A Beginner's Guide to Plant Parenthood:
8 Tips You Should Know
1. Research
It’s easy to search “plants” and want to buy everything in sight to start creating your own urban jungle. However, before you buy anything, it’s best to take a second and research. Is it a plant recommended for beginners? Is it pet friendly? Will it be okay without attention for a few days?
For beginners, we recommend starting with plants such as our ZZ Plant, Monstera, or Bird of Paradise. All easy-care plants that will be a little more forgiving initially.
2. Watering: Overwatering vs Underwatering
As you prepare for plant parenthood, you may be thinking about watering. First things first, do your best not to overwater. Overwatering can lead to damage like root rot and is one of the easiest ways to kill your plant. Because of this, it could be said that underwatering is better than overwatering. However, underwatering comes with its own set of issues as if you tend to under-water leaves may turn brown and plants may droop.
What we recommend: use the finger test. Water your new plant only when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. How can you tell? If the soil has enough moisture it will look darker, stick to your finger, and of course, feel moist.
When it is time to water, try adding about ¼ to 1/3 of the pot size. Make sure the water doesn’t come rushing out the drainage holes. If it does, water more slowly to allow it to soak in.
3. Lighting
Going back to research, let’s now discuss lighting. Lighting is very important to consider, do you have a sunroom for your plants? Is your apartment in a lightless basement? Those are two drastically different spaces where plants may thrive or wilt away slowly. So, if you have a space in mind, how much light does that area get? A good rule of thumb is to keep your plants no further than 5 to 7 feet away from a window or sunlight source. Keep in mind that even with researching light needs and placing your plant in where you think is its perfect spot, you may still have to try different locations to see where it is happiest.
4. Environment
When you purchase a plant from Tropical Plants of Florida, an important factor to remember is that your plant is coming from South Florida. South Florida maintains a tropical climate ideal for growing and filled with humidity, your home might not. Your plant will initially be stressed as its environment changed! You may have to be patient as your new plant adjusts to its new environment.
Misting is a technique recommended for plants that like a humid environment.
5. Repotting
When it’s time, don’t be afraid to repot. Once your plant feels a bit more at home, or things are getting too tight (it’s becoming root-bound), it’s time to repot. Click here for our guide on repotting!
6. Be Observant
Take a second to look at your plant baby, does it look healthy? If your plant is unhappy, chances are there’s a way to spot it. Your plant may have drooping leaves, brown spots, yellowing, or another identifier. While it could be something as simple as under or overwatering, it’s important to pick up on all the clues your plant baby gives you!
If you really want to track your plants progress, try keeping a plant journal or taking a photo of your plant every day (same angle and conditions recommended) to track its progress!
7. Provide Care as Needed
Some plants will need frequent care, others will allow you to slack off a bit, but all plants at some point will need a little TLC. This could come in the form of repotting, diagnosing an illness, finding its ideal spot, or just some seasonal grooming and pruning. If you see dead or old leaves on your plant it’s best to prune them to prevent bugs or rotting. At the very least do this at the beginning of growing season in the spring and make sure to always use clean shears and continue to sanitize them as you cut.
8. Be Prepared to Want More!
Have you ever noticed while scrolling on Instagram how plants are never alone? That’s because once you get one AND have success… well… you’re going to want more. Being a successful plant mom (or dad!) can be very rewarding. Not only are you taking care of your plants and learning how to let them thrive, you’re also creating a green space for yourself to destress. Have patience, enjoy your tropical beauties, and welcome to plant parenthood!
