Put The Watering Can Down…
It’s starting to get cold out there. Fall is here and winter is coming! We’re spending more time at home, and getting our green thumbs going feels natural. If you are on a watering schedule, you are going to want to pause it, asses the situation, and proceed with caution before daring to pull the watering can out. Plant will use less water in fall/winter, so be sure to check the soil several inches down (I usually say knuckles deep) to make sure its dry before watering. A plant that may have needed a good soak every week may now only need water every 2-3 weeks. Just proceed with caution and make sure you are checking you soil with a moisture meter or your fingers.
So we wanted to touch on some general tips that can help keep your plants alive and happy!
RESIST THE URGE TO OVER WATER
Overwatering is the leading reason people fail at their first round of plants! It's very well intentioned to want to keep your plant alive, and plants do need water. But it’s important to remember that not all house plants need the same amount of water. And too much water for all plants is bad news bears. Basically: Roots need oxygen. When soil is moist and not waterlogged, roots can access the air pockets in the soil and grow as needed. When we overwhelm the soil with water, the roots aren’t able to breath and this can lead to some pretty not fun plant woes. A moisture meter can be a really helpful tool to keep your watering in check!
IF YOUR PLANT IS HAPPY, don’t move it.
We’re at home a lot these days!
We get why it can be fun and stimulating to move stuff around to create a better, or more relaxing atmosphere! Change is fun sometimes, and other times it's a little weird and overwhelming. Plants are a lot like us, if they find a home they really love moving them can stress them out. Stress from moving around constantly can cause leaf drop, slow growth, and in some cases make plants too stressed to get along and keep growing. Some plants such as the Fiddle Leaf Fig are notorious for not being huge fans of moving. In short, if it's happy, leave it be!
Just repotted your plant?
Put it in low light after!!
There are three big moments in a plant's life: flowering, getting pruned/split, and getting transplanted. It happens all too often, people bring new plants home, repot them and put them directly into normal light exposure afterwards. Give your plant some time! Doing all of this at once can cause transplant shock. If you want to see your plant bounce back from getting repotted quickly, make sure it gets low light for a couple of days after transplanting. With less pressure to turn light into food, the plant can establish a stronger root system quicker, and adjust to its new home faster!
Having a minor or temporary plant SOS….?
ITS OKAY!!
Leaf yellowing? Overwatered? Forgot to water? You’re okay! Leaf yellowing is a sign that your plant is behaving normally and moving nutrients around as it needs to. Cut the yellowing foliage back if you don’t like it, or let it die back on its own. Maybe you overwatered? It’s okay! Let your plant dry out and re-adjust waterings for moderation. Did you forget to water and now your plant is a little wilty? Nothing you can’t come back from! Try filling a bowl with water and letting your plant drink from the bottom up. Its a quick way your plant can rehydrate as it needs! Fact is, even the most experienced plant people have had big time plant fails in their lives. It’s all a learning process, and luckily for us they are incredibly forgiving. You’re doing your best! And if plants are new in your life the most important thing is to ask questions and learn as you go. We’re here for you!
You can always confide in your local plant people to help you along the way.
That includes us here at Plants Delivered!
We understand the allure of getting your hands on some house plants right now, and set you up with some pro-tips to get you growing.
With that, be safe, stay home, and follow us on Instagram for the latest! @plantsdeliveredchicago
