Everyone loves experiencing nature and being among the greenery, plus enjoying lovely landscaping in a beautiful garden. Still, not all of us have the necessary green thumb to accomplish these scenes or the property.
Sometimes, though, through reputable companies online like Plantedpot.com, friends, and families take the time to make selections of potted plants that are maintenance friendly so the more challenged gardeners can care for plants in a more controlled manner.
In this way, those who wish to sit quietly among the foliage whenever they choose can do so in their own home. But these folks are still not up on care and upkeep to keep the plants alive and well, so they might need some tips. Let’s see if we can help them out.
Tips For Plant People Who Don’t Have A Green Thumb
If you consider yourself a plant person in that you love greenery and thrive with plants and foliage around you, but you haven’t a clue when it comes to care and upkeep, you might benefit from friends and family selecting options for you that require less maintenance.
Some trusted sites will deliver these beautiful potted houseplants directly to your home with instructions on sustaining the plant’s life. It might prove intimidating if you’ve never had luck in the past, but we’re going to give you a few tips that might make you less apprehensive. Let’s dive in.
- Look for an area with the best light.
When you place a plant, windows that focus south get more light than those that face north. If you only have windows on the east and west side, check the morning and afternoon sun before placing plants. Brighter colors of foliage will require significantly more light than the other options.
You’ll also need to remember to turn the pot halfway each day or every other day, so the plant grows in an even way. Plants will travel towards the light. That means if you don’t turn it, you’ll notice the plant starting to bend in the direction of the sun. Sun-sensitive potted houseplants might need moving in the summer if the heat in the window is too intense.
- Create water holds for the plant in the pot.
If you notice the plant is drying out rapidly immediately following a water session, you can use an easy trip to maintain the soil’s moisture. After repotting, stick a moist sponge on the floor of the pot before adding the soil. The sponge will behave like a reservoir and help avoid a “gusher” if you tend to overwater plants.
- Talk Or Read To Your Foliage.
Foliage is living things, and while it might sound silly, the carbon dioxide from our breath invigorates their “gas exchange” cycles. Plus, if you can see well enough to read by the natural light coming in from the windows, this will tell you that your houseplants are receiving the minimum amount of light they need to maintain healthy growth. If you can’t, you will need to find a better placement.
- Prepare for leaving for any length of time.
If you plan a vacation or need to leave the houseplants for any length of time, they require watering and arrangement before you depart. Saucers need removing, and the plants need placement on a thick moistened towel either in the tub or in a sink. The drain holes need to be in direct contact with the moisture of the towel. Visit for tips on care if your pot doesn’t have drain holes.
The cold tap should go on until the water slowly drips on the towel, with the moisture drawing into the plant’s roots from the fabric.
- Make the plant leaves glisten in the light.
Over time, the plant’s leaves will begin to dull or grow dusty. You can wipe these down gently with an exceptionally soft rag that you dip in a mixture of milk and warm water (half/half). That will produce a nice shine, but it won’t clog the pores.
Another tip is to use a minute amount of mayonnaise with a paper towel. The leaves can stay shiny and bright for as long as a few months.
- Repotting tips you should know.
You can repot at any given time, but ideally, you want to do this before growth starts, generally in the spring for many houseplants. Specific signs you can look for when it’s time to transplant:
- Gradually new leaves show up, which are tiny in appearance compared to the others on the plant.
- The soil becomes dry rapidly, or the water will glide down the interior without soaking the soil.
- The drainage holes have roots growing out, or they’re showing above the soil’s surface.
- If you pull the foliage from the pot, the roots will form a tight coil underneath with no sign of soil.
Use an ice cream scooper when replanting to avoid soil falling everywhere and making a mess. Find out if you can plant in pots that don’t have drain holes at https://blog.mytastefulspace.com/2019/10/16/how-to-plant-in-pots-without-drainage-holes/.
Final Thought
Nature, with its glorious foliage that we bring inside in the form of the lovely potted houseplant, not only brings us incredible joy, peace, and serenity but also provides us with health benefits. You might not have a green thumb, and that’s okay. Some options require minimal care and maintenance. I have cacti. I’m hoping to graduate to something more sophisticated. The idea is not to feel it’s impossible for you. It’s not.
