Caring for Houseplants: A Beginner’s Guide
Introduction
Hey friends! If you’re new to the wonderful world of houseplants, let me be the first to say – welcome! Having these little green friends in your home can be super rewarding, helping purify your air, brighten up your space, and just make you smile. As a longtime plant mom myself, I totally get it can feel daunting trying to keep your new leafy babies happy and healthy, but have no fear! In no time you’ll have the knowledge you need to help your plants thrive with just a little TLC. I’ll walk you through all the key things to know – from picking the right plants to getting your care routine down. Let’s dig in!
Choosing Plants for Beginners
When I first started out, I definitely killed a fair few plants before getting the hang of it (RIP my maidenhair fern). It’s totally normal! But you can stack the odds in your favor right from the start by choosing resilient, beginner-friendly varieties for your very first houseplants.
Low-Maintenance Starter Plants
Here are some hard-to-kill starters that can handle beginner mistakes and still keep growing strong:
Pothos – This trailing vine is a staple for a reason – it’s almost impossible to overwater and can handle low light. Over a decade later, my golden pothos from college is still going strong! ZZ plant – With shiny, plump leaves on sturdy stems, ZZ plants tolerate almost any conditions. I’ve never met one I couldn’t revive, even from the brink of death! Snake plant – With sword-shaped, architectural leaves, these plants are bold and beautiful. But they also only need occasional water, perfect for forgetful plant parents like me!
Consider Your Growing Conditions
Pay attention to the space your potential new plant will live in. Is it bright or shady? Warm, or prone to chills from drafty windows? Checking the light, temperature, humidity, and airflow your home provides helps narrow down plants that will be happy there. My south-facing kitchen window, for example, has the bright light and warmth many tropicals love.
Providing the Right Environment
Now that you’ve picked your plants, it’s time to set up for success by giving them what they need!
Lighting Needs
Plants use light energy from the sun to turn water and carbon dioxide into food. Without enough light for photosynthesis, plants get spindly and weak.
Low light plants like pothos and Chinese evergreen tolerate shadier spots. Medium light plants like peperomia and philodendron do best near bright windows.
High light plants like cacti and fiddle leaf fig thrive right in sunny windows.
Pay attention to how your plants grow towards light sources, getting lanky or pale when unhappy. Adjust or add grow lights as needed. Those first few scraggly basil plants I grew under dim ceiling lights taught me that lesson fast!
Temperature and Humidity
Plants transpire water through their leaves to keep cool. Low humidity and dry heat make this harder, stressing plants. Tropicals like humidity around 60%.
Use a hygrometer to track moisture levels.
Grouping plants together increases local humidity. Use pebble trays or a humidifier to add moisture if needed.
Drafts from windows or vents can also shock plants. Avoid placing delicate tropicals like calathea directly in temperature drops.
Watering Your Plants
Figuring out watering takes some trial and error – no two plants are exactly alike! But pay close attention and you’ll soon get the rhythm of each plant’s needs.
Watering Frequency
How often to water depends on the plant variety, pot size, soil mix, and growing conditions. I water my succulents every 2-3 weeks, but thirsty annuals like basil daily in hot months.
Tropicals like more frequent watering, when top few inches of soil dry out. Succulents and cacti prefer full dry out between deep waterings.
Bigger pots hold more moisture. Small pots need water more often. Well-draining soil mixes also dry out faster than moisture retentive ones.
Identifying Watering Needs
Don’t just water plants on a schedule – check if they need it! Methods like the taco test on leaves or finger test in soil work for many. Or just pay attention to signs of under and overwatering:
Underwatered signs:
- Wilting or drooping leaves
- Leaves browning and crisp on edges
- Soil pulls away from pot sides
Overwatered signs:
- Yellowing lower leaves
- Mushy stems
- Mold or fungus on surface
Proper Watering Method
Always water deeply, until it drains from holes at the bottom. This encourages roots to grow downwards. Avoid just sprinkling top of soil!
Let watered pots drain fully before putting drainage saucers back under them so roots don’t sit in excess moisture.
Use room temperature filtered or distilled water when possible. Cold water from the tap can shock plant roots.
Soil and Fertilizer
While some plants tolerate almost any potting mix, others thrive when their preferences are met!
Soil Recommendations
- Cacti & succulents need fast-draining cactus/succulent soil blend.
- Orchids prefer airy mixes with good drainage, like bark or moss.
- Peat moss retains lots of moisture, good for tropicals.
- I use a quality potting mix like Espoma then tweak as needed. Adding perlite creates more drainage. Extra peat or moss helps moisture-loving calathea stay happy!
Fertilizer Basics
While plants make their own food from light via photosynthesis, providing fertilizer gives an extra nutrient boost!
Apply houseplant fertilizer monthly during active growing seasons (spring through fall), at half-strength what’s recommended. This prevents buildup and burn.
Or you can refresh soil annually with slow release granules mixed in, which feeds plants gradually.
Pay attention to labeling – formulas specific to orchids, vegetables, or blooming plants help target needs.
Caring for Plants Long Term
Once you get set up and comfortable with basic care, it’s rewarding to watch your plants grow over years with you! Here are some tips to help them thrive:
Encourage Growth Through Pruning
Removing dead leaves and spent flowers with a clean pair of garden shears keeps plants neat and focused on new growth. Always sterilize blades before and after pruning each plant to avoid spreading diseases.
Repotting as Needed
When roots start emerging from the drainage holes or plants become top heavy, it’s time to size up to a bigger home! Repot in spring, going just 1-2 inches larger. Handling root balls gently, loosen any circled roots and add fresh soil mix.
Adapting Through Seasons
As light, temps, and humidity shift, tweak your care too. Maybe your pilea needs a grow light supplementing dim winter sun. Or your dracaena wants more frequent waterings in hot, dry summer air. Pay attention and help them acclimate!
Preventing Issues
Catch issues early and control is much easier! Learn to ID common pests like mealybugs and fungus gnats. Deal with them immediately using gentle, natural methods before they spread. An ounce of prevention by promoting plant health stops so many crises down the road.
Conclusion
While it can feel daunting as a beginner, you’ll get the hang of it faster than you think! Just focus on choosing the right plants and setup for your space, watering well but not excessively, providing light and warmth as needed, and giving TLC through seasons. Building relationships with your houseplants brings so much joy. Before you know it, you’ll have your very own urban jungle!
