4 Houseplant care tips for newbies you need to follow

My family have always been green-fingered. Somehow it skipped a generation and didn’t seem to come naturally to me. So I’m just as surprised as you to be here, sharing a post on houseplant care tips for newbies. But who better to write it than someone who can still vividly remember what it is to be new to caring for your houseplants and can finally say they have found a way to not only keep plants alive, but make them thrive?

I’ve amassed a small rainforest over the past few months. My plants have grown so fast, I’ve had the pleasure of even gifting cuttings and entire plants to friends and loved ones, partly to make room for my plant babies and also to share the love and excitement I feel when I tend to my houseplants. I know it can be daunting to look after plants which is why I thought I’d share some very basic but effective houseplant care tips with you.

Where did my love of houseplants begin?

About a year ago, I visited a coffee shop & florist called September Flowers for a quick drink and a chat with a friend. I came for the coffee but somehow, left with a new Monstera. This was incredibly out of character for me because I’d never managed to keep any plant alive for more than a few months. In fact, the month before buying the monstera, I’ve killed a whole tray of beautiful succulents. I mean, they’re more or less indestructible! Yet, in less than a month, I’d ruined them. 

For some reason, I just ‘knew’ that this plant would be a turning point for me and it was! It made me happy to watch it grow and then thrive in my home. Very soon it was too big for its original pot and I had to rehome it. Then, this year, when lockdown had us all spending more time than we were used to inside our homes, like many, I turned to houseplants. Very soon, my home went from having one lonely but handsome plant to over twenty. My plant babies make me super happy and I couldn’t imagine them not being there!

How to look after plants, houseplant care tips foe newbies from Tinuke

1 . Watering – too little is always better than too much

• When it comes to houseplant care, it’s much easier to revive a plant that’s been forgotten about and has been left a tad dehydrated than it is to resuscitate a waterlogged, overwatered plant from the brink.
• If you’re not sure when you last watered your plant, err on the side of caution and leave it a few days rather than watering it far too soon and leaving the roots soggy and prone to rot. 
• Read the care information on each houseplant you buy as it will tell you how often it needs to be watered. Also, check the potting mix your plant is in for moisture levels before you water. The humidity and temperature of the room means they made need to be watered less often than the care instructions suggest. 

2. Know what environment each new plant likes

• Plants originate from all over the world. Some come from dry, hot lands and others started their lives in wet and muggy rainforests. Yes, you probably picked it up in a garden centre or your local Aldi on a special buy, but on a genetic level, your plants need different envirionments to flourish! I use an app called Planta which lets me know what kind of environment each of my plants need.
• You can also look them up online and just take note. I live my life through my phone so this makes sense. It’s become a habit to simply start the day by checking the task lists for my houseplants on the app each morning. I’m a geek when it comes to my plant babies!
• Some of your plants, (for example all of my monsteras) will need a quick mist every now and then. This is to help emulate their natural climates. This is to help emulate their natural climates. I use a spray bottle. I also have essential oil diffusers/room humidifiers in some rooms. Tip: if you use a diffuser DON’T put any essential oils in it!

3. Keep an eye on your houseplants’ roots

• Root rot can occur when you over water your plants or when your plants don’t have proper drainage. If you repot your plants, I’d advise choosing plant pots with holes in the bottom. Personally, I’ve put mine in large, plastic nursery pots with holes in the bottom and then put the nursery pots in decorative plant pots.
• Also, look out for roots poking out of the bottom of your pots, this is a sign that they’re running out of room to grow and need to be repotted into larger pots. Try not to go up more than one pot size at a time, as it can send your plant into shock and do more harm than good.

4. Fertilise your plant babies

• Plants can’t get all of their nutrients from sunlight and water alone. Sometimes they can do with a little bit of extra help in the form of plant food/plant fertiliser.
• I use two plant fertilisers. One is the tried and tested Baby Bio. For days when I’m too lazy to mix, I use Miracle Grow pump and water. A little goes a long way, so follow the instructions on the bottle.
• Most plants only need fertilising once or twice per month during the warmer months.

This isn’t exhaustive but it’s a pretty solid starting point! Did you find my houseplant care tips for newbies useful? Why not share the post or save it on your Pinterest board?

Let me know how you get on and if you’re also a houseplant enthusiast, feel free to drop your own tips in the comments so we can learn from each other.

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