The Houseplant Masterclass

How to Make a Plant Love You

  Enroll in Course

The Houseplant Masterclass is the first comprehensive online audiovisual course on houseplant cultivation, care and maintenance—disseminated over a month.


🌿 What you gain from the course:

This class will not only teach you the basics of houseplant care, but will also go much further to help you build both a deeper understanding and an affinity for the plants around you. Most importantly, however, the Houseplant Masterclass is designed to teach you how to observe what plants have to teach us. The goal is not to memorize “houseplants tips” but to develop foundational knowledge and observational prowess so that you can intuit what a plant needs to thrive under you care.


🌿 Comprehensive, well-researched information:

The information that you’ll find in this course is based on a wide range of experiences and resources. Firstly, I pulled from my own personal experience of growing around 550 plant species and over 200 varieties in my home for the past 10 years as well as my 15+ years of work as an environmental scientist, entomologist, and environmental communicator.

I am not alone in my contributions to this course, however; many other professionals—many whom are leading specialists in their field—have contributed to the robust information you’ll see in the Houseplant Masterclass. Over the past years, I have interviewed and conversed with nearly 50 experts, including botanists, horticulturalists, ecologists, plant taxonomists, botanical curators, horticulture professors, growers, botanical garden employees, plant sellers, and more. Though scientific literature as far as indoor gardening goes is sparse, you’ll still find throughout the course copious information that was cited from a selection of peer-reviewed science journals, articles, and books. Overall I believe you’ll find the Houseplant Masterclass to be well researched, well cited, and one of the most comprehensive (and engaging) courses on plant care for the home!


🌿 What's in the course:

  • Peruse five sections, 100+ sub-sections on houseplant growing, care and cultivation disseminated over the course of a month
  • Listen, watch and learn from over 12 hours of audio+visual recordings
  • View 500 full-color images and charts
  • Access a comprehensive care spreadsheet to 350 common houseplants
  • Learn over 100 botanical terms and 350+ botanical Latin names
  • Get product and book recommendations
  • Join the private Facebook community
  • Bonus materials and more!

What’s also great about having a digital Masterclass—aside for the obvious fact that anyone, anywhere with internet access can get the information—is that it’s a resource that can also be updated and added onto, making this more like a living resource that will evolve, grow and improve over time. As a future participant of the Houseplant Masterclass, I look forward to your feedback!


 
  Enroll in Course

Your Instructor


Summer Rayne Oakes 🌿
Summer Rayne Oakes 🌿

I'm an environmental scientist and entomologist by training ( Cornell University ) and have done quite a bit of work in the field, including reclaiming mine sites, restoring forest ecosystems, monitoring stream water quality with aquatic insects, and a host of other fun projects outdoors. Sometimes it's challenging to communicate how these efforts impact us, so in 2005 I moved to Brooklyn to explore how I could apply my environmental knowledge to industries that noticeably impact our everyday lives—from what we wear to what we eat to what we grow.

The Houseplant Masterclass, Houseplant Basics, and my other plant-related courses were inspired by my lifetime love of growing plants—both indoors and outdoors. However, I noticed there was a gap for people who wanted to learn more about in-depth houseplant care online, so that's how this became a course online. I hope you enjoy it!


