How To Be A Good Plant Parent

Plant care isn’t always the easiest when you’re unsure of where to start. Once you learn plant care basics and find a routine, you’ll notice all the wonderful benefits of being a plant parent. Plants can help you breathe happier and boost your mood just by having them around.

I just have one plant, an Orange Calamondin, at home but I’m planning to get a few more once I have the basics right. Here are some tips that helped me in the initial days to keep it healthy:

1. Feel the Soil to Know How Often to Water Your Plants

For most plants, the golden rule is to see if the first inch or so of soil is dry. If dry, this is an indication that the plant needs water. If there are leaves that have shriveled or are dry/discolored, the plant might need a little extra water than a regular routine.

2. It’s Better to Underwater Your Plants Than Overwater Them

A plant can recover faster from being deprived of water than one given excess water. To rescue an overwatered plant, you may need to repot the plant and remove any unhealthy roots and over-watered soil before moving the plant into a new pot.

3. Skip Fertilization for Houseplants if You’re Unsure

Houseplants don’t require fertilization unless they are struggling to grow. Too much fertilization may actually end up killing your plant rather than helping it.

4. Houseplants Love Stability

Plants thrive once they are used to their surroundings and finding a spot with the right amount of light is important. Fluctuating temperatures will shock your plant and therefore lead to the plant not being able to develop and maybe even die.

5. Prune Your Plants

Getting rid of old-growth on your plants will help your plants grow again. This is kind of like how trimming the dead ends of your hair will help your hair grow again. After winter is when you’ll see some of the tips or leaves of your plant dying, so a simple plant haircut will do.