, the glaze can run off the surface, leaving the clay exposed beneath. This tends to be common when the glaze is slightly too runny. As the clay body seals when fired, the piece is still fine to use. Some of our perfect pieces will have small glaze breaks as we love this effect, but when these breaks are big we class them as a second.

 

Thin Glaze

Similarly to glaze breaks, when a glaze is too runny or the piece is not in the glaze for long enough, the glaze is thinner than usual. In the glazes we use, this can lead to a loss of the colour’s opaqueness.

 

Glaze Drips

When a thicker layer of glaze is applied it can drip during the firing process - this is more common in our Shoreline range as the glaze mixture is slightly thicker. This is a cosmetic effect and does not affect the functionality of a piece.

 

Pinholing

This term refers to small bubbles in the surface of a glazed piece that look like tiny pinholes. This can be caused by small grains of dust prior to glazing or by gasses escaping the glaze or clay body. Pieces with this on internal glaze are no longer food safe, however any external pinholes aren’t an issue.

 

Cratering

Foreign objects in the clay can burn and release gas in the kiln which leaves a crater-like hole in the glaze.

 

Crazing

A network of hairline fractures in the glaze body on the piece. This is sometimes a deliberate cosmetic effect used in ceramics - but not in our designs. This is caused by the glaze being under too much tension and contracting more than the clay body of the piece during cooling.

 

Hairline Fractures

A fine crack, typically on the base of the piece, which is often a result of the base being a different thickness to the walls. If the crack does not go through the base, we test the piece for watertightness (no leakage) with boiling water before deeming it usable.

 

Warping

When in its softest stage, being knocked or moved too much can change the shape of a piece. This can usually be corrected but is sometimes made worse in the kiln. Warping can also happen to a perfect piece during the firing. These pieces are still functional, if a little quirky!

Sometimes, flaws can be caused by us making errors - we’re only human! For example, we could be glazing a batch of pots and accidentally miss one, or apply the wrong glaze colour.

When hand-making ceramics there is a natural difference in size between pieces, so when a piece exceeds this normal variation we sell it on as a second. Additionally, in some cases when we’ve accidentally knocked off a mug handle, for example, instead of discarding the entire piece we would turn it into a planter. This just means that the piece doesn’t match our general mug size or design, so instead of wasting the work we also sell it on as a second.

PLEASE NOTE: Your plant will show you whether it is happy or not, the suggested care for each plant is just a guideline. Your plant's care will vary based on the environment of your home.

This blogpost is to help you get to know your air plant and learn some important and interesting facts about its nature and how best to care for it. At the bottom of this page, there is a video showing air plant general care, stringing and care prior to gifting.

Typically, air plants are fairly low maintenance. In terms of watering, they generally should be soaked (preferably in rainwater, although tap water is fine) every month for around an hour. Alternatively, misting the plant every 1-2 weeks is also viable, just make sure the plant doesn’t feel too dry or look like it’s losing its colour. It is essential the plant is left to fully dry before being strung back inside the ceramic jellyfish head to prevent any rot.

‘Tillandsia’ - the name that precedes each specific air plant - is the genus of mainly epiphytic plants (a plant that typically grows on another plant) of the pineapple family, native to tropical and subtropical America.

 

AIR PLANT CARE

Please find your air plant below for its specific care. Please note, if your air plant is blooming, avoid getting the flower wet during watering.

Tillandsia ‘Caput (Medusae)’

Our products that include Caput: Turquoise Jellyfish Air Plant, Stone Jellyfish Air Plant, Caput Air Plant

Size: The Caput sizes range from medium to large. (Approximate dimensions) Medium: W2cm x H11cm. Large: W3cm x H15cm.

Appearance: Large bulb with thick, velvety, rigid, long light green-silver tendrils. The tendrils are snake-like, hence the Medusa(e) name. During blooming, the Caput produces tubular blue-red flowers.

Nature: Native to South America, mainly Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras.

Care: The Caput variety of air plant prefers bright-mild sunlight with ideally humid surroundings with good air circulation. Misting every fortnight is recommended - if your Caput is dehydrated, the tendrils will become very curly - this is usually a sign that it needs watering. Since the bulb is hollow, soak only the tendrils (ideally once a month).

Tillandsia ‘Ionantha’ / ‘Ionantha Rubra’

Our products that include Ionantha: Turquoise Jellyfish Air Plant, Stone Jellyfish Air Plant, Strawberry Air Plant Vase, Carrot Air Plant Vase, Beetroot Air Plant Vase, Whale Air Plant Vase, Ionantha Air Plant

Size: The Ionantha has small, medium and large variations. (Approximate dimensions) Small: W2.5cm x H4cm. Medium: W3.5cm x H6.5cm. Large: W4.5cm x 8cm.

Appearance: Typically green tendrils, sometimes with a frosty silvery base. The Rubra variation has more noticeable pink/red tips. The base tendrils are sometimes looser - these can either be gently peeled off or left (this is sometimes an indication the plant is about to produce an offshoot). When blooming, the Ionantha produces a purple shoot tipped with a small white/yellow flower in the centre of the plant.

Nature: Native to Mexico, Costa Rica and parts of South America.

