How to Have a Green Thumb 101 - Keeping Your Houseplant Happy
You're a newly proud plant parent, now what?
Whether you ordered your new houseplant online or were received it as a gift - you now have a beautiful plant in your hands. But what if you've never had a "green thumb"? How do you keep your houseplant looking beautiful? Sounds like a daunting task. Don't worry - we're here to help! Here are 4 tips to help you thrive as a plant parent.
1. LIGHTOne of the most common mistakes new plant parents make is giving their plant too much or not enough light. How do you know how much light a houseplant needs? While this can differ from plant to plant - a general rule of green thumb is to give your plants bright, indirect, light.
Certain houseplants, like snake plants, can thrive in low light homes. While plants like Aloe Vera prefer brighter light. It's important to read up on your specific plant to provide adequate light for optimal living conditions.
-- Pro Tip: Certain houseplants can get "sunburnt" if they're in direct sunlight for too long.
The correct amount of water and how frequent houseplants should be watered can also give new plant parents a hiccup. This is where it's important to know your houseplant. There isn't a "one size fits all" when it comes to watering. Some plants, like succulents and cacti, can store water for several weeks and only need to be watered once a month - while other plants need to be watered weekly.
As a new plant parent, we'd recommend potting your plant in a pot with drainage holes to help prevent overwatering.
-- Pro Tip: A general rule of green thumb, is to stick your finger 2 inches into the soil -- if the soil is completely dry, your plant could use a little water.
While fertilizing isn't necessary, it will give your plants a little boost to help them grown faster and fuller. We recommend using an organic houseplant fertilizer when fertilizing your plants. Houseplants should be fertilized once every 2-3 weeks during their growing season. You don't need to fertilize your houseplants during non-growing seasons.
For more tips on how & when to fertilize your houseplants -- click here!
The hardest thing for a new plant parent to do - leave their plant alone. Your houseplants don't need a 24-hour babysitter watching over them - they aren't going to run away! After you've placed your plant in its optimal lighting, given it enough water, and fertilized - leave it alone!
With these 4 simple tips, your plants will continue to grow lush leaves for many years to come!
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