Plant parenthood can be a daunting undertaking for a first-timer, but it’s nothing you can’t handle! Plant babies, luckily, are much less high-maintenance than actual babies, so there’s no need to subscribe to every plant parenthood podcast and book series on the market.
By knowing the basics and following these simple guidelines, your little green babies will thrive! With time, they might even start sprouting some plant babies of their own… then you’ll be a plant grandparent!
Follow These Beginner Tips for the New Plant Parent
Keeping your plants alive and healthy is such a worthwhile, satisfying experience—plus, you’ll never have to sit through their 3-hour dance recitals! If you’re ready to take on the exciting challenge of plant parenthood in 2022, these four rules will help set you up for success.
Find a Compatible Match
Your first step to becoming a plant parent is to pick out a little green cutie to take home. But you don’t want to make your choice entirely based on aesthetics—you should carefully consider the plant’s needs, your lifestyle, and your home. Here are some questions you should ask yourself:
- Is my home very sunny, moderately sunny, or a bit lacking in window light?
- Will I be going away on vacation for long periods?
- Am I good at sticking to tasks on a set schedule?
- Will my pets potentially nip at my houseplants?
If you don’t have much sunlight, frequently go on trips, or are generally a bit forgetful, then it’s probably in your best interest to get a low-maintenance houseplant like a Sansevieria. If you’ve got pets, look for something non-toxic like an Areca Palm or a Boston Fern.
If you think you’re up to the task of a more needy plant, like a tropical Monstera or Fiddle Leaf Fig, then write out a care schedule on the calendar and stick to it—it’ll become second nature soon enough!
Keep Your Plant Properly Fed
Houseplants need water and fertilizer, but the amount and frequency depend on the variety you’ve chosen, and the season of the year. A common mistake of first-time plant parents is overwatering.
It’s important to remember that it’s much easier to kill a houseplant from overwatering than from underwatering. Don’t overdo it! Consistently soggy soil is a recipe for bacterial growth and root rot, and your houseplant will have a tough time bouncing back.
Look up the specific watering needs of your chosen houseplant—some prefer the soil to dry out completely before watering, and others prefer just the top few inches of soil to dry out. Tropicals need some humidity too, so it helps to spritz the foliage with a water mist spray every few days.
Properly feeding your houseplants is an important part of plant parenthood—you want to pick an appropriate fertilizer formula for your chosen plant, follow the instructions on the package carefully, and only use it in spring and summer.
Winter is the time for your houseplants to rest and recharge, so fertilizing too late in the year will scramble their natural growth cycles. Don’t use too much fertilizer, or your houseplant may exhibit weak, spindly growth or burnt foliage.
Give It a Proper Home
A pot that’s too big or too small won’t be comfortable for your houseplant—pick a pot that’s 1–2 inches bigger than the container in which it came. If you’re nervous about overwatering—a common experience in plant parenthood—then pick a pot with drainage holes in the bottom. This will release any excess moisture, helping to prevent root rot.
Place your houseplant somewhere it’ll get sufficient light. Many tropicals don’t like bright, direct sunbeams and need filtered or indirect light so they won’t get sunburnt. A bright window with a sheer curtain will work great for more sensitive houseplants.
Learn Their Language
Part of plant parenthood is learning the visual cues of your houseplants. If they need something, they’ll tell you!
Droopy stems, dropping leaves, and discoloration are all signs that something is amiss. In the early months of plant parenthood, you can Google the symptoms your houseplant exhibits and then act accordingly. Over time, you’ll learn to recognize the cues and fix the issues before they worsen.
Ready to embark on the grand adventure of plant parenthood? Visit our plant shop to find your perfect match. We’ve got so many green cuties waiting patiently for a new, loving home!