13 House Plant Care Tips For Beginners
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A lot of advice about plants will tell you to get low-light, easy-to-keep-alive, or low-maintenance plants, and while that advice works and is valid, I’m going to give you the beginner’s guide (or maybe we should call it Plants 101 v.2) to actually becoming a plant person long-term.
What are the benefits to houseplants?
Plants are basically serotonin sitting in soil. I see plants as just another extension of learning how to practice self-care. Every time I think about how I need to water my plants, I drink some water myself. I look at my plants basking in the sunlight and decide to go on a walk because vitamin D is good for us. I notice that it’s time for me to prune some of my plants (aka cut off dead leaves) and I think about what “dead leaves” I can cut away from my life. Not only are these little cuties good reminders for care, but they also provide oxygen in your home, can clear the air of toxins, and can bring humidity into your home.
What kind of houseplants should I start off with?
Many people will tell you to start with easy plants—such as a ZZ plant or a snake plant—and while these are amazing choices, I think the real success to becoming a plant person is starting with a plant that isn’t the easiest to keep alive. My go-to plant for this is a pothos plant. These plants are great because they really communicate to you clearly what they need. Do you see shriveled leaves? They likely need some water. Are you starting to see a lot of yellow leaves? You probably need to move your pot into some more sunlight.
How can you tell if your plants are dying?
Plants will give a few different signs if they are struggling. What to keep an eye out for: excessive yellow leaves (a yellow leaf here or there is usually pretty normal because sometimes leaves just die off to allow for new ones), leaves that are wilting or crisping, or general brown spots on the leaves. You should also keep an eye on leggy trailing plants because that may mean they don’t have enough sunlight. Another good tip is to just keep an eye on the growth. While a lot of plants go dormant in the winter, if you find that some of your plants aren’t growing at all, they may need a change in care.
When do plants need to be watered again?
This answer will vary depending on the plant and what your environment is like (if it’s really humid vs. dry), but I think that what’s more important than how often plants need to be watered is that your plants are watered on a schedule. If you can make checking on and watering your plants a part of your routine every other week, this is a good way to start making sure your plants are getting the hydration that they need. You can check your plant’s moisture level by putting your finger into the soil and seeing how wet it feels or purchase a moisture meter. Another option is to stick to bottom-watering so that your plants can just suck up the water that they need. If you’re worried about over-watering your plants, add some perlite to create more airflow in your soil. Oh! Don’t forget to have holes in your pots.
What are good beginner plants?
Golden pothos, marble pothos, or snake plants are a good place to start. ZZ plants and spider plants are also good options. Cast iron plants can get huge, are very hard to kill, and are low-maintenance. Heartleaf philodendrons give off similar vibes to pothos, but are a good alternative, if you want a vining plant. If you don’t want to buy an entirely new plant, ask your plant-having friend if you could have a cutting of their pothos or philodendron. Start from there and see if you can keep that alive in a little glass of water (Make sure to change out the water once a week). Rubber trees also rock as beginner plants. Or, you could also try your hand at growing herbs! Get a thyme or basil plant from the grocery stores and start with that. A lot of people will say to get succulents or cacti as starter plants, but I think if you are really wanting to learn how to be a plant parent, stay away from those for now and try some of the ones listened above.
What are some other plant things to keep an eye on?
Pests
When first starting out with houseplants, one of the worst things can be finding pests. But as a beginner, it’s good to know it is possible. Make sure you keep some neem oil around in case this happens! Neem oil is a natural insecticide that can kill common houseplant pests, while being both safe for the environment and to use around pets.
We Recommend: Harris Neem Oil
Toxicity to Pets
The next thing to consider is if you have plants, note which plants are possibly toxic to animals. This takes a quick Google, but is super important to keep your pets safe.
Overwatering
Finally, if you’re prone to maybe watering a little too much, keep an eye (or nose?) out for smelly soil. This could be a sign of root rot and is something that is treatable if spotted early. If you pull out the plant and see brown or soggy roots, that’s your number one sign. Wrap the roots in newspaper to dry out a little before repotting into fresh soil.
What are some final things I should consider as a plant-parent beginner?
If you live in a house or apartment that doesn’t get a ton of natural light but you’re wanting to create your own little jungle, consider getting some plant lights to supplement sunlight.
Keep around some extra potting soil for topping off or repotting.
Research what type of pots are best for your plants. All around, terracotta pots are a good standard, but if you live in a place where your plants can dry out really quickly, terracotta may not be the best choice for you. If you live somewhere a little moister, you might want to consider ceramic pots.
Consider buying a tool—such as a hygrometer or indoor humidity monitor—that checks your home’s humidity levels to see if you need to get a humidifier for your plants that want a little more moisture.
Learning how to take care of plants may take a little trial, error, and patience. It’s okay if you lose a couple while you’re on your green thumb journey. Just know that you can always try again as some plants may just act differently in your space. Most importantly–don’t give up. You can do it!