03 Oct 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Buying Plants

1. Drain holes are a must.

It’s easy to overwater your plants – especially if you tend to over-care (me.) Potting a plant into a planter without drainage holes is a big no-no for me. Why? Because plants like to breathe and having a drain hole allows not only for water to pass through easily but for the roots of your plant to get the oxygen they need to stay healthy and escape root rot. If you find a beautiful pot without a drain hole, just drill it in yourself or place a plastic pot with drain holes inside so you can empty the outer pot after watering.

2. Always inspect for pests.

If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself staring at your plants for unreasonable amounts of time. I do this because….meditation, yes, but also to check for pests. The majority of pests come from bagged soil and sometimes it’s hard to notice them at the time of potting. Watch the crevices and undersides of your leaves for mealybugs and other villainous creatures that threaten the health of your plants.

3. Don’t re-pot right away.

When I was a wee little plant parent, I thought I was doing my plants a favor by re-potting them as soon as I got them home. What I actually did was shock them in a new home they weren’t comfortable in. My suggestion is to leave them in the pot until their roots have nowhere else to go. There are exceptions to this. If you purchase a plant that has roots growing out of the pot and you can pick up the plant from the base of the stem without soil spilling everywhere, you can re-pot in a planter 2-3 inches larger than the old one.

4. Fertilizer should be used when the plant is actively growing.

It’s embarrassing, but at one time I thought that if a plant wasn’t doing well, looked dull, or hadn’t grown in a considerable amount of time that it absolutely needed fertilizer. The truth is there are several factors in diagnosing a plant and fertilizer isn’t always the go-to fix. Sometimes a plant just goes dormant and other times it’s just taking its time to get comfortable in a new spot or in a new pot. You want to use fertilizer only when the plant is actively growing or when a plant is living in very old, nutrient-depleted soil. When you add fertilizer to a plant with new growth, it is more able to use those nutrients to accelerate. What happens when you add fertilizer to a plant that isn’t growing? The leaves of the plant can get fertilizer burn and start browning at the tips. We definitely don’t want that!

5. Use the pinch test on succulents.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a new plant parent is keeping succulents alive. “Caring for succulents would be easy,” they said. “It would be fun,” they said. Now I know it is fun, but then it was not. I overwatered my succulents and drowned them in my love. When I learned about the “pinch test,” it changed the game for me. To tell when your succulents need water, just give them a gentle pinch on both sides of the leaves. If they wrinkle, they need a good watering. If they do not, wait another 2 weeks or so.

6. Some plants don’t like tap water.

We’re talking about intermediate-level plants, like Calatheas. These plants are super picky about what kind of water they receive. Water additives like chlorine and fluoride can pose a problem for plants like these and will cause brown and crispy leaves. Use distilled water instead and your plants will love you.

7. Some plants play dead.

Alocasias in particular go dormant when they’re exposed to cold air or during the winter and this is normal. Leave the bulb in for the season and watch it grow back in the Spring or when the plant gets the right kind of environment to be able to produce healthy leaves.

8. Soil straight out of the bag doesn’t always work.

Every plant has different needs and this means the soil should be customized to them. I usually use amendments like orchid bark, perlite or sand to help with drainage. Some plants like aroids enjoy airy soil while others need the moisture and stability that denser soil provides.

9. Grow lights help.

Depending on your lighting conditions, grow lights might be a necessity. If you have north-facing windows, you might find that you have consistently weak lighting throughout the day. To combat this, use grow lights. I usually leave mine on for a period of 12 hours a day and turn them off at night, but there aren’t any rules to this!

10. Wipe your leaves.

Dust on your leaves can mean that sunlight isn’t getting to your plant. Dust your leaves with a soft, damp microfiber cloth. This will also help you wipe any pests that might be hanging out on your leaves.