Course Curriculum


  Course Introduction
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Houseplant Basics Review (BONUS) ⭐
Available in days
days after you enroll
  I. Introductory Section
Available in days
days after you enroll
  II. The Houseplant Master Mindset
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III. The Ten Commandments of Plant Care
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III-A. Thou Shalt Give Plants Light
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III-B. Remember to Water Thy Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III-C. Honor a Plant's Need for Air and Ventillation
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III-D. Remember a Humid Home is a Plant Happy Home
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III-E. Thou Shalt Keep the Best Temperature for Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III-F. Thou Shalt Provide the Best Growing Medium for Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III-G. Thou Shalt Go Forth and Fertilize Plants so They Prosper
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III-H. Thou Shalt Pot Plants Appropriately
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III-I. Remember to Prune, Groom, Pinch, Thin, Turn and Propagate
Available in days
days after you enroll
  III-J. Thou Shalt Give Plants Their Dormancy
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV. Living with Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-A. Moving Your Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-B. Accilmatizing Your Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-C. Cleaning Your Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-D. Grooming, Pinching and Pruning Your Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-E. Propagating Your Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-F. Principal Propagating Techniques
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-G. Watering Hacks for the Home
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-H. Going on Vacation
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-I. Pets and Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-J Troubleshooting Your Houseplants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-K. Pest Management
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-L. Effective Biological Control
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-M. Plant Pathogens
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-M. Growing Old with Your Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  IV-N. Sharing the Beauty of Plants
Available in days
days after you enroll
  V. Appendices
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Resources
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Storefront
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Extras
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


