Let’s face it—plants are hard to keep alive! I’ve killed my share fair of plants, but over the years (and tons of plants I’ve bought) I’ve learned some key ways to keep these luscious babies alive and kicking. I’m giving you all of my plant mama secrets so that you can keep your green guys looking fresh AF.
Water
Obviously you have the water your plants. But watering them when they’re still wet, or too much will drown them. The golden rule: Only water when they’re dry. Check by dipping a finger into the soil. If it’s dry then water it. If it’s damp wait, and check again in a few days. Check them once a week.
Solid Soil
Planting these babies is pivotal. You want to make sure the soil drains well. The three keys to solid soil is to 1) mix a good amount of perlite with your fresh soil, 2) repot them every few years, and 3) plant them in a way they can drain. How do you make sure they drain? First you want to mix a fair amount of perlite into your soil to add natural drainage between the dirt. Ideally you will have a plant pot with a drainage hole so that the water can literally drain out as you water it. Sometimes your plant pot won’t have one, and that can work too with proper planting, and being careful to not over water (since it has no where to drain out of). If you don’t have a drain hole in the pot you can also keep your plant in the plastic pot you bought it in that has drain holes, and set that into a plastic tray for it to drain into.
Rotate!
I’ve had certain plants for YEARS. You know why they still look fresh? I rotate those bad boys. Turn your plants every few months and they’ll look fuller, more even, and well grown. You don’t want wonky plants that lean in one direction like they’re trying to run TF out of your house. (Okay sometimes that looks kinda cool, right? Like this guy)
Good Light
I’ve officially given up on keeping plants in areas of my house away from windows. That’s what pampas grass is for these days. Truth is if your plant doesn’t have a window nearby, it probably won’t live. This is one of the main ways I’ve killed most plants. Pretty much all of my plants are either along the windowless wall a few feet from a window, or right in front of a window. I dream of having a skylight in some places of my house.
Fertilize
I don’t regularly fertilize my indoor plants, but if you drop in these pebbles once or twice a year it will make your plant way healthier. No need to overdo it! I really recommend mixing some fertilizer in your soil as you pot your plants so that they can start off with all of the nutrients to keep them full. I’m all for luscious leaves.
Here’s to keeping your plant babies flourishing! Any questions for me? Let me know in the comments! xoxo Erika
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