The good news is, it’s not as hard as it seems. Plant pros Justin Hancock, head of brand marketing at Costa Farms, and author and plant guru Hilton Carter, say that being a successful plant parent is easy if you know and follow these basic six guidelines. “The thing that you should think about first is the spot in your home that you want to place the plant,” says Carter. “Based on that light, go get a plant that can thrive in that light.” Typically, a south-facing window will give you the most light, and a northern-facing window gives you the least amount of light. However, the quality of that light changes throughout the seasons. In the winter, my office gets plenty of sunlight because of three large south-facing windows. However, in the summer, the sun’s angle is higher, and I do not get as much light in the room due to the overhangs outside the windows. A plant that needs 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight would not do well in my office in the summer. When you understand the quality and quantity of light your part of your home receives throughout the year, you can pick the right plant to thrive in that space. “If you can’t provide it with the light it needs,” warns Carter, “you’re just going to find that plant suffering in your home.” If you are unsure how to determine the type of light you have, consider purchasing a light meter or using a light meter app on your phone to take readings throughout the day. Once you know how much light you have to work with, it’s time to move on to the research phase. Plants listed as “low light” mean they can survive in low light conditions, but they will thrive in medium or bright light conditions. It’s beneficial to do more research on what precisely the species needs to thrive. “Anyone can instantly have a green thumb,” says Carter, “if they decided to do just a small legwork upfront to figure out what can for thrive in their home or what will work best for their situation.” Do the research, and you won’t be disappointed. That doesn’t mean just reading books or doing a Google search. “The beginning of my journey was started with the unknown,” explains Carter, “I found myself in plant shops and talking to people who worked there about plants and what was happening.” Experienced plant people are a treasure trove of information and they are more than glad to share it. “It used to be that big plants were a big investment,” says Carter. “And I think now, especially thanks to Instagram, it’s easy to feel confident starting with a big plant.” Large plants have grown in popularity, and if you have space, go for it. However, remember that moving large plants can be cumbersome and repotting it may take assistance. Consider the plant’s full mature growth size and your home before you bring in a large plant. One of the best ways to reduce plant stress is not to repot as soon as you get it home. “My recommendation is always to wait a couple of weeks,” says Hancock. “That way, the plant has a chance to get settled here in your environment.” Repotting can stress out a plant, and it needs time to acclimate to your home. “Adding those two types of stress onto each other at the same time is less beneficial,” says Hancock. “Waiting a little bit is always better.” Most plants only need water once a week, but that depends on the amount of light it gets, the type of planter it’s in and if the plant likes to dry out between waterings. “The easiest thing is to put your finger in the soil and give it a good feel,” says Hancock, “If it feels wet, that’s too much.” Another option is to use a soil moisture meter. The tools are inexpensive and will provide you with more accurate information.
