I am officially a mom, a plant mom, and I am beyond excited about it. I never thought I would enjoy taking care of plants but now, I am addicted to them. I have already purchased a new one since writing this post. Caring for anything can be intimating in the beginning if you do not know anything about it. Like many things in life you get the hang of it through trail and error. Of course, a bit of research helps as well. Lucky for you I did a bit of research and I have gathered 5 things first time plant owners should know.
Understand the light in your space
If you have indoor or outdoors plants, consider the light quality in your space. Some plants need direct sunlight to thrive, others if given too much light will not survive. So start by analyzing the capacity of your environment and choosing a plant that will thrive in it. If your home does not have much sunlight consider a plant that requires low maintenance or little to low direct light.
Get a planter with a drainage hole
A great planter goes a lot way and getting one with a drainage hole is key. Drainage holes discourage root rot and give excess water a way to escape, preventing your plant from drowning
Don’t overwater.
Overwatering as one of the most common mistakes that leads to an unhappy plant. This is definitely a note to self because I always think my plants are dry. I have actually learned. it is better to underwater than overwater. Overwatering is the easiest way to kill a plant. My suggestion is to always check the soil before watering. If it’s still moist, wait to water.
Don’t be afraid to repot.
Spring is the ideal time to rept your plants but that does not mean you cannot do so arrives that are a bit warmer all year round, like here in Texas. If your plants could use a pick-me-up, give them new soil and a slightly bigger home. Repotting does not always mean moving your plant into a bigger planter–sometimes it simply means changing your plant’s potting mix to provide it with fresh nutrients. However, if your plant has overgrown its current planter, choose a new pot that’s only slightly larger in size. Upsizing should be a gradual process throughout the years. You do not want your plant swimming in potting mix, which can lend itself to overwatering, and potentially root rot.
Remove dead leaves.
Don’t let discolored leaves get you down. If you notice a plant is beginning to yellow, remove the damaged area of the leaf, or the complete leaf if it’s entirely brown. The removal of the affected area will make space for new life. Grab a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears and remove the yellow or brown crispy leaves. Make sure you clean the blades between snip, rubbing alcohol is great for wiping the blade. You never want to remove more than 30% of the affected areas at one time so try removing them in stages. Doing so will having fresh new leaves growing on no time.
(Source: Glamour.com)
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