Common Mistakes Made By First Time Plant Parents

Everybody has firsts when it comes to plants. The common misconception is that plants (both indoors and outdoor) are easy to take care of as long as there is adequate water and sunlight available to them. But they couldn't be more wrong. Becoming a plant parent takes effort, time and a lot of research. Each plant is different and their water, nutrients and sunlight requirements differ too, sometimes according to seasons. Here are a few tips to get you started with your plant parenting journey:

Choosing Wrong Plants to Adopt

This may sound like a very simple thing to follow but a lack of research combined with an irregular care cycle leads to a lot of plants dying within the first few weeks. To avoid such circumstances, choose a plant that fits best with your everyday schedule so you can devote the necessary time every day to its care. Stray away from the trendy plants and study concepts like the difference between moisture level and humidity before you buy a plant. At the end of the day, we want a plant that is thriving and not just surviving.

Do Not Forget About Your Plant

Unlike outdoor plants that can leverage their everyday requirements from sunlight, rain and wind, indoor plants need your constant attention. As a new plant parent, it is easy to forget about them completely, especially if you have a trip planned ahead or during emergencies when you can't be home to take care of. Make time in your everyday schedule to spend some time with the new plants and if you can't be home, arrange for someone to take care of them in your absence.

Not Checking The Roots For Signs of Distress

When checking for signs of distress in a plant, the general notion is to check the leaves only for discolouration and pests. Roots are an equally important part of the plant and since it absorbs all the nutrients, before you re-pot, make it a habit to do a bit of inspection. Also, as the roots grow, using an appropriate size, well-drained pot is of utmost importance as well.

Over Watering The Plant

Do not overwater the plant. Sometimes, newbie plant parents might think that giving more than needed is a form of love but it could actually lead to the rotting of the roots. Houseplants prefer compost when they are in a growing phase. Keep the compost moist enough by watering not more than once every two days in summer and spring. You can reduce the frequency further in the winter season. For example, plants like orchids, Swiss cheese and areca palms like to absorb water from the air, other than their roots. In such cases, it becomes extremely important to maintain a proper watering cycle for them according to their acclimation to sunlight, in order to not do it too much.

Giving Up Too Early When Things Start Going South

Another very common mistake by new plant parents is to give up too early when things start looking bad. A lot of plants take time to adjust to the water quality, sunlight and humidity levels in the atmosphere when they are placed in a new environment. As a result, it can take a few weeks before they start flourishing again. Being patient with your new plant is the key here. If they do end up dying, start over with an easy-to-care variant like a money plant or a snake plant to build up confidence.