About a month ago, I impulsively bought seven plants, and as a new plant parent, I have decided to share my experiences. While I still have much to learn, I can offer some guidance to beginners like myself or anyone who is interested in becoming a plant parent but does not know where to start. The first step in becoming a plant parent is pretty obvious. You can buy houseplants at some grocery stores or local plant nurseries, and you can even have plants delivered (be cautious of weather), but what happens after you have found your first plant? Here are some of the essentials to becoming a successful plant parent.
- Drainage Holes
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When shopping for plants, you will want to look for pots that have a drainage hole. If you have already bought the plant, do not worry — you can easily repot your plant into another pot that aids drainage. Having a draining hole is very helpful, especially to beginners like ourselves, as it prevents root rot, a term you will see a lot. Root rot happens when your roots are submerged into water, causing low oxygen levels and decay. Once you are finished watering your plant, the drainage hole will get rid of the excess water. Remember to not let the bottom of the pot sit in the excess water, or else this will defeat the purpose of the draining hole!
- Watering Schedules
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We all know that plants require sunlight and water — as we were made aware in almost every biology course — but how much? Certain plants have different needs, and it is important to observe your plants every now and then to notice such trends in order to create a watering schedule that can be adjusted as needed. One way to tell if your soil is wet or dry is by placing a dry wooden stick into the soil. With a watering schedule, you can avoid under and overwatering — each will show up in its own way depending on the plant. After you have established a watering schedule, you can begin to focus on other factors such as humidity, temperature, and light — all good things to research based on your specific plant.
- Patience
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Lastly, it is important to be patient with your plants, which is something that I struggled with at first. Plants take time to grow, and they give off their own cues as to what they are in need of. It is up to you to be attentive and do some research about your plants. There are many informational sites designed to help you keep your new plants happy — I have linked a couple of these sites below since this article by no means should be your only source.
A couple of days ago, I noticed that my first plant was growing baby roots! I had originally thought that this plant was struggling due to a couple of fallen leaves, but it was actually doing just fine. If you believe that plants may become your new hobby, then I hope you start to build your own home jungle — I know I love mine.