Caring for indoor plants can be quite daunting if you’re a new plant owner. The 5 tips shared below will help beginner plant parents take better care of their houseplants. If you’re a new plant parent or considering becoming one, then this post is for you.
There are many other benefits to having plants within your home or office. Not only are they a great way to boost your home interior, but some plants can actually improve your health.
Knowing how plants work and how to care for them will help you avoid a lot of stress and headache in your journey.
5 Indoor Plant Care Tips For New Plant Parents
Do some research
Plants, like all living things, have varying levels of temperament. Not all indoor plants are created equal. Some need more care than others.
As a beginner plant owner, a lot of research is required to know what the right plant will be for you.
One of the most common mistakes beginners make when starting in houseplant ownership is that they go for what’s cute and trendy instead of what works best for them.
It’s always best to start your plant journey with an indoor plant that’s easy to care for. So, the first step is to do some research on what the right indoor plant is for you.
Snake plants, peace lily, and spider plants are popular beginner indoor plants that you can start with. However, it’s important to note that some indoor plants are toxic to pets. You definitely want to consider that before deciding on which plant to choose.
Source it locally
Every decision you make regarding your houseplant has to favor that specific plant and what’s best for them. Careful decisions need to be made at every step of the way. Starting from where you source your plant to the journey it takes to get into your possession.
Many things could go wrong before your plant even gets to you. These are worth considering when deciding to own a house plant.
There are many horror stories of people who have purchased plants online that have turned out to be either damaged in transit or dead on arrival. Some of which plant parents have been unable to recover from. If you’re inexperienced with plant ownership, it’s probably not advisable to buy your first indoor plant online.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to the houseplant you wish to buy, it’s worth visiting your local plant supplier. This will allow you to see what condition the plant is in and ask as many questions as possible. That way, you can address any concerns you may have beforehand.
Create the right environment
Every plant needs their own special type of environment to help them thrive.
Light, humidity, and soil are the three main factors when it comes to indoor plant requirements. Each of these is needed in varying degrees, but it goes beyond that in the real sense of things. How your indoor plant absorbs the nutrition it needs to thrive is specific to that type of plant.
While it’s common for plants to share a similar environment and still do well, it’s safe and probably best to always assume that all plants are different. Because honestly, they really are.
Different plants need different things. Many important factors can individually or collectively make or break any plant journey. Things like where you place your plant, the type of container and soil you place it in, the type of water or plant food you give it, etc., are all factors that affect plant life.
Having the right environment for your plant to thrive is something that needs to be taken very seriously.
Again, do your research on your plant-specific needs to develop your green thumb and become the best plant parent you can be.
Have a schedule
Some plants require more care than others.
You may have heard that some plants can practically survive being neglected. But the truth is, most plants generally require some form of attention. Even the so-called plants that can be neglected can only do so for a short amount of time.
Neglect cannot carry on forever. All indoor plants require some form of care no matter how little that care may be.
Just as we can easily under care for our indoor plants, we can also overcare for them. Too much or too little of everything is bad. The same applies to houseplants of any kind.
Take watering, for instance; overwatering a plant is equally bad as under-watering it. Dry plant roots can affect a plant just as much as soggy roots can. There has to be a balance in the amount of care a plant receives for it to thrive.
The best and safest way to ensure you stay on course with your plant care is to have a schedule. Some plant parents have a plant watering journal that helps them keep track of watering times for their house plants.
A simple record of the times and type of care your plant has received will help you keep track of how your plant responds to care, which will ultimately help you figure out the best type of care your plant specifically requires.
This is way more valuable than any research will teach you.
Don’t ignore warning signs
Just like humans, plants too can fall sick, and the only way they tell you they’re sick is through their appearance. As a plant parent, it’s important to be able to spot the signs of sickness in your houseplant.
By paying regular close attention to your plants, you’ll be able to spot early changes when they occur. Before they become a major problem, don’t overlook or ignore any warning signs and seek help immediately if you feel wrong.
If you keep a plant journal, you may track changes in your plant care that may have resulted in the changes. Although this isn’t always the case, it’s a good place to start.
Another way to track changes in your plant is to take photos at different stages. This is a very visual way to see all the physical changes that are occurring. If you decide to go down this route, try as much as possible to take all photographs in similar conditions, such as lighting, time of day, camera angle, etc.
Droopy leaves, yellowing, or brown spots are common signs of sickness to look out for. At the first sign of illness, seek the necessary help you need to diagnose and treat your houseplant before it’s too late.
Having houseplants is one of the most rewarding experiences you can ever have, and it’s usually worth every effort, time, and money invested in the journey.
Jill Davis, author for Life So Ever
Jill Davis grew up on army bases in the USA and Germany and has spent her adult life on the East Coast. She resides in Virginia where she gets to enjoy lots of hiking trails, kayaking, and other outdoor adventures. No recipe intimidates her and she is always up to try most foods. Her second language is sarcasm and she always looks for the good in life.
