Follow These 5 Simple Steps To Cultivate Your Green Thumb
Plant parenting is a skill that can be acquired with consistency and simple considerations of few simple tips
Some people are (seemingly) born with green thumbs, while others must go through trial and errors to keep their plant-babies alive. But cultivating plant-parenting skills are not as hard as you think, especially caring for indoor plants. Here are some simple tips.
This should be the first consideration when buying any plant – where are you going to put it? Does the space in mind have enough sunlight, and to what degree?
Plants that need shade will wilt in extreme heat and constant exposure to bright light, so put them where they can get indirect sunlight instead. Those that require sunshine should be placed in the east-west facing areas of your home.
Plants are a great way to add visual interest and break up the monotony, especially if your space leans towards a minimalist aesthetic.
When choosing a plant, think about the effect you want it to have in the room.
A tall and slim plant will fit in better if there’s already a lot of furniture. Similarly, if your goal is to break up the boxiness of a room, choose something with spreading leafy branches.
Sometimes, even harmless-looking plants can be toxic to your pet.
The ficus species, monstera plants, lilies and tulips are among some of these – so keep them well away from your pet, or better yet, avoid buying them altogether. Stick to safe species like the African violet or spider palm.
Choosing a pot that suits your plant and home aesthetic is trickier than you think. Above all, your plant’s needs and required moisture levels should come first.
We recommend choosing terracotta for its porosity and ability to dry evenly, with drainage holes to avoid too much moisture build-up.
If it doesn’t suit your aesthetic, you can place this into another pot – commonly called the cachepot – that’s more attractive, without having to repot the whole plant.
Now that travel’s on the cards for most of us again, caring for the plants we adopted during the pandemic may not be the top priority.
If you are out of the home more, consider choosing plants that require less maintenance or invest in some self-watering planters.
Travelling on short notice? Fill your kitchen sink with a few inches of water and rest your potted plants in there. They’ll draw water up from below. Just be sure your kitchen has enough sunlight!
Text: Melody Bay/Home & Decor