For some of us, indoor plant care is unknown territory. So I scoured some sources on the Internet for tips that experienced plant parents wish they knew when they were just beginners. Here’s a compilation:
Water
- For plants that are putting out a bunch of new growth, check the soil. It might dry much faster than usual, hence you need to water them more. 1
- Better to err on the side of watering too infrequently than too much or too frequently. Don’t overwater. 3, 10
- Some plants, especially ones sensitive to overwatering, like to be watered from the bottom up. This means putting the plant pot with drainage holes in a deep saucer filled with water 3
- Even if your pot has drainage holes on the bottom, hold it at an angle once you’ve watered the soil thoroughly. You’ll see more water drain out. 3
- As a rule of thumb, the thicker the leaves the less water a plant needs. 4
- For your succulents, when you think it’s time to water them wait for two more weeks. 10
Light
- There are plants that can tolerate low light like the spider plant and snake plant but it doesn’t mean they thrive in it. Give them light exposure to help them flourish. 1
- If your succulent is growing stretchy or “leggy” (the fancy name for it is “etiolation”), where there’s extra space between leaves on the stem, that means it’s not getting enough light. 3
- Bright direct sunlight is to be avoided for most species, except cacti and some succulents which have a higher tolerance to direct sunlight. The reason is that direct sunlight is too harsh. 4
- Don’t just anyhow place your plant anywhere in the house. Consider their access to light. Light hungry plants should be near the window. 7
- It’s also a good idea to get a light meter. It’s hard to gauge how much light they’re really getting just by looking. 11
Bugs
- Quarantine for 1-2 weeks new additions to avoid infestations to your existing collection. Inspect it for any moving dots (bugs) or irregular coloring before joining them in the group. Clean the leaves with a cleaning solution (castile soap, water, peppermint essential oil). 1, 3, 6
- Cinnamon can prevent soil gnats. 1
- As you bring in more house plants, you will definitely get pests. It is part of houseplants keeping. Don’t freak out, they are treatable and you can get rid of them. 5
- Pests are attracted to struggling plants. So knowing the specific needs of your plant and making them healthy keeps pests away. 6
- Fungus gnats like moist soil. One possible treatment is the 1:5 ratio of hydrogen peroxide+water solution. 7
Soil and Pots
- If you’re going to be growing organically try to source some sohum soil or other amended organic soil. 9
- Make sure your plants are in pots that have drainage holes to avoid your roots from rotting. 2,7
- Don’t repot and fertilize your plants on the same day. 3
- When your plant is ready for an upgrade, don’t go more than 2” wider than the current pot size. When you repot, make sure that you never go up more than an inch or two. Don’t throw them in huge pots thinking that they would fill them out. 3, 11
Propagation
- Make your cutting and then let it just sit on the bench and callous over (or dip it in cinnamon) before putting it into your preferred propagating medium. 1
- Water roots aren’t the same as soil roots, so you’ll want to plant your cutting in the soil as soon as it’s got 1-2 inches of water roots, depending on the size of the cutting. 3
- When you cut a leaf or stem off to propagate, let the cut part air-dry for a couple of hours (even half a day is fine if you forget about it) so that the cross-section doesn’t rot when you place it in your rooting medium of choice. 3
Maintenance
- Dust your plant leaves with clothe and water or white oil. 1
- Research and follow specific care guide for each plant as they have their particular needs in terms of water, light, movement, etc. 2
- Ask questions and seek advice if you have concerns with your plants. There are a lot of experts and experienced people and online communities who are willing to help. Join and follow these communities to get tips and become better at plant care. 2, 6
- Too much moving-your-plant-around is no good. 4
- Knowing the climate your plant originally thrives in can help you make sense of its needs. You should remember if your plant is more from a DESERT/DRY type or a TROPICAL/MOIST type and adapt your watering accordingly.4
- Plants do die and you just have to accept it, it’s normal. Just because your plants die, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad plant parent. There are many reasons why plants die. Try to research why the plant died and educate yourself. 5
- Read “How to make a plant love you” by Summer Rayne. 8
Purchasing and Collecting
- Start with a plant that is low maintenance. Start with an easy cactus, ZZ, pothos, snake plant, Begonias, Aglaonema, homalomena, philodendron, petunias, hoya, spider plant, hostas, tradescantia, impatiens, lipstick plant, calathea. 10, 11
- Know your time commitment. Pick plants that fit in with your lifestyle. Less time commitment means you have to choose minimal care plants 2
- Do plant research before buying and only bring home plants that are right for you. 8
- Always look up whether a plant you’re getting is safe for pets. Some toxic plants you can keep if you don’t have a curious pet that nibbles, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. 3
- After purchase, don’t repot right away 10
- Quality is more important than quantity. Start with one plant and get to know that plant before you buy a new one. Don’t buy too many plants too soon. 6,8
- Know your space, e.g. how much air (dry vs. humid), sunlight goes in your home. Tailor your collection according to your space. 6
- If you are buying offline, check the plant thoroughly for signs of pests, e.g. look at the front and back of the leaf, look at the soil. If you are buying online, look at the reviews and see if many buyers are satisfied and are not reporting about pests. 6
- If you have allergies, find those plants that don’t produce pollen 10
Hope you find the above tips useful. One last tip from us, for your medium to large plants, try our Seagrass Basket. It comes with a plastic liner so that when you water your plants, you don’t have to worry about water spilling on the floor. Happy plant parenting!
References:
1 https://rachelaust.me/blog/2020/11/25/plant-care-tips-i-wish-i-knew-sooner
2 https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1626027694271634
3 https://pearllee.me/op-ed/plant-advice
4 https://invinciblehouseplants.com/blog/7-mistakes-people-make-with-indoor-plants
5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO1whnGxjXY
6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0_2wWDe-rs
7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixXbDt6vR9U
8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZGEkaww1Rs
10 https://www.facebook.com/groups/393923344897048/permalink/581871422768905
11 https://www.facebook.com/groups/564734990863735/permalink/720074208663145