If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the world of houseplants, there are a few things you should know. First off, regardless of what your mother-in-law tells you, ANY kind of gardener can grow beautiful houseplants, it just requires a bit more work. Get started growing your own indoor plants today with these houseplants for beginners tips.
Water Is Everything
Naturally, the amount of water that you give to your plants are crucial to determining their success. In fact, most plants die because of root rot caused by overwatering. So really, you may not have a black thumb at all, just a habit for overwatering. To avoid overwatering, only water when the first few inches of soil are dry (or more, depending on the care needs of your plant). Additionally, I recommend purchasing a water meter like this one from Amazon, it fits into your pot and will tell you when you need to water based on the kind of plant that you have. Here is another post that will help you learn everything you need to know about watering your houseplants.
The Right Pot Is Crucial
Though it can be tempting to pick up a trendy planter from World Market or Target, you might want to wait before purchasing. When growing plants in containers indoors, it is extremely important that all pots or containers have a drainage hole of some kind. The drainage hole provides a place for all of the extra water to escape and will prevent root rot. However, if you can’t find a stylish pot with a draining hole, you can drill one yourself using a special drill bit made for glass or ceramic.
Sunlight For Houseplants
When growing houseplants for beginners, the right amount of sunlight needed can be tricky. However, a good rule of thumb is to place all of your houseplants in bright, indirect light. Almost all plants love indirect light, and this will keep its leaves from becoming burned. This is true for all plants, except succulents. Succulents love a bright, sunny window. Direct sun is best for these babies.
Fertilizing Houseplants
Depending on the variety of houseplant you have, your plant will have to be fertilized several times of the year. Read the tag to determine when your plant needs to be fertilized, and make sure that you do so around the same time every year. Additionally, its a good idea to repot your houseplants in new soil every year or so. This helps promote extra growth, so why not?
Humidity Levels For Houseplants
Depending on the variety of houseplant that you choose to grow, you may have to supplement the humidity. Indoor gardeners can do so by misting the leaves with water every day, bringing the plant into the steam while showering, or boiling water to help with humidity levels. If humidity levels are too low, you may notice that the edges of your houseplant are dry and crumbling.