How did the Houseplant Masterclass develop?
The Houseplant Masterclass was borne out of the desire to create a comprehensive audiovisual course on indoor gardening for houseplant enthusiasts looking to sharpen their skills and deepen their appreciation and understanding of plants. Though you can find online courses on everything from garden design to permaculture, there was nothing online that provided both a broad overview and deep dive into houseplant care. And though you can find an assortment of answers to specific houseplant questions online and in books, the information is often scattered across the web and various tomes, making it challenging as a learning experience. Additionally, I had ample requests from people outside my city to put my houseplant workshops online. All of these elements gave a good indication that there was a need for a Masterclass like this. In early 2018, I released both a Kickstarter and Indiegogo InDemand campaign, for which helped jumpstart the creation of the Masterclass you see today.
What kind of information will I find in this course?
The Course is divided into 5 sections: The Introduction, The Houseplant Master Mindset, The Ten Commandments of Plant Care, Living with Plants, and the Appendices. The Introduction sets up the course with both a broad and deep overview of how plants developed here on earth, the inner-workings of plants, and how houseplants came to be. Then we transition into the second section, which helps the Masterclass participant learn the skills of observation. This helps set the participant up to intuit caring for plants, as houseplant care is not all about memorization of botanical names and houseplant tips. The longest section is on The Ten Commandments of Plant Care, which dives deeply into aspects of lighting, watering, fertilizing and more. Then the penultimate section, Living with Plants, covers more specific considerations when you bring plants into the home, like how to handle insect pests to propagation. From there, the Appendices go deep into everything from botanical Latin to a Care & Fertilizer Spreadsheet for 300+ Houseplants. Lastly, you’ll find product and book recommendations throughout the Masterclass and in the Bonus sections.
How did you go about sourcing information for this course?
The information in this course was sourced through a multitude of ways. Firstly, I pulled not only from my own personal experience of growing around 550 plant species and over 200 varieties in my home for the past 10 years, but also from my background and 15+ years of work as an environmental scientist, entomologist and environmental communicator. I am not alone in my contributions to this course, however; many other professionals—many whom are leading specialists in their field—have contributed to the robust information you’ll see in the Houseplant Masterclass. Over the past years, I have interviewed and conversed with nearly 50 experts, including botanists, horticulturalists, ecologists, plant taxonomists, horticulture professors, botanical curators, growers, botanical garden employees, plant sellers, and more. Though scientific literature as far as indoor gardening goes is sparse, you’ll still find throughout the course copious information that was cited from a selection of peer-reviewed science journals, articles, and books. Overall I believe you’ll find the Houseplant Masterclass to be well researched, well cited, and one of the most comprehensive (and engaging) courses on plant care for the home!
Will the Houseplant Masterclass ever become a book or guide?
That’s still to be determined! Though I think books can be restricted due to limitations of the printed page, I do believe books have their place, and I can see some of the information here in the Masterclass existing in book form. In the meantime, I’ll be coming out with the book, How to Make a Plant Love You (Optimism Press, July 2019), which will serve as a companion book to the Houseplant Masterclass.
When does the course start and finish?
The course starts as soon as you purchase the package. Sections of the Houseplant Masterclass will be disseminated daily over the course of a month, as it’s designed to help you learn a little every day without overwhelming you. Please note that once you start the program, there is no way to pause it and no way to speed it up, but you’ll be able to return to it whenever you’re able.
How long do I have access to the course?
You have access to the course for as long as the course remains up, which we imagine will be forever.
The course is audiovisual. Does that mean there isn't any text?
The entire course is written out in text, but there are also audio and visual components to the course. Almost everything that has been written out, with the exception of certain tables, charts and photos, has an audio component, so you can choose to listen and read along, or just listen, or just read. Additionally, certain sections of the Houseplant Masterclass have video components, particularly in places where someone would benefit from seeing a visual, like a propagation demonstration, for instance. In total sum, there is around 8 hours of audio and visual components to the Masterclass.
Can I get my money back if I don’t like the course?
You’ll get a good sense of what the course will be like within the first three days. If the Masterclass is not what you expected it to be, then you can ask for your money back within the first 72 hours (3 days) of purchase. Once your refund is initiated, your access to the course will be revoked.
Will I need to purchase special equipment for this course?
Not at all. The Houseplant Masterclass will teach you certain techniques and show different tools throughout the course, specifically ones that have worked well for me, but you are in no way obliged to purchase anything you see within the Masterclass. If you want to purchase any of the tools or products that you see in the course, I do provide links, some affiliate-based, as to where you can purchase the products, especially since everyone always asks, “Where did you get that?”
I don’t have a laptop or desktop. Can I do this course on my tablet or mobile phone?
Yes! The Houseplant Masterclass is optimized for all devices, including a tablet or a mobile phone, so you can do the course even while you’re in transit on a train, plane, or waiting at the airport or at the doctor’s office, for instance—provided that you have an internet connection.
I'm outside the United States, can I still do the Houseplant Masterclass?
Absolutely! The Houseplant Masterclass was particularly designed for people who are not able to attend my in-person workshops and who have a desire to learn more about their plants. The Houseplant Masterclass is done entirely online, so you can purchase the program online from anywhere in the world, as long as you have a valid credit card. The course, however, is only offered in the English language at this time.
I did the course and I’d like to provide feedback. How do I go about doing that?
At the end of the course, you’ll find a short survey that we encourage you to do so that we can get your thoughts on what you liked about the course and how you’d improve it.
I LOVED the course and am eager to share it. Do you have an Affiliate Program?
Absolutely! If you genuinely enjoyed the Houseplant Masterclass and are a blogger, Instagrammer, podcaster, YouTuber, or just an all around houseplant fanatic and want to share your experience of the Houseplant Masterclass, then we encourage it and believe you should be rewarded. If you’re keen on sharing the course and would like to join our Affiliate Program, there is information at the end of the course on how you can apply.
Where else can I learn from you?
If you haven't yet, check out "Plant One On Me", my weekly YouTube series; "365 Days of Plants" on IGTV and YouTube, where I highlight plant care daily, follow on Instagram @homesteadbrooklyn, read the blog at homesteadbrooklyn.com, and come to a workshop or event, which you can find online at homesteadbrooklyn.com as well.
What is the new Houseplant Care Tracker you include?
The Houseplant Care Tracker is a separate bonus product we're trialing and included with the Houseplant Masterclass. The Tracker is a dynamic spreadsheet built on the Coda platform that more easily tracks the fertilizing and watering schedules of your plants—as well as allows you to record important events in your plant's life (e.g., new leaf!). We provide comprehensive tutorials to help take you through how the Houseplant Care Tracker works, how you can use your Houseplant Care Spreadsheet to populate the Tracker, and how to set up email alerts or notifications when your plants need attention. This can be accessed both on desktop as well as a mobile device, but you need a Chrome browser (for desktop), a smart phone (to download the coda app that powers the interactive spreadsheet), and a gmail account to get started. The coda app is available on both iPhone and Android and has some limitations, however, so please do refer to that on their own website.

Get started now!