Not everyone is born with a green thumb but thankfully there are tips, hacks, and tricks to keep your plants alive and thriving. Understanding the needs of your plants will lead to reduced stress, cleaner air, and a happier environment.
If you want to be a plant parent, here’s everything you need to know about taking care of plants.
SEE ALSO: 14 houseplants that are almost impossible to kill
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Get the right plant.
No matter how positive your vibes are, you can’t grow an orange tree in Alaska. Some plants are doomed at your doorstep, not because you lack green instinct, but because they’re a bad fit.
Kerry Meyer, who holds a masters in horticulture from The University of Minnesota, uses the "right plant, right place" mantra to choosing plants, according to her post in Proven Winners. Even if miniature roses look great for the ‘gram, they wilt if they stay indoors. Ask your local garden center for a plant that will bloom in your climate and with your lifestyle. If you’re terrible at remembering to water your plant, cacti and snake plants will cherish your neglect. Always mention if you have pets; cats may become ill from lilies or daffodils.
Let there be (not too much) light!
Expert gardener Marie Iannotti explained the subtleties of the labels, “full sun, partial sun, dappled sun, and shade” for The Spruce. "Full sun" could mean a backyard in Texas, but "partial sun" could apply to areas with blinds or hallways. If your apartment never sees the sun, HGTV asserted that shade lovers like ferns will prefer your cave style of living. You could find kinship with spider plants who shrivel and burn in direct sunlight.
Change is bad.
Plants are sensitive to change. They’re slow to adapt to new environments, so if they’re doing fine, changing the lighting or the height of the plant is a no-no. Remember if you’re planning on growing a giant plant baby to start it off in a location where it will fit when it gets big.
If you need to transfer your plant to a new location or apartment, SFGate suggests easing the plants’ transition by "slowly allow[ing] them to be exposed to the elements, until you leave the plant outdoors overnight and move it to its new location permanently." When you finally get into a good routine, hire a plant-sitter to keep it up when you’re out of town.
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