Five Helpful Tips for Growing Houseplants
About five years ago, I walked into an IKEA for the first time and left with nothing but my first houseplant—a cute little dragon tree. Fast forward to now, I have filled my home with about 50 houseplants, and even though I am definitely running out of space, I can’t stop buying them. If you’ve given into the recent houseplant craze or have always had houseplants and just want a few tips, read on!
#1. Choose Your Plants Wisely
I’ve killed my fair share of plants and have figured out which ones work best for me and which ones don’t. Universally, the plants that seem the easiest to take care of no matter what are Pothos and Philodendrons. They don’t need a lot of attention, or even a ton of light, so they are pretty good starter plants if you are worried about forgetting to water them.
Snake plants are great low-light houseplants that also don’t need much attention, and they come in many different varieties just like the other two. If you’re in the market for big leafy plants that come in all kinds of fun shades and are also easy to take care of, I highly recommend Aglaonemas. They are my absolute favorite, I have about 15 different varieties. I have one specific plant stand dedicated just to them in one corner of my office and I just love looking at it.
Alternately, I don’t recommend starting with ferns, as they need quite a lot of attention, and even then they may not make it!
#2. Mix Your Own Soil
When I first started with houseplants, I was just buying the basic “houseplant soil” that was sold anywhere I could buy my plants. I slowly learned that many of those pre-mixed ones actually tend to hold in a lot of moisture, which can lead to root rot. They also sometimes carry pests, which of course can kill your plant.
I learned to make my own mix of soil, which is more aerated so that my plants get the water they need but aren’t water logged. I suggest using a mix of cactus/succulent soil, Orchid bark, perlite, and peat moss. It’s been a game changer for me and all of my plants are so darn happy!
#3. Let Them See the Light
Obviously, different plants need different light, but generally speaking, you want to keep your plants in a room that gets at least a little bit of natural light. If you’re concerned about them not getting enough sunlight, grow lights are always a great option. I just bought a fancy lamp and some full spectrum light bulbs and shine them on my plants during my work hours. It’s been a big help for my plants that get stuck in corners where they may not get much light, and might even work if you have a windowless bathroom that needs a houseplant to spruce it up!
#4 Water Them Correctly
Just like light, some plants need less water than others, so it helps to do some research. A lot of nurseries will have a little card in the plant pots that tell you the requirements for each plant so you have an idea before you buy.
Some plants like to be watered from the bottom (that’s how I water my violets), many like to be kept moist (like Peace Lilies), and some plants like to be misted every day (like Aglaonemas). I have a cute little metal watering can that I keep in my plant area next to my fancy little mister, and in the winter I tend to check on my plants and water them every two weeks, and in the spring and summer I up it to once a week. Always check your soil first so you don’t overwater!
#5 Maintain Them
Once you start collecting houseplants, watching them grow is way more exciting than you would think. I recently got two new leaves on my baby Monstera plant and screamed so loudly in excitement that my partner came running at me from across the house to make sure I was ok!
I especially love variegated plants because every new leaf looks completely different. Sometimes though, the new growth pushes out some of the older leaves, and when that happens don’t be too alarmed. Just make sure you cut off any dead leaves as soon as you notice them so that the plant isn’t giving any extra energy to parts that have already died.
If you notice your plant getting a bit too big for it’s pot, it’s time to repot it. Depending on the plant, you may need to repot in the spring every year or two. When picking a new pot, make sure to never go up more than two inches from the one it’s already in, or it may shock the plant and kill it. I highly recommend researching the plants you get, because some of them don’t do well in certain pots, such as Violets, which don’t do well at all in terra cotta (and also don’t like to be repotted very often).
Even five years in I’m still learning about my houseplants, so go support your local nursery, and don’t get discouraged if you lose a few.
Good luck!