Now that we’ve been spending more time than ever at our homes now; we can’t help but look at every room with a closer eye. Should we rearrange the furniture a certain way? Should we add some art? And most importantly, should we get some plants? 

With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to add a new and fresh life to your home. Today, we partnered with Glass Earth Plant Store to get you started on your plant parenthood journey. 

Being a plant parent is a learning experience, and it’s 100% never perfect- and that’s okay! If you kill your first plant, that’s okay; we won’t judge, for we’ve been there too! To get you started on your first plant, we’ve put together a beginners guide to being a plant parent to make sure your experience is a pleasant and delightful one: 

1) The lighting in your home

Do you have enough light in your home? Is your home lighting dim even during the summertime? It’s best to consider your home’s lighting and then go for a plant that would be most compatible with your house’s lighting. 

Always check which way your windows face and observe the lighting. This will go a long way in helping you choose the right plant for the correct location.

What windows provide the best lighting?

 East windows generally provide the best lighting for tropicals, while south and southwest exposure can often be too intense. 

Keep in mind that most tropical plants grow under the canopy of the jungle, where it is pretty dark and therefore does not need direct sun. This is the location best suited for cactus and succulents and a few thicker leafed tropicals.

2) Your Schedule

Are you often out and spend days away from home? Are you a homebody? Think through about how much you’ll be able to tend to your plants. Some plants need closer attention to thrive than others. 

3) How much water is too much water?

Proper watering is crucial for your plant survival. You ideally should always have your plants planted in pots with good drainage holes so that excess water can leave the roots and the soil. Also, try to avoid bowls or saucers full of water after watering your plants. Make sure to empty them.

 It is an excellent idea to research any plant you bring into your home and find out where it is native. That will tell you a lot about the water needs of your plant. 

For instance, plants like cactus, which grow in the desert, only need water a few times a year, whereas most tropicals need water every week. The best way to know when your tropical plant needs water is to use your fingers and dig down into the soil and feel it. In most cases, you want the soil to be barely moist before watering. Other plants like to dry out completely in between waterings, so it is best to know a bit about your plant beforehand.

4) Clean the leaves!

It is always a good idea to keep the leaves of your plants clean to photosynthesize effectively. Remember that the rain and the wind help keep the plants’ leaves clean and pest-free in the wild. And occasional showering can help a lot. 

Regular wiping of large plant leaves with a Foliar feed and Leaf Shine helps a lot. Make it a habit to check the undersides of your plant leaves for pests. That’s where they like to hide! 

5) Fertilize your plant

Occasionally if you own plants, you will encounter pests. We constantly push for natural solutions such as introducing predators to keep your plants healthy. 

Choose a natural fertilizer rather than a chemical one to avoid burning the roots. Most soils used indoors have no nutrients, so a good fertilizer like Glass Earths Organic Plant Tea will help feed your plants. Avoid touching roots when transplanting to avoid transplant shock. 

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about some of the few great plants for you as a beginner: Snake Plants, Pothos, spider plants, Cactus, many Philodendrons, Peace lilies, and bird of paradise. 

I hope this info will helps you as much as it helped me!

xx

Yachna

(Images in this post from Unsplash)