Care: The Ionantha variety of air plant is fairly low maintenance. It loves sunlight, so it’s best to keep yours in a bright spot (but out of direct sunlight) with good air circulation. They should be misted with water or air plant care spray weekly. Keep the plant upside down so excess water can run off the tendrils. If you are an owner of one of our ceramic jellyfish air plants, the Ionantha can be misted whilst hanging in the shell. Ideally run under water for a few minutes once a month, and if it is looking and feeling especially dry, soak the plant for around 10 minutes. If your plant propogates, gently remove the baby when it is half the size of the parent plant.

Tillandsia 'Juncifolia'

Our products that include Juncifolia: Turquoise Jellyfish Air Plant, Stone Jellyfish Air Plant, Juncifolia Air Plant

Size: The Juncifolia air plant ranges from medium to large sizes. (Approximate dimensions) Medium: W2.5cm x H16cm. Large: W3cm x 20cm.

Appearance: Grass-like, long rigid tendrils that are sometimes tipped with a deep red or brown colour. The latin name 'junceus' refers to something that is 'reeded', hence the natural long grass-like appearance of the Juncifolia.

Nature: Originally from Guatemala and parts of South America. It is a slow growing air plant that during blooming produces a royal purple flower.

Care: The Juncifolia likes bright but indirect sunlight with an ideally humid environment and good air circulation. Soaking the plant upside down (so only the tendrils get wet and not the bulb) for at least 10 minutes weekly is recommended. If the plant looks like it needs more care, add a light misting with water or air plant care spray once a week also. Browning around the bulb is natural, and a good way to tell if the Juncifolia is healthy is by gently peeling back a tendril and seeing whether the base of the bulb has a shine to it. Any outer tendrils that brown and dry can be gently peeled off.

Tillandsia 'Capitata Peach'

Our product that includes Capitata Peach: Pineapple Air Plant Vase

Size: The Capitata peach ranges from small to medium sizes, usually determined by the length of the tendrils. (Approximate dimensions) W10-12cm x H8cm.

Appearance: The Capitata Peach typically has green leaves at a younger stage and silver velvety leaves at a more mature stage. These turn a peach colour when the plant is in bloom. It tends to grow amongst trees, but has also been found growing on cliff faces and canyons. When in bloom, it produces a green/yellow inflorescence with multiple purple flowers.

Nature: Native to Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Honduras and Mexico.

Care: Capitata Peach are low maintenance air plants. In order to thrive, these plants need a humid environment such as a bathroom or a kitchen for optimal results. Misting is recommended every few weeks. Capitata dislike overwatering, therefore do not soak these air plants. Rainwater is ideal, and shake off any excess water from the leaves.

Tillandsia 'Filifolia'

Our products that include Filifolia: Whale Air Plant Vase, Orange Air Plant Vase

Appearance: Long, thin, thread-like green tendrils with a dark brown base/bulb. Varies in size from medium to large. During bloom it produces

Nature: Native to Central Mexico and Costa Rica.

Care: Moderate humidity, ideally a bathroom environment. Mist with water 3 times weekly, allow to dry. Soak for an hour (ideally in rainwater) monthly, and allow the plant to thoroughly dry before putting it back on display.

Tillandsia ‘Argentea’

Size: The Argentea sizes range from small to medium, but with a wide spread of tendrils. (Approximate dimensions) Small: W8cm(tendrils)/W1.5cm(bulb) x H5cm. Medium: W10cm(tendrils)/W2cm(bulb) x H6cm.

Appearance: Very lightweight, spiky, thin green-silver leaves. The Argentea is naturally quite dry and feels delicate, however it holds its shape very well. During blooming, the central spike of the plant grows funnel-shaped flowers that come in a variety of colours (typically purple, blue and red).

Nature: Native to and typically grows in dry areas of Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and Jamaica, and mostly grows on rocks and trees.

Care: Bright environment (out of direct sunlight), preferably humid with good air circulation. They should be misted with water weekly. Soak for an hour (ideally in rainwater) monthly, and allow the plant to thoroughly dry before putting it back on display.

Tillandsia ‘Pruinosa’

Size: The Pruinosa has small to medium variations in size. (Approximate dimensions) W2.5cm x H8cm - W3.5cm x H10cm.

Appearance: Large bulb with velvety tendrils that varies in colour from maroon to green. The brown base colour of the bulb is not indicative of an unhealthy plant, but it is actually due to the plants being in direct sunlight (which they like).The plant is usually larger during blooming and produces a pink bulb which sometimes emits purple flowers.

Nature: Native to Florida, Central America and South America. Sadly, in Florida, the Pruinosa is now considered an endangered plant due to insect damage and habitat destruction, and therefore its production is carefully monitored and they are typically rarer to source.

Care: This type of air plant prefers partial shade with good air circulation. Should be misted every couple of weeks.

Tillandsia ‘Balbisiana’

Size: The Balbisiana sizes range from medium to large. (Approximate dimensions) Medium: W2.5cm x H18cm. Large: W3cm x H22cm.

Appearance: Grass-like, multiple long green leaves that have a tendency to curl. When blooming, it emits a long red/yellow inflorescence that produces purple flowers.

Nature: Native to Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, West Indies and Florida. Typically found growing on trees in swamp areas. Sadly, similarly to the Pruinosa, it is considered a threatened species in Florida due to habitat destruction.

Care: The Balbisiana air plant can withstand direct sunlight, although still best to give it filtered exposure. A weekly misting is recommended.

For air plant general care, stringing and care prior to gifting, please watch our video below.