Green thumbs aren’t born. Green thumbs are made through careful planning and dedication!
Unlike animals, plants can’t verbally communicate whether they’re thirsty or hungry. Instead, plants grow brown leaves and hunch their backs in protest, hoping you’ll understand! Plant parents, as a result, must take into account time before bringing a new friend home.
Here are ways to pick a plant that fits your needs and lifestyle!
RESEARCH
Indoor Plants
- Location
Indoors or outdoors, location matters. Whether your plant needs sunlight or not indicates where you should place your plant. For example, a sharp cactus would fare best on a windowsill or bright area. On the other hand, a sturdy snake plant doesn’t need as much light. Before getting a plant, make sure to research whether it requires a lot of sunlight or not!
2. Water
Some plants need more water to thrive! If you’re a forgetful fellow, a cactus might fare well in your home! Other low-water plants include spider plants, orchids and ponytail palms. These plants usually get thirsty once a week.
If you are likely to overwater a plant, Boston ferns are your friend. These plants grow in moist environments and enjoy attention. Usually, they get thirsty every 2 to 3 days.
Outdoor Plants
- Location
Before bringing a plant home, try to determine how much sunlight your garden receives. If shade consumes your garden, invest in a plant that doesn’t need sun. If there is no shade in your garden, look for the opposite.
Gardens that receive an equal amount of sun and shade benefit from half-sun plants. Examples of half-sun plants include hydrangea flowers and forget-me-nots.
2. Water
Gardener’s Supply Co., a gardening company, recommends owners water plants in the morning to avoid the sun drying it out later in the day. To retain moisture, owners should place mulch in their gardens and focus on watering the root area. Read the label on your plant to understand how much you should water it.
BUYING
After researching plants, you’ve finally walked through automatic doors and strolled into a vast garden area. Here are a few tips to follow when picking out your lucky companion at the store!
- Check for brown leavesBefore bringing a plant home, make sure it’s not dying or infested. Brown leaves allude to bugs crawling around in the dirt, and nobody wants that.
- Compare
Chances are you’ll find a few similar plants at the store. Take the opportunity to compare plant sizes and plant health to see which would fit your home. If buying lucky bamboo, see how many stems it has! The number of stems indicate different meanings! - Check PotPotted plants are important to check. Look at the soil to see if there are any bugs in it and look again to see if the plant’s roots are showing. If the roots are on display, you might need to move your plant to a bigger pot.
Plants are a great way to brighten your home and yard! Buying one, however, is an investment. Tread cautiously and find one that fits your own vibrant self.